Red Eye Brewing Co.
TRP visited Red Eye Brewing Co. in August 2011. If you find yourself roaming around northern Wisconsin like we were, then you should definitely make your way up to Wausau, WI where you will find one of the best Wisconsin breweries around, Red Eye Brewing Co. We arrived around dinner time and decided we would eat there as well. We typically like to sit at the bar when we go to breweries so we can chat it up with the bartender and easily get beer samples to decide what beer we want for our pint, but this particular afternoon the bar was packed, so we resorted for a table top next to the bar. The waitress was very friendly and we ended up asking a few questions about the brewery, found out that they actively pursue sustainability in a number of different aspects of the business and then we came to find out their Brewmaster, Kevin Eichelberger, used to brew at Free State Brewing Co. back in the day, then brewed at a few Wisconsin breweries before he opened Red Eye in 2007. Now, I must tell you this, we had already sampled a few different beers and were impressed with the quality of each one before we knew Kevin’s background, so now I can begin my local bias again, because as you should know I am a huge fan of Free State, but it just makes sense that such a superior brewery would produce exceptional brewers that go out and start their own breweries.
After learning of Kevin’s background my night just got better. Drinking their Thrust American IPA made me reminisce on the days we spent in Lawrence drinking delicious fresh hop brews. We took a growler back to Stanley with us, drank it about a week later, and it was still dank as ever (that is a good thing!). The other thing I loved about this brewpub, they had a tater tots appetizer on the menu and if that wasn’t already excellent enough, they come with three different dipping sauces. SCORE! I didn’t get a chance to try the pizza, but wood-fired pizza ovens are my favorite, they looked very good. The wings were quite a treat and nicely paired with the Thrust.
The next day I sent Kevin an email and we were able to visit him the following day back at the brewery. He was so nice! We had a great time talking all things beer, Lawrence and Free State and he took us back to show us their small brewery. It is very impressive to learn it is just Kevin and his assistant making all the beer. He had a few beers barrel aging and even gave us a sample of the Imperial Stout aging in a Whiskey barrel (if I remember correctly) even though it was still a few weeks out. We had a great time chatting it up with Kevin, extra thanks to him for all the hospitality!!
TRP definitely recommends this brewery. If you can’t make it all the way up to Red Eye but happen to be in Wisconsin, give them a call and find out where you can sample their beer. I do not think you will be disappointed seeking them out!
