Wisconsin Brewers Guild names board members and officers

The Wisconsin Brewer's Guild has appointed seven members to its Executive Board and has chosen its Executive Officers for 2008.

Reappointed to the Executive Board by a vote of the Wisconsin Brewer's Guild General Membership are:

Carl Nolen of Capital Brewery in Middleton, Russ Klisch of Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee, Jeff Hamilton of Sprecher Brewing Company in Glendale, Jim Wisender of Sand Creek Brewing Company in Black River Falls and Bo Belanger of South Shore Brewery in Ashland.

Two newly appointed members to the Board are Paul Graham of Central Waters Brewing Company in Amherst and Stacey McGinnis of Tyranena Brewing Company in Lake Mills.

Carl Nolen has been appointed the 2008 President of the Wisconsin Brewer's Guild, succeeding Russ Klisch, who will serve on the Board as Past President for 2008.

Jeff Hamilton has been appointed Vice President and Jim Wisender has been appointed to a second year as Treasurer. Stacey McGinnis joins the Board as Secretary.

In addition, John Reynolds, formerly of City Brewery in La Crosse, concluded his service to the Board in 2007.

Congratulations to all reappointed and newly joining Executive Board Members and a sincere thank you to those whose terms have recently ended.

The Wisconsin Brewers Guild is dedicated to the revival of Wisconsin's brewing heritage through the production, marketing and sale of top quality craft beers while maintaining the integrity of individual brewers and their breweries.

Faced with anti-competitive legislation threatening small breweries and brewpubs across the state, the Wisconsin Brewer's Guild reorganized in 2005 to fight for the survival of the craft-brewing industry in Wisconsin. The key to that continued success, much like the brewing process itself, is consistency and determination.

The Wisconsin Brewer's Guild has made remarkable progress to strengthen the state's craft beer industry and continues to pursue goals in order to position Wisconsin in its rightful place as "America's Beer Country". The goal of the Guild is to unify Wisconsin's brewing community, promote and maintain standards of excellence in the brewing industry, increase public awareness and the sale of Wisconsin craft beers through promotions, special events, marketing and consumer education, improve business conditions for Wisconsin breweries and brewpubs as well as to educate policy-makers at both the State and Federal level about the industry and promote legislation that will allow the craft to succeed and survive.