Raising a stein to Oshkosh’s Craft Beer Week

Meghan Diemel

Contributor

March 23, 2026

OSHKOSH – Collaboration is once again on tap for Oshkosh’s Craft Beer Week.

For the fifth year, three local breweries – Bare Bones Brewery, Fifth Ward Brewing Company and Fox River Brewing Company – are coming together to craft a new beer for the city’s annual Craft Beer Week celebration (April 2-12).

Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Marketing Coordinator Anna Murphy-Pociask said the special release will be featured at the local breweries, as well as incorporated into cocktails and spirits at Sturgeon Spirits Craft Distillery and Sunken Paddle Ciderworks.

“Craft Beer Week is a great way to come together and show off what makes our community so unique and awesome,” she said.

Jay Supple – CEO of the Supple Group, which owns Fox River Brewing Co. – said Amy Albright, executive director of the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau, brought the idea to the brewers and has been instrumental in promoting the event. 

Supple said the goal was to model it after Restaurant Week, encouraging collaboration among local breweries to offer something fresh and exciting for the city.

“Amy and her team over at the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau are awesome, and they’re always trying to figure out ways to promote,” he said.

Throughout Craft Beer Week, Murphy-Pociask said patrons will have the opportunity to attend special events hosted by each site, enjoy live music and participate in exclusive promotions.

The week, she said, bookends National Beer Day – which is celebrated April 7 and marks the anniversary of the enforcement of the Cullen-Harrison Act in 1933, which legalized and taxed the sale of 3.2% alcohol-by-weight (or 4.05% ABV), essentially allowing for legal alcohol consumption, before the 21st Amendment fully repealed Prohibition in December of the same year.

Collaboration, teamwork in action

Supple said though each brewery involved has their own approach to brewing beer, Craft Beer Week helps bring the three breweries together, creating a unique approach that is steered by the brewery brewing the collaborative product, which rotates from year to year. 

“We’re all a brewery, we make our own beer, but everybody’s got their own little style,” he said. “What’s cool about [the collaboration] is it brings the three of us together.”

Supple said releasing a new beer during Oshkosh’s Craft Beer Week is great timing from a business perspective because it fills a gap in marketing and promotions that otherwise exists in April.

After March Madness and St. Patrick’s Day, he said, there can be a lull before the weather improves and patio season begins. 

Supple said Craft Beer Week also addresses the trending consumer demand for “experiences,” something bar and restaurant patrons have gravitated toward since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.

Though patrons come for quality food, drinks and service, he said they are increasingly seeking a sense of community and the feeling of being part of something bigger.

At Fox River Brewing Co., for instance, Supple said the brewery will feature special offerings and menu items tied to Craft Beer Week.

“I think that’s what all of us [in the industry] are trying to figure out – what’s the experience?” he said. “And that’s where Craft Beer Week comes in. It’s an experience, because you’re not only doing the collaboration, [but] you’re also going to highlight other beers.”

At Fox River Brewing Co., Supple said there will be other specials and menu items that are related to Craft Beer Week. 

This year’s release: A rice lager

Murphy-Pociask said this year’s special beer is a rice lager, which has been brewing at Bare Bones Brewery.

Patrons, she said, will be able to enjoy the special beer during the event, while also getting fun swag and special event cups.

“There will be a whole experience around it, trying the new beer, as well as being able to see the vibrant culture of the breweries,” she said.

Fox River Brewing Co. Brewmaster Patrick McHugh said this year’s beer will have a 4.98% ABV and represents a fresh take on craft beer compared to previous events, describing it as more “entry-level” in terms of its craft beer profile.

McHugh said this direction was chosen to entice more people who may not be part of the craft beer scene to try something new.

“We’re doing a traditional rice lager,” he said. “[In] previous years, we’ve done different types of IPAs, we’ve done kettle sours. This year, we’re trying to approach the macro[-brew] drinking crowd – the people who are used to drinking Bud Light, Miller Lite, [beers] like that – and trying to bring them into the craft beer realm.”

McHugh said the goal is to show that craft beer provides more variety and complexity than people might expect.

“[We want to show people that] we also make really good, light beers and simple, easy-to-drink beers as well – not just IPAs and fruited beers,” he said.

Brewed collaboration

Each year, McHugh said the collaborative effort begins with a meeting among the head brewers from each of the locations, where they discuss which direction to take the special brew.

Then, he said, the head brewers brainstorm with one another about the type of malt they want to use, and what type of hops they’ve used in previous batches that may have been similar to the style they’ve agreed upon for the event’s featured beer. 

McHugh said the brewers then discuss the science involved in the final product.

“[We talk about] where we want the beer to finish, how dry we want it to be, how crisp we want it to be, how much residual sugar you want left in the beer, things like that,” he said.

McHugh said the brewmasters helped Jody Cleveland – brewmaster at Bare Bones – get the brewing started for the 2026 event and will work together to distribute the beer once it’s ready. 

“After a couple of weeks, he has the finished beer, and we’ll get that packaged and get that distributed out to all the breweries for the week,” he said.

Beyond selling the product, McHugh said a key part of the collaboration involves coordinating across different distributors.

The goal, he said, is to secure a single distributor to carry the beer and then reach all of their accounts.

“Since [there are] so many bars in the city, you have to hit every account, so that’s been a collaborative effort, as well as getting the salesmen out to make sure that each bar is contacted about bringing in the beer,” he said.

For those who have been faithful attendees of the previous events, Murphy-Pociask said because it’s a different flavor profile than in past years, the new rice lager promises a unique experience for even the most seasoned of craft beer connoisseurs. 

“All of the beers normally have kind of fruitier flavors,” she said. “So, I think this year, [patrons should] look out for fun, creative twists at each brewery, just to see what they do with it.”

McHugh said he’s most excited to see people who normally don’t drink craft beer enjoy the experience and what the breweries created together. 

“I know one thing we really tried to nail down this year is having a lower price point, so people who are used to paying a lower price point than the craft beer market will embrace it and get excited about it,” he said. “And, hopefully, they will have some rice lager in the fridge next to their Busch Lights.”

Craft Pass technology adds to the fun 

In addition to trying the new beer, Murphy-Pociask said there will be themed event products, like special cans to mark the occasion.

Attendees, she said, can also engage with the event through an interactive feature on the Discover Oshkosh digital app.

“It’s an Oshkosh Craft Pass…,” she said. “Visitors or residents can download this free app and kind of play along and unlock prizes as you stop at these places.”

Murphy-Pociask said the pass is downloadable now, and details will be updated as the event gets closer.

Murphy-Pociask said Oshkosh is continuing to evolve, building on its well-known attractions – like the EAA, the university, sturgeon spearing and Oshkosh B’Gosh – while “leveling up” its food and beverage scene.

Craft Beer Week, she said, highlights this growth, showcasing the city’s breweries and restaurants and giving residents and visitors even more to enjoy.

“I always say it’s like a small, big town here,” she said. “It’s a pretty big town, we have a lot going on, but as soon as you step into establishments, it feels very homey. And people… invite you in and make it feel like [you’re] home, wherever you are.” 

Murphy-Pociask said Craft Beer Week isn’t just about enjoying a pint – it’s also an opportunity to check out and support local spots, including some hidden gems around Oshkosh.

“Instead of maybe grabbing your beer at a chain grocery store, you could support local and try out the awesome creativity that these people are putting together,” she said. “It really is a win for businesses, residents and visitors alike, because it drives foot traffic, it increases awareness [for] their businesses and… people are excited to support local, too.”

Those interested in more details can head to visitoshkosh.com for more or check out the bureau’s social media platforms.