MOSINEE, WI (WSAU) -- An opening that has been three and a half years in the making is happening on Saturday.
The Mosinee Brewing Company will officially be opening its doors to the public on November 17th. The Brewing Company officially had it's ribbon cutting back on October 26th, but the building wasn't quite ready to open to the public. Now that the majority of construction is finished, the Brewing Company is eager and ready to welcome the public inside.
President Jacquelyn Forbes Kearns is proud of where the business has come from the initial idea over three years ago so it's opening on Saturday. Forbes Kearns especially focuses on how the brewing company made sure to use as many local businesses as possible.
"We have used local contractors whenever we've been able to. Our most important brew kettles and sophisticated equipment was made by AB Processing in Stratford. Part of our mission is to use local contractors to encourage and foster the business in our own community and to give jobs to local people."
And with offering jobs to local people, much of the art created for space was done by local artists. "We also have employed local craftspeople and local artists to help us with our project. Our chandeliers in our events space are made by an artist in Milwaukee who also made our fixtures in the bathroom." The company will also be inviting local artists to display their work at the location.
The brewing company will also partner with local universities for internship opportunities. Forbes Kearns describes the two internships available at the Mosinee Brewing Company. "We're very proud that we are partnering with the University of Wisconsin business school offering an internship to a business student. We already have our student and we plan to continue that relationship with the University of Wisconsin business school. We are also going to be doing an internship with the University of Wisconsin microbiology department at Stevens Point. We are very excited about that as well."
Forbes Kearns is also proud that they were able to reuse the original wood from the building. The wood was harvested and sent up to Merrill to be refinished. The company has used the wood for tables, the ceiling, and trim work. Other features that haven't been finished yet are a brew garden outside due to the weather. And the company has applied for a solar grant as their hoping to be able to make their own energy come spring of 2019.
Continuing the local focus the brewing company plans on holding several different types of events for the community. Some of those events will include yoga classes called "Pints and Poses", and lady craft nights. Also catering to the sports crowd, the brewing company will open early for Packers and Badgers games. Forbes Kearns says, "Well, we're not going to be a sports bar. But we will have Packers, Badgers, Brewers, and we'll stay open for those games. We will plan on having lots of activities including activities with the Packers and the Badgers and all of our local sports teams."
For the opening on Saturday, the brewing company will start with 10 Wisconsin beers on tap. Forbes Kearns describes it as, "We're opening with ten Wisconsin crafted beers by local breweries. We will make our own beer as soon as we have our federal license, that will probably be in late December early January. And we also have four offerings that are non-alcoholic."
Those offerings include kombucha, two craft sodas, and a nitro coffee. While there won't be entertainment for the opening, some food will be available. Forbes Kearns says, "We will have some limited food. We'll have some simple really good grilled cheese sandwiches, and all local Wisconsin cheeses as well. So we'll have some charcuterie boards, just some kind of food that will be well matched with beer."
A ribbon cutting with the Mosinee Chamber of Commerce will be held Friday afternoon at 4:30 for the Mosinee Brewing Company. It will then be open to the public starting on Saturday with regular hours being 4 pm to close Monday through Friday and then 2 pm to close Saturday through Sunday.
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