Wise I owners, Matt Lancaster, (left) and Ben Sitzmann (right) are ready to start serving their home craft beers. Wise I of Le Mars is the 100th state craft brewer.
(Le Mars) — Iowa’s latest craft brewery, located in Le Mars, is about to open with the distinction of being the 100th craft brewery in Iowa. Wise I (eye) will celebrate the honor of being Iowa’s 100th home brewer with a grand opening ceremony scheduled for Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. with members of the Iowa Brewery Guild. Owners Ben Sitzmann and Matt Lancaster
say it was just “dumb luck” to be the 100th state craft brewery. Sitzmann says it speaks well of the Iowa craft brewery industry as to the leaps and bounds the industry has grown within the last few years.
Lancaster says the state-wide publicity is welcomed, especially when they had hoped to open their craft brewery months ago.
As for the name, “Wise I” (eye), Sitzmann says its their way of making fun of a famous woman prohibitionist from Iowa.
The brew crew plan to offer eleven different ales and lagers, with seasonal beers throughout the year. Sitzmann says depending on the type… a flavor of beer can be brewed, aged, with the finished product placed in a keg ready to be tapped anywhere between nine days to two months. Lancaster says the dual got interested in starting a craft brewery because they both enjoy
creating different beers. Lancaster tells of Friday’s celebration which will start with a food truck outside the premises.
Wise I (eye) will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday hours will be from 3:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Sitzmann says they not only want to serve great tasting craft beers, but to educate people about craft beers,
and the industry.
Listen to the entire interview with Sitzmann and Lancaster
