E-Malt.com News article: USA, WI: Chippewa River Distillery and Brewster Bros. Brewing Co. to launch in Chippewa Falls by November

A micro brewery and vodka distillery in Chippewa Falls is quickly coming together. Renovation and overhaul of the Celebrity Video building at 402 River St. began in March, and the brew house should have its doors open by November, Leader-Telegram reported on September 14.

“We’re excited to do this,” said co-owner James Stirn. “We’re getting close.”

Chippewa River Distillery and Brewster Bros. Brewing Co. features a “20-barrel” system that can produce 600 gallons. The gigantic 2,500-liter still will be in a unique room on the east side of the building, with a high glass atrium ceiling and windows on three sides, allowing people to watch the brews and spirits being made. It will be lit up at night, showing off the still and the interior of the building, Stirn said.

“It’s what people will see when they go by,” Stirn said. “You’ll be able to see in here. We want to make it accessible, so people can see it.”

“I’ve home-brewed for 15 years,” Stirn said. “It sounded interesting; its process control.”

“It’s a little unique,” Stirn said. “You don’t see both in one location.”

When Stirn and his business partner, Kurt Schneider of Menomonie, decided they wanted to get into the brewing business, they spent a year researching the industry and visiting other breweries and distilleries before settling on Chippewa Falls as the location of their $1 million project.

“We looked around the (Twin) Cities and places in Wisconsin,” Stirn said. “We liked that we could sell our spirits in a craft room in Wisconsin - you can’t do that in Minnesota. Chippewa Falls, as a city, was very receptive. They were very accommodating.”

Chippewa Falls’ Mayor Greg Hoffman said there has been buzz in town about the brewery, and he’s eager to see it open.

“I appreciate the investment in the community,” Hoffman said. “It continues where we’re going, of having different things to do, and go to, in the community. I’m very excited about it.”

The Chippewa Falls City Council approved rezoning the land, allowing for the distillery, in February. The sale of the building closed at the end of February, and Stirn immediately began the renovations on the 8,000-square-foot store. He still needs to obtain his federal licenses, but he anticipates those will be approved long before he’s ready to open in November.

“There is a certain amount of tourism here, and we expect to have tourism traffic,” Stirn said.

In a letter to the Chippewa Falls city, this spring, Stirn wrote that he doesn’t believe the distillery will impact residents near the building. “The use of the property will not disturb the neighbourhood,” Stirn wrote.


16 September, 2015