Last year was all about the Inaugural Red, but this year, Wisconsin Brewing Company and students at University of Wisconsin are looking to produce something completely different.
After the successful Campus Craft Brewery collaboration between students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the brew-makers out of Verona have tasked students this year with crafting a summer wheat ale for the second brew in the series.
Wisconsin Brewing Company President and CEO Carl Nolen said after a great year working with UW students, he’s more than excited to be at it again.
“Last year was a fantastic experience for us,” Nolen said. “We were a little rushed last year, and we’ve had more time this year to plan out the brewing and marketing process. The students have been wonderful to work with once again.”
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The students have a heavy hand in the project, and have been working tirelessly to see it through to completion. This year, Nolen said students have done much work on the marketing side of the campaign. They’ve promoted the Campus Craft Brewery program across social media channels and have excited consumers about the impending product launch.
Currently, the group is working on the name of the beer, but also on the design and solidification of the logo and packaging. Once five choices for a name have been selected, Nolen said UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank will help determine the final selection.
The Inaugural Red was immensely successful, and Nolen said he has no doubt this new summer wheat ale will be any different. The Inaugural Red was bottled and in circulation by June, and by this past fall, Nolen said it was the No. 1 selling product for Wisconsin Brewing Company.
After Inaugural Red’s notable progress, and with high expectations for this year’s beer, Nolen is hoping to build and foster a great relationship with UW students for years to come.
“It’s tough with just one product to call Campus Craft Brewery a program, but that’s what we’re hoping it becomes,” Nolen said. “We don’t want this to just be a one-hit brewery. We’re ready to make this a consistently successful project.”
Students involved in the program could even find themselves having more opportunities with Wisconsin Brewing Company down the line as well. Nolen said the program will soon be offering several students the opportunity for internships with the brewery. One will be on the marketing side of the business, and the other will be in brewing science.
Nolen hopes these internships will lead to students aiming at potentially staying in the field long term, and ideally with Wisconsin Brewing Company.
“We’re happy to give these students opportunities to see what brewing is all about, and give them chances to succeed,” Nolen said. “This partnership is as beneficial for us as it may be for some students.”
The name for this year’s Campus Craft Brewery will be released in about two weeks.
