B5QB Brewery Focus: The Brewing Projekt

I think that the first iteration of this series went quite well, if I do say so myself. I have interview requests out to a couple of other Wisconsin brewers and I’m excited to talk to any and all of them. That being said, if you know someone that works at a Wisconsin brewery and would like to see them featured here, shoot me an email (drewhamm5@gmail.com).

Our second brewery in the series is Eau Claire’s The Brewing Projekt, one of my recent discoveries in the Twin Cities. They brew some kickass IPAs, which my wife and I love, and their RESIST Berry Smoothie Milkshake IPA is so good it makes me want to be a better father and husband.

Let’s get to B5QB’s Brewery Focus No. 2!

Brewery Vitals

Name: The Brewing Projekt

Location: 2000 N Oxford Ave, BLDG 3 BOX 7, Eau Claire, WI, 54703; soon to be located at a much larger location at 1807 N Oxford Ave, once construction is finished.

Website: https://www.thebrewingprojekt.com/

Twitter: @brewingprojekt

Instagram: @thebrewingprojekt

Key Beers: GunPowder IPA; Resist Milkshake IPA; WISCoast Hybrid Pale Ale

Awards Won: Named one of Food & Wine’s “19 Breweries To Go Out Of Your Way For”

Brewery Tour: Hopefully offered sometime around Christmas or New Year’s, once the new facility is up and running.

Here is my interview, conducted via email and lightly edited, with brewer Will Glass.

What got you started in the brewing industry?

I got out of the Marine Corps mid-recession and the first job I got was actually working for MillerCoors in Chippewa Falls. While there I realized I didn’t want to work in a corporate environment but I did want to work in beer. It was about that same time a friend handed me a bottle of a Russian Imperial Stout and my life changed forever…

What did you go to school for?

Entrepreneurial Management at UW-Eau Claire.

When did you change your career path to brewing?

My first stint as an entrepreneur was as a craft beer bar owner. We sold 100 percent independently-owned craft beer and after a while I just got kinda frustrated not finding some of the styles of beer that I wanted. So I figured, why not brew them on my own (spoken like the true garage homebrewer I was)?

What is your favorite beer that your brewery makes?

Our old faithful GunPowder IPA can’t be beat.

What is your favorite beer that another brewery in Wisconsin makes?

Any of the big and bold barrel-aged beers from those fine fellas over in Amherst, Wis., at Central Waters. They pretty much make it pointless to “try” to make barrel-aged beer in Wisconsin.

Do you follow the Wisconsin Badgers?

Yes. Fuck Ohio State. (Author’s note: these interviews have RULED so far.)

If so, how do you think they’ll do this week against New Mexico?

I think they’ll play it cool and only roll up around 40 points. Maybe give up a field goal or two.

Is your beer distributed in Madison?

Yessssssir.

Which beer should Badgers fans drink before/during the game?

Any of the Dare Mighty Things series. Great beers for drinking in the morning during a solid tailgate session.

What do you listen to while brewing?

Honestly, I listen to the news throughout the day in podcast form (NPR/SIRIUSXM POTUS). But I also like to sprinkle in just hitting random on my phone, which gets you anything from Tupac, Bon Iver, Led Zeppelin, to the Moana soundtrack (because I have four kids).

Why is beer important to you?

Beer is fun. Too many people take beer too seriously and forget that it is a beverage best spent with friends as opposed to packed up in a box and traded like a commodity. Beer is community and it is a great community.