Brewing Up Something More than Just Coffee

COPPER STATE BREWERY CONNECTING, CREATING, CRAFTING
 

Connections are important. Sometimes it helps us get the job we really want. Sometimes a connection can lead us to find our significant other, and sometimes it even leads us to our path we didn’t know we had yet to walk. Connections can give us new friends, make us try new things, and typically, our connections help us in some positive way.

It all started with a connection to spark the idea of Copper State Brewing Company. The new restaurant and brewery sits at 313 Dousman St. in Green Bay, in what used to be the old Hinterland. However, before it was able to become what it is today, Copper State Brewing Company got its start in brewing something different than beer – coffee.

Owners Bill and Emily Heiges started Copper Rock Coffee right out of college. Neither of them knew much about owning a business, but their entrepreneurial spirit got the best of them, so they dove right in. Their hard work paid off as they were about to open two separate locations in Appleton, and they had recently celebrated their 15th anniversary as a business. Nevertheless, Bill and Emily wanted to open up another shop, so they decided to look in the Green Bay area.

Another connection helped the Heiges with their next big step forward. A real estate friend had shown them a few different properties, but nothing seemed to jump off the page for the couple – until Bill saw the old Hinterland property.

It was very hush-hush at the time, because Hinterland was going to be moving into the recent Titletown District adjacent to Lambeau Field but that move hadn’t been announced yet. Bill came back from viewing the property and surprised his wife by saying that he wanted them to start a brewery. They saw it as an amazing building and opportunity and approached a lot of family and friends to see if there was interest to invest. They ended up getting together a group of six other couples (14 owners in all) and bought the building and equipment. Hinterland leased from Copper State Brewing Company for about a year and a half until they could get into their new location. Once they moved out, it only took three months to renovate the entire building and open it as Copper State Brewery in June 2017. There is a Copper Rock Coffee located in the brewery where a customer can get any of their coffee drinks at any time of day. However, all the food is served from Copper State Brewery.

Another owner of Copper State Brewing Company, Melissa Martens, said she would describe the food at her restaurant simply as “upscale pub food,” but Copper State Brewing Company has also become one of the “foodie” spots in Green Bay. Chef Scott Halbach and the owners spend a lot of time focusing on what goes into their food.

The menu is able to change seasonally and provide customers with a great experience because Chef Halbach also makes connections with local Wisconsin farms. In fact, as one walks into the front doors of Copper State Brewing Company, there is a giant chalk board that displays all of the local Wisconsin vendors.

It’s important for those at Copper State to promote their local community and even go out and see what’s happening on the farms. Not only do Chef Halbach and the owners bring a taste of Wisconsin onto their menus, but they also add a personal touch by incorporating their own beer and coffee into some of their menu items. The food helps to bring together the idea of connection that Copper State Brewing Company wants to provide. Their slogan is “Connecting People. Creating Experiences. Crafting Great Beer.”

Before they were able to open up as a brewery/restaurant/coffee shop, the Heiges knew they needed to fi nd someone to handle the brewery aspect of the business. Luckily, they had another great connection: their brother- in-law. John Martens quit his mechanical engineering job to come and be their master brewer. He took on the challenge because he loves to craft things and come up with new recipes. After some extensive training and classwork, and even some help with Hinterland’s master brewers, John has been able to fulfill the last aspect of Copper State Brewing Company’s slogan, “Crafting Great Beer.”

Connections helped make Copper State Brewing Company what it is today – one giant family. The owners make sure that their customers are part of that family as well; whether it’s sipping on some local coffee, indulging in a hand-crafted beer or two, or enjoying a Wisconsin locally-inspired entrée, there is a sense of connection and community. They are able to create those experiences for the customers.

“Connecting People. Creating Experiences. Crafting Great Beer.”