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June 29, 2026
SHEBOYGAN – Sheboygan’s 3 Sheeps Brewing has been selected to brew Wisconsin’s official semiquincentennial beer, marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Founder/Brewmaster Grant Pauly said the selection is part of a larger campaign by dozens of states across the country – all brewing an “official” beer for their celebration events.
Pauly said 3 Sheeps’ Stay Golden was chosen as the state’s official semiquincentennial beer.
“We couldn’t be more excited,” he said. “It’s something I never would have expected to get 14 years ago when we started, or even five years ago. Our goal at 3 Sheeps is to be what Wisconsin drinks. What could be cooler than getting to represent Wisconsin for the 250th celebration?”
Pauly said the excitement of the selection has also spread throughout the 3 Sheeps Brewing team.
“It’s taken a bit to settle in, but watching the team’s excitement build is something I’ll never forget,” he said. “Getting to be a part of this great celebration in this awesome beer culture state of ours really means a lot.”
A nod to the past
Pauly said Stay Golden is a craft golden lager that pays tribute to the beers that helped make Wisconsin what it is today.
The beer, he said, is a nod to Kingsbury Beer, which was owned by the Pauly family for several decades.
Pauly said he comes from a long line of brewery leaders, including a great-grandfather who served as president, a grandfather as treasurer and a great-uncle as brewmaster for Kingsbury in the years after Prohibition.
“Stay Golden has always been our nod to some of the great beers of the past, including Kingsbury Pale Ale, which has deep roots in my family’s brewing history,” he said.
However, Pauly said his family brewing history had no bearing on Stay Golden’s selection for the 250th anniversary celebration.
“[The commission] reached out and called us, so I’m not quite sure what their process was,” he said. “We got a call one day saying, ‘Hey, we’re putting this thing together.’ I think a few of them were fans of 3 Sheeps, and they asked if we’d be interested in partnering. I put together a presentation on what we were thinking and what we thought would work well, and they approved it. Once that happened, we were off to the races.”
Pauly said he describes Stay Golden as an “easy-drinking lager” with good flavor.
“It’s a beer you can drink celebrating our 250th anniversary while grilling out at home or at the beach on the Fourth of July,” he said. “It should be a beer that works for just about everyone, which was our goal in selecting Stay Golden. The style of the beer has been around for a very long time in our country’s history, so we thought it was quite appropriate to have that be what represents us and Wisconsin.”
Red, white and blue
Following its selection as Wisconsin’s brewer, Pauly said 3 Sheeps Brewing updated its Stay Golden packaging for America’s 250th anniversary, adding red, white and blue artwork and the phrases “Celebrating 250 Years” and “Proudly Independent Since 1776.”
“Our artist just nailed the design,” he said. “I think it screams ‘red, white and blue.’”
Pauly said the goal was to create a can people would be proud to hold.
“You also won’t be able to miss the packaging at the grocery or liquor store,” he said.
Pauly said a special Stay Golden release and food trucks will headline Fourth of July weekend at the taproom at 1837 N. Ave., which will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“July is a great month at the brewery,” he said. “We’re closing a bit early on the Fourth so everyone can get to the fireworks, but during the day, we’ll have food trucks for people to celebrate with us and also have some to-go specials.”
Pauly said the special 250th packaging of Stay Golden will run through Labor Day.
“We’re excited to use Stay Golden to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday celebration, but its future is also on our mind,” he said. “There are possibilities this beer could turn into something different for us down the road.”
Available in bars, restaurants, grocery and liquor stores in Wisconsin, Pauly said customers can check availability through its beer finder at find.3sheepsbrewing.com.
“Pop in your ZIP Code, and you can see exactly where to find the beer within a 10-20-mile radius,” he said.
