USA, WI: District 1 Brewing Co. aiming at November opening in Stevens Point

A new brewery will open this fall in Stevens Point, and it’s all about the community, the Stevens Point Journal reported on October 2.

District 1 Brewing Co. plans to open in November at 200 N. Division St., said co-owner Chris Gethers. He is one of six owners of the brewery.

When it comes to the beer, District 1 Brewing Co. will offer 24 to 30 beers, both new varieties and classics. Guests will be able to find amber, lager, porter and more, and options will change based on availability and customer feedback, Gethers said.

There’s a lot to learn about brewing beer, and they want to help educate their customers on the varieties they serve and the brewing process. Customers will be able to see the equipment and take a tour to learn more about how the beer is made.

Gethers said they plan to distribute some of their beer off site, but the main focus will be to sell their product at the brewery to enjoy in the taproom.

The name of the company — District 1 — takes pride in the neighborhood in which it stands. Gethers said they’re proud to be on Division Street and in the city's First District. There’s a lot of redevelopment in the area, and he said they want to be part of that area’s growth and rehabilitation. They want to reflect that local pride directly in the brewery itself.

The six owners and their spouses have put in 40 to 60 hours a week beyond their day jobs working on the building, which was once a grocery store, since they took over the space in October 2018. They're focused on using local products and people, from the building labor to the steel that's made in Marshfield, about 30 miles away.

Gethers said one of his favorite parts of opening the brewery is using an existing building with a history of its own and breathing new life into it. He said he wants to be able to honor the history of the building — and the whole district — to create new opportunities.

The space they’re using is about 12,000 square feet, but it only took about 4,000 square feet to set up the brewery. That leaves 7,000 or 8,000 square feet that Gethers said they want to offer as community and co-working space.

Events or meetings could be hosted there, or people who work remotely could rent some working space for a low rate, Gethers said. District 1 Brewing Co. could also be used as a low-risk incubator for a new entrepreneur, he said.

For example, if someone was interested in starting up a food truck, he or she could use some resources and work with the brewery, which doesn’t offer food of its own, Gethers said.

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduate said he’s been thinking of starting a brewery for almost 20 years, but he first started with a pilot system. About five or six years ago, he ran a nano brewery and brew pub and worked on recipes in Michigan before returning to the area.

But what Gethers is most looking forward to this time is crossing that finish line and pouring the first beer to the first customer.

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