We all know it when it hits our lips: the refreshing taste of a good brew. That experience is even more enjoyable in the company of friends and family. The traditional taproom was originally established to provide rest and refreshment to travelers during the Roman colonization of Britain. But centuries later, as many of us have already experienced, the spirit of a taproom can be anywhere a tasty brew is found: around the campfire, at a football game or, in the case of Kurt Schneider and Jim Stirn, in their own garages.
    
Twenty-five years ago, Schneider and Stirn were friends and budding engineers at a supercomputing technology company. As time went on, so did their career paths. Schneider began a few business start-ups and Stirn pursued his Master of Business Administration (MBA). Over the years and through multiple career and life changes, Schneider and Stirn kept in touch. As conversations typically evolved over bubbling brews, they tried to figure out how to combine their passion for craft beer and quality spirits with their engineering backgrounds. Soon after, they partnered with Dave Behling, an electrical engineer, to turn the dream into a reality. Chippewa River Distillery and Brewster Bros. Brewing Co. opened Easter weekend of 2016, and has continued to experience success in Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley area as a premier brewery and distillery.

A good brew starts with grains and at this rare combination of brewery and distillery, all of the wheat and corn come from a local farm in Chippewa Falls. In fact, the company is committed to buying locally as much as they can—even their tables are produced by a local Amish community. The grain is first run through a mill, a crucial first step that could make or break both brews and spirits. There is a fine line between cracking the grains so as to keep the hulls intact and crushing the grains to where they become damaged. The grains are milled and transferred to a mash vessel and hot water is added.

Combining the grain and hot water is commonly referred to as “mashing,” which is a process that hydrates the grain, activates the malt enzymes, and converts grain starches to fermentable sugars. The mashing temperature determines whether sugars are fermentable or unfermentable, which ultimately determines if the beer is dry or sweet. Enzymatic activity ends when the temperature is raised to 170°F.

The next step is called lautering. The lauter tun separates the colored, flavored sugary liquid formed in the mash (also called wort) from the spent grain. Once the sweet wort is separated from the grain, it is boiled for one to two hours. This boiling process is when America’s trendiest beer ingredient, hops, are added. There are hundreds of varieties of hops, with the most common flavors being citrus, pine, fruit, earth, and spice. Deciding when to add hops to the boil can largely affect the flavor of the beer. Hops added earlier to the process produce a more bitter flavor, while hops added later in the process are intended to enhance flavor and aroma, but do not bitter the beer. Hops are meant to balance out the sweetness of the wort and each craft brewer uses hops to define who they are, and what kind of experience they want their patrons to have. Brewster Bros. Brewing Co. currently has five year-round and three seasonal beers. Varieties range from a cream ale to a porter and a lager to an IPA.

Once the wort has cooled, it is moved to a large, stainless steel vat called a fermenter where yeast is added. Fermentation eats the sugars and expels carbon dioxide and alcohol. Depending on the variety of yeast used, as well as the temperature during the fermentation process, certain flavors of beer can be achieved in this process as well. When fermentation is complete, the tank is cooled to refrigeration temperature, forcing the yeast to form into clumps and settle. The brewer can then remove the yeast, creating the final product: a delicious brew.

(photo) Chippewa River Distillery uses RL-9000TWM Series weigh modules to accurately weigh dry ingredients.

When distilling spirits, the process starts much the same as brewing beer. Grains are milled and go through a mashing process just like beer, converting starches into fermentable sugars and creating a wash. The wash is fermented and pumped to the still for distillation. Chippewa River Distillery uses a fractional distillation column still to create its signature vodka and whiskey.

Although the brewing and distilling industry is trending upwards, there is an exact science behind it—one that starts with weight. All raw materials need to be weighed in a hopper before they go through the milling process. This is not only for inventory control purposes, but the weight of ingredients can affect the outcome of the brew (or spirit). Chippewa River Distillery and Brewster Bros. Brewing Co. rely on Rice Lake to ensure accuracy throughout the process. As part of their commitment to keeping business local, the owners contacted John Nelson, owner of WIScale, located right in Chippewa Falls. Recognizing the importance of having equipment that can withstand food-grade environments, Nelson didn’t hesitate to recommend Rice Lake products. Brian Potter, technical solutions manager, installed, set up and calibrated all Rice Lake equipment in the brewery and distillery. Working with Chippewa River Distillery and Brewster Bros. Brewing Co., Potter notes, “I grew up in Chippewa Falls, so it’s been great to keep business local and see the growth of the area with companies like Rice Lake Weighing Systems, WIScale, and Chippewa River Distillery. I’m excited to be a part of a growing industry and show breweries and distilleries how Rice Lake products fit into their business.”

Rice Lake’s RL9000TWM Series weigh module is used with a hopper to accurately weigh dry ingredients. Built for capacities up to 450,000 lb, the RL9000TWM Series weigh module has a low-profile design, with self-centering and self-checking capabilities. It can weigh accurately with as much as a three degree non-parallel load and requires little to no maintenance, a factor that was very important for this Chippewa Valley startup. As an electrical engineer, Dave Behling, also a business partner with Schneider and Stirn, enjoys that it is a unit that he doesn’t have to visit a lot. The RL9000TWM Series weigh module delivers reliability in a fast-paced environment where materials move quickly.

Additionally, Chippewa River Distillery uses Rice Lake’s 480 Legend® Series weight display with the RL9000TWM Series weigh module in the distillery room.

The weight of the high-proof alcohol lets operators know how much water to add to the hopper. This will proof the alcohol down to a drinkable level. In a business where taste matters as much as alcohol content, weight is key in striking that perfect balance.
Throughout the centuries, connoisseurs of brews and spirits have tried tirelessly to perfect the craft. Different combinations and multiple flavors incite the taste buds and inspire the taproom spirit in all of us. For two friends, that spirit led them to open Chippewa River Distillery and Brewster Bros. Brewing Co.

Rice Lake raises a glass to local entrepreneurship and reliable equipment, so you can get back to what matters most—the spirit of a brew.
  
Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Rice Lake, WI, is an international manufacturer and distributor of weight-related products and process control equipment. For more information, visit www.ricelake.com.

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