Hacienda Beer's creative vibe extends to a new venture: Hacienda Coffee; it's sold at Milwaukee taproom
Kathy Flanigan
In sports jargon, the introduction of Hacienda Coffee Co. would be considered part of a triple threat.
First there was Door County Brewing with beers like Polka King Porter and Little Sister Witbier. Then Door County Brewing added Hacienda Beer Co., an offshoot brewery for its more experimental and lush beer styles. Now they're brewing up even more with Hacienda Coffee Co.
Roasting coffee beans is a natural extension of creativity requiring a dedication to timing and an emphasis on bringing out flavor, said John McMahon, one of the founders of the family-owned Door County Brewing and the brand's coffee roaster.
Hacienda Coffee Co. is a chance to "experiment and create new flavors," McMahon said.
That experiment took McMahon to Mill City Roasters in Minneapolis, where he learned about coffee and roasting techniques that he brought back to the roaster in Door County. Learning this skill goes hand in hand with brewing, McMahon insists.
It's knowing what flavor you want to bring out of the bean. McMahon keeps records of the types of beans and how long he roasts them so he can better blend them.
The first coffee Hacienda Coffee released was Yuma Block Party, a combination of Guatemalan and Ethiopian beans. It sells for $19 a pound.
Kenya, described as having notes of "ripe citrus, tangerine, mandarin orange, deep peach/apricot, molasses," is the second release. It costs $21 a pound.
Hacienda plans to release eight to 12 different coffee styles every year, including some that have been aged in bourbon barrels where beer also has been aged.
McMahon expects people to choose their coffee by flavor — and the artwork on the bag. Micah Gunderson is the featured artist for Yuma Block Party, which features a cowgirl on a bucking horse. The bright blue decorated bag for Kenya is more in lockstep with the design of the Hacienda Beer taproom, 2018 E. North Ave., and the art on Hacienda beer cans.
The coffee is available at the Milwaukee taproom or online at haciendabeerco.com.
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Contact Kathy at (414) 224-2974 or kathy.flanigan@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @katflanigan.