On Premise May/June 2021

The Official Publication of the Tavern League of Wisconsin

MAY/JUNE 2021 TLW.ORG

THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK ALSO INSIDE: Partners in Progress: How the TLW Benefits Members The Latest News from Madison and Washington, D.C.

MAJOR SUPPORTER of

State and Local Tavern Leagues

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS TAVERN LEAGUE OF WISCONSIN • Co-sponsor of TLW Legislative Day • Underwriter of TLW Video on Jobs and Employment • Provider of Coin-Operated Games at TLW Conferences & Shows to Benefit TIPAC • Sponsor of the TLW Trip Give-away at TLW Spring Conference & Show • Donor of Large Screen TV at TLW Fall Convention & Show

LOCAL TAVERN LEAGUE PROGRAMS (SafeRide, Golf, Others) • Contributions and support from individual WAMO members • Matching Funds from WAMO to Tavern League Locals • Contributions to SafeRide Program, Golf and Others • Active Participation and Attendance

WISCONSIN AMUSEMENT & MUSIC OPERATORS PO Box 259506 Madison, WI 53725 www.WAMO.net

608.709.1960 608.824.2205 E amanda@wamo.net P F

A complete list of WAMO members can be found at www.WAMO.net.

Hosts of the World’s Largest Dart Tournament & the Nation’s Largest Pool Tournament.

The Official Publication of the Tavern League of Wisconsin MAY/JUNE 2021 VOLUME 39, NO. 3

FEATURES

THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Fundraising efforts for the TLW’s friends and neighbors raised more than $10 million in 2020.

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS . . . . . . 10 The TLW benefits its members in a myriad of ways, starting with acting as the voice of thousands of businesses across the state and ending with education.

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LEAGUE SPOTLIGHTS

LEAGUE PROFILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Racine County

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT. . . . . . . . . . 19 River City Lanes and Bruno’s Restaurant

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT. . . . . . . . . . 20 Various Causes

16

LEAGUE LEADER SPOTLIGHT. . . 21 Dean Larsen

DEPARTMENTS President’s Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Featured Affiliates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Corporate Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

New Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Corporate Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Affiliate Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

ABL Dispatch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Industry Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Legislative Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Advertiser Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Accounting on Tap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

SOCIALIZE WITH US:

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SPECIAL CLUB MEMBERSHIP

PLATINUM CLUB MEMBERS 5TH DISTRICT TAVERN LEAGUE OSHKOSH CITY/WINNEBAGO COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE OUTAGAMIE COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE PORTAGE COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE

GOLD CLUB MEMBERS 7TH DISTRICT TAVERN LEAGUE DOOR COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE OCONTO COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE

PRESIDENT

Chris Marsicano

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Cathy Vales

SECRETARY Erin Pulaski

TREASURER Todd Giraud

SOUTHERN ZONE VICE PRESIDENT Dan Taivalkoski

SOUTHERN DISTRICT VICE PRESIDENT Keith Koehler

EASTERN ZONE VICE PRESIDENT Tim "Tippy" Tomchek

EASTERN DISTRICT VICE PRESIDENT Terri "Sassy" Buman

CENTRAL ZONE VICE PRESIDENT Paul Salzwedel

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

CENTRAL DISTRICT VICE PRESIDENT Lori Frommgen

PLATINUM $1,000 Annual Membership Level

NORTHERN ZONE VICE PRESIDENT

GOLD $500 Annual Membership Level

NORTHERN DISTRICT VICE PRESIDENT

SILVER $250 Annual Membership Level

PAST PRESIDENT

3.343" a Special Club Member, For more information on becoming call the TLW office at (608) 270-8591.

Donn “Dino” Amundson Nancy Lorbetske Terry Harvath

EDITOR

Michelle Czosek, Executive Director, Tavern League of Wisconsin

MANAGING EDITOR

Carrie Mantey, Nei-Turner Media Group Inc.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Lauren Harrigan, Nei-Turner Media Group Inc.

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

Cindy Micha, Nei-Turner Media Group Inc. cmicha@ntmediagroup.com

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

Julie Schiller, Nei-Turner Media Group Inc. ads@ntmediagroup.com

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LSC Communications, Pontiac, Illinois On Premise (ISSN #1051-4562) is a bimonthly publication of the Tavern League of Wisconsin Inc., 1818 Parmenter St., Ste. 300, Middleton, WI 53562, Phone: (608) 270-8591.

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Printing is by LSC Communications, Pontiac, IL. For advertising information, please contact Cindy Micha, (262) 9038633, cmicha@ntmediagroup.com. Subscriptions included in TLW membership dues; non-member subscriptions cost $15 per year. Postmaster: Send address corrections to the Tavern League of Wisconsin Office, 1818 Parmenter St., Ste. 300, Middleton, WI 53562. Periodicals postage paid at Madison, WI and other additional offices. ©2021 Tavern League of Wisconsin Inc. Permission to reprint must be secured in advance of publication, and credit given to author and On Premise.

Port Washington • Green Bay • Manitowoc • Mosinee • Appleton • Madison • Burlington • Jefferson • Cedarburg • Brookfield • Oshkosh • Stevens Point • Eau Claire • Menomonie • Augusta • Chippewa Falls • Bloomer • Chetek • New Richmond • River Falls

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PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE TLW STARTS NEW CHAPTER: NEW MANAGEMENT, STAFF AND HEADQUARTERS

R

ecently, you have been informed of many changes afoot here at the Tavern League of Wisconsin. With Pete’s retirement on May 1, AMPED Association Management has taken over the reins of our day-to-day operations. With this move have come some changes. One of the most noticeable is our mailing address, which is now: Tavern League of Wisconsin, 1818 Parmenter St., Ste. 300, Middleton, WI 53562. Our phone number remains the same: (608) 310-7541.

As a partner, AMPED will bring a wealth of association experience and provide full management services, including leadership, strategic planning, governance, policy, membership development, digital and live meeting planning, educational programming, financial management and communications. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to AMPED and the new members of the TLW team.

Michelle Czosek, CAE, will serve as the Executive Director of the TLW, overseeing all operations of the organization, and working directly with the Board of Directors on strategy and budget. She has over 30 years of experience managing a variety of professional and trade associations with expertise in education, event planning, membership and governance.

Tony Veroeven will serve as the Vice President of External Relations, focusing on partnerships and membership growth.

His expertise in marketing, sales and member relations will help guide the growth of the TLW and our Foundation.

Both Michelle and Tony will be supported by a full team of TLW staff, including Heather Tollefson, our membership and program coordinator, who joined us last year. Rounding out the staff will be Jeanne Weiss who is responsible for publications and communication, Karie Krantz as program manager, Tracey Bockhop for events and trade shows, and Cora Kinney as reception. Scott Stenger will continue in his role as the TLW lobbyist, while the TLW Executive Board will continue to strategically guide the organization. Pete will remain with us in the role of TLW outreach so that we may continue to use his vast knowledge and experience of our industry and our association.

This decision was not made lightly. Our committee — led by myself, Dan Taivalkoski, Cathy Vales, Todd Giraud, Erin www.tlw.org

Pulaski, Lori Frommgen and Paul Salzwedel — devoted much time to it over many meetings, phone calls and emails.

I would personally like to thank each one of them. The committee was very conscious of the huge job that was entrusted to them and I believe they did an excellent job.

On another note, there will be a presidential election at our Fall Convention and Trade Show in Appleton. I was very honored to be nominated again by several different caucuses.

As president of the TLW for the last four years, I have been humbled to represent the best members that any association president could hope for. After much thought and discussion with my wife, I made the tough decision to decline the honor to run for president again. These last two years have been extremely stressful. I have served on the TLW board for over 20 years now and I am currently the longest serving member of the Executive Board.

It is time to transition into the position of past president after this election. In this role, I hope to continue to help and advise this association and its new president to the best of my ability. If I serve two to four years as past president, that will bring me to 25 years on the Board, and it will be time to make way for younger members with new and refreshing ideas. I will always be grateful for the support and friendship of the members of this association, especially after all we have been through together these last two years.

This association is extremely fortunate to have two highly qualified candidates to lead the TLW into the future: Cathy Vales, our current Senior Vice President, and Keith Kern, our current Eighth District Director. I would be proud to call either one TLW president. As they make their way around the state stumping for your votes, please remember one thing that I have learned having walked in their shoes. Never believe something that someone else has told you about the candidates’ positions or beliefs on the issues. If you want to know where a candidate stands, get it right from the horse’s mouth and do not settle for hearsay.

As always, please feel free to contact me regarding any state or local issues you may have. My line is always open. I look forward to finally seeing you all this fall in Appleton.

Salute,

Chris Marsicano TLW President MAY/JUNE 2021

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CORPORATE MEMBERS Support Those Who SupportSUPPORT our Association THOSE WHO SUPPORT OUR ASSOCIATION SUPPORT SUPPORT THOSE WHO OUR ASSOCIATION PLATINUM SPONSORS PLATINUM SPONSORS

PLATINUM MEMBERS

2012 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

2012 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

GOLD MEMBERS GOLD SPONSORS GOLD SPONSORS

Anheuser-Busch Anheuser-Busch

BRONZE BRONZE SPONSORS BRONZE SPONSORS

MEMBERS

TA V E R N L E A G U E O F W I S C O N S I N

SILVER MEMBERS

TA V E R N L E A G U E O F W I S C O N S I N

SILVER SPONSORS SILVER SPONSORS

Make sure to thank these groups for their support and encourage others & not on the list to participate. Any business interested in joining should call the Wisconsin Amusement Wisconsin Amusement & TLW office at (608) 270-8591 forMusic more information regarding the benefits Music Operators, Inc. of the different categories. Remember to “support those who support us.”

