Posted October 6, 2007

Brewery preps for production Ryan Dabel
For The Journal

The O'so Brewing Co., 1812 Post Road in Plover, is so close to brewing the first batch of beer owners can almost taste it. Because of minor setbacks, production will be postponed. When venturing into a new business, there are always unforeseen obstacles that spring up, and according to co-owner Marc Buttera, one of those obstacles were the hops. "This year's hop crop was a disaster," Buttera said. "This first year, we're going to be brewing around the hops." Usually, a brewery will commit to purchase a quantity of hops for the next year. "We're going to make the beer to whatever hop is available," said Bart Peterson, co-owner.

O'so has had to make adjustments to its current equipment, which has been in place since May. A new hot water heater is being added to the brew kettle to ensure the accurate temperature is reached. Last week, the final inspections were completed by the city of Plover. O'so Brewing Co. is planning on getting its first batch under way this weekend, with the product hitting the shelves in the following weeks. "We don't have our first beer brewed yet, and we're already thinking of new expansions," Peterson said. "A lot of hours have been put in here in the last month."

Marc Butters, left, and Bart Peterson hope to get O'so Brewing Co. at 1812 Post Road in Plover in operation soon. Thomas Kujawski/Stevens Point Journal

var ' Posted October 6, 2007

Plover brewery to offer 'weird cutting edge' beers Ryan Dabel
For The Journal

The O'so Brewing Company, 1812 Post Road, Plover, is ready to offer local residents a taste of the unusual as they begin to brew their first batch of beer.

The company, founded by Marc Buttera and Bart Peterson, has one goal: brew beer differently. "I don't think anyone around here offers what I'm looking at ... we want to fill some voids," Buttera said. "I don't want to make a regular brown ale, or pale ale. I want to do something that fits in between."

The dream for Buttera started when he was in college, and a friend turned him on to home brewing, which he has been doing now for about 13 years. Four years ago, his love of home brewing led him to open the Point Brew Supply, 1816 Post Road, Plover, with his wife, Katina.

"It (Point Brew Supply) has opened my eyes to all the different ingredients that I think a lot of brewers don't have exposure to," Buttera said. "I've played with every single strain of yeast and grain and hop in there."Peterson, who works in quality control at the Waupaca Foundry, joined forces with Buttera, who, at the time, was working there as a mechanical engineer.

"The quality control training I've had (at the Waupaca Foundry) will play a huge part in this," Peterson said. "Process control is a big part to making consistent beer."O'so Brewing Co. is planning to have a varied lineup of beers, with interesting names and flavors. They will have a red ale, a West Coast Pale Ale showcasing American hops, as well as a Black Cocker Bock, O'so Lyte, and a local treat: Duzy Piwo, Polish for "big beer."

The company only wished to disclose a few ideas, but gave up one specialty: O'so Caliente, which will be a Mexican-style beer with a pimento pepper right in the bottle. "I'm ready to show the world what I've learned, and I'm definitely not going to do things like other people are, but I think I'm on some sort of weird cutting edge," Buttera said.

The brewery will have a capacity to brew about 280 gallons per batch, with plans to brew twice a week. A unique aspect of their marketing technique will be in the tapper. The design, a "Big O" will be the brewery's signature. An ad ran during Trivia 2007, urging future customers to look for the "Big O."

"The local breweries have just been awesome. We have an open invitation if we need anything to call (Central Waters and Point Brewery) up," Buttera said. "Hopefully, we can fit in without encroaching and fill a void."