Wisconsin Law for brewpubs

[dbauer]

Is there a law in the state of Wisconsin that limits the owner of a brew pub to just one pub and/or is there a way to structure around that law if it in fact does exist? txs!

[newportstorm]

Read and call this department for an answer to your question:
http://www.wdfi.org/ymm/sbic/brochures/franchising.htm

Here in RI, the state legislature recently started enforcing an existing law that prevents liquor stores from having more than one location share a name. Asinine, imo, as I see countless grocery stores, home improvement stores, restaurants, etc. under one umbrella. Store owners were forced to abandon a name customers had known for years, get new signage, etc.

Here's more on that:
http://beeradvocate.com/forum/read/711026/

Cheers!

[steveh]

At one point in time there were 2 Brewmasters' Brew-Pubs in Kenosha, WI - both owned by the same person. Unless things have changed drastically in the last few years...

S.

[Teej]

Originally posted by steveh
At one point in time there were 2 Brewmasters' Brew-Pubs in Kenosha, WI - both owned by the same person. Unless things have changed drastically in the last few years...

S.

Fortunately, WI is not subject to RI laws. ;)

[dcunited81]

Originally posted by dbauer
Is there a law in the state of Wisconsin that limits the owner of a brew pub to just one pub and/or is there a way to structure around that law if it in fact does exist? txs!

To my knowledge there is no such law on the books. There is a place called Legends up here in Green Bay and they currently have 3 locations!! Thank god for living in the land of great beer and recongizing our traditions as German, Irish, and Belgian decendents.

[Sladek]

There are 2 Great Danes, right, Steve?

[steveh]

Originally posted by Sladek
There are 2 Great Danes, right, Steve?

I think Whitney's had two locations at one time too.

S.

[Bugz-TT]

Originally posted by Sladek
There are 2 Great Danes, right, Steve?

I got this one: Yes the Great Dane has 2 locations. Been to them both and was happy with both locations.

Great Dane Brew Pub (http://www.greatdanepub.com/)

[chazwicke]

I think Maryland has some sort of weird law that says they can only have one brewery. There are several brewpubs breweries in that stat that have more than one location, Wharf Rat, Rams Head, DuClaw but I believe that they are only allowed to brew at one location so these pubs are supplied by one brewing location. Any of our Maryland bretheren know anything about this?

[Bruno_78]

When I was at the Delafield Brewery for the sunday bruch buffet a few weeks ago, the waiter asked what I wanted to drink. I asked if they were serving beer, It was early and I didn't know what the sunday laws were for beer sales. And he looked at me curiously and said, sir, we're a brewery, we make our own beer!

I informed him that I was aware they were a brewery, and clarified why I had asked that kind of question. His reply:

In wisconsin, it's against the law for us NOT to serve beer early!

I think he was joking though.

[Vienna Lager]

No, he wasn't joking.

[chazwicke]

I guess I ought to move to Wisconsin.:D

[Vienna Lager]

Chaz, your remember back to your days in Eau Claire, don't you? Non-stop drinking on Water Street @ The Oar House, Lord Jeffries Pub, Old Home, The Joynt, She-Nannigans, Gurallimo's University Tap (GUT), The Camaraderie (before it burned down) and that was all just in the 400 block. How about The Bottle and Barrel on Graham Ave. or the Diamond Lounge on Gibson?. It is a wonder how a university student could not be drawn to drinking.

[chazwicke]

I never lived there. Only visited over the years as it was my mom's hometown so we visited regularly to see relatives in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls. My sister and her family lived in Green Bay since the mid 70s and although my sis now lives on the U.P. I still have nieces and nephews in GB area. I'll most likely be visiting Wisc. in the next year or so.

[Trogger]

Resurecting this older thread...

The Great Dane Brew Pub has 3 locations now. I once heard, (not confirmed as haven't been to the third location) that due to a law in WI, they were not allowed to brew beer at the third location. They had to sell to a distributor from one of the other two, and then purchase it back from said distributor to serve at the third location. Something to do with a law that said you can only brew in two physical locations in WI, or something to that effect. Most likely due to the strong distributor lobby. I can't confirm this law's existence, but if true, IMO, it's a load of crap.

On a side note, I love and envy the Dane. My dream job would be to own that place. Especially the first one due to the ambiance and location. Excellent food too.

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by Vienna Lager
No, he wasn't joking.


Nope...not at all.

Why do you think Packer fans still get together every Sunday to cheer a 4-12 team? :D

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by Bruno_78
When I was at the Delafield Brewery for the sunday bruch buffet a few weeks ago.....

Ah, yes...my second favorite watering hole (next to the biker bar up the street from my house!); so what was on tap you found interesting??

[Sladek]

I find these laws utterly mind-boggling. Is it really due to the distributor lobby? Ridiculous. American capitalism supports entrpreneurship my ass.

[badgerbars]

Ahh...back to good old Eau Clairefor a moment. One of my favoritesback in early 1980s was The Inflation Fighter. Run down joint with the average age of the patrons about 70. Got a Rum and Coke, 2 glasses of Walters and change back from a buck. They had a big sign in the place, "If you are looking for a noisy, rowdy bar go find one."

[Candymaker]

I was just at the Dane in Hilldale (#3) a few weeks back. There is quite an article on the front of their menu explaining the law and why they cannot have more than 2 locations brewing to serve. The bartender at the time mentioned something about the possibility of the law being reviewed in late spring/early summer. Here's to keeping fingers crossed!