Operators, Inc.

and thank these groups for their and encourage the list to Any participate. business in joining ese groups for their support, andsupport, encourage others not onothers the listnot to on participate. businessAny interested in interested joining should call should call fice (608-270-8591) for our listsofthe of categories. the differentRemember categories.“Support Remember “Support those who 8591) for our brochure thatbrochure lists the that benefits thebenefits different those who support us.” support us.”

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CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT MOLSON COORS “The cream-brick Old Brewhouse on State Street is the oldest surviving building on the Miller campus” in Milwaukee, says Idstein. “Completed in 1888, it is the only brewery building standing today that was constructed under the direction of Frederick J. Miller.”

“In conjunction with the Milwaukee Brewers, we sponsor the Brewers Tavern of the Game, where, at each game, we award 40 Brewers tickets to TLW members.”

— Dan Idstein, Molson Coors

M

olson Coors’ Miller Brewery in Milwaukee has a long and storied history of brewing beer, which began with a brewer’s apprentice named Frederick J. Miller in southwestern Germany. At just 12 years old, he embarked on a career that eventually would take him all the way to the United States. In 1854, after reaching master brewer status, Miller immigrated and found his home in Milwaukee. He purchased the existing Plank Road Brewery, but renamed it the Menomonee Valley Brewery in 1873.

Today, the brewery is full of unique features, one of the most significant being the Miller Caves. The caves are 62 feet underground and were dug by hand in 1850 using a traditional Belgian method of tunneling. Miller later expanded the caves until they reached a total length of about 600 feet. “The caves were constructed for fermentation, aging and storage of lager beer,” explains Dan Idstein, general manager of sales at Molson Coors. “The Miller Caves were kept cool with ice cut from local ponds and lakes during the winter. In the summer, sawdust and hay were used to insulate the ice.”

Mechanical refrigeration was introduced some time between 1887 and 1892, but Miller didn’t cease using the caves for beer storage until 1906. In 1953, Miller Brewing Company restored portions of the caves as a museum and dining hall.

Since that time, the Miller Caves and other parts of the brewery campus have undergone periodic restorations and renovations, and remain a part of the popular brewery tour.

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Portions of the Miller brewery campus were also designed or renovated by Brooks Stevens, an American industrial designer responsible for creating the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, the 1949 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide motorcycle and the Jeep Wagoneer. Stevens also designed the Soft Cross, which remains the primary logo for the Miller Brewing Company today.

Though the brewery tour is on hold for now, Idstein looks forward to a safer time when the public can once again interact with the historical brewery. “What we love about Milwaukee is the people, and how they have supported our company and brands for the last 160-plus years,” he says.

“We’ve tried to return that favor through our local investments. In just the last few years, we have had a $50 million expansion of the [Leinenkugel’s] Tenth Street Brewery near downtown Milwaukee and more than $65 million going to the main Milwaukee brewery.”

Molson Coors continues to be a leading sponsor of the city’s sports and entertainment initiatives as well — from Summerfest and the Wisconsin Center District, to the Milwaukee Brewers and the Milwaukee Bucks. The brewing company is also one of the largest employers in the area.

As longtime members of the TLW, Molson Coors plans to continue the relationship in an effort to support bars and taverns in the Milwaukee community and throughout the state.

“In conjunction with the Milwaukee Brewers, we sponsor the Brewers Tavern of the Game, where, at each game, we award 40 Brewers tickets to TLW members,” says Idstein. “We also partner with our distributor network across the state to provide resources to Tavern League members to responsibly promote beer sales in their establishments.”

As the temperatures steadily get warmer, Idstein looks forward to the refreshing taste of Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy and recommends checking for updated tour information at millerbrewerytour.com for a quick summer getaway and beverage. TLW

MOLSON COORS (800) 645-5376 molsoncoors.com MAY/JUNE 2021

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THE IMPORTANCE OF

GIVING BACK Fundraising efforts for the TLW’s friends and neighbors raised more than $10 million in 2020.

BY MAURA KELLER

C

haritable giving has long been a mainstay of American culture, and trade associations have long been champions of giving back to others. The TLW, however, is a particularly generous bunch. The association provides its members with an opportunity to help others — a chance to change the world — by giving to those in need. Then the TLW Foundation boosts those efforts with the Matching Funds Program, as former TLW Executive Director Pete Madland explains.

And even though the pandemic wreaked havoc across the industry, as well as on consumers’ wallets in 2020, the TLW is pleased to announce that the association donated over $10 million to more than 11,000 charitable organizations and people in need through the hard work and big hearts of its members, and the Matching Funds Program.

So why does the Tavern League put such an emphasis on charitable giving?

“We feel that it creates an awareness about the importance of making an impact on the local community,” says Chris Marsicano, TLW president and owner of The Village Supper Club in Delavan. “The program is a great opportunity to get people involved and have a voice in the decision about how we want to give back to the community.” And Marsicano should know. Each year, he and his wife, Patti, raise funds to provide Thanksgiving meals for those in need — funds that are matched (up to $1,500 each year) by the TLW. “It is just a fantastic way of reaching even more people in need,” he says.

Started in 1995, the TLW Foundation raises funds for both charitable giving and the association’s SafeRide Program. “We had a lot of our individual members and individual leagues raising a lot of money for different charities, but nobody knew about it,” Madland explains. “In an effort to try to improve the image of our industry, we want to make the public aware of what we are doing.”

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“We had a lot of our individual members and individual leagues raising a lot of money for different charities, but nobody knew about it. In an effort to try to improve the image of our industry, we want to make the public aware of what we are doing.”

— Pete Madland, TLW

Here’s How It Works The TLW Foundation’s Matching Funds Program provides any local league that raises money for any specific cause a matching amount of funds raised up to $1,500 a year.

“However, we won’t provide the funds until that league issues a press release,” Madland says. “Our members aren’t good at patting themselves on the back or bragging about what they do for their communities, so we require that they issue a press release about their giving. In that press release, it states that the TLW Foundation will provide matching funds to their cause.”

More associations like the TLW are offering members the opportunity to do good deeds — and believe they can attract even more members by doing so. Not everyone can afford to donate to charities each year, so this helps them be a part of the greater good. “It gives everyone a chance to make a difference,” Marsicano says.

The types of charitable giving efforts that the TLW Foundation provides matching funds for can range from individual college scholarships to helping a cancer victim to providing assistance to larger nonprofits.

“We’ve been doing this for about 25 years and we envision that our charitable giving programs will continue into the future,” Madland concludes. “And we are excited to keep doing what we can to help others.” TLW www.tlw.org

2020 TLW FOUNDATION CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS COUNTY NAME Adams County Ashland/Bayfield County Barron County Brown County Burnett County Calumet County Chippewa County Clark County Columbia County Crawford County Dells/Delton Area Dodge County Door County Eau Claire City/County Florence County Fond du Lac City/County Forest County Grant/Iowa County Greater Northwoods Green Lake Area Jackson County Jefferson County Juneau County Kenosha City Kenosha County Kewaunee County La Crosse City/County Lakeland Area Langlade County Lincoln County Madison/Dane County Manitowoc County Marathon County Marinette County Marquette County Milwaukee County Monroe County Oconto County Oneida County Oshkosh/Winnebago County Outagamie County Ozaukee County Pepin County Pierce County Polk County Portage County Price County Racine City Racine County Rock County Sauk County Sawyer County Shawano County Sheboygan County South Central St. Croix County Superior/Douglas County Taylor County Trempealeau/Buffalo County Vilas County Walworth County Washburn County Washington County Waukesha County Waupaca County Waushara County Wood County State Office of TLW TOTAL

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AMOUNT

NUMBER OF CHARITIES

$78,922.00 $200,000.00 $33,888.00 $508,143.00 $28,402.00 $13,000.00 $103,320.00 $60,000.00 $60,000.00 $38,568.00 $2,100,066.00 $68,575.00 $88,000.00 $63,500.00 $13,000.00 $30,000.00 $12,400.00 $757,600.00 $3,000.00 $47,600.00 $43,000.00 $155,622.00 $18,075.00 $86,043.00 $54,025.00 $166,550.00 $263,000.00 $45,000.00 $98,622.00 $51,511.00 $176,000.00 $116,871.00 $182,000.00 $67,000.00 $13,056.00 $655,372.00 $20,932.00 $32,809.00 $8,910.00 $199,920.00 $12,850.00 $153,256.00 $70,401.00 $27,000.00 $221,000.00 $198,403.00 $108,800.00 $60,615.00 $238,670.00 $34,674.00 $35,000.00 $51,000.00 $40,000.00 $38,825.00 $26,870.00 $72,403.00 $263,640.00 $6,800.00 $235,000.00 $68,000.00 $93,989.00 $625,000.00 $402,000.00 $15,000.00 $90,000.00 $155,000.00 $302,500.00 $96,000.00

49 15 70 98 76 15 200 120 40 23 486 512 20 55 10 21 7 1,440 12 22 18 170 35 21 5 38 90 260 12 38 17 173 75 42 15 92 210 179 25 700 149 32 42 10 48 69 13 46 12 25 68 70 1,000 600 22 5 780 6 550 24 49 75 50 150 1,500 48 400 68

$10,504,998.00

11,417

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PARTNERS IN PROGRESS The TLW benefits its members in a myriad of ways, starting with acting as the voice of thousands of businesses across the state and ending with education.

BY MAURA KELLER

F

or 86 years, the TLW has represented businesses within the retail beverage alcohol segment of Wisconsin’s hospitality industry. The TLW’s mission is to provide its more than 5,000 members with services and representation that can help improve business conditions and enable them to maintain their contributions to the state’s economy. From legislative and governmental relations to education, the TLW is actively involved in shaping the decisions that affect members’ businesses.

