E-Malt.com News article: USA, WI: Door County Brewing to branch out into Hacienda Brewing

Door County Brewing is expecting a new addition. Beginning Feb. 3, members of the Door County Brewing Co. Music Hall will branch out to make beers under the name Hacienda Brewing, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on December 15.

"Hacienda is all the stuff we're doing in the taproom, the weird beers with weird ingredients," said Danny McMahon.

Hacienda will focus on experimental hoppy ales and stouts as well as traditional and non-traditional Belgian/farmhouse-inspired ales. One example McMahon gave is Florida Guava, a New England style IPA with guava.

You need the back story to understand completely. Door County Brewing opened in Baileys Harbor nearly five years ago with flagship brews like Little Sister Witbier and Polka King Porter.

It quickly ran out of space and opened a new taproom at 8099 WI-57 in Baileys Harbor.

The brewery kept the old 7-barrel brewery and used it for the experimental beers sold in the new taproom. Flagship beers destined for wider distribution were made at Octopi Brewing in Waunakee and will continue to be made there.

"Octopi is only 10 minutes from our largest distributor," McMahon said.

The new taproom, known as Door County Brewing Co., and Music Hall, opened July 1 but the equipment for the adjoining 15-barrel brewhouse wasn't in just yet. It's expected in February.

The McMahons were waiting for the equipment to announce Hacienda Brewing, which will brew new beers, some that haven't been introduced and some that have been popular in the taproom only like Everything Eventually, a New England style IPA made with Citra hops.

Everything Eventually will be the one flagship beer under the Hacienda Brewing banner where the concept is to change up beer styles often.

"Some things we'll brew many times over. Some things we'll brew once and that's it," McMahon said.

They've contracted with a mobile canning line for the Hacienda product.

Many of the seasonal and experimental offerings from Door County Brewing Co. will transition to the Hacienda brand including seasonal farmhouse ales: Le Printemps, L'ete, L'automne, and L'hiver. The beers will be changed a little to take advantage of more unique and local and even foraged ingredients and in some cases mixed fermentation.

Danny McMahon said the original Door County Brewing location will stay in the family to be used for souring beers.

Door County Brewing has always been a family business. Danny's dad John McMahon is CEO and founder and his mom, Angie, holds the title founder and general manager.

Coming to Hacienda Brewing is Danny McMahon, head brewer, his brother Ben McMahon, sales manager, Kyle Gregorash, assistant brewer, Allyce Mohs, operations manager, and Matt Sampson, brand manager and quality assurance.

Danny McMahon will continue to brew the beers at Octopi as well as the ones for Hacienda. John McMahon, often the face of Door County Brewing, will not be as involved with Hacienda Brewing but remains with Door County Brewing, Danny said.

Try the first of the Hacienda Brewing beers in an event on Feb. 14 at Burnheart's, 2599 S. Logan Ave.


17 December, 2017