It is amazing what six years can do to an industry. In February 2019, I spent time with Matt Misfeldt and his wife, Jennifer Obal-Misfeldt, from Patriot Homebrew Supplies. When they first opened in 2013, there were around six breweries in Nebraska, and homebrewing thrived from individuals to local groups. Today, there are 60+ breweries in Nebraska, with a greater concentration in the Omaha area. This is part of the changing dynamics of readily available local craft beer.
Patriot brewery 32 oz crowlers and 64 oz growlers
It was in March 2020, during the COVID pandemic, that a significant change would take place with Matt and Jennifer opening a nano brewery and becoming Patriot Brewery & Supplies. Jennifer told me it was a crazy time to keep up with the to-go offerings of their beer and that local breweries were looking for crowler and growler glass containers to serve customers.
I remember going to a few breweries where they said they were sorry they didn’t have any to-go containers. It was a strange time not knowing when you could return to the breweries and enjoy a beer in the establishment; luckily, that is behind us now.
Since its opening in 2013, the demographics of beer drinkers have also changed. I was talking with another local brewery who said the appetite for barrel-aged beers had decreased dramatically, signaling other changes are taking place. The younger generation is not as interested in big beers, and I guess they outnumber us well-seasoned (older folks).
After the pandemic, many seemed renewed and eager to enjoy all experiences. They desired a personal touch to all activities, from shopping to drinking beverages. We all had been missing human companionship through conversation!
To accommodate what people were looking for, Jennifer told me that the space was redesigned to be intimate without the distraction of TVs and other noise. I love this rare experience of forgetting about everything else happening in the world and enjoying the company of others. The small taproom makes it feel like you are going into someone’s home and not a business.
The taproom space has a great atmosphere of limited tables and memorabilia.
Eleven taps with craft beer, hard cider, and soda.
The best part about a nano brewery is having a brewer like Matt, who is passionate about every detail of beer brewing! Matt has been homebrewing since 2007, building up an excellent knowledge base he loves sharing. We will get into the details of a few beers in a moment.
The other part is that Matt uses the best-quality ingredients from the retail store to make the beer on tap. Matt and Jennifer share small-batch recipes with all patrons, which is a rarity but provides a community of collaboration. I can’t think of a better way to share the experience of taking a recipe and making minor changes to see what happens—now, that could be the mad scientist in me!
It is time to discuss the beer now!
It is getting close to St. Patty’s Day, and who doesn’t like an Irish Stout? It is as dark as night, making most novice craft beer drinkers think it is heavy when the body is usually medium light. Sometimes, the dryness can be harsh, detracting from this lower ABV stout, but Matt must be doing something different.
I get the nice roasty notes with a hint of coffee in a smooth body that finishes modestly dry. So what is the secret? Is it something about the water profile or the brewing process itself? Matt told me he had done many experiments over the years and found that cold steeping those black malts yielded excellent color and flavor while reducing astringency. That makes sense to me. When I make cold brewed coffee, steeping it with cold water decreases acidity levels.
What a significant difference! If you live in the Omaha and Elkhorn area, you should visit on Friday, March 14th. Matt will be tapping a cask-conditioned pin for everyone to experience the difference. So you ask, what is a pin? A pin equals about 5.4 gallons, or 43 pints, of beer, whereas a firkin equals 10.8 gallons, or 86 pints.
Cask ales (often referred to as real ales) originated in Britain during the Middle Ages. For those who have not tried cask ales, you might hear the nay-sayer in them, thinking no one would want warm, flat beer. This is untrue, as the beer has a fuller, softer mouthfeel with an enhanced flavor profile. It is served at cellar temperature (around 55°F). No CO2 taps are used to pour the beer. Instead, the tap relies on gravity.
It is a must-have experience if you have never tried a cask ale!
My Irish eyes are smiling for this stout!
The beautiful caramel color of the Patriator Doppelbock.
A favorite winter and early spring beer style is the Bock. During my visit, Matt had a Doppelbock (aka double Bock) on tap that I was dying to try! This German beer style is rich and malty, varying from caramel and toffee to chocolate and dark fruit notes. I prefer the ones with caramel and toffee notes with that sweetness, which were in Matt’s Patriator Doppelbock. The cool part is when you go to their website, you see lots of details, such as 8.2% ABV, 60% Munich malt, single decoction with Magnum, and Northern Brewer hops. WLP833 German Bock yeast.
Wait a minute. There is a word there (decoction) that I have no idea what it means. I was lucky that Matt was patient and described it to me. Decoction is a brewing technique that involves boiling a portion of the mash and returning it to the main mash. Okay, so why is that important? This time-consuming process helps extract the maximum sugars from the grain, enhancing the malty notes and clarity of the beer. The outcome is impressive; I imagine most larger breweries couldn’t afford to use this process.
One of my fondest memories is my friend Gerard's invitation to a brewing class at Patriot Brewery and Supplies. We brewed a fantastic American Pale Ale. I remember telling Gerard that we should name this beer “Eight Days a Week” because you will want to drink it that often!
I have never seen a place with so many ingredients for homebrewers! I know what you are thinking, but it is easier to go on the Internet to find them. My question for you is, how do you know what you are getting? Granted, if I need a screwdriver, I would probably hop on Amazon and get it. Now, if it is about selecting between core malts and hops, I can’t see myself ordering online. I would instead want to see, smell, and, yes, maybe taste them before purchasing. I would look to the expertise of Jennifer and Matt to steer me in the right direction. The personal touch you get from a local shop will improve your beer!
The famous brewing paddle!
I highly recommend visiting the taproom for a beer or taking a class. Some of the upcoming events are:
Bogo - Bring One Get One, Friday, February 28. Bring a friend who has never been to Patriot Brewery and get a free 8-oz pour!
St. Patty’s Celebration - Friday, March 14. Irish Stout (cask ale) with root beer and stout floats!
How to Make Hard Cider, Thursday, March 20. Free seminar with outside cider welcomed.
Wine Club, Friday, April 11. Wine, hard cider, and mead bottle share and trade.
You can find other events on this page.
My favorite picture (from the first blog) of Matt brewing!
That’s a wrap! I hope you take the time to visit Patriot Brewery & Homebrew Supply. I always enjoy the time with Matt and Jennifer, learning new things, and having a beer with them!
Below, you will find their location, which will help you make your way there.
Cheers!
