In December, Kegel's Inn – which turns 100 this year – brewed a doppelbock, the first in a series of beers to celebrate its centennial. But the first to be released is a lager that's out this week.
Kegel Brau Centennial Lager, which drops on Tuesday, Feb. 11, is a 4.9 percent ABV lager brewed with all-German ingredients by Mobcraft.
It's available at Kegel's bar on draft, but also in four- and 24-pack 16-ounce cans. You can order online here.
On Fridays, you can get a $4 discount on a four-pack when you order one with a fish fry and pick up via the drive-thru.
The beer, like all the Kegel's anniversary brews, will be brewed in limited editions.
The beers all have Prohibition-themed names in honor of the fact that Kegel's Inn, 5901 W. National Ave. in West Allis, opened during the dry spell and that current owner Julian Kegel's great-grandmother Anna Kegel was arrested by the feds for breaking Prohibition laws.
Other beers planned for the series include:
- Lakefront / Hofbrau Sommerbier, 6 percent, kellerbier, May, brewed by Lakefront and Hofbrau
- 200 Yards German Pill-Box Pilsner, 5 percent, June 6, brewed by The Explorium Brewpub for the War Memorial in honor of the 80th anniversary of D-Day
- Shuttered Saloons Schwarzbier (dark lager), 7 percent, June, brewed by 1840 Brewing
- Giggle Water Berliner Weisse, 5 percent, June, brewed by 1840 Brewing
- Trap Door in the Floor Dunkel, 6 percent, August, brewed by Broken Bat
- True Confessions: Great Grandma was a Criminal Barrel-Aged Doppelbock, ABV TBD, December, MobCraft
As was the case for the doppelbock brew day at MobCraft in December, Kegel's will sell limited edition tickets to attend the Kegel Brau brew days. Follow this link to find information on these events as it is released.
Owner Julian Kegel says there could be more Kegel Brau varieties on the horizon, too.
"(We have a) few other irons in fire," he teases, "but that’ll be for next year."
Read about the history of Kegel's Inn in this Urban Spelunking story.
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.
