Lew, I was there August 8 for a tour with Keith Klemp of All About Beer. Dan Carey told us they will make 18,000 barrels this year. Deb gave us the tour, and I gather it was a little of both: why distribute to Illinois when you can sell all of your beer in WI? When groups show up from North Carolina and elsewhere and leave with trunks full of NG beer? BTW that barrel-aged "Enigma" is a mighty interesting beer. I don't think from my conversation with Deb that those in IL should expect them back anytime soon. I'd be very surprised. You want the beer, Chicagoites, drive to Discount Liquor in Milwaukee and stock up. Hell, I have to drive 2.5 hours to Richmond to buy Victory.....
I love this attitude. Same attitude as at Victory. That Deb is a straight shooter. Talk about an entertaining tour.....my advice to anyone headed there, go for the Saturday brewer's guided tour. Lew, you can get the VIP beer writer tour.....it's a good one.
From what I know, that is pretty much spot on. For both breweries. Oh, and that Capital Blonde Doppelbock and Autumnal Fire.....mmmm. Love that Biergarten, which was getting slammed early the evening before the Great Taste. Chuck C.