It’s been one year since we opened our doors! Our goal was to make the best classic ales and lagers possible and share them in a warm setting that the community would embrace. Embrace you did! The outpouring of support for our Beer, Tap Room and Beer Garden has been incredible. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts, because without the community to share in our vision it would not be possible. We raise a glass in sincere appreciation of all of you!
Here’s a sampling of what you helped us accomplish and a peek at what’s to come!
In making the beer we’ve sourced local ingredients whenever possible and are working to increase that percentage.
In our Tap Room, the metal popcorn trays save 6,000 disposable bowls per year from the landfill and our compostable cups for Mile of Music and Oktoberfest help combat the global plastic crisis.
Appleton Downtown Incorporated awarded us the Renovation Award for saving the Valley Dairy Co.’s building from neglect. (OK, that took the prior two years, but we’re thankful to ADI for recognizing our hard work at this past year’s ceremony.)
We joined our Appleton West End neighbors for the first 600-Block party in January and are excited to continue the fun June 22nd for our Summer 600-Block Party.
As you may know we don’t accept tips because our beertenders are paid a living wage, but if tips are insisted we donate them to a local charity. Thus far we’ve supported Habitat for Humanity and Pillars Warming Shelter. We brewed Resilience, an IPA to support California Wildfire relief in collaboration with Stone Arch Brewpub and Appleton Beer Factory. And we helped build a Habit for Humanity House with our Brew House Dunkelweizen. We’re excited to continue paying it forward in the years to come!
We’ve had fun supporting local artists at McFleshman’s. Outside of Mile of Music, we’ve had 30+ “over a pint” music sessions, 5 outdoor concerts, 5 artists hosted for Art on the Town, and Artiphix mini-art machine has been restocked on several occasions. We also have Scott Wallace’s Domesticator sculpture in our Beer Garden. A special thanks goes to Taylor Greenwood and Alex Shultz for helping orchestrate many of these projects.
Our Prohibition Room is open and ready to host your next event. Thanks to Sarah Welch at Eventful for overseeing the space. For details, click here.
Over the next year we hope to reduce our water use in the brewing process, install solar panels for shade and function in our Beer Garden, take our already green Beer Garden even further and make it a true green space (good bye asphalt!), and of course even more music!
This year would not have been possible without all of you, but there are some special McF teammates we wish to thank. First, Bob and Jacque Fleshman for all the hard work and support in making this dream a reality, Cindi Fleshman Jackman for her dedication to the community, Layla Cowper and Shane Butner for keeping the gears turning, and of course Cari, Mykk, Doug, Angie, Jay, Brian, John, Kevin, Ross, Brad, Michelle, our numerous volunteers and the hundreds of friendly faces we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know.
Here’s to another great year!
Cheers!
Bobby and Allison Fleshman
