Tap Talk: Oliphant Brewing - Wisconsin's Mystical Brewery
Over the last five years, the craft brewery movement has grown exponentially in Minnesota. The Associated Press says licensing records show two-thirds of Minnesota breweries have opened just since 2010. So, we decided to help you – and your livers – keep up with the taproom trend by stopping by some of these Twin Cities brewhouses. For the next brewery, Tap Talk is taking a trip to the east and visiting Wisconsin's Oliphant Brewing.
Just 40 miles east of downtown Minneapolis, in the small town of Somerset, Wis. lays Oliphant – a barely 2-year-old craft brewery that is cranking out tasty brews paired with odd sentiments.
Friends Matt Wallace and Trevor Wirtanen opened Oliphant in 2014.
"[It came to be from] the delusions of two people who didn't know how much work it would be to open a brewery," Wirtanen said.
The pair began the planning process in 2011. Then, after three years of reworking plans, they were finally able to open a taproom that stuck to their budget and business plan.
So, in August 2014, Oliphant was born.
In an article with Twin Cities' Heavy Table, Wallace described the name as an enormous mythical creature.
"Oliphant itself comes from some strange shared dreams, comics, fantasy, science fiction, and anthropological curiosity; it's that big, strange thing in the room," Wallace said in the article.
Ask Wirtanen, and you'll get a completely different answer.
"'Oliphant' is the 'namaste' of the mole people. It's considered a ceremonial greeting, not to be used among the uninitiated," Wirtanen said.
Confused?
Well, that's sort of the point.
A simple skim through Oliphant's website will offer up several interpretations of what the name, and theme of the brewery is. And, in a different article with Growler Magazine, Wallace said that's on purpose. The name is meant to act as a talking point.
Or, perhaps, the point is to simply draw people in.
Although, given the current craft beer culture and its proximity to Pitchfork, Lift Bridge, Maple Island and all the Twin Cities breweries, it would probably draw them in anyway.
In fact, it was some of these exact things that went in to determining the location of Oliphant.
"It [was] close enough to tap into the Twin Cities market without having to be in the Twin Cities proper," Wirtanen said. "Wisconsin was friendlier to breweries at the time we were in the planning stages."
It helps that Wallace's family owns the liquor store next door, according to Growler.
Wirtanen said they see a significant amount of traffic from Minnesota on the weekends, and with constantly rotating taps hope that Minnesotans, and others, will continue return.
"There are always 12 beers on tap. Some beers pop up more frequently than others, but there [are] no "year-round" or "seasonal" beers," Wirtanen said.
As of publishing, there was a grapefruit wheat ale, helles bock, smoked lager, smoked pineapple hefeweizen, oatmeal stout, IPA, brown ale, dunkel lager, German milk stout and coffee black ale. There are two beers on nitro as well.
As for what's on deck, Wirtanen wouldn't give up too much but did say there are a few things in the works.
"Keep an eye out for barrel-aged releases in the coming months, as well as a couple possible collaboration beers," Wirtanen said.
And if those things don't draw you in, Wirtanen is sure the atmosphere will.
When asked what sets Oliphant apart, it actually had little to do with the beer.
"Our totally rad tech deck skate park and collection of voodoo tchotchkes," he said.
Given the obvious sense of humor and creativity put into Oliphant, it's no surprise that Wirtanen said he hopes beer will stop taking itself so seriously in the upcoming years. Yet, he also hopes that as the scene continues to grow and mature that beer quality does as well.
It should also come as no surprise that when asked to describe Oliphant in just two words, Wirtanen said chose a rather unconventional descriptor: "Rom-com."
Follow them: on Twitter at @OliphantBrewing, on Facebook at Oliphant Brewing, or visit their website online.
Owners: Matt Wallace and Trevor Wirtanen
Brewer: Trevor Wirtanen
Location: 350 Main St. #2, Somerset
Hours: Thursday: 4 to 10 p.m., Friday: 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday: 12 – 11 p.m. and Sunday 12 – 9 p.m.
Contact: 651-705-6070
