New whiskey from Great Northern Distilling using O’so Brewing Company’s Dominator Doppelbock
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (November 12, 2015) -- Great Northern Distilling and O’so Brewing Company share many things; a Plover, Wisconsin address (nestled in the Village Park development just off of Interstate-39 in the center of Wisconsin), a passion for their industry (craft distilling and brewing), and now a product with the release of Doppelgänger Whiskey.
Doppelgänger Whiskey, created from O’so Brewing Company’s Dominator Doppelbock and distilled by Great Northern Distilling, makes its debut this weekend. The release date will also be shared with O’so’s 8th Anniversary Party on Saturday, November 14th from 4pm-10pm, featuring more limited and specialty release beers for their fans.
About the Collaboration
In February 2014, the work began. The whiskey started as O’so Brewing Company’s Dominator Doppelbock, and was distilled at Great Northern Distilling. What came off their still was the malty essence of the strong german-style beer. Subtle floral or botanical notes were also noted in the distillate, a by-product of the hops. At that point, rather than bottling it as a clear spirit similar to traditional German beer schnapps, it was aged in used whiskey barrels, similar to the process for a single-malt scotch.
The resulting Doppelgänger Whiskey is smooth and easy drinking, with the maltiness of the beer shining through as well as traditional barrel flavors of oak, caramel, and vanilla. Doppelgänger is a different whiskey style than the other two available currently at Great Northern Distilling, Rye Whiskey and Vanguard Whiskey. The batch is small and limited, roughly 1,000 bottles, and is currently available exclusively through Great Northern Distilling.
Looking for another twist? A small batch of Dominator Doppelbock is currently being aged in used whiskey barrels, the same barrels that produced the Doppelgänger.
Flavorful collaboration is not new in the Stevens Point Area. Central Wisconsin’s finest craft breweries, wineries and distillery work together, with the Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, to encourage visitors to explore the local flavors. Their promotion, the Central Wisconsin Craft Collective, is helping turn the Stevens Point area into a must-stop destination for beer lovers, wine connoisseurs and folks who appreciate a craft-made cocktail. The Central Wisconsin Craft Collective includes four breweries—Point Brewery, Central Waters Brewing Company in Amherst, Kozy Yak Brewery in Rosholt and O’so Brewing Company in Plover—as well as two wineries, including the newly opened Sunset Point Winery in Stevens Point and Fresar Winery in Rosholt and Great Northern Distilling in Plover.