And while members may be aware of some of the key benefits of belonging to this unique trade association, the TLW serves its membership in a myriad of ways, including acting as the voice of thousands of businesses and individuals across the state. The alcohol industry is complicated and highly regulated, but the TLW stays on top of it, keeping abreast of all of the latest news and informing members to ensure they are in the know.

“The legislation arm is the strongest in the state, and we defend our members and their right to do business.”

— Pete Madland, TLW 10

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For Pete Madland, former TLW executive director, there are two key benefits to being a member of the Tavern League, specifically falling within the areas of legislation and education. “The legislation arm is the strongest in the state, and we defend our members and their right to do business,” Madland says. “Without our efforts, a lot of legislation would be passed or defeated that would have detrimental effects on our business.”

“We are advocates for people in this industry,” says Chris Marsicano, TLW president. “We help simplify the process.”

Madland often tells members to imagine their business without the Tavern League, imagine their business without a voice in Madison or without a voice in Washington, D.C. There are many states that simply don’t have an association dedicated to the retail beverage segment of the hospitality industry.

“Because of this, the people who are part of that segment of the industry have to endure so much more red tape and deal with so much more paperwork. But with our help and our efforts, we are able to streamline everything for our members,” Marsicano says. “We are also constantly working for them — checking on and closely following the legislative issues that may impact their businesses.”

The TLW offers significant member benefits in the area of education as well. The association continually strives to www.tlw.org

“We are advocates for people in this industry.”

— Chris Marsicano, TLW provide tools to members to allow them to do business better — more efficiently and more profitably — and be empowered with the knowledge and education needed to accomplish their goals.

“At the TLW, I say we have to do two things: help our members increase their sales and decrease their costs,” Madland says. “And we try to do that by offering education through different programs and publications, such as On Premise magazine and our newsletter, as well as our social media efforts, our conventions and other ongoing educational tools.”

Because knowledge is power in this industry, each year, the TLW offers speakers and seminars geared to help members conduct business better at their events. In addition, the monthly newsletter and bimonthly magazine provide in-depth information on topics that concern members and the industry as a whole. Through this media, the TLW works diligently to help members stay abreast of the issues that impact their businesses.

Connecting with other members in your industry is paramount to any business’ success. To help foster those connections, the TLW hosts an annual Spring Conference and Trade Show and Fall Convention and Trade Show that are packed with networking and educational opportunities to help businesses stay innovative and well informed.

Of course, networking opportunities abound at some of the TLW’s justfor-fun activities as well, including its annual state golf outing, Las Vegas getaway and Legislative Day, an event in which members are invited to spend time with state legislators in their offices, addressing the issues that matter to the industry.

Moreover, to help members’ employees achieve their licensing requirements, the TLW offers various in-person and online educational opportunities, such www.tlw.org

as bartending training programs, one of which is designed to teach participants ways to prevent intoxication, underage drinking and drunk driving. The Tavern League’s four-hour, interactive, online bartending certification course teaches participants the key facets of responsibly selling and serving alcoholic beverages in the state.

Not only is the association the foremost advocate for the on-premise beverage alcohol industry in Wisconsin, but it also offers various money-saving benefits and services. For example, members can receive discounts on the TLW’s certified professional safe food-handler program, which is an approved, licensed class that is available year-round at locations throughout the state.

“We also offer discounts on such things as bartender training programs and a workers’ compensation rebate program for premiums,” explains Madland.

Members can also enjoy discounted credit card processing fees — a muchappreciated benefit as more and more consumers are no longer using cash to pay for purchases.

Most recently, TLW members are eligible to participate in the Tavern League’s group health care plan (written by WPS Health Insurance), not only for themselves, but also for their employees and employees’ family members. In addition to health insurance, the program allows

TLW members to extend extra employer-paid ancillary benefits, including life insurance, and short- and long-term disability, to employees.

Playing a part in keeping the community safe is also a key benefit of membership in the TLW. Each member is able to participate in the popular SafeRide Program and offer their customers a safe ride home to help eliminate drunk driving on Wisconsin’s roads. In 2019, the TLW provided over 92,000 free rides to patrons in the state.

And while preventing drunk driving is imperative in any community, so, too, is helping those in need. That’s why the TLW offers members the opportunity to raise money for local charities, and provide assistance to neighbors and other community members who may need help. From establishing college scholarships to stocking food pantry shelves to assisting with the medical expenses of cancer patients, together the TLW and its members have contributed millions of dollars to thousands of charitable causes throughout the state.

The Tavern League is always working on new ways to improve benefits for its members that allow them to do business better. Marsicano says, “It’s important to make the most of your membership. I always say that we provide the tools, but you have to use them.” TLW MAY/JUNE 2021

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ABL Dispatch — The Latest Industry News from Washington

BY JOHN BODNOVICH, ABL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

It has been a busy first few months of 2021 in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country as bar, tavern and package store owners have been flexing their grassroots muscles in places like Madison. Congratulations to the TLW and your legislative leadership team for securing the passage of Assembly Bill 32, permitting the sale of cocktails to go, and the other important work the TLW is doing at the Capitol.

TLW President Weighs in on Perishable Food and Beverage Tax Credit Legislation In a recent interview with Politico, TLW President Chris Marsicano spoke out on the need for a one-time perishable food and beverage tax credit to help struggling bars, taverns, supper clubs and restaurants recoup some of their losses from pandemic-related closures. The tax credit is included in the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act of 2021.

According to the Politico article: A provision in the legislation would offer a targeted tax credit for the kinds of bars, taverns and restaurants represented by the American Beverage Licensees (ABL), said the group’s executive director John Bodnovich. The tax break would cover 90% of the estimated $900 million in perishable food and beverage inventory losses from March 13 to Sept. 30, 2020, he said.

“We’re not out of the woods yet and additional relief is certainly warranted,” Bodnovich said. “Every little bit helps.”

Clear example: Chris Marsicano, owner of the Village Supper Club in Delavan, Wis., agreed. The 56-year-old family business received a shutdown order just hours before opening for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day last year, precipitating a long decline to come. His business was off 40% in 2020.

The St. Patrick’s shutdown left Marsicano with 1,100 pounds of corned beef, 700 pounds of cabbage and 600

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“The tax break would cover 90% of the estimated $900 million in perishable food and beverage inventory losses from March 13 to Sept. 30, 2020.”

— Politico

pounds of chicken. Some of the food was donated to homeless shelters and, though some beer companies took back their kegs, a lot of what he had on tap was also thrown away because of expiration dates …

Not a silver bullet: He doesn’t expect the legislation to cure all that ails the hospitality industry, but said it would provide a helpful additional lifeline.

Marsicano didn’t lay off any employees last year, some of whom have worked there for decades, but he cut some of their hours and didn’t make his normal 20-odd seasonal hires last summer.

ABL is working with the Perishable Food and Beverage Coalition to support this bill.

Restaurant Revitalization Fund Congress approved the ABL-supported, $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which President Joe Biden signed into law on March 11. Included in the bill is the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), which creates a $28.6 billion grant program for restaurants, bars and other on-premise businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The following is a summary of the grant program as of today, with further modifications expected as the SBA implements the program.

What is it?

The RRF grant program provides $28.6 billion in cash grants to qualifying businesses that experienced revenue losses in 2020. The U.S. Department of the Treasury will allocate funds so that the SBA can administer the program. There are no details available from the SBA yet. www.tlw.org

Who is eligible?

“Eligible entities” are businesses that can demonstrate that “the uncertainty of current economic conditions makes necessary the grant request to support the ongoing operations of the eligible entity” and businesses “in which the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink” that were open on Feb. 15, 2020. These entities include: • Restaurants • Food stands, food trucks and food carts • Caterers • Saloons, inns, taverns, bars and lounges • Brewpubs, tasting rooms and taprooms Who is ineligible?

State or local government-owned businesses; any business owned or operated (together or with an affiliate business) with more than 20 locations (regardless of whether those locations do business under the same name or different names) as of March 13, 2020; any business that has a pending grant application or has received a grant under Section 324 of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act; and publicly traded companies are not eligible.

How much can an eligible business receive?

Grants will equal the amount by which the recipient’s gross receipts decreased in 2020 as compared to 2019, less the amount of first- and second-draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans received by the business. Businesses that were established during 2019 can receive a grant equal to the difference between either average monthly 2019 gross receipts multiplied by 12 or average monthly 2020 gross receipts multiplied by 12.

Businesses that were established on or after Jan. 1, 2020, can receive a grant equal to eligible payroll expenses, less gross receipts from that year. The grant is limited at $10 million for each recipient or $5 million per location. While a business that received a PPP loan or Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) can still qualify for this grant, previous loan money awarded will reduce how much a business is eligible to receive. www.tlw.org

What can Restaurant Revitalization funds be used for?

They can cover any of the following types of expenses that an eligible business incurred between Feb. 15, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021: • Payroll costs • Payments of principal or interest on any mortgage obligation (not to be used for prepayment of principal on a mortgage obligation) • Rent payments, including rent under a lease agreement (not any prepayment of rent) • Utilities • Maintenance expenses that include construction to accommodate outdoor seating, walls, floors, deck surfaces, furniture, fixtures and equipment • Supplies, including protective equipment and cleaning materials • Food and beverage expenses that were within the scope of normal business practice before the covered period • Operational expenses • Paid sick leave • Any other expenses that the SBA administrator determines to be essential to maintaining the eligible business How will these funds be taxed?

The grant is excluded from gross income and the business will be able to deduct expenses paid with grant funds from its gross income.

What if a grant recipient can’t or doesn’t use all of the funds it received?

Those funds will be returned to the Treasury.

When will the grant be accessible?

The SBA is working to develop guidance for applicants and on how to implement the program.

How do I apply?

