Titletown Brewing Company - Johnny Blood Red

Pouring an attractive copper-amber hue with good clarity, Green 19 rests in our glass below a sizeable head of foam that laces the sides nicely as it slowly recedes to a persistent collar. On the nose, we picked up prominent citrus notes that are quite resinous and zesty, with accompanying floral overtones and a dash of pine, all overlaid upon a good dose of malty caramelization lurking below. Look for that malty core to come through very sturdy on the palate, too, with broad caramel impressions and a touch of toasty bread providing a thoroughly satisfying backbone. The citrus-dominant hops and firm hop bitterness offer plenty of bite, giving us a great interplay between these drier notes and the malty sweetness. This classic American IPA will pair nicely with well-seasoned roasted meats, especially with a bold citrus marinade or glaze. Pork loin with an orange sauce, tequila citrus marinaded carne asada, or spicy Thai spring rolls with a citrus dipping sauce sound good to us. Cheers!

Titletown Brewing Company was founded in 1996 as the brainchild of Brent Weycker and John Gustavson, at a time well before the craft beer revolution had really taken off in the U.S. In fact, convincing Green Bay’s city leaders that a downtown brewpub was a good idea was no easy task. The founders found an ally in John Hickenlooper who advocated for Titletown’s plans, bringing a lot of legitimacy to bear as the owner of Denver’s Wynkoop Brewing Company (before becoming mayor of Denver, governor of Colorado, and a US senator), which was among the country’s largest brewpubs at the time. Ultimately, Weycker and Gustavson were successful, and Titletown opened for business in the newly renovated former Chicago & Northwestern Railway Passenger Depot, an historic fixture of the downtown Green Bay community since 1899.

Until 2013, Titletown operated as a brewpub, and a large one at that, ranking among the twenty largest in the country. Most of their beer was sold on premises at the brewpub, so to expand, a new facility was needed. Luckily, another set of historic buildings adjacent to the railway depot were available and made an excellent location for a full scale package brewery. Previously the home of Larsen Cannery, the new facility maintains many original materials including century-old window frames, fans, and light fixtures, along with the massive smokestack which serves as a landmark proudly displaying the Titletown name. The entire Titletown operation is now located in the new facility, including their Tap Room and the Roof Tap Bar which offers a rooftop view of downtown Green Bay. The brewery currently produces about a half-dozen year-round brews in addition to a number of seasonals and limited releases. For more info on this historic brewery in a historic location, visit them at www.titletownbrewing.com.