News

POTOSI, Wis. - On Sept. 14, the Potosi Brewery Foundation will be hosting an appreciation day celebration in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Potosi Brewery. The 100th anniversary was held in 1952 and this celebration, according to mayor Frank Fiorenza, will mirror the 1952 celebration as much as possible.

The celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the brewery complex, with live music by Not 2 Shabby, free brats and lemonade and drawings held throughout the day.

There will be memorabilia items for sale, but the featured item will be 1,500 special limited edition six packs of sesquicentennial beer with the "Good Ole" Potosi label. The sesquicentennial glass set and polo shirts will also be available. These items can be purchased individually at $20 for the six-pack, $20 for the polo shirt or $12 for the glass set, or all three can be purchased for a discounted price of $45. Pre-orders are currently being taken and persons can contact Larry Kalina, Fiorenza, or Sharon Bierman.

During the celebration there will be visual displays set up showing proposed uses for the brewery. The structural analysis will also be available to review.

Fiorenza remarked that they are hoping to have a panel of former brewery workers there for questions, as well as the foundation members who will be able to answer questions as to the status of the brewery.

Bierman commented that they would have the rolling bar there selling souvenirs.

Although the foundation is still in the fundraising phase of the brewery project, their goal is to take the brewery back to how it looked in the 1920's.

"This project will happen:' said Fiorenza. "We have dedicated people and there is no doubt this will get done.”

Bierman added, "We are still in the fundraising stage and we are hoping to get some grants from the Great River Road project, as well as from a foundation that we contacted last year."

The first phase of the project will be to open a restaurant in the brewery, which will help bring in more revenue and then eventually a microbrewery, Potosi brewery museum, local history museum and gift shop will be added.

The foundation has been working on the brewery restoration project for the last two years. Fiorenza said that they were planning to fix the roof this summer, but that was put on hold when contractors told them that it would be best to demolish some of the buildings first.

"The back section of the brewery, which is in the worst shape will be demolished," said Fiorenza. "This would be cost prohibitive to restore and because it is in back of the brewery; businesses would not want to relocate there because there is no visibility. This area will be opened up and there are many possibilities for its use, such as a parking area:'

Other things the foundation is working on include a memory book and the February banquet. Bierman remarked that the banquet will be held at Sunset Lanes in Dickeyville again and the date has been set for Feb. 3.

The foundation is still looking for individuals who wish to share their images and stories to help create the memory book. Images of the brewery, brewery farm, tavern, employees, management and other interesting images are needed. Pictures of brewery memorabilia along with stories of the work and play that took place amongst the employees and management are also wanted. Anyone who has these items to share can contact Alan VanNatta.

“The brewery project could not be done without the foundation, but also without the help from the people who have volunteered their assistance because they want to see this project succeed," said Fiorenza.