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Published December 10, 2019

"You seem pretty cool. We should hang out ..."

So proclaims the events page on the website for Badger State Brewing in Green Bay (badgerstatebrewing.com). It might be a simple statement, but it is one that summarizes the mission of the business to create a brand that is known for high-quality products and experience.

Andrew Fabry, who founded the business along with partners Sam Yanda and Mike Servi, says his goal is to have a place where people can feel connected. "Beer is something that brings people together," Fabry said. "There is a huge social aspect to this. You’re creating a group; a tribal desire for people to feel part of something."

Badger State is providing plenty of opportunities to build that culture. Since opening in 2013 in part of a building that is the last manufacturing zoned property on Lombardi Avenue, the business that started as a small brewhouse has been expanded three times. It now includes a tap room, retail shop, beer garden, 15,000 square feet of brewing space, and an event hall that can host 750 people.

It is quite impressive to see the growth — there are now about 26 employees — considering Fabry was just out of college when he began his entrepreneurial journey. Yanda, the head brewer, had begun brewing beer as a hobby almost a decade earlier. One thing led to another. Servi, his cousin, started helping on weekends, and Fabry, who was friends with the cousin, bought him a home brewing kit as a gift. Then, Fabry met Yanda, and the three prepared to take a leap of faith.

"Being fresh out of college with nothing to do, I started thinking that maybe there was an opportunity for a business here," Fabry said.

As the son of successful business owners, Fabry had worked at the family business (Saranac Glove Company) in the distribution warehouse and saw that side of the process. Other jobs included working in beer distribution and merchandising, where he learned the wholesale and delivery side, and various positions in the bar and restaurant industry to learn retail.

Fabry didn’t immediately recognize that his experiences were pointing toward business. He had planned on going to law school after graduation and in preparation had worked in the attorney general’s office in Madison.

But destiny seemed to point in another direction. Along with Yanda and Servi, weekends spent perfecting beer recipes developed a passion for opening a brewery. They felt that their various skill sets would make them a successful team. "It started with the business plan, and once we realized the business was viable, I started to do a lot of research," Fabry said. "The plan ended up being a 25-page document, one of the longer papers I had ever written."

In doing a competitive analysis, the group identified its niche. While the other brewers in town were classified more as restaurants than breweries, they planned to be a production brewery.

"The main difference is that when you’re a brewpub, you have to focus on the food as much as anything else," Fabry said. "Also, the beer styles being produced were very traditional, rooted in German, Belgian, and European brewing. We realized we could do an American version."

They are also determined to produce the best quality product out there, to use all real ingredients, and to make sure that the beer is fresh, served cold, and served as quickly as possible.

"We are the most forward-thinking kind of progressive group in the area," Fabry said. "We are a group who is changing the culture out there — the culture of beer and how people spend time with friends and family."

They are doing that with a busy calendar that Fabry says includes events that allow Badger State to support the community and vendors the way they have been supported. There are Wednesday night markets, benefits, on-site food trucks, brewery tours, special events, and private parties. Because Badger State doesn’t serve food, visitors are able to cater or order in. The Tap Room has snacks, but the focus throughout is on the beer and 24 taps available.

"For those who think beer isn’t for them, we have a buzzy beer, beer with coffee, fruited sours, and beers that allow people to broaden their experiences and try something new,"

Fabry said. "We want to bring people together and this is a cool thing — it’s a talking point."

He encourages people to bring friends and family during the season and hang out. He feels quite certain that it will be memorable, and for those from out of town, they will be able to bring home part of Wisconsin.

Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and past district director for SCORE, Wisconsin.