Featured Affiliates

DELAFIELD BREWHAUS

The polished exterior of the Delafield Brewhaus might give the impression it is part of a chain of brewpubs, but General Manager Eric Knutson promises it is anything but. “We are a local, independent brewery and restaurant,” he says. “There are no strangers here, only friends that haven’t met.”

The Brewhaus was founded in 1999 by a group of Lake Country businesspeople with a passion for craft beer who were looking to build a brewery in their own backyard. One of the original founders — and the original brewmaster — was John Harrison, who passed away suddenly in January. As a daily fixture behind the brewery wall, Harrison’s loss was deep for the Brewhaus family, some of whom have been with the brewpub since the beginning, according to Knutson.

Though he is gone, Harrison left an indelible imprint on the Delafield Brewhaus, brewing hundreds of batches of beer in his signature style. “John was truly an artist with an amazing palate,” says Knutson. “We still follow his original recipes and he was one of the first in the area to ‘barrel-age’ beer, which we will continue to do.” The Brewhaus will also continue to brew many of his seasonal favorites, like the Ice Age Ale and Hop Harvest IPA.

The brewery boasts a Bier Garten and spacious interior that can seat up to 300 people, comfortably hosting wedding receptions or meetings for patrons from the surrounding area. Knutson says Delafield is a wonderful community in which to own a business and raise a family. “Everyone seems to look out for each other,” he says. “We are active supporters of the local schools, churches and other nonprofits. The generous support our loyal customers have given us over the years and during the pandemic has been unbelievable and humbling.”

Knutson says the Tavern League does a fantastic job of representing all of the food and beverage operations in Wisconsin by vigilantly looking out for the industry’s best interests. He supports the TLW whenever he can, whether attending local functions and fundraisers, or by contributing items to raffles. To him, being part of the TLW also means it’s important to support other bars and restaurants, because everyone is in this together.

And as conditions continue to improve, Knutson says he will focus on keeping the Delafield Brewhaus a welcoming haven for folks looking for great food and even better beer. “John won many awards during his brewing career, and those came from hard work and the love of brewing. We plan to maintain that same passion going forward.”

DELAFIELD BREWHAUS

3832 Hillside Dr., Delafield, WI 53018 (262) 646-7821 delafieldbrewhaus.com

LA CROSSE LOGGERS

Ben Kapanke is looking forward to the smell of brats on grills and the happy sounds of baseball fans strolling through the gates of Copeland Park for a game this summer. The general manager of the La Crosse Loggers says the organization felt lucky to get a partial schedule of games in last season, but the pandemic hurt them as much as any other business. “We rely on full-capacity crowds, and people socializing and having a good time,” he says.

This season, the team has a full calendar of 72 games scheduled, kicking off on Memorial Day. Copeland Park, a beautiful facility nestled along the banks of the Black River, will host 36 home games. “There is a lot of buzz in the front office right now,” says Kapanke. “We are feeding off of the excitement from the fans.”

Ben’s parents, Dan and Ruth Kapanke, helped found the La Crosse Loggers in 2003. The avid baseball fans were following Ben as he pursued an umpire career in the minor leagues, which brought them to the Northwoods League (a collegiate summer baseball league) in the summer of 2002. Northwoods League team president Chris Goodell has been with the Loggers from the beginning and is like family to the Kapankes. “We built this facility together from the ground up over 18-plus years,” says Kapanke. “And we’ve had great success developing players for the major leagues, like Max Scherzer, Chris Sale and Matt Chapman. It has been fun to watch players evolve over the years.”

Becoming a member of the Tavern League made a lot of sense to Kapanke because he believes in the power of community to get through difficult times. “We have hosted several TLW meetings at the ballpark and members can take in a game from one of the suites,” says the general manager. “It has helped us connect with distributors, bars and restaurants

that are TLW members here in La Crosse. It has been a great relationship.”

The community’s tried and true fans show up not only for baseball, but also for the cheese curds and Friday night fish fry, and possibly a glass of Louie’s Changeup, a summer ale created especially for the Loggers by Hillsboro Brewing Company. But Kapanke expanded the park’s offerings even further to create more business. “We have developed an initiative to make our facility not just for baseball fans,” he explains. Copeland Park can also host national concerts and help businesses find a unique way to entertain clients. “Rent out the facility and show a movie, or have a kickball game or a big picnic. We want to be an entertainment outlet for everyone.”

LA CROSSE LOGGERS

1225 Caledonia St., La Crosse, WI 54603 (608) 796-9553 northwoodsleague.com

WISCONSIN GROWING COMPANY

It’s a tale as old as time: Boy from Brazil meets girl from Milwaukee, boy marries girl and moves to her hometown in Wisconsin, leaving his remodeling company behind to start a fulfilling and profitable hemp business. Sam Santana had no idea this fairy tale lie in store for him when he met his future wife during a trip to the United States in 2015, but he embraced the adventure.

“I am enjoying something new and different,” says Santana, CEO of Wisconsin Growing Company. “Growing hemp is so gratifying, and involves so many aspects of farming and manufacturing. I want to offer an infrastructure to people who want to use hemp in their businesses.” Some examples of the products the company makes include a cannabidiol (CBD) infusion mix for liquor, CBD hemp tea and CBD flower.

Since the company’s first harvest in 2019, the Milwaukee community has embraced the hemp startup, located in Riverwest, and supported its growth. “We are surrounded by hardworking, open-minded people, local and big-box stores, and great food,” he says. “The people of Milwaukee love their city and keep their resources as local as possible, so there is an organic energy from the community of participation and solidarity that I have never experienced on this scale.”

Santana was quickly referred to the Tavern League as a helpful resource and was welcomed with open arms by the organization. He says having the TLW’s support not only helps educate people on hemp, but also gives business owners an opportunity to take advantage of his product to enhance their menu and business. “I don’t see a need for us to open a bunch of stores for people over 21 when bars and restaurants already have that infrastructure in place,” explains Santana. “Instead of creating a whole new market for hemp that we don’t know will work, we should work together.”

He says that, ideally, he wants patrons to support his company by supporting their local establishments. He tested out the market at The Riverwest Filling Station by offering a kit for the bartender to infuse CBD hemp in liquor to be taken as shots, or used in cocktails like a Bloody Mary or Moscow Mule for a small upcharge. Santana says the bar owner, Miriam Atinsky, reported that she sold about a gallon in only a month with virtually zero advertising.

Santana says he welcomes ideas and suggestions from the TLW community. “We are focused on growing high-quality hemp flowers and our intention is to be a local company for those closest to us,” he says. “Bootstrapping has shown us the importance of creating and maintaining good relationships with our Wisconsin-based businesses and residents. If you have a passion or project for hemp, please let us know how we can help make it happen.” TLW