So far, the SBA has not released guidance or set up an online portal for applications. It is also worth remembering that applications for the first 21 days will be limited to women-owned, veteran-owned, and socially or economically disadvantaged businesses. During the first 60 days after the MAY/JUNE 2021

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act becomes law, $5 billion of the RRF is reserved for grants to eligible entities with gross receipts in 2019 of not more than $500,000. All eligible businesses have until Dec. 31 to apply.

The SBA is currently working to implement the program and ABL will provide more information to TLW members as soon as possible.

Other Provisions in the American Rescue Plan While the RRF is the most significant policy item in the American Rescue Plan for bars and taverns, there are a few other provisions in the legislation that can help hospitality industry businesses, including: • An Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) extension.

The law extends the ERTC through Dec. 31, 2021.

• PPP funding. The law adds $7.25 billion to the pool of funds for PPP loans.

• EIDL funding. The law adds $15 billion more in funds for EIDLs. • SBA grants. The law adds $1.25 billion for SBA grants to live venues and cultural institutions.

$15 Minimum Wage Fails in Senate, but Looms for Future Legislation During the American Rescue Plan Act legislative process, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that language in the American Rescue Plan to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour did not qualify for action under budget reconciliation. While there was some discussion that Senate Democrats might introduce an amendment to remove tax breaks for companies that do not pay employees $15 per hour, that approach was abandoned as Democratic Senate leadership sought to quickly pass its version of the rescue plan for the bill to become law before March 14. While the $15 minimum wage fight is over for this legislation, it remains a priority for Democratic leadership and is likely to return in future policy negotiations.

Extending the PPP On March 30, President Biden signed into law the PPP Extension Act, which extends the program to May 31, 2021, instead of the date of March 31, and gives the SBA an additional 30 days to process loans. The recently passed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill provided additional funding for PPP first- and second-draw loans, but did not extend the deadline for PPP applications. ABL joined a group of trade associations supporting the PPP Extension Act.

Some Alcohol Tariffs Suspended for Four Months On March 4, the U.S. and U.K. issued a joint statement announcing that the tariffs on single-malt scotch, single-malt Irish whiskey from Northern Ireland, liqueurs and cordials, and certain wines will be suspended until July 4, 2021. (The U.K. is, however, maintaining its current tariff on American whiskey in response to U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs. The European Union’s tariff on American whiskey remains sched-

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uled to double to 50% on June 1, 2021.) On March 11, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) suspended tariffs on goods from the EU for four months in connection to a Boeing/ Airbus dispute.

ABL has been actively working with the Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition to call for the permanent termination of tariffs on alcohol.

Estate Tax Repeal Bill Reintroduced Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) reintroduced the Death Tax Repeal Act in the House, while Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) reintroduced it in the Senate. ABL joined other members of the Family Business Coalition in a letter supporting the legislation.

ABL plans to sign on to an additional letter from the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition supporting these bills as well.

The House bill currently has 121 cosponsors and the Senate has 25.

Save the Date!

ABL will hold its 2021 Annual Meeting Oct. 17-18 at the Hilton New Orleans/St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, La. More details will follow. TLW ABL is the voice of America’s beer, wine and spirits retailers in Washington, D.C. ABL represents the TLW and its many members, as well as thousands of other on- and off-premise retailers of beverage alcohol across the United States. www.tlw.org

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LEGISLATIVE NOTES HELP IS ON THE WAY

BY SCOTT STENGER, STENGER GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

At the Federal Level President Joe Biden recently signed the American Rescue Plan, which includes important provisions to benefit independently-owned taverns and restaurants that were negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Included in the $1.9 trillion bill is $28.6 billion allocated to finance a Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to help businesses in the food services sector.

The new law allows for grants equal to the pandemic-related revenue loss of the eligible entity, up to $10 million per entity or $5 million per physical location. The grants are calculated by subtracting 2020 revenue from 2019 revenue. Entities are limited to 20 locations. The grant funds may be used to pay for, among other items, payroll, mortgage and rent, maintenance, operational expenses and utilities.

For details on how to apply, visit tlw.org or sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund.

At the State Level On the state level, Gov. Tony Evers unveiled a plan to assist small, independent businesses. Wisconsin received $3.2 billion in federal funding under the American Rescue Plan.

The new law permits taverns, restaurants and supper clubs to sell cocktails to go in tamper-evident, sealed containers.

Steffen (R-Green Bay) and Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma).

The new law permits taverns, restaurants and supper clubs to sell cocktails to go in tamper-evident, sealed containers.

Wisconsin joins 33 states that permit the sale of cocktails to go. For an industry that has seen a 40% decrease in revenues over the last year, passage of Assembly Bill 32 represents some much-needed good news. More must be done to help the struggling hospitality industry, but the passage of cocktails to go is a good start.

Assembly Bill 32 allows “Class B” licensees the ability to sell intoxicating liquor in to-go containers for consumption off premise. Again, the drinks must be in a container with a tamper-evident seal. Under current law, licensees are allowed to sell beer, as well as liquor, to go in their original, unopened containers. The new law, which took effect March 28, simply allows “Class B” licensees to sell their customers mixed drinks to go. It continues to be illegal to consume alcoholic drinks in a vehicle. TLW

The $2.5 billion investment includes $50 million for the tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the pandemic, and $600 million to help support small businesses, building on the successful We’re All In Small Business Grant Program, which has helped nearly 53,000 businesses so far throughout the pandemic. In addition to these investments to ensure Wisconsin’s economic recovery, the governor is also proposing a $200 million investment in infrastructure, a significant portion of which will go toward expanding broadband access.

Governor Signs Cocktails to Go Bill Gov. Evers recently signed Assembly Bill 32, which was authored by state Rep. David

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www.tlw.org

ACCOUNTING ON TAP COVID-19 PROGRAMS TO HELP TAVERN LEAGUE BUSINESSES

BY DAN BERGS, CPA

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here are a few legislative programs (which have provided and are providing significant amounts of aid to struggling businesses) that are available to help Tavern League members. These three programs are the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). This article offers a brief overview of each.

The Paycheck Protection Program The PPP loans have been a huge help for embattled organizations. This program structured forgivable loans for businesses so that loan funds can be used on certain payroll and facility costs. If a business uses its loan funds on qualifying payroll and facility costs, the loans are completely forgiven. The goal of this program is to keep employees on the payroll and help businesses get through the pandemic.

The PPP had a first round in the spring of 2020 and a second round in early 2021. For the second round of PPP loan funding, applicants needed to do a bit more legwork, proving a gross receipt decline of over 25% when comparing any quarter of 2020 vs. 2019 to qualify. The second round of funding also increased the amount of loan funds for restaurants in comparison to the first round of funding. PPP loan forgiveness is not subject to federal or Wisconsin income tax.

The Employee Retention Credit The ERC Program has been fairly quiet because it was not until legislation passed at the end of 2020 that businesses that took out a PPP loan could also participate in the ERC. This program is designed to provide a refundable payroll tax credit for businesses that meet one of two tests — you do not need to meet both. The first test is a significant gross receipts decline. The second test is for businesses that had a partial suspension of operations under a government order. This program began in the spring of 2020 and was originally set to expire on Dec. 31, 2020. It has since been extended through Dec. 31, 2021.

The first step is to talk with your advisors to see if you qualify for this credit under either test and then determine the qualifying wages for the credit. The qualification for the credit is calculated quarterly and the credit is claimed on the quarterly payroll filing on Form 941. If a business meets either test, then it can still take the credit in 2020 via an amended Form www.tlw.org

If a business uses its loan funds on qualifying payroll and facility costs, the loans are completely forgiven. The goal of this program is to keep employees on the payroll and help businesses get through the pandemic.

941 filing. Please note: This does not change any other payroll tax filing or W-2s for employees.

This credit is a maximum of $5,000 per employee annually (50% of the first $10,000 of wages) for 2020 and $7,000 per employee (70% of the first $10,000 of wages) per quarter in 2021. This is a significant refundable credit (meaning you can get a check back from the Internal Revenue Service) and, if your business did not originally claim this credit, you can go back and claim the credit. It is not too late.

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund The newest program, the RRF is designed to help restaurants and bars make up for significant losses in gross receipts due to the pandemic. Offered through the Small Business Administration (SBA), the application process started on May 3, 2021, but has limited funding that may be fully used by the time this article is published. Regardless, the RRF grant is calculated by taking 2019 gross receipts minus 2020 gross receipts minus PPP loan amounts. For example, if a restaurant has $1,000,000 in gross receipts in 2019, $600,000 in gross receipts in 2020 and PPP loans totaling $250,000, the funding amount would be: $1,000,000 - $600,000 - $250,000 = $150,000.

Program Deadlines The PPP is currently set to expire on May 31, 2021, or when the funds expire, whichever comes first. The ERC program is currently available through 2021 and businesses can amend prior payroll tax filings if they qualify to still claim these refundable payroll tax credits. The RRF is available until its funds expire and the SBA started accepting applications on May 3, 2021. Talk with your advisors to ensure you are taking advantage of these programs to help your business. TLW Dan Bergs, CPA, is a supervisor in the tax and business services department with Wegner CPAs LLP. The firm has offices in Madison, Baraboo, Waukesha and Janesville. This article is not intended to give complete tax advice, but a general review of subject matter.

For more information, please contact Bergs at (608) 442-1986 or dan.bergs@wegnercpas.com.

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LEAGUE PROFILE

RACINE COUNTY TAVERN LEAGUE

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ometimes it can get a little confusing in Racine County, says Dean Larsen, president of the Racine County Tavern League and owner of the Hogs Nest Saloon in Kansasville.

Racine County has two Tavern League organizations — one for the city of Racine and one that represents the remainder of the county. Started in 1935, the Racine County Tavern League is the older of the two and its 52 members, chides Larsen, “are much cooler.”

