Sawmill Brewing Co. nods to Merrill's past

MERRILL - There's a story behind practically every piece of wood at the Sawmill Brewing Co.

The brewery, slated to open in Merrill on March 20 is new, but much of the decor comes from reclaimed materials or references Merrill's history in the lumber trade. A tree that came down in the tornado that ripped through Merrill in 2011 forms the actual bar. There are 13 species of wood in the flooring. And some of the tables come from old floor joists in the tavern, removed to make a loft space over the bar.

Sawmill is situated on a three-acre wooded lot on the north side of Merrill, at 1110 East 10th St., in a building that used to belong to the state Department of Natural Resources. The building dates back to the 1940s and its original wood and stonework is preserved in the brewery. Outside, patrons will be able to lounge on a patio or around a fire pit.

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"My dream is to have this be a center of activity that spills over to the parks in Merrill," said Stan Janowiak, Sawmill's co-owner and general manager. The brewery is his brainchild, conceived about two years ago. Janowiak wanted to boost the Merrill economy and give Merrillites a cool place to hang out and enjoy craft beer.

Sawmill hasn't secured its brewing license yet, but it is already displaying the tanks that will house future brews. In the meantime, other local craft beers are on tap. And the bar is stocked with spirits from Wisconsin distilleries. Drinks will be served in Ball jars to go with the bar's rustic decor.

Janowiak has two brewers — they're brothers — lined up from New Glarus who will work part time for Sawmill in its first year. One of them will bring award-winning brew recipes for an IPA and an oatmeal stout.

One corner of Sawmill, its conference room, is dedicated to the bygone Leidiger Brewery Co. and houses memorabilia from the Merrill-based relic. That room is available to smaller groups. The upstairs loft also gives a nod to the past with copies of historic photos framed on the wall, lit with old track lighting from Wausau's Woodson Art Museum.

The photos highlight Merrill's logging history.

"Essentially that's what built this town," Janowiak said. "Sawmills."

It's true, confirmed Pat Burg, treasurer and exhibit chair at the Merrill Historical Society. Merrill's first settler built a sawmill in the mid-1800s. "That was the first thing he did and a little town sprung up around that sawmill," Burg said.

The town, called Jenny, was renamed Merrill around 1880 when railroads came through. Logs came from the north via the Wisconsin River, were processed in the sawmills and then distributed by train.

"Lumber and sawmills are definitely ingrained in our heritage," Burg said. She's excited to see a historic building repurposed into the new brewery and excited about its theme, which is special to Merrill, she said.

The food at Sawmill will come from all over the region. The property is equipped for food trucks and Janowiak has been in touch with vendors in Merrill, Tomahawk and Wausau. Patrons can get updates on which food trucks are coming to Sawmill through the brewery's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Sawmillbrewing/info/.

Right now folks from Merrill travel down to Wausau to drink and dine, said Red Eye Brewing Co. brewmaster and co-owner Kevin Eichelberger. The Sawmill might prove to be a destination in Merrill for Wausau folks, he said. He's looking forward to checking it out.

"It really looks like (Janowiak's) going to be successful," Eichelberger said. "He's going to run a good operation."

Sawmill Brewing Co. will open for the first time at noon on March 20. Janowiak expects to secure a brewing license in May or June and start brewing then.

Nora G. Hertel: 715-845-0665 or nora.hertel@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @nghertel.