Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/68118
IN FOCUS { SMA L L B U S I N E S S } By Sharon Verbeten What's on taaaaap 3 Sheeps Brewing sets up shop in Sheboygan 29, a third-generation business owner. Encouraged and inspired by his father, Tod, the former owner of Wisconsin Concrete Products in Kiel, Pauly teamed his entrepreneurial spirit with his love of beer to launch 3 Sheeps Brewing, a craſt brewery which recently opened in Sheboygan. spiffy suit and tie, Pauly came as a businessman. That passion came early for Pauly, A Continuing a brewing tradition Beer was nothing new to Sheboygan – or to Pauly. His family formerly owned Kingsbury Breweries (previously Gutsch Brewery) in Sheboygan, taking over aſter Prohibition ended. (They later sold the business to G. Heileman Brewing Co.). With that history, 3 Sheeps is the With a history of family entrepreneurship – and a love of beer! – Grant Pauly recently launched the craft brewery 3 Sheeps Brewing, located in the old Wigwam Mills factory in Sheboygan. culmination of a dream for Pauly. Aſter his wife bought him a home brewing kit several years ago, Pauly, a history major, continued to refine his "major obsession," as he calls it. He took online classes at The Siebel Institute of Technology, a brewing academy in Chicago, and was ready to pursue microbrewing on a larger scale, when the stars seemed to align. "The timing and the financing were right," admits Pauly. With stainless steel fermenting vats and other brewing equipment already www. insightonbusiness.com on site (in the old Wigwam Mills sock factory), the owners of the adjoining Hops Haven pub didn't want to go into the brewing business, so they sold that portion to Pauly. "It was right place, right time, says Hops Haven co-owner Dennis Altmeyer. "It works out excellent. The pub sells 3 Sheeps' beers on " " tap, and, "So far, the feedback is really good, there is a big draw to the bar. It makes it a destination." Even at his young age, Pauly had " says Altmeyer. "Having Grant plenty of experience in number crunching at his father's business, so he approached a local bank, which was already familiar with him, and they took a chance on his venture. Aſter about 4 1/2 months securing licensing and permits, Pauly was ready to begin brewing earlier this year. Pauly won't disclose his initial investment, but he does believe the craſt brewing market is poised to grow. "Even in a recession," he says, "craſt breweries have grown across the state, t Grant Pauly's grade school job fair, he didn't dress up as an aspiring fireman or professional athlete. Instead, donning a brews grew by 96 percent last year; he attributes that to other countries slowly embracing craſt beers. 3 Sheeps has signed on with " adding that exports of craſt Beechwood Distributing of New Berlin, the largest craſt beer distributor in the state. "We picked up a great partner, Right now, the company's three beers – sold by keg only " says Pauly. [continued] » June 2012 • INSIGHT | 41 COURTESY OF BETH O'REILLY PUBLIC RELATIONS