“We get mixed up a lot of the time, so we try to make that clear. I have no idea why they are separate, but we started way before the city,” he adds with pride.

Another source of pride for the Racine County Tavern League is its charitable giving, which largely focuses on individuals and families in need. “We want to help individuals and families as much as possible. It might be helping people who are experiencing cancer, accidents, medical issues, home issues …

It’s to cover care and things that need to be done to support those individuals,” says Linda Keckhaver of What About Linda’s in Waterford. “If someone has an activity at their bar that is going to raise money for someone, we will donate to that cause as a league.”

The league asks members to complete a charity request form, and any member in good standing can request funds of $250 or more, says Kelly Vecitis of Kelly’s Bleachers II in Wind Lake. In addition to supporting local individuals and families, the Racine County Tavern League regularly supports its regional Honor Flight, too.

Adds Dave Roucek of Cooler by the Lake Tavern in Wind Lake, “I’ll bet every time a Tavern League member asks for a charitable donation and a suggested amount comes up, we’ll say, ‘Why don’t we make it more?’ This is the most generous group I’ve run into.”

To help support its charitable giving, as well as its SafeRide Program, the Racine County Tavern League has an annual

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“I’ll bet every time a Tavern League member asks for a charitable donation and a suggested amount comes up, we’ll say, ‘Why don’t we make it more?’”

— Dave Roucek, Cooler by the Lake Tavern

golf outing. It also holds three cash raffles each year in March, July and November. The top raffle prize is $5,000 and just 230 tickets, which are only sold by member bars, are available. The raffle is an in-person event that includes a party, luncheon and meat raffle.

“We try to make a big deal out of it,” says Vecitis.

Monthly board meetings, according to Larsen, are pretty typical. The league brings in speakers, such as individuals running for office, elected officials and vendors. To incentivize participation, adds Larsen, the county league runs a drawing to win $25. The meetings generally net between 28 and 35 members.

“We are one of the most active leagues,” says Keckhaver. “We get a lot more participation than a lot of others.”

What Keckhaver appreciates most about being a Tavern League member is the ability to have strength in numbers.

“We’re all together as one instead of going it alone, which can be intimidating as a small bar or small business. The Tavern League allows us to get together, share what’s going well, what’s not going well and learn from one another.”

Troy McReynolds of Crazy Train Saloon in Waterford echoes that. “We all work very well together and are friends.

We don’t look at each other as competitors. It’s a very cool organization to be part of,” he concludes. TLW www.tlw.org

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT RIVER CITY LANES AND BRUNO’S RESTAURANT “With 5,000 voices, we can get more done than I can alone. I have 4,999 friends that have some of the same issues I have.”

— Chuck Torosian, River City Lanes and Bruno’s Restaurant are really big into that and it’s special that we can offer it,” says Torosian.

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owling is in Chuck Torosian’s blood and he has made it his life.

Torosian has a long history in bowling and a deep love of the game, so a few years after Waterford’s former bowling center burned down and another nearby bowling center closed, Torosian and his wife, Theresa, built River City Lanes, which includes Bruno’s Restaurant. “We just celebrated our 15th anniversary,” says Torosian. “And we’re looking forward to a long future.”

Torosian has played in bowling leagues for 53 years. When he was in high school, he worked at a bowling center. He met his wife at a bowling center. His parents met at a bowling center.

And one of his children met their spouse at a bowling center.

“It really just all made sense,” he says.

The business continues to operate under the name of the bowling center that burned down, but the current River City Lanes has 12 lanes instead of six, outdoor volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, a video arcade, a full-service pro shop, a banquet hall and a full-service restaurant. In addition to sitdown dining, the establishment offers catering, carryout and delivery. The facility is open at 11 a.m. seven days a week.

Bruno’s Restaurant features an all-American menu with some Italian classics. Menu favorites include made-to-order pizza and sandwiches, with the prime rib sandwich and Italian beef being two of the most popular. And pizza is always a hit.

Patrons love the business’ family-friendly atmosphere. “We are community- and family-oriented,” according to Torosian.

“We have a place where people can come together.”

And a place where people of all ages can bowl together, too.

Bowling leagues at River City Lanes host bowlers as young as five up to 86 years of age. In addition, because the facility was built to be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-friendly, it can offer programs for individuals with special needs. “We www.tlw.org

With the banquet center, the facility accommodates an array of events and nonprofits, and the full-service, on-site restaurant offers flexibility for event catering needs. “We work with people to give them what they want instead of painting them in a box with catering,” according to Torosian. “We can be really flexible with what we offer since we have everything on site.”

River City’s bowlers are flexible as well and tend to be “very generous” with organizations that want to use the facility to raise money for their cause, mentions Torosian.

While Chuck runs the business, River City Lanes is an extended family affair. His wife, Theresa, who works full time outside of the business, helps on nights and weekends, and their kids help when needed as well. But the entire staff also feels like family. “We all get along really well,” says Torosian. “We pick each other up and we work hard. When we’re short-staffed, we gather together, figure it out and pull through. We are all family.”

A member of the Tavern League for 14 of the 15 years he has been in business, Torosian, who is also the Racine County Tavern League treasurer and a former director, says being a member is important for the voices it brings together. “With 5,000 voices, we can get more done than I can alone. I have 4,999 friends that have some of the same issues I have.”

He thanks Tavern League leadership for their hard work in dealing with the pandemic. “I shudder to think what would have happened had the Tavern League not stepped in on local, state and national issues,” Torosian says. “I think leadership did a fantastic job and government affairs did a fantastic job. They brought up topics in real time and helped us through what was a pretty scary time for a lot of small businesses.” TLW RIVER CITY LANES AND BRUNO’S RESTAURANT 730 Cornerstone Crossing, Waterford, WI 53185 (262) 534-7467 bowlrivercity.com MAY/JUNE 2021

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CHARITY SPOTLIGHT CHARITABLE GIVING SWEAT EQUITY

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hen it comes to charitable giving, members of the Racine County Tavern League put a lot of sweat equity into planning and organizing events and fundraisers.

Tracy Powell of Beachview Motel & Lounge in Burlington, for instance, is a consummate fundraiser and the Beachview’s patrons are always willing to help, she reports. “When there’s a charity event, they are willing to donate,” says Powell.

Beachview Motel & Lounge has long sponsored holiday gifts for families in need, originally working through a charity in Burlington to get wish lists from local families. Patrons purchased the desired gifts from tags on a tree and the Racine County Tavern League helped to fill the gaps, according to Powell. Eventually, though, the focus shifted to support families who were working with the Dover Healing House, a local center providing assistance to survivors of domestic abuse or violence and their children.

“I love how they just bought into the idea without even questioning it,” says Sherry Hartog, who worked as a program director for the Dover Healing House. “And they always went over and above to make each family feel special.” When funding for the center ran out, Powell shifted focus again and began working with schools to identify families and children in need.

More recently, on Brewers opening day in April, before tailgating was allowed at the stadium, Beachview organized its own tailgate fundraiser in support of Lakeland Animal Shelter in Delavan. For Powell, charitable giving is not a handout, but a hand up. “Yes, there are a lot of bad things out there, but there is so much good … and we all have a part in supporting the good,” she says.

In Caledonia, Mark and Sue Gracyalny of The Depot Restaurant & Tavern are doing their part. They worked overtime to make their railroad crossing a destination for the annual Canadian Pacific Holiday Train.

Each year (except in 2020), the Holiday Train runs across the United States during the holiday season to raise money and collect food for local food banks at stops along the way.

These stops typically involve events and the food bank that supports each stop receives a $3,000 donation. In more than 20 years of service, the Holiday Train has raised more than $19 million and collected over 4 million pounds of food.

After buying The Depot, Gracyalny noticed the Holiday Train whiz past her business one year. When it made a brief stop the next year, she became curious enough to start investigating

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further. She found that The Depot could apply to be an event stop, but there was some heavy lifting involved. The Gracyalnys, in partnership with Ken and Dina Parker at Parker Power Equipment, had to work with both the local government and emergency services to vet the idea, even before they were awarded a stop in Caledonia.

“We weren’t sure we’d get a stop, but we really wanted to try because we knew it would be such a great thing for the community,” she acknowledges.

In 2019, The Depot was awarded an event stop, and the Gracyalnys and Parkers set to work to organize a topnotch event. The train itself is a sight. It’s well-lit and brightly decorated, and one train car opens with a band on stage. The local snowmobile club offered free hot dogs. Carolers sang, fire pits blazed and even Santa stopped by. About 2,500 attended the event. “It was one of my favorite things ever,” Gracyalny says of the 2019 event. “It was so magical with the train, the lights, the kids, the bonfires.”

In 2020, the train was suspended due to the pandemic, but Canadian Pacific Railway still donated to all of the food banks on its routes. Racine County received $6,000 total. To complement that donation, local Holiday Train organizers hosted a curbside food drive as well: “We had an overwhelming turnout from volunteers and donors, collecting $2,000 and almost 2,000 pounds of food,” says Gracyalny.

While stops are not guaranteed each year, Gracyalny anticipates being awarded a second stop in 2021. “Stop or no stop, however, we will celebrate this tradition and keep raising food, money and awareness in our community,” she says. TLW www.tlw.org

LEAGUE LEADER SPOTLIGHT DEAN LARSEN

President of the Racine County Tavern League Hogs Nest Saloon, Kansasville “I called my state representative, but they

must’ve lost my number. Of course, when they’re running for reelection, the phone is ringing.”

Q. Tell us about your background, including your family, location and business.

I own the Hogs Nest Saloon in the small town of Kansasville.

I’ve been here 28 years. I’ve been president of the Racine County Tavern League for — I don’t even know — I’m going to say about 16 years. I have three daughters.

