Gathering Place Brewing Acquires Sahale Ale Works

Gathering Place Brewing Company has finalized the purchase of Sahale Ale Works, an award-winning, independent brewery and taproom located at 1505 Wisconsin Avenue in Grafton. The family-owned brewery was founded by Matt Hofmann in 2019 and will continue operating with the Sahale name and beer recipes.

“Matt and his team have created something special that resonates with guests and serves the Grafton community,” said Joe Yeado, founder of Gathering Place Brewing. “I’m thrilled that he has entrusted the brand to us and I look forward to working with the team to continue building and growing Sahale as a leader in the Wisconsin brewing community.”

Sahale operates a 3-barrel brewing system alongside a 2,700 square foot taproom and adjoining patio space. It offers a rotating selection of beer styles, including IPAs, fruit beers, sours, and barrel-aged options. The brewery won a coveted medal at the Festival of Barrel-Aged Beer in 2020 for a brown ale called TEOTWAWKI: Resurrection.

“I am super excited to build on what Matt has created at Sahale. I look forward to continuing to produce many of the fan favorites people have come to love, like Sky Breaker IPA and Voyager Golden Ale,” said Matt Cisz, Head Brewer of Gathering Place Brewing. “Matt has built a really fun and diverse portfolio of beers that allows for a lot of exploration into flavors and styles, and we will continue to build upon that strong foundation.”

Gathering Place will continue operating Sahale with few changes. Beer production will continue in Grafton with some core brands being produced on Gathering Place’s larger brewing system at its Riverwest location. The increased volume will help serve the taproom and expand Sahale’s distribution to local bars and restaurants.

“The Sahale beer lineup complements the Gathering Place beers really nicely,” said Yeado. “Their fruit-forward ales, sours, and barrel-aged beers mesh well with our lagers and European-inspired beers and I look forward to having Sahale beers at the Gathering Place taprooms and vice versa.”

Sahale Ale Works is open Wednesdays – Sundays and frequently features food trucks and programming such as trivia on Thursdays. The taproom is both family-friendly and dog-friendly with ample parking in an adjacent lot.

The purchase marks the second acquisition for Gathering Place following the takeover of Stock House Brewing in Wauwatosa in October 2022. That location, which became the Gathering Place Tosa Taproom + Patio, has built a following with a rotating lineup of beers and unique programming like keg curling.