Something's brewing at Winter Games XXXII New title sponsor brings along cold refreshments

Eric DeKeyzer, Rich Hart, Donn Martens and Cole Martens have a fresh take on an old adage: If you want something done right, brew it yourself.

The four men are about to use the busiest winter weekend in the Iowa Great Lakes to launch a line of beers created by their regional brewery.

Okoboji Brewing Company is the title sponsor for the 32nd annual University of Okoboji Winter Games and the business won't disappear after snowmobiles fade into the horizon.

"As an original brewery, location is important and we will be strongly focused on the Lakes area, where most of our clients will be," DeKeyzer said.

Family also made Iowa Great Lakes an easy choice for the businessmen. Donn raised his son, Cole, in the area. Hart is Donn's son-in-law and Rich's father also grew up around the Lakes. DeKeyzer rounds out the group and studied the brewery business in college.

"We hold our hearts true to the Midwest," DeKeyzer said. "One of the first things we wanted to address was the farmhouse ale, a beer that almost died out in the 1980s and was traditionally brewed in farmhouse barns."

The company wants to highlight the area's glacier-carved Lake Okoboji in another blend called Boji Blue.

The U of O Winter Games will be held Jan. 27-29 but beverage samplers can get an early taste of the local product. On Jan. 24, four Winter Games edition beers will be distributed in participating stores. Customers can watch for Boji Blue and Midwest Charm -- the farmhouse ale. Boji Beach and Winter Games Select 32 -- a brew exclusive to the Winter Games -- also will be available.

The co-founders also have plans to release at least two new brews on a quarterly basis. They'll draw on about 15 years of combined experience in the brewing process.

"It's a passion for the different varieties," DeKeyzer said in reference to brewing. "It's so hard to find odd beers and we wanted to make those beers that are hard to find, but to also experiment with anything in the kitchen. There are unlimited possibilities when it comes to brewing."

The owners also see the local brewery as a way to fend off the commercial takeover of beers in Iowa.

"Essentially, we are going back to the Midwest roots," DeKeyzer said. "Pale ales were originally a steam engine for craft beers 10 to 15 years ago and now rye ales (like Boji Beach) are moving in that direction. It adds a distinct earthiness to the beer."

In support of their Winter Games sponsorship, the Okoboji Brewing Company has created a beer specific and unique to the games. The Winter Games Select 32 is a stout which utilizes Star Anise, an ingredient that adds a hint of chocolate flavor.

"Winter Games Select is a smooth stout. It's not heavy like a Guinness beer," DeKeyzer said. "It's not your typical heavy beer. It's not overpowering."

STILL SETTING UP SHOP

Davenport-based Great River Brewery is brewing and canning the first Okoboji beers while the local owners set up a production line along U.S. Highway 71 in Spirit Lake.

"It's a great spot -- it's where our hearts are," Hart said.

Okoboji Brewing is set for a mid-spring opening of their taproom, where their beers will be available. The business will feature "play" beers -- new brews that are in the beginning stages. The taproom will be open to the public as mostly an educational experience. Tours of the facilities and samples will be offered. A number of question-and-answer sessions will be held in the taproom.

"One of the most enjoyable aspects of beer is the social factor," DeKeyzer said. "It really is a social event."

Touring visitors will have the chance to learn about the company's distinctive brewing process featuring a mash filter press. Brewing time is cut in half, while the grain conversion efficiency is increased from 70 percent to near 100 percent..

Production will take place in a 48-feet by 72-feet facility with 14 foot high side walls. The Taproom is 35-feet by 35-feet and it sits on a large lot, allowing room for future expansion.

Customers will only find Okoboji Brewing products in cans -- the owners preferred a 16-ounce container that minimizes the effect on the environment. The 16-ounce cans are sold in four packs.

THE IOWA BEER EQUALITY BILL

Okoboji Brewing Company had a significant hurdle to clear before their ales and stouts could reach the market.

Up until the spring of 2010, breweries in Iowa were handcuffed by regulations, which controlled the alcohol levels in Iowa-brewed beverages.

Relief arrived with passage of the Iowa Beer Equality Bill in 2010, which placed the state's craft breweries on equal footing with out-of-state companies. The bill's passage was considered a major stepping stone for the start of the Okoboji Brewing Company.

"Before the bill was passed, it really limited what craft breweries [in Iowa] could do," DeKeyzer said.

WINTER GAMES PARTICIPATION

Marketing is another key step and the Okoboji Brewing Company owners are excited to be title sponsor for the 2012 Winter Games.

"We were looking for ways to get involved in the community," DeKeyzer said. "This was the perfect opportunity."

The company will focus on having beers available at a number of tents as well as at local bars. The ever-popular polar plunge will be an exclusive Okoboji Brewing Company event. Each founding member will take part in a number of events throughout the weekend.

Hart will be participating in the bike ride and plans to bring DeKeyzer along for the polar plunge. Okoboji Brewing will have an entry in the Chili Cook-Off.

"We want to get out and be involved in the community as often as we can," DeKeyzer said. "We are looking forward to this opportunity."

Okoboji Brewing plans on sponsoring the 30th annual Walleye Weekend in the summer as well.