OCONTO – Courtney and Garrett Sowle opened The Yard Brewing & Distilling Co in 2022, but within three short years their homegrown business has continued to raise the bar despite brewing changes.
The Yard started off as an outdoor beer garden that catered to their family-based community with outdoor games and open green spaces. However, their business plan was impacted by updated decisions from the Oconto City Council.
Courtney shared that having their original liquor license retracted by the city “made it hard to focus on growing our business and spending time with our family.”
Adding more difficulty was the state regulation that prohibits serving liquor at a secondary location, which impacted the distilling plans that the Sowles were working on.
The owners attempted to transition to serving customers out of their brewery/distillery on Huron Ave. in Oconto by adding a shipping container bar, a business model popularized by popup events and readymade fabricators. However, the city council finalized their decision to ban shipping containers in the city during a meeting on May 20.
Following these events, Courtney said “we made the difficult decision to move on and are now actively looking for a new taproom space in the Marinette or Green Bay area. In the meantime, we’re focusing on distribution.”
This focus on distribution has also been driven by the expanded offerings of The Yard through their distillery, a business aspect the Sowles had desired to enter into since the inception of the brewery.
“It’s been a fantastic addition. Brewing and distilling are completely different processes, which makes it an exciting new challenge. One big difference is the timeline; while beer can take weeks to complete, spirits can be ready in just a few days,” Courtney explained.
The pair found the distilling process to be so interesting that they even launched their own distilling kits to make the craft more accessible.
The Yard Brewing & Distilling Beginner Fermentation Kit is explained as an “all-in-one kit provides everything you need to craft your own vodka or moonshine wash for distillation. Perfect for those looking to explore the art of fermentation and distillation in the comfort of their home.” This kit draws from the humble beginnings that launched an entirely new branch of their business.
This has allowed for products like their “exceptionally smooth” white rum, six-time distilled vodka and bourbon whiskey to hit store shelves across northeast Wisconsin. These spirits are joined by the beers The Yard has been brewing for years, including their Czech-inspired Sconnie Pilsner, Tropical Day Citrus IPA and the fan-favorite Speckled Goat Blonde Ale.
“Our Speckled Goat Blonde Ale continues to be a top seller. It’s been our flagship beer since the very beginning and remains a go-to for many of our customers,” she said.
While The Yard already boasts an extensive lineup of canned drinks, the business always has more products in the works. Courtney shared that some items currently in development include Yard Sips, a vodka seltzer that will be available in pineapple and watermelon, as well as maple bourbon, coconut water rum and non-alcoholic options.
Courtney and Garrett Sowle discussed the impact that their business has had on them, “The growth has been incredible. Our products are now available in several major retailers, including Woodman’s, Hy-Vee, all Festival Foods locations in Green Bay, Jack’s Fresh Market in Marinette and The Wine Cellar in Green Bay, among many others. We’re excited to keep expanding and launching new offerings. We’re extremely grateful to all our customers for their continued support.”
A full list of retail and tap locations, products and summer tasting events can be found at www.theyardbeveragegroup.com or The Yard Brewing & Distilling Co on Facebook.
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