ABOUT US
Locally focused, family-oriented, and the freedom to explore; because great beer has no rules. We came together to make the community stronger, to support Wisconsin farmers, and to follow our passion. It just happened to be beer. Dedicated to preserving the earth, using sustainable practices and helping improve the world of beer from harvest to bottle.
Stubborn, yet always brothers
AARON
Aaron never wanted to open a brewery. A brewery requires tireless work and effort. And you have to wait almost a month to find out if your brew is successful. If your brew fails, you start all over again and throw your hard work down the drain! But Erik was persistent that the craft brewing revolution was upon us. Erik was unable to take on this venture alone as he was responsible for maintaining the crops on their local family dairy farm. It became Aaron’s mission to explore and learn about brewing beer. He learned a lot and soon curiosity killed the cat, and he became obsessed with the art of brewing and the beauty of barrel aging, selecting seasonal fruits and ingredients, and the artisanal challenges that make brewing an art more than a science.
Erik
Erik always wanted to start a brewery. A brewery is fun, engaging, and challenging. Unfortunately, as Aaron and Erik began their brewing adventures, Erik had to fulfill his prior obligations to their local family dairy farm. Even though time constraints have limited Erik in assisting with brewing, he has been integral in selecting Shawano as their home base, choosing and sourcing their equipment and making this brewery a reality. Erik was also key in their farm to table approach. Erik grew the first hop fields to determine what varieties grow successfully in the Shawano soil, and also responsible for the sourcing of malt and brewing ingredients from local farmers. He continues to be actively involved in everyday brewing, recipe development and daily operations.
History
Stubborn Brothers Brewery was started by brothers Aaron and Erik Gilling with the help of their families. They both went to school at Marquette University in Milwaukee, a hub for all things beer. What began as a trip to a small homebrew store turned into a love for making beer.
1.
Where did the name come from?
Both Aaron and Erik had ideas for naming their brewery but couldn’t quite agree on one. Neither one wanted to budge because they’re both a little, well.. stubborn. Hence, Stubborn Brothers Brewery
3.
Remodel and Opening
After looking at a few different buildings, the brothers ultimately decided on the old Crescent Pitcher Show on Main Street. The building was purchased in the summer of 2016 and work started immediately. At first, this consisted of Aaron and Erik and their families coming in on weekends to gut the building. During that process they uncovered the original proscenium stage, tin ceilings, brick columns, stained glass, and upstairs dance hall. The brewery portion of the building was added on to the existing building. As plans came together, the building next door was purchased to house a full kitchen for the restaurant. Construction was completed in early 2020. The anticipated opening date was set for March 18th, 2020, but the world had other plans, and Covid-19 shutdowns closed all bars and restaurants. The Stubborn Brothers crew kept working, and after a few weeks were able to begin drive-up beer sales. The grand opening of Stubborn Brothers was June 3rd, 2020.
2.
Why Shawano?
Aaron and Erik grew up in nearby Marion, WI and their family runs a farm in Clintonville. Both went to college in Milwaukee, which is where they initially thought their brewery would lay its roots. When the time came to decide on a location, they were having trouble finding the right space for their vision within a community that really embraced their ideas. Their oldest brother suggested relocating to downtown Shawano as a spot with a lot of forward-momentum for growth and also a great small city to raise a family. The economic development team in Shawano was excited to work with Aaron and Erik to bring Stubborn Brothers to their community, so they decided
to call Shawano home.
4.
Building History
1915: The Crescent Theater was built by George and Anna Nagel. Originally a Vaudeville theater.
1996: Converted to the Crescent Pitcher Show movie theater
2016: Building purchased by Aaron and Erik Gilling
2020: Stubborn Brothers Brewery opened in June after almost 4 years of construction and remodeling.