Central Standard Craft Distillery created a new brewmaster series where the Milwaukee-based distillery partners with different local, national and even international breweries to create craft spirits.
Central Standard’s manufacturing facility is based at 2330 W. Clybourn St. on Milwaukee’s near west side. The distillery also recently opened its new Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen in downtown Milwaukee at 320 E. Clybourn St.
Jim Kanter, Central Standard’s chief commercial officer, shared more about the new brewmaster series at the Milwaukee Rotary Club’s breakfast event on Dec. 7.
Central Standard worked with Decorah, Iowa-based Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. to pick up several of their stout barrels in which to age Central Standard brandy.
“Part of the reason that we went with them is because of our entry into Iowa,” Kanter said Tuesday. “We wanted to help with that brand equity and that brand name certainly in Iowa.”
Central Standard expanded its distribution this year to the four Midwestern states of Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan and Iowa.
The specific stout barrels that Central Standard utilized was Toppling Goliath’s collaboration with Wisconsin-based Central Waters Brewing Co. Central Waters recently opened a taproom in Milwaukee.
“They had four barrels for a brand they produced with Central Waters called Toppling Waters beer. We picked up the barrels right after they dumped the beer. We bring them back. We put the brandy in the barrels. We let that sit for about 30 days, and it picks up a lot of stout notes, a little bit of ‘beeriness,’ some caramel and chocolate notes,” Kanter said.
Central Standard produced about 250 cases of this aged brandy.
Then about a month ago Central Standard co-founder Pat McQuillan and Kanter drove back to Iowa with a truck to pick up more barrels, this time of Toppling Goliath’s Assassin barrel-aged stout. Assassin is one of the top 20 U.S. beers rated by Beer Advocate.
Kanter said Central Standard will have the next phase of this brewmaster series coming out in the upcoming weeks. It will be available at select retail locations.
“We’re going to continue those kind of things and be innovative, be on top of the game,” Kanter said.