Business Details
7 Years
experience
Craft Beer & Taproom in Elkhorn, WI
Founded in 2019 by Laura Duesterbeck Johnson and Ben Johnson, our brewery represents a fifth-generation family farm legacy rooted in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Combining Laura's horticultural expertise and Ben's 20+ years of homebrewing experience, we transformed historic farm buildings into a thriving microbrewery. Our operation spans a taproom, hops yard, and event spaces across 140 acres of preserved farmland. We maintain family involvement in daily operations, with six children and extended relatives contributing to service and management roles. Our business model reinvests all profits into sustainable agricultural practices that protect this historic property.Through craft beer production and community events like live music series and seasonal markets, we connect visitors to our agricultural heritage. Our brewing philosophy emphasizes quality ingredients grown on-site whenever possible. The scenic farm setting provides a unique backdrop for beer tasting experiences and special events. We maintain strict adherence to environmental stewardship principles in both farming and brewing operations. Our long-term vision ensures this land remains productive for future generations while sharing our family's story through craft beer.
Services
Craft Beer Production
Taproom Service
Brewery Tours
Live Music Events
Merchandise Sales
Beer Delivery
Event Hosting
Farm Preservation
Agricultural Education
Seasonal Markets
Details
- Year established: 2019
Highlights and features
- We operate on a fifth-generation family farm with 164 years of agricultural heritage
- Our brewery reinvests all profits into sustainable farm preservation
- We combine professional brewing with homebrew expertise since 2001
- Our family manages all operations from brewing to event production
- We offer unique farm-to-glass beer experiences in a historic setting
Services
Craft Beer Production
We produce over 60 unique craft beer varieties annually using ingredients grown on our historic family farm. Our brewing process combines traditional techniques with modern quality standards. Each beer reflects our commitment to agricultural sustainability and flavor innovation.
Taproom Service
Our taproom serves 20+ craft beers daily in a restored barn setting overlooking farmland. Visitors enjoy pints, flights, and growler fills while experiencing our working brewery environment. The space connects patrons directly to our beer production process.
Live Music Events
We host live music performances year-round featuring local and regional artists across multiple genres. The outdoor stage accommodates summer concerts while the taproom provides winter performance space. Events create community gathering opportunities.
Brewery Tours
Guided tours explore our brewing operations and historic farm buildings. Visitors learn about our sustainable practices and family legacy while observing beer production firsthand. Tours connect agricultural heritage to modern brewing.
Seasonal Markets
We operate special seasonal markets featuring local vendors and holiday-themed beers. These events combine craft beer tasting with community shopping opportunities. The markets celebrate regional agricultural traditions in a festive setting.
People
Laura Duesterbeck Johnson
Owner & Chief Creative Officer
Fifth-generation steward of the family farm, Laura combines horticultural expertise with visionary leadership to transform the property into a sustainable agribusiness through craft brewing.
Ben Johnson
Owner & Brewmaster
With 20+ years of homebrewing experience, Ben transitioned his basement nanobrewery to commercial production, applying technical precision to craft beer creation while maintaining quality standards.
Leslie
General Manager
Laura's sister oversees daily operations, ensuring smooth functioning of the taproom, events, and visitor experiences while maintaining family business values.
Adam
Operations Manager
Ben's brother manages production logistics and facility maintenance, applying agricultural knowledge to support both brewing and farm preservation goals.
Cathy
Bartender & Event Coordinator
Laura's mother combines hospitality skills with family history knowledge to serve patrons and curate live music programming that reflects community interests.
Questions
Is Duesterbeck's Brewing Company family-owned?
Yes, we're a fifth-generation family operation with multiple family members working in key roles from brewing to management.
Can I visit the brewery year-round?
Our taproom operates year-round with seasonal adjustments to outdoor event spaces and special holiday market events.
Do you offer brewery tours?
Yes, we provide guided tours of our brewing facilities and historic farm buildings explaining our sustainable practices.
Are outside beverages allowed?
No, for safety and quality reasons we don't permit outside alcohol consumption on our premises.
How many beer varieties do you offer?
We produce over 60 different craft beers annually with 20+ varieties typically available on tap.
Do you host special events?
Yes, we feature live music weekly and seasonal events including Christmas Market, Oktoberfest, and summer concert series.
Reviews (4)
C. Ackerman
Jan 31, 2022
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Great beer. Good vibes. Cute location. Lastly they even have a little store for shopping. All they need is like a ice cream stand for the summer and youll see me here every weekend. Ill be returning either way way for sure!
Paige Luebbert
Jan 24, 2022
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Delicious beer selection out in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. We were pleasantly surprised. The beers had great flavor and there were a few that were very different from anything weve ever had before. We especially enjoyed the sticky buns and the muddy stash. We were in elkhorn for a weekend and stopped by this place twice. Service was great both days.
Tiffany Overby
Jan 07, 2022
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Super cute atmosphere....amazing selection with 30 tappers.....their brews are incredible.....holy smokes they're good.....you can get flights of 4 or 6. They also have the cutest gift shop with home decor, at affordable boutique prices. Definitely will be back.
Celia Stevens
Oct 17, 2021
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Great place to kick back, relax, have a few drinks with friends and listen to some great live music! Enjoy the brewery too!
