Gnarly Cedar Brewery is a craft brewery in Wrightstown, Wisconsin, located on the Fox River. The brewery is a subsidiary of LedgeStone Vineyards, a winery in nearby Greenleaf, Wisconsin.
History
editOrigins
editGnarly Cedar Brewery was established in 2019 by Adam Magnuson and Katrina Cegledi, who had purchased LedgeStone Vineyards in 2017.[1] The brewery is named after one of the oldest northern white cedar trees in Wisconsin, located near the LedgeStone property.[2]
The brewery initially operated from shared production space at LedgeStone Vineyards in Greenleaf, using a seven-barrel brewing system.[3]
Wrightstown expansion
editIn 2023, the Village of Wrightstown approached the brewery owners about acquiring the village's former Department of Public Works building at 420 Washington Street for a standalone brewery location.[1][4] The building had previously housed the village's original water well.[4]
The Village of Wrightstown Board of Trustees approved parameters for a developer's agreement with Gnarly Cedar Holdings LLC on February 20, 2024.[5] The property was conveyed by warranty deed recorded with the Brown County Register of Deeds on March 25, 2024.[6] A correction instrument addressing the legal description was recorded on April 3, 2024.[7]
The brewery announced plans to open in summer 2024, but the opening was delayed.[3] The Wrightstown location held its grand opening on September 13, 2025.[8]
Location
editThe Wrightstown brewery is located at 420 Washington Street in the Wrightstown River District, with 184 feet (56 m) of Fox River waterfront.[3] The property is situated on Parcel VW-131-1 on the east side of the Fox River.[6]
The Fox River Valley region is characterized by karst topography, with fractured dolomite and limestone bedrock that allows surface water to reach groundwater rapidly through direct conduits rather than filtering through soil layers.[9]
Operations
editThe brewery operates a taproom and kitchen serving Detroit-style pizza, smash burgers, and other gastropub fare.[1] The facility includes 20 tap lines featuring house-brewed beers as well as wines from LedgeStone Vineyards.[3]
Environmental considerations
editBrewery wastewater typically contains elevated levels of phosphorus from cleaning chemicals used in brewing equipment sanitation, with phosphorus concentrations up to ten times higher than domestic wastewater.[10] In karst regions, such contaminants can reach aquifers through bedrock fractures without natural filtration.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 Rugowski, Chris (October 6, 2025). "Gnarly Cedar Brewery now open in Wrightstown River District". The Business News. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ↑ Julson, Sheila (October 6, 2022). "LedgeStone Vineyards and Gnarly Cedar Brewing a Northeast Refuge". Shepherd Express. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Rugowski, Chris (May 31, 2024). "Gnarly Cedar Brewery set to open summer 2024 in Wrightstown". The Business News. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- 1 2 "Gnarly Cedar Brewery is headed to Wrightstown. Here's what we know". Green Bay Press-Gazette. January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Village of Wrightstown Board Meeting Minutes". Village of Wrightstown. February 20, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- 1 2 "Warranty Deed, Document No. 3059792". Brown County Register of Deeds. March 25, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Correction Instrument, Document No. 3060517". Brown County Register of Deeds. April 3, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Things to do in Green Bay this weekend". Green Bay Press-Gazette. September 10, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- 1 2 "Brown County Land and Water Conservation". Brown County, Wisconsin. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Brewery Wastewater Treatment Services". Foth & Van Dyke. August 28, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2026.