Q. What interested you in becoming a Tavern League member?

There are certain benefits. I believe unity is one. You have more voice with the government with a lot of people instead of one. Pete Madland was an inspiration. He always seemed to know what he was talking about. (I still like to argue with him, though.) You get benefits like discounts, too. Plus, I like to go to the TLW conventions occasionally to find out what’s going on in the state.

come down and check here once in a while?” He said, “We’ve never had a problem.” I don’t allow trouble. They classify me as a biker bar. I’ve been riding motorcycles for 16 years or better. I’ve never had a problem with anybody.

Q. What do you enjoy most about being in a leadership position with the TLW? I mostly enjoy being informed as to what’s going on here and there, and everywhere else in the state. I try to keep my membership up-to-date on everything.

Q. How else are you involved in your community?

I served on the Town Board of Dover for six years and I learned a lot. TLW HOGS NEST SALOON 4301 S. Beaumont Ave., Kansasville, WI 53139 (262) 878-3665

Q. What Tavern League offices have you held?

I was a director at first and then became president about 16 years ago.

Q. In your opinion, what are the most important issues facing Tavern League members today?

I think the most important issue right now is the number of bars that are closing due to COVID-19. I don’t know about anybody else, but I applied for loans. I filed and I’m still going around with these guys. I keep getting papers, but every time you talk to somebody, you’re not talking to the same person and everybody has a different plan, evidently. They say, “You should hear from us in seven to 10 business days with a payment.” I just gave up. The left hand doesn’t know what the right one is doing. You never get the same answer twice.

Being the president of the Racine County Tavern League, I hear stuff like this a lot. What can you do? I called my state representative, but they must’ve lost my number. Of course, when they’re running for reelection, the phone is ringing.

Q. You represent Racine County. Are there specific issues unique to the area?

Not exactly. We have a sheriff out here and, when I had a break-in about 10 years ago, I asked, “Why don’t you guys www.tlw.org

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FEATURED AFFILIATES DELAFIELD BREWHAUS

support other bars and restaurants, because everyone is in this together.

And as conditions continue to improve, Knutson says he will focus on keeping the Delafield Brewhaus a welcoming haven for folks looking for great food and even better beer. “John won many awards during his brewing career, and those came from hard work and the love of brewing. We plan to maintain that same passion going forward.”

The polished exterior of the Delafield Brewhaus might give the impression it is part of a chain of brewpubs, but General Manager Eric Knutson promises it is anything but. “We are a local, independent brewery and restaurant,” he says. “There are no strangers here, only friends that haven’t met.”

The Brewhaus was founded in 1999 by a group of Lake Country businesspeople with a passion for craft beer who were looking to build a brewery in their own backyard. One of the original founders — and the original brewmaster — was John Harrison, who passed away suddenly in January. As a daily fixture behind the brewery wall, Harrison’s loss was deep for the Brewhaus family, some of whom have been with the brewpub since the beginning, according to Knutson.

Though he is gone, Harrison left an indelible imprint on the Delafield Brewhaus, brewing hundreds of batches of beer in his signature style. “John was truly an artist with an amazing palate,” says Knutson. “We still follow his original recipes and he was one of the first in the area to ‘barrel-age’ beer, which we will continue to do.” The Brewhaus will also continue to brew many of his seasonal favorites, like the Ice Age Ale and Hop Harvest IPA.

DELAFIELD BREWHAUS 3832 Hillside Dr., Delafield, WI 53018 (262) 646-7821 delafieldbrewhaus.com

LA CROSSE LOGGERS Ben Kapanke is looking forward to the smell of brats on grills and the happy sounds of baseball fans strolling through the gates of Copeland Park for a game this summer. The general manager of the La Crosse Loggers says the organization felt lucky to get a partial schedule of games in last season, but the pandemic hurt them as much as any other business. “We rely on full-capacity crowds, and people socializing and having a good time,” he says.

This season, the team has a full calendar of 72 games scheduled, kicking off on Memorial Day. Copeland Park, a beautiful facility nestled along the banks of the Black River, will host 36 home games. “There is a lot of buzz in the front office right now,” says Kapanke. “We are feeding off of the excitement from the fans.”

The brewery boasts a Bier Garten and spacious interior that can seat up to 300 people, comfortably hosting wedding receptions or meetings for patrons from the surrounding area.

Knutson says Delafield is a wonderful community in which to own a business and raise a family. “Everyone seems to look out for each other,” he says. “We are active supporters of the local schools, churches and other nonprofits. The generous support our loyal customers have given us over the years and during the pandemic has been unbelievable and humbling.”

Ben’s parents, Dan and Ruth Kapanke, helped found the La Crosse Loggers in 2003. The avid baseball fans were following Ben as he pursued an umpire career in the minor leagues, which brought them to the Northwoods League (a collegiate summer baseball league) in the summer of 2002.

Northwoods League team president Chris Goodell has been with the Loggers from the beginning and is like family to the Kapankes. “We built this facility together from the ground up over 18-plus years,” says Kapanke. “And we’ve had great success developing players for the major leagues, like Max Scherzer, Chris Sale and Matt Chapman. It has been fun to watch players evolve over the years.”

Knutson says the Tavern League does a fantastic job of representing all of the food and beverage operations in Wisconsin by vigilantly looking out for the industry’s best interests. He supports the TLW whenever he can, whether attending local functions and fundraisers, or by contributing items to raffles.

To him, being part of the TLW also means it’s important to

Becoming a member of the Tavern League made a lot of sense to Kapanke because he believes in the power of community to get through difficult times. “We have hosted several TLW meetings at the ballpark and members can take in a game from one of the suites,” says the general manager. “It has helped us connect with distributors, bars and restaurants

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that are TLW members here in La Crosse. It has been a great relationship.”

The community’s tried and true fans show up not only for baseball, but also for the cheese curds and Friday night fish fry, and possibly a glass of Louie’s Changeup, a summer ale created especially for the Loggers by Hillsboro Brewing Company. But Kapanke expanded the park’s offerings even further to create more business. “We have developed an initiative to make our facility not just for baseball fans,” he explains.

Copeland Park can also host national concerts and help businesses find a unique way to entertain clients. “Rent out the facility and show a movie, or have a kickball game or a big picnic. We want to be an entertainment outlet for everyone.”

LA CROSSE LOGGERS 1225 Caledonia St., La Crosse, WI 54603 (608) 796-9553 northwoodsleague.com

WISCONSIN GROWING COMPANY It’s a tale as old as time: Boy from Brazil meets girl from Milwaukee, boy marries girl and moves to her hometown in Wisconsin, leaving his remodeling company behind to start a fulfilling and profitable hemp business. Sam Santana had no idea this fairy tale lie in store for him when he met his future wife during a trip to the United States in 2015, but he embraced the adventure.

their menu and business. “I don’t see a need for us to open a bunch of stores for people over 21 when bars and restaurants already have that infrastructure in place,” explains Santana.

“Instead of creating a whole new market for hemp that we don’t know will work, we should work together.”

He says that, ideally, he wants patrons to support his company by supporting their local establishments. He tested out the market at The Riverwest Filling Station by offering a kit for the bartender to infuse CBD hemp in liquor to be taken as shots, or used in cocktails like a Bloody Mary or Moscow Mule for a small upcharge. Santana says the bar owner, Miriam Atinsky, reported that she sold about a gallon in only a month with virtually zero advertising.

Santana says he welcomes ideas and suggestions from the TLW community. “We are focused on growing high-quality hemp flowers and our intention is to be a local company for those closest to us,” he says. “Bootstrapping has shown us the importance of creating and maintaining good relationships with our Wisconsin-based businesses and residents. If you have a passion or project for hemp, please let us know how we can help make it happen.” TLW

“I am enjoying something new and different,” says Santana, CEO of Wisconsin Growing Company. “Growing hemp is so gratifying, and involves so many aspects of farming and manufacturing. I want to offer an infrastructure to people who want to use hemp in their businesses.” Some examples of the products the company makes include a cannabidiol (CBD) infusion mix for liquor, CBD hemp tea and CBD flower.

Since the company’s first harvest in 2019, the Milwaukee community has embraced the hemp startup, located in Riverwest, and supported its growth. “We are surrounded by hardworking, open-minded people, local and big-box stores, and great food,” he says. “The people of Milwaukee love their city and keep their resources as local as possible, so there is an organic energy from the community of participation and solidarity that I have never experienced on this scale.”

