Last year, just in time for Oktoberfest season, Milwaukee’s Central Standard Craft Distillery released a new installment in its Brewmasters Brandy Series of collaborations with breweries: a limited-edition bottling that combined Central Standard’s North Brandy with Hofbräu Munchen’s Doppelbock seasonal Hofbräu Delicator.
Now, the distillery’s co-owners Evan Hughes and Pat McQuillan have announced that the new Brewmasters Brandy Series release is a “re-collaboration” with the 400-year-old Bavarian brewery, which also owns the most famous beer hall in the world.
The announcement comes on Friday, Dec. 9, which is being celebrated as World Brandy Day.
“This beer brandy really embraces the Germanic roots of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the Midwest,” said Hughes. “Teaming again with Hofbräu München and specifically their Winter Spezial Delicator made the ideal match for our North Brandy.
“The Beer Brandy completely sold out at many retailers last year and we had requests for it from literally across the country and around the world. We just had to create another run of it this year so folks could enjoy some this holiday season and beyond.”
Last year’s collab was the first time the Central Standard combined to liquids. Before that, the releases were a single juice aged in a barrel that had previously held a different one.
Restaurateur Hans Weissgerber III, who runs the Old German Beer Hall and the Estabrook Park Beer Garden – both of which feature Hofbrau beer – was a fan of that first batch.
“When I had my very first taste of it, I knew I wanted to bring it to Oktoberfest in Munich and share it with the world,” said Weissgerber. “It’s just that good.
"Combining the heritage of the Hofbräu München Brewery and the hand-crafted spirit of the Central Standard Distillery creates a truly must-try collaboration.”
According to Hughes, the beer brandy has notes of dark chocolate, cherry and dried fruit.
“Beer lovers will appreciate the roasted caramel malt flavor and subtle beer sweetness,” adds Central Standard’s Chief Commercial Office Jim Kanter, “(and) brandy fans will love the bold, rich flavor.”
The new batch of the unique beer brandy – available in 750ml bottles and is priced around $25-$30 – lands this week at retailers across Wisconsin including Festival Foods, Total Wine, Woodman’s Markets and local liquor stores, such as Discount Liquor and Otto’s. It is available at Binny's Beverage Depot locations in Illinois, too.
The brandy – of which only 300 cases are being release – is also available at bars like Weissgerber’s Old German Beer Hall.
Prost!
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
