Rhinelander Brewing has a long history in the North Woods. Founded in 1882, the Rhinelander Brewery became well-known for its 7-ounce “shorty”, the stubby bottle that some other brands have imitated. As many local brewers did in the 1960s, the original Rhinelander Brewery facility shut its doors in 1967. The Joseph Huber Brewing Company bought the rights and kept them until Jyoti Auluck purchased the brand back in 2009 and brought back the original malty recipe to their flagship and signature beer: Rhinelander Export Lager. More places around the state are carrying the shorty bottles, and in Rhinelander, it’s even available on tap, including at the return of their flagship brewery right downtown!
Rhinelander opened offices back in their hometown on Brown Street several years before they got a chance to build out a brewery and tap room. For a while, they continued to have signature brews like Rhinelander Export Lager and Rhinelander Light brewed by Minhas Brewing in Monroe. Additional craft brews were added as they re-tooled, many named after rabbits.
Their Brown Street offices, brewery, and Tap Room opened in 2018. They’ve been a very popular stop in downtown Rhinelander ever since. Rhinelander Brewery beers available in their Tap Room include their bunny-themed beers: Mystical Jack Traditional Ale, Chocolate Bunny Stout, Thumper American IPA, and Imperial Jack Double IPA; Rhinelander Export, their flagship brew often found in the 7-oz. shorties; Oktoberfest (in season); and Rhinelander Light.
Hodag Brewing is also part of Rhinelander Brewery, and their beers at the Tap Room include the “Ahoy! ‘Dag” Navy IPA; “Make My ‘Dag” Oatmeal Stout; and the “Dubl ‘Dag” Belgian Dubbel. They also have a few brews they cleared named after watching lots of Scooby-Doo: the “Daphne ‘Dag” Aronia Berry Ale, the “Velma ‘Dag” Pumpkin & Spice Ale, and the “Scoobie ‘Dag” Cocoa PB Porter (at least that’s what we saw on our last trip, didn’t see any “Scooby Snacks.”)
Their Winter Tap Room Hours are:
Monday – Thursday, 11am – 6pm
Friday 11am – 8pm
Saturday Noon – 8pm
CLOSED Sunday
You’ll find Rhinelander Brewery and the Rhinelander Brewing Company (and Hodag Brewing) Tap Room on Brown Street in downtown Rhinelander, just a block west of Stephens Street, the historic Highway 17 through town. U.S. 8 brings you to Rhinelander and bypasses just to the south; you can access downtown following the signs. Today’s Highway 47 comes around the west and south sides of the city; a ride east on Davenport Street just over the Wisconsin River to Brown will get you there. Highway 17 also bypasses the city today, but following Boyce Street to Kemp (Business U.S. 8) and then Pelham to downtown will bring you there from the south; from the north, just follow Stephens Street off Highway 17 at the traffic light and it will bring you right downtown. Worth the drive!
Rhinelander Brewing Company Address:
59 S. Brown Street
Rhinelander, WI 54501
(715) 550-2337
Website
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