Vintage Brewing Company traces its roots back to 2010 when it was established in Madison, Wisconsin by the Kraemer family and Scott Manning. Trent Kraemer, hailing from Spring Green, and his wife Brittany, originally from Harmony Grove near Lodi, joined forces with Manning, an experienced brewer with a background in various breweries in Arizona and California. The idea for Vintage Brewing Company took shape during their family gatherings, where Manning’s brewing skills consistently impressed the Kraemers. The concept of opening a brewpub together began to surface.
In 2009, an opportune moment arose when they stumbled upon an empty former brewpub location known as J.T. Whitney’s in the Whitney Way Shopping Center. Seizing this chance, Mark, Trent, Brittany, Scott, along with Bryan Manning and Mike Bridges, a dedicated employee at Vintage Spirits & Grill (VSG), wasted no time in leveraging their diverse skill set. They successfully secured the current venue for their brewpub and swiftly embarked on their entrepreneurial journey.
With the aid of a talented culinary team, the entire crew dedicated themselves to crafting an exceptional establishment that seamlessly blended top-notch, made-from-scratch cuisine with superb, handcrafted beers. Supported by numerous family members and friends, Vintage Brewing Co. proudly opened its doors in January 2010. Just a month later, they joyfully served their first batch of brewed beers.
Vintage’s vision included brewing approximately 2,000 barrels in their 10-barrel brewhouse, with a goal of utilizing hops grown at the family farm owned by co-owners Trent and Brittany in Spring Green whenever possible. They also prioritized serving locally sourced food and beer, all prepared from scratch.
Meticulous attention was given to the interior remodeling of the establishment, which previously housed J.T. Whitney’s for 14 years. The revamped space now features a spacious bar, a billiards room, a party room, and a lounge area complete with a fireplace. The décor showcases a blend of early 20th-century elements and contemporary leather chairs surrounding the fireplace. From the outside, the building maintains its grand presence as a notable structure on Whitney Way, but the interior has been transformed into an unrecognizably glamorous space. The design concept evokes a 1950s aesthetic, accentuated by the personal touch of one of the owners, an avid collector of antiques. Visitors will encounter fascinating artifacts ranging from the 1930s to the 1970s, adding to the unique ambiance of Vintage Brewing Company.
Vintage expanded its reach by launching their second location a “satellite pub. The Woodshed Ale House, opened in December 2013 at 101 Jackson St., Sauk City. The ownership of this establishment rests in the capable hands of cousins Scott and Bryan Manning, uncle Mark Kraemer, and their cherished family friend, Mike Bridges.
With the initiation of an extensive renovation project in August, the Woodshed Ale House transformed a structure that dates back to circa 1860. Previously known as Jimmy’s tavern for over two decades, this historic edifice boasts a rich and vibrant past as a pub, dance hall, boarding house, and even a secretive Prohibition speakeasy.
The pub flaunted an impressive selection of ten Vintage beers on draught, featuring a variety of exquisite brews. Among them, the namesake Woodshed stood tall—an India pale ale aged on oak chips, emanating a distinctive flavor. Additionally, the Sauk City location boasted four distinct brews crafted exclusively for its patrons: the Twin City Blonde, a luscious golden ale; Sauk Hop, an American pale ale meticulously brewed with locally sourced hops; the flavorful Butternut Road nut brown ale; and the delightful Higher Grounds stout, masterfully infused with locally roasted coffee beans.
Situated in the heart of downtown Sauk City, the Woodshed Ale House quickly captured the admiration of both locals and tourists, establishing itself as a favored destination. Though the physical woodshed may no longer grace the premises, its spirit persists within the hearts of patrons, embodied by the tap lines that proudly serve the Woodshed brews, each paying homage to the town of Sauk City, Wisconsin.
In 2016, Vintage Brewing Co., a brewery and restaurant, began construction on a 10,000-square-foot facility in Sauk City. The project received $1.35 million in taxpayer assistance through a tax increment financing district. The location, situated next to Wilderness Fish & Game on the Northeast side of the village’s downtown, is visible to motorists crossing the Highway 12 bridge over the Wisconsin River. The owners, who have strong ties to the area as they grew up or spent significant time on a family farm near Plain, west of Sauk City, saw this spot as a natural choice.
Two years later, in 2018, the owners successfully opened the Vintage Brewing Co. Sauk Prairie facility, which cost $7 million and occupies a 26,000-square-foot space along the Wisconsin River. The establishment consists of a 10,000-square-foot brewery space on the lower level, capable of producing up to 9,000 barrels of beer annually. The upper levels feature a kitchen, restaurant, bar, indoor and outdoor seating areas, a seasonal beer garden with riverfront views, and a banquet and events space accommodating groups of up to 250 people.
At the core of the operation is a 30-barrel brewhouse located in the basement. This brewhouse will eventually have the capacity to produce 8,000 barrels of beer per year, in addition to the 2,000 barrels produced at the Vintage on Whitney Way in Madison. The brewery, provided by Quality Tank Solutions in Oconomowoc, includes three 90-barrel fermentation tanks with space for six more 30-barrel fermentation tanks as production increases, along with a canning line. Approximately 25 percent of the company’s beer is packaged in cans and bombers, while the remaining 75 percent is consumed in their restaurants.
The facility boasts scenic views of the Wisconsin River and features 40 tap lines in the Sauk City tap room, with 37 dedicated to Vintage beers. The remaining taps offer beer from local breweries as well as wine, whiskey, and brandy barrels sourced from Wollersheim Winery across the river.
The new Vintage facility in Sauk City offers a different environment from its Madison counterparts but rivals them in terms of decor. The setting is unmatched, except for notable establishments such as The Edgewater hotel and Memorial Union on Lake Mendota or Ishnala Supper Club near Mirror Lake. Furthermore, the building’s proximity to the new Great Sauk Trail, which will eventually connect with trails at Devil’s Lake State Park, makes it an attractive destination. Additionally, it is only a 20-minute drive from Madison’s Far West Side.
In 2018, the owners of Vintage sought to venture into something unique and thus established Tangent. Situated on the first floor of the eight-story Gebhardt Building, precisely on the 800 block of East Washington Avenue, Tangent occupies a spacious area of 6,520 square feet. Its neighboring establishments include The Sylvee, a concert venue with a capacity of 2,500, operated by Frank Productions. As part of the overall commercial and retail space in the building, Tangent contributes to a total of approximately 100,000 square feet.
Tangent boasts an impressive selection of beverages, with the majority of its 36 lines dedicated to beers brewed in Sauk, including Vintage’s renowned brews. Additionally, a distinct line of beer has been exclusively crafted for Tangent. While predominantly offering beers from local East Side breweries, Tangent also caters to different tastes by offering two white wine taps and a kombucha option on its taps.