Santana was quickly referred to the Tavern League as a helpful resource and was welcomed with open arms by the organization. He says having the TLW’s support not only helps educate people on hemp, but also gives business owners an opportunity to take advantage of his product to enhance www.tlw.org

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NEW MEMBERS As of May 1, 2021 DISTRICT 1 Kenosha City The Beer Gardens Lissa Gittens Kenosha Uncle Mike’s Highway Pub Dave Schulte Kenosha

Racine City Tichigan Lake Lions Club Tim Szeklinski Waterford

Walworth County Northsiders Daniel Caravette Lake Geneva

Dodge County Stormy’s Music Venue Kyle and Lindsay Storm Beaver Dam Jefferson County Hi-Way Harry’s Crystalyn Glover Johnson Creek

The Inferno Courtney Stuteville West Bend

La Crosse City/County Eagles Club Judy Neuerburg Viroqua

DISTRICT 5

Madison/Dane County Morgan’s Bar & Grill Nicole Charles Cross Plains Waukesha County Abler’s Whiskey Corners Barbara Abler Menomonee Falls Knucklehead Pub Scott and Melissa Dooley Eagle Papa Stache Pub & Eatery Ralph Llanas Big Bend Rustix Scott Dooley Eagle Thirsty Duck Daniel Zierath Sussex DISTRICT 3 Grant/Iowa County My Brother's Place Frank Anderson Hazel Green n

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Green Lake Area The Corner Bar Michelle Clark Brandon Tucked Away Robert Hill Marquette

Countryside Bar DJ Payne and Jessica Daul Menasha

Marathon County Brokaw Corners Kari Emmerich Wausau

Off the Rails Beth Tessmer Hilbert

Hoehn’s Huddle Dan Hoehn Schofield

Salt Fine Dining Ross Schmidt Kaukauna

Homestead on 52 Kevin Steinke Wausau

Fond du Lac City/County Knuth Brewing Company David Knuth Ripon

Ringle Brickyard Saloon Jeffrey Kluge Ringle

Portage County Brian & Wendy’s Hiawatha Wendy Zarecki Junction City

O’Davey’s Pub Jessica Koepke Fond du Lac

Run-Inn Erin’s Erin Schroeder Watertown

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The Wilderness Inn Travis Leamons Necedah

Calumet County Cheers Robert Cullen Chilton

Columbia County Lockwood’s Longshot Todd Lockwood Arlington

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Juneau County Misfit Tap William Carlisle Arkdale

Top Shelf Sports Bar & Grille Kari Koenigs Fond du Lac Manitowoc County Kellnersville Bar & Banquet Luke Mueller and Mark Kisow Kellnersville Shrunken Head James and Dawn Dabeck Manitowoc Oshkosh/Winnebago County Northside Bar & Grill Sherrie Dewhurst Oshkosh Peppermint Hippo Martin Ash Neenah

Ozaukee County North 48 Jordan Cole Cedarburg Sheboygan County Sheboygan Loyal Order of Moose #438 Donald Cordle II Sheboygan

Waupaca County Crystal River Pub & Grill Kanwal Singh Waupaca Racks & Rails Dave and Jess McCartney Clintonville Schueller’s Great Exspechtations Larry Schueller Waupaca Wood County Ida’s Sports Bar and Grill Mark Hardt Wisconsin Rapids

Galley 57 Andrew Mueller Green Bay Porky D’s Eric Jensen and Donny Deterville Green Bay Door County Golf ‘n More In-Door Leslee Perley Egg Harbor

Forest County Junior’s Saloon Jimmy Landru Jr. Crandon Marinette County Backwater Bar & Grill Morgan Zeutzius Crivitz Forgotten Fire Winery Joe Callow Marinette The Green Lantern Shanon Knope Coleman Peppino’s Pizza Mike Biundo Peshtigo

Oconto County Kelly’s Thirsty Buck Kelly Krieger Mountain

Outagamie County Appleton Beer Factory Ben Fogle Appleton DISTRICT 7 Barron County Kincaid’s Country Inn Chris and Jessica Kincaid Rice Lake Sioux Creek Golf Course Bruce Halvorson Chetek Stix Chris Spring Barron

Saddle Up Saloon Sandra Baumgart Babcock

V & M Bar & Campground Jerry and Jill Hockersmith Rice Lake

DISTRICT 6

Chippewa County Cantina Margaritas Mexican Grill Martin Valencia Stanley

Brown County 1919 Kitchen & Tap Martha Fischer Green Bay Bacon Burger Company Nathan Wendricks Green Bay

Debbie’s on Broadway Debbie Haas Stanley

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NEW MEMBERS River Jams Jeannine Carruth Chippewa Falls

Clark County Buck’s Creekside Irving Schutte Neillsville Eau Claire City/County Corner Pub & Grub Leah Biegel Fall Creek The Red Mixer Michelle Rieckens Eau Claire Pepin County Rolling Greens Golf Course Sarah Stensberg Durand Pierce County Rumors on the River Bar & Grill Kelly Blodgett Maiden Rock Polk County Ken’s Keyboard Dan Nelson Osceola St. Croix County Madison Avenue Wine & Spirits Kelly Yocom Hudson

Trempealeau/Buffalo County Barnyard Tavern David Donnelly Blair The Graveyard Bar & Event Center Lori Severson Ettrick

DISTRICT 8 Burnett County Jo Mama’s Cafe Tina Smude Webster Tommy’s Too High Wines Janice Miller Danbury

Greater Northwoods Penny’s Driftwood Penny Ule Saxon Lakeland Area Minocqua Prime Jeff and Shannon Janco Minocqua Lincoln County Derek’s Town and Country Derek Gretzinger Gleason Sure-Wood Forest Bar & Grill Donna Napierala Tomahawk Oneida County Bucketheads Sports Bar & Grill Michael Hastreiter Rhinelander Minocqua Yacht Club and Lakeside Grill Austin Olson Minocqua Woodpecker Bar and Grill Nicole Snyder Rhinelander Rusk County Antlers Tavern & Grill John Sisko Ingram Heart of the North Brewing Company Cliff Taylor Ladysmith

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Narrows Resort Kathryn Gunderson Chetek Olsen’s Buckhorn Bar Josh and Kristi Olsen Exeland Red Rock Campground & Pub David Engel Birchwood Winter Haven Resort Blake Doud and Rick Nash Bruce Sawyer County Powell’s on Round Lake Jimmy Powell Hayward

Superior/Douglas County Tower Avenue Tavern Andy Sceari Superior

Taylor County Frahm’s Brass Rail Pub Julie Frahm Medford Marilyn’s Fire Station and Catering Marilyn Frank Medford

Vilas County Hornwinkels Headwaters Marsha Panfil Boulder Junction

Washburn County Grumpy’s on Long Lake Tom Walters Sarona Kincaid’s Country Inn Christian and Jessica Kincaid Rice Lake

DISTRICT 9 Milwaukee County American Legion Post 27 Van Eimeren Kolonka South Milwaukee B-N-B Cap Tap Bill Farrow Milwaukee Buck Bradley’s Saloon & Eatery Walter Paget Milwaukee Drivan Range Ivan Jakircevic Milwaukee The Harp Michael Foy Milwaukee Jack’s American Pub Scott Schaefer Milwaukee Room Seven Andre Lewis Milwaukee The Sofie Salvatore Safina Milwaukee The Standard Bar Stephen Gilbertson Milwaukee Studz Pub Dean Ratas West Allis Swingin’ Door Exchange Michelle Sincere Milwaukee Trinity 3 Irish Pubs Michael Foy Milwaukee

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AFFILIATE MEMBERS As of March 1, 2021 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

21st Century Financial Services 3 Sheeps Brewing Company 3DL Design A-1 Amusement Ackley Novelty Adams County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Allied Games American Entertainment Services American Family Insurance/Chris R. Lueth Agency American Income Life Insurance Company Amusement Devices Inc. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Ansay & Associates B&K Bar Supplies B-M Music & Games Badgerland Sentext Badger Mutual Insurance Company Baird Financial Advisors/Farley Forster Herbenson Group Banilla Games Baraboo Sysco Food Services BarRags Drinkwear Batzner Pest Control Bay Towel Linen and Uniform Rental Bayland Insurance Benedict Refrigeration Service Berg Company Best Bargains Inc. Bevinco Bill’s Distributing Blue Honey Bio-Fuels Bob Schuchardt Insurance Agency Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin Brakebush Brothers Brass Foundry Brewing Company Brat Stop Products Breakthru Beverage Wisconsin Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza Pizza Bromak Sales Inc. Bullseye Games Captain Ken’s Foods Certified Professional Restoration Chambers Travel Community Business Development Corporate Casuals LLC D&D Amusement Games Davis & Kuelthau Delafield Brewhaus Delicious Foods of Wisconsin Inc. Demon Spirits DeVere Company Inc. Edge One El Cortez Hotel & Casino Emil’s Pizza Enviro-Master Services of Milwaukee e-tailer Inc./RocketDSD EZ Dock/Pike Dock and Marine Fabiano Brothers Inc.

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Face Card Promotions/Ad-Tabs Fein Brothers Five Verdons LLC Flanigan Distributing Flashpoint Designs Flipside Coin Machines Forest Floor Foods Frank Beer Distributors General Beer Northeast Inc. Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown Glavinsured Agency Inc. Great Lakes Beverage Great Northern Amusements Gunderson Uniform and Linen Rental Haenco Supplies Heartland Business Systems Holiday Wholesale Inc. The House of Insurance Howe’s Aim to Please Vending HSC Business Brokers Illinois Casualty Company Indeflex Indianhead Foodservice Distributor Inkworks The Insurance Center The Insurance Group Jahnke Coin Machine Johnson Brothers Kaufhold’s Kurds Kessenich’s Ltd. KLB Insurance – Illinois Casualty La Crosse Distilling Company La Crosse Loggers Baseball Club Lamers Bus Lines LC Branding LCSI Lebby’s Frozen Pizza Lee Beverage of Wisconsin LLC Lincoln Contractors Supply Inc. M & R Amusements & Vending LLC Magic Tap LLC Magnuson Inc. Mass Appeal Inc. MBE CPAs McCain Foods Metropolitan Food Service Equipment Midstate Amusement Games Midwest Amusements Midwest Coin Concepts Milwaukee Brewers Mitchell Novelty Company Modern Cash Register Systems Modern Specialty Company Motion Technology Inc. Murphy Desmond S.C. National Metalwares Furniture Nei-Turner Media Group Northern Lakes Amusement Northern Oasis Spirits Northwest Coin Machine

