NEW GLARUS - New Glarus' namesake brewery began in an abandoned warehouse on County TK W, brewing a modest 3,000 barrels during that first year of production in 1993.
But from that small-scale beginning - when craft beers were just becoming a tasty alternative for most beer drinkers - New Glarus Brewing Company has become a national name in a fiercely competitive industry.
Now, one of the brewery's founders is making a name for herself, too.
The U.S. Small Business Council of America has chosen Deborah Carey, founder and president of New Glarus Brewing Co., as its Wisconsin Small Business Person of the year for 2011.
It's been a good run for the brewery. In addition to the SBCA honor, the home-grown company climbed to 21st in a national industry trade list that ranks 1,700 breweries nationwide by annual sales volume.
The Brewers Association announced the winners last week.
"I was just stunned," Cary said. "I'm very flattered and humbled."
And while Deborah said she was honored to be selected by the SBCA, she added that there are many small business owners in Green County worthy of such an award for their hard work.
In a recent interview, Deborah recalled how she and her husband, Dan, started their now-fledgling enterprise.
"We worked very hard," she said of time spent preparing financing and business plans before the first beer was brewed.
Dan and Deborah literally met in a brewery. Dan was helping a micro-brewer get off the ground in Montana and Deborah was hired on there to help with marketing and graphics.
Later, the couple moved to Fort Collins, Colo., where Dan took a job at brewing giant Anheuser-Bush. But after three years there, the couple decided to strike out on their own, packing up their two daughters and moving back to Deborah's home state of Wisconsin to start their own new business.
"We determined we weren't corporate people," Cary said.
Over the past 18 years, they have added two more buildings to the original brewery, and constructed a new facility on Wis. 69, bringing the amount of production space to over 10,000-square-feet.
New Glarus Brewing Co. won five awards for its various beers in 2010 alone.
Each year, SBCA honors a small business leader for their accomplishments.
SBCA members are asked to submit nominations, however nominees do not have to be members of the SBCA, but must be U.S. citizens.
The award winners receive a SBCA stipend for travel expenses to Washington, D.C. and get national, regional and local publicity relating to the Small Business Person of the Year Award.
Tours and tastings at the New Glarus brewery are Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, call (608) 527-5850 or visit www.newglarusbrewing.com.
But from that small-scale beginning - when craft beers were just becoming a tasty alternative for most beer drinkers - New Glarus Brewing Company has become a national name in a fiercely competitive industry.
Now, one of the brewery's founders is making a name for herself, too.
The U.S. Small Business Council of America has chosen Deborah Carey, founder and president of New Glarus Brewing Co., as its Wisconsin Small Business Person of the year for 2011.
It's been a good run for the brewery. In addition to the SBCA honor, the home-grown company climbed to 21st in a national industry trade list that ranks 1,700 breweries nationwide by annual sales volume.
The Brewers Association announced the winners last week.
"I was just stunned," Cary said. "I'm very flattered and humbled."
And while Deborah said she was honored to be selected by the SBCA, she added that there are many small business owners in Green County worthy of such an award for their hard work.
In a recent interview, Deborah recalled how she and her husband, Dan, started their now-fledgling enterprise.
"We worked very hard," she said of time spent preparing financing and business plans before the first beer was brewed.
Dan and Deborah literally met in a brewery. Dan was helping a micro-brewer get off the ground in Montana and Deborah was hired on there to help with marketing and graphics.
Later, the couple moved to Fort Collins, Colo., where Dan took a job at brewing giant Anheuser-Bush. But after three years there, the couple decided to strike out on their own, packing up their two daughters and moving back to Deborah's home state of Wisconsin to start their own new business.
"We determined we weren't corporate people," Cary said.
Over the past 18 years, they have added two more buildings to the original brewery, and constructed a new facility on Wis. 69, bringing the amount of production space to over 10,000-square-feet.
New Glarus Brewing Co. won five awards for its various beers in 2010 alone.
Each year, SBCA honors a small business leader for their accomplishments.
SBCA members are asked to submit nominations, however nominees do not have to be members of the SBCA, but must be U.S. citizens.
The award winners receive a SBCA stipend for travel expenses to Washington, D.C. and get national, regional and local publicity relating to the Small Business Person of the Year Award.
Tours and tastings at the New Glarus brewery are Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, call (608) 527-5850 or visit www.newglarusbrewing.com.