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May 26, 2025
CORNELL – The foundation behind MoonRidge Brewing Company – Co-owners Andrew Clement and Nicholas Raap said – is simple: “passion, camaraderie and exceptional craft beer.”
The duo, both U.S. military combat veterans – Clement with the United States Army, and Raap serving in the United States Air Force – said they became fast friends when they worked together at Home Depot in Onalaska.
At the time, Raap said he was also finishing up his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, thanks to the GI Bill.
The construction-industry-workers-turned-business-partners said when they both decided to move away from the daily hustle and bustle of La Crosse, they stumbled across MoonRidge.
“We fell in love with the atmosphere, the culture and the people,” Raap said.
Though a newcomer to MoonRidge, Raap said he was quite familiar with the brewing process.
“I started homebrewing about 11 years ago, when my wife, then girlfriend, Nicole, bought me a beer homebrewing kit for our first Christmas together,” he said.
Combined with Clement’s years of management experience, Raap said they are the perfect pair to guide the brewery into its next chapter.
Brewing a legacy
Raap said MoonRidge (501 Bridge St. in Cornell) was originally started by Roger and Cindy Miller in 2015.
After being inspired to open the brewery following a vacation to Maui, Raap said the couple set the foundation of what MoonRidge has become today – which included an expansion in 2017 to increase patron capacity and accommodate larger brewing equipment.
“The brewery is named after a road where the original owners, Roger and Cindy, would go to let off some steam with their friends,” Raap said. “The name was so well-liked and so well-known within the community, that it only made sense to name the local brewery after it. But don’t ask my sister, Marie – she will think it was (named) so we could use her initials in our merchandise.”
Raap said he and Clement entered the MoonRidge story in 2023 when they purchased the brewery from the Millers.
Though they have spent the last two years putting their own stamp on the brewery, Raap said the focus the Millers put on community involvement remains strong.
“We continue to stay tied to the community,” Raap said. “We run events that benefit not only the local community, but Wisconsin as a whole. We both belong to The Fallen Outdoors – they focus on helping veterans get back into nature. We assist with disabled veterans navigating terrain, offering low-cost guides or free guides and assist with fundraising for multiple nonprofit organizations.”
Raap said MoonRidge also hosts the annual Cornell Flotilla event held in Mill Yard Park every July.
“This year the event (set for July 12) will be a block party style, with multiple vendors, as well as raffle options,” he said.
More information on the eighth annual event can be found on the brewery’s social media pages.
Beer and pizza
Raap said MoonRidge was built on “Roger’s expertise in beer recipes” and “Cindy’s ingenious pizza creations” – both of which he and Clement have continued today.
Part of that, Raap said, stems from the brewery’s continued focus on sustainability.
“We enjoy the concept of simple brewing with traditional methods,” he said. “We keep things simple. We focus on not using additives in our products. In fact, we focus on locally sourced ingredients that release a lot of flavor.”
When MoonRidge develops recipes, Raap said they focus on sugar and protein yield, “and keep our ABV relatively low.”
“We enjoy the sweet, yet bitterness of hops, and utilize them in multiple phases of our brewing process,” he said.
Taking sustainability one step further, Raap said MoonRidge reuses most of its spent grain byproduct from the brewing process.
“We use it to make delicious pizza crusts, cookies and other treats,” he said. “We donate all leftover waste to local farmers for livestock feed. We recapture our chemicals, ensuring less harm is done to local ecosystems, and we are currently in the works of having a solar system installed by Olson Solar.”
Environmentally conscious, Raap said he and Clement think “green and sustainable business practices are the only way to operate an ethical business in today’s climate.”
Raap said several of MoonRidge’s brews have been recognized on the national craft beer stage – earning three gold medals and one silver medal at last year’s Crafties Competition in Boulder, Colorado.
“I went from being a homebrewer to winning four medals in last year’s competition,” he said.
Some of MoonRidge’s claim to fame regarding its brews, Raap said, is the direct connection they have to the region.
“Each of our beers are named after a local landmark or beloved spot that is known by the local community,” he said. “You can take a ride on Rollercoaster Road and finish the night off with an ice-cold RollerCoaster. Stop in for a Wayside after driving by the local wayside. Pop on over to Sweeney’s Y Go By and enjoy a Corners, which was brewed specifically for them. Every pint truly has a story behind it.”
Per its website, moonridgebrewery.com, some of the beers brewed by MoonRidge include:
- Haymeadow Irish Blonde Ale – a light ale with a smooth, creamy texture and a subtle sweetness, a perfect blend of traditional Irish character and modern craft beer flair.
- MoonRidge Honey Brown Ale – a smooth, dark amber ale with rich malt flavors and a touch of sweetness from locally sourced honey.
- Fisher Honey Weizen Ale – a smooth wheat beer with a hint of honey, offering a balance of light, crisp flavors and subtle sweetness.
- Below the Dam Oatmeal Stout – a rich and creamy stout with a velvety smooth texture and deep, roasted flavors.
- Shaw’s Road Irish Draft – a smooth and flavorful ale, offering a balance of rich, malty sweetness and a satisfying finish.
Although they focus on the science of brewing, Raap said “there is something to be said about brewing from the heart.”
“We fell in love with the industry, and we are just excited to be a part of it,” he said.
During MoonRidge’s self-described “seltzer season” – aka, summer – Raap said the brewery creates its own hard seltzer options known as Moon Juice.
The options, he said, include:
- White Peach Lemonade
- Passionfruit, Orange, Guava
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Wild Berry
Raap said all hard seltzers are made with real sugar and natural flavors and are gluten-free.
The aforementioned “ingenious pizza creations” – all of which are listed on the brewery’s Facebook page – Raap said, are created using the same sustainability mindset as their beer counterparts.
From the Summertime Picnic and Garden Party to the Back-Yard BBQ and 3 Little Pigs, Raap said each MoonRidge pizza is created using as many fresh, locally sourced ingredients as possible.
Regardless of which brew, seltzer or pizza patrons decide upon, Raap said they can expect to be greeted at the door “with a friendly and smiling face.”
“The bartender will walk you through your beverage options, while the kitchen staff will assist you with all your dining needs,” he said. “Enjoy free popcorn and a Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks or Wisconsin Badgers game.”
Raap said visitors will find him or Clement in the taphouse or brewery most days.
Distribution, growth
Currently, in addition to self-distribution, Raap said MoonRidge partners with S&S Distribution.
“We are (available at places) along the western side of the state and currently service 16 counties,” he said.
A list of places where MoonRidge products are available, Raap said, is located on the brewery’s website.
The plan, Raap said, is to expand its distribution throughout the state in tandem with “growing our local roots.”
“This has been such an incredible experience, and we are excited to be contributors to the industry,” he said. “We look forward to growing our network within the wonderful brother/sisterhood that is brewing, as well as continuing to help our friends and family in the community.”
