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September 22, 2025
MANITOWOC – In 2019, Andrew Hogan said he, along with his wife, Brittany, and brother-in-law, Mike Rudebek, turned a shared hobby – homebrewing – into what would soon become a growing business in the City of Manitowoc.
“[Rudebek] bought a beer kit,” Hogan said. “None of us had ever done it before, so we decided, sure, why not, let’s try it out. We did it in the house because we did not have all the right equipment.”
Though Brittany wasn’t pleased with the lingering smell the next morning – promptly banning any future brewing inside the house – Hogan said the experience marked the beginning of Craft Creek Brewing Company.
Brewing up a business
Hogan said after that first attempt, the homebrewing operation quickly moved into the garage, where they added more equipment and expanded the setup.
He said the operation continued to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With limited places to go and little else to do, the three partners said they rapidly expanded their hobby, moving from simple extract recipes to milling their own grains and mastering the mashing process.
As more people tried their beer and began requesting refills – some even asking for full batches – the trio said they began to consider turning their hobby into something bigger.
Encouraged by the positive feedback, Hogan said they started exploring the idea of launching a brewery.
By 2021, Hogan said their passion project became a full-fledged business with the founding of Craft Creek Brewing Company.
However, he said he admits the process wasn’t easy, with federal permitting and regulatory hurdles posing major challenges.
Learning how to use new equipment and scaling up the recipes from small homebrew batches to much larger production volumes, Hogan said, also proved to be daunting tasks.
The partners said they learned some tough lessons early on – like the time they lost an entire batch of Oktoberfest beer when the electric utility company left a note on their door saying the power would be shut off for several hours on a day they were closed.
Despite early challenges, Hogan said their efforts paid off when the first Craft Creek Brewing Company beer was poured March 17, 2022.
Balancing vision, growth
For the first 19 months, the Craft Creek Brewing Company partners said they ran the taproom themselves – while juggling full-time jobs outside the brewery: Hogan in logistics management; Brittany as a manager with an area manufacturer; and Rudebek in pest control.
Hogan said the team always had – and still has – a clear vision for what they hope to achieve with Craft Creek Brewing Company.
“We ground ourselves in establishing the name Craft Creek Brewing, trying to understand what our more staple beers are,” he said. “What are the ones that people want year-round that sell well – brand awareness and getting our name out there.”
Hogan said a great deal of effort is put into getting the Craft Creek Brewing Company name out there – participating in festivals, beer passports and brew decks have all been used to get their name out there.
With recipes for 65 different beers, Hogan said deciding what to feature can be challenging since the taproom only has 12 lines.
Among the most popular brews at Craft Creek Brewing Company, Hogan said, is the Double Trigger IPA – a double-hopped beer that is balanced with tropical fruits and citrus flavors.
Every time that one is taken down, he said they immediately receive requests to put it back.
Another favorite, Hogan said, is The Coal Steamer – a German-style amber crafted with traditional German malts.
Hogan said The Coal Steamer gained wider exposure this year when it was served on the SS Badger car ferry – putting the brewery’s production capacity to the test.
Currently, he said Craft Creek Brewing produces about 500 gallons of beer each month.
A standout seasonal offering, Hogan said, is The Toasted – a unique brew made with Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal in the mash and served with cinnamon sugar dusted on the glass.
Hogan said The Toasted is an example of a broader trend at Craft Creek Brewing to push the boundaries of traditional brewing, showing that the only real limit is human imagination.
Growth plans
Hogan said expanding distribution channels is central to their efforts to ensure Craft Creek’s long-term success.
Currently, Craft Creek Brewing Company beer is available at several establishments in Manitowoc and one bar in De Pere – however, looking ahead, Hogan said they hope to broaden the reach and increase brand awareness in larger markets, such as Green Bay, Appleton, Madison and Milwaukee.
“Continuing that brand awareness, getting out in the communities, being more involved [is critical],” he said.
Canning Craft Creek Brewing Company beer, Hogan said, is another key strategy they are pursuing to extend the brewery’s reach beyond the taproom and local draft markets.
Apart from limited releases at local fundraising events and 32-ounce crowler cans sold on site, he said Craft Creek’s beer has yet to hit the canned market.
Moving into canning, Hogan said, would create a more sustainable business model, potentially allowing some partners to dedicate themselves to the brewery full-time.
More than just beer
Hogan said visitors to the Craft Creek taproom can expect more than just great beer – they’re likely to make new friends as well.
The cozy, 35-seat space, he said, fosters a welcoming atmosphere that encourages community connections.
“It has got a vibe that people who do not know each other just start talking about things, and a lot of times they have common interests,” he said. “It is obvious they like craft beers. They get talking about camping and fishing and hobbies. It is great seeing those relationships come together.”
To further enhance the experience, Hogan said the brewery is renovating its outdoor patio thanks to a $5,000 grant from the State of Wisconsin.
He said the updates will make the area more inviting and open the door for hosting live events down the line.
When asked about the competition, Hogan said he doesn’t view other breweries as rivals.
Instead, he said he believes craft beer enthusiasts enjoy exploring different breweries and traveling rather than sticking to just one.
“Every single brewery is unique in what they do, what they offer and it is kind of like breweries working together,” he said. “No breweries are saying ‘do not go there’… we like [other breweries’] beer, we drink their beer, so we want people to go out and visit them.”
Craft Creek Brewing Company, located at 220 N. 9th St. in Manitowoc, is open from 5-10 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Head to craftcreekbrewing.com for more details.
