The 2016 Wisconsin State Fair is approximately 24 hours away. Yes, beginning Thursday, August 4, Wisconsinites can once again enjoy oodles of farm animals, oodles of racing farm animals, cream puffs, deep-fried shit on a stick, music, As-Seen-On-TV products, and Salt-N-Pepa in the comfort of the West Allis-nestled fairgrounds. Oh, and beer. Finally.
Well, Pabst beer, to be exact, which is kind of a big deal. According to BizTimes, Pabst Brewing Company will operate a beer garden at this year’s State Fair. The garden will be located at 1st and Badger Ave. on the fairgrounds, and will be dubbed “Slim’s PBR Park” in honor of State Fair Operator R.J. “Slim” McGinn. This will be Pabst’s first appearance at the State Fair since 1996, when the company split town and unwittingly inspired a “Bring PBR Home” thing nearly 20 years later.
Speaking of that, BizTimes goes on to note that PBR has come home. Sort of.
“The return to state fair comes as Pabst prepares to create a small micro-brewery operation into the old German Methodist church on the grounds of its original brewery on the west side of downtown Milwaukee. The company announced it would open the small brewery and tasting room last summer.”
The Pabst micro-brewery is expected to open in 2017. “Slim’s PBR Park” will be ready tomorrow, just in time for the Clydesdale Draft Horse Show and those bodybuilding competitions.