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Northwoods Fire Protection LLC Numbskul Beverage Pabst Brewing Company Paradise Printing Company Park Ridge Distributing Inc. Pay Zero Processing Solutions Pearl Street Brewery Pecatonica Beer Company Pehler Brothers Distributing PepsiCo Precision Pours Inc. Premier Draft Solutions PretzelHaus Bakery/FUNacho Pro3 Solutions LLC Purecart Enterprises LLC Quaker Bakery Brands Racine Amusement Inc. Red’s Novelty Ltd. Reinhart Foodservice LLC Retail Control Solutions Retriever Merchant Solutions Rhinelander Brewing Company/Minhas Riverside Foods Rum Runner Tropicana Rush Creek Distilling S&S Distributing Inc. Sales & Income Tax Advisory Network Sam’s Amusement Sanimax Saratoga Liquor Company Inc. Schmidt Novelty Scott’s Vending Inc. Sketchworks Architecture SNfood & Beverage Sports Impressions Stansfield Vending Star Business Machines Stevens Point Brewery Strategic Marketing Company Superior Beverages LLC Superior Business Systems Superior Vending Taylor Enterprises of Wisconsin Inc. Tiger Amusement Tom Sawyer Amusements Tri-Mart/Midwest Food & Tobacco Group Tricky Dick Specialties 2 Universal Presentation Concepts Van Bookkeeping LLC Vern’s Cheese Inc. Viking Log Furniture Vincent, Urban, Walker & Associates Wausau Coin Machines Inc. Wisconsin Hospitality Insured Wine Institute Wisconsin Growing Company Wisconsin Motorcycle Roads Travel Guide Wisconsin Restaurant Association Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps Xtreme Bar Bingo www.tlw.org

INDUSTRY TRENDS

Make Beer Geeks Freak (and Maybe a Sale) with Schwag Otherwise Collecting Dust

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f you sell beer, you’ve probably managed to gather all sorts of beer schwag along your journey. Your junk drawer may hold a keychain or two, a couple of pens and definitely a few beer openers. And, if your tavern goes back a few decades, there may be church-key openers because, if you didn’t have one, there was no way to pierce the lid of your beer can (unless, of course, you had handy an ice pick or screwdriver).

Many bars are hiding beer treasures in every corner, drawer and backroom.

Whether it’s by simply being in business or by not throwing out an obsolete neon sign, bar owners seem to have an ever-rotating collection of beer items. There are the neons in the basement that still work just fine. How about the forgotten signs or schwag from the local brewery that came from the previous owner? Or the box of tap knobs that have been replaced over the years? Then there’s the other random stuff — pocketknives, ashtrays (remember those?), and trinkets from distributors and delivery drivers.

Many bars are hiding beer treasures in every corner, drawer and backroom. www.tlw.org

Some stuff has simply been forgotten over the years and survived by luck. Here is a quick guide to identifying the valuable stuff you may have lying around your business just collecting dust. If you are cleaning house, it’s a general guide on what is best to recycle and what may have value for the beer geeks that collect it: Openers. The really old ones have a square opening cut into the side. Why? For adjusting the brightness of the carbide lamps on Model T cars! The chrome openers with the hook end are plentiful and worth a buck or two each.

Taps. The oldest taps are called “ball taps” and have a flat metal face attached to a plastic or Bakelite body, which is about the size of a golf ball. Required by law, these were the standard in the 1930s and ‘40s. Later versions are double-sided and sometimes made of plastic or clear acrylic. In contrast, modern tappers can be dimensional and ornate in an effort to stand out on the tap line. All taps seem to be in demand, whether it’s for a home Kegerator or a hot-rod, gear-shift knob.

Foam scrapers.

If you’ve never heard of a foam scraper, you are not alone. They look like an oversized popsicle stick made of plastic. Once used to swipe the head off of a tap beer glass, foam scrapers typically have a beer brand imprinted on both sides. They were phased out by the Health Department in the early ‘50s. Hang onto them. Folks collect these.

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INDUSTRY TRENDS Cans. The oldest (or first) cans had a spout, sealed with a bottlecap, on top. They are called cone-tops and could be used in a brewery’s existing bottling line as they are basically metal bottles. Along with flat-top cans, which you need a can opener to pierce the lid with, cone-top cans are sought after by collectors.

And if you have them in the original packaging, even better. By the time pull-tab cans came around, people were collecting them in quantity, so they aren’t as desirable as the first cans.

Signs. Metal, glass or wood signs are generally the earliest. During World War II, metal was in short supply, so composite signs were frequently used.

Outdoor signs made of metal are in demand — even with rust, or missing or broken parts. Even if the neon is gone or broken — someone wants these. The same goes for any signs that include motion. Hamm’s rippling water signs are popular with collectors, for instance. While plastic signs are newer, defunct breweries or brands have demand, too.

There are simply too many examples to detail here. But if you find or have kept something you have questions on, email Barry Travis at oldbeer@gmail.com or visit ibuyoldbeer.com. He loves to be stumped.

Predictions of a Fizzy Spring — Hard Seltzer Isn’t a Hard Decision

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players are taking over share of voice from other established brands in the market.

The market for hard seltzers continues to grow and celebrities are now looking for a piece of the action. Mike’s Hard Lemonade, which recently partnered with heavyweight champion Mike Tyson to push its new seltzer brand, is a great example. Tyson’s announcement of Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer received thousands of engagements, as customers commented on and liked the advertisement on social media.

As beverage products continue to evolve and the hard seltzer market keeps growing, keep an eye out for all of the new players that might steal some share of voice and, ultimately, share of sales, from the more established brands.

Variety Pack for Pickers Unplugged Vodka Soda

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ennington Distilling Company recently launched a variety eight-pack of its canned vodka cocktail line — Pickers Unplugged Vodka Soda — made with Pickers Original Vodka, Tennessee’s first craft vodka. Available year-round, Pickers Unplugged Vodka Soda comes in slim aluminum cans that are ideal for glass-free venues and activities.

Using Pickers Original Vodka, sparkling water and natural flavors, Pickers Unplugged Vodka Soda offers a zero-carb, ready-to-drink cocktail with only 96 calories. There are four assorted flavors (some of which are gluten-free), including: raspberry, cranberry lime, tangerine and grapefruit. Pickers Original Vodka is not only gluten-free, but also made with non-genetically modified corn.

ith warmer months ahead, people are storing their winter gear, prepping their outdoor grills and cleaning their coolers. This spring, the tough decision is going to be to choose which hard seltzers to carry, given that there are over 60 brands currently in the market, compared to 26 brands in 2019. Conversations around hard seltzer have peaked with announcements of new brands entering the market or new flavors from established brands, according to Talkwalker, an enterprise listening company.

The New Kids on the Block Last summer, White Claw dominated most of the conversation, but fast-forward to today and the picture looks a little different. New brands like CACTI recently entered the hard seltzer market, spiking share of voice, which is the measurement of exposure a brand is receiving based on social media conversations. And soon-to-be competitors Spindrift and Topo Chico recently announced hard seltzer product launches, too. While White Claw continues to lead, the two new

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INDUSTRY TRENDS A Cup Full of Coconut Gold

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rom the first sweet taste of real coconut to the accents of coffee liqueur, this cocktail from Snowy River Cocktail Company is as beautiful as it is relaxing.

Ingredients 2 oz. of Rum (Variances in flavor can be achieved by varying the type of rum used.) ½ oz. of Nola Coffee Liqueur ½ oz. of Disaronno ½ oz. of Coconut Cream Snowy River Coconut Cocktail Rimmer Snowy River Gold Cocktail Glitter

Cocktail Recipe Pre-rim a martini glass with Snowy River coconut cocktail sugar rimmer using simple syrup (for a thicker rim) as the binding agent. Fill a shaker with ice to chill. Add all of the ingredients to the shaker, stir and then strain into the glass.

Add Snowy River gold cocktail glitter and stir to obtain the desired visual effect.

Because your customers have expectations for what you serve, we hold your chicken to the highest standards.

Whether you add your

The Best Menus Are Made together.

culinary touch or simply heat and serve, you’ll have a team of experts with over 95 years of experience working to make chicken that performs exactly how you need it to.

That includes menu staples like fillets, tenders, and wings, plus specialty items like chicken burgers and breakfast sausage.

Create your menu with a rep who knows all there is about chicken at www.brakebush.com or call 1-800-933-2121.

Good People. Great Chicken.

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INDUSTRY TRENDS Country Music Artist Thomas Rhett Debuts Dos Primos Premium Tequila

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eigning Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards Entertainer of the Year Thomas Rhett and his cousin, pecan magnate Jeff Worn, are behind a new, premium tequila brand — Dos Primos.

Spanish for “Two Cousins,” Dos Primos is a blanco tequila made from hand-harvested, 100% blue agave sourced from estates in Los Altos and the valley area of Jalisco, Mexico. The finished product is clear with earthy herbal notes on the front palate, followed by smooth floral and citrus hints.

Dos Primos is distilled at Destiladora González Lux, located just outside the city of Arandas, Mexico,

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in the highlands of Jalisco. Third-generation master distiller Rodolfo González, who worked with the cousins to create the product’s taste profile, oversees the distillation process.

“From field to bottle, my family’s lifelong passion for crafting superior tequila shines through in Dos Primos,” says González. “By blending agave from the highlands and the lowlands, we created a smooth tequila that can be sipped or enjoyed in a cocktail. Dos Primos will be well-received by tequila aficionados and novices alike.”

Each clear, embossed-glass bottle of Dos Primos, which is available in a 750-mL quantity, features a natural wood cork and black-leather cord wrapped around the neck. The fabric label is hand-applied in Mexico and bears the signatures of Worn and Rhett.

“My wife and I love to enjoy tequila together, and I’m excited for people to share a bottle with friends, sip it around a bonfire, or enjoy it on a fishing trip or at tailgate or concert,” says Rhett. “Dos Primos is about unwinding and enjoying the people and things that really matter in life.” TLW

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25 Year Affiliate Tavern League Member

7100 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis

414.259.9161 • contact@bandkbarsupplies.com

www.BandKBarSupplies.com www.tlw.org

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY © 2020 Anheuser-Busch, Michelob Ultra® Light Beer, St. Louis, MO 95 calories, 2.6g carbs, 0.6g protein and 0.0g fat, per 12 oz.