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New Stone Tap uses grand opening to tap into thirst for dozens of rare beers

The new Stone Tap is open and having their grand opening from Aug. 8-14, with truly special and rare beers that are among their dozens and dozens available and served every day this week starting at 5 p.m.
It’s got to be 5 O’Clock somewhere, and why not here, at Hudson’s newest establishment that is much different, renovated and tidied up from its predecessor, the former Dibbo’s.
While there are limited supplies of the numerous specialty brews during the grand opening, there will always be new ones to try — on a ongoing and rotating, daily basis.
Aaron Kearns and two other self-described “local boys,” Ed Bremer and Anthony DaBruzzi, are the three owners.
In their renovation process, the new owners strived to keep as much of the Turn Of The Century stone — which laid beneath walls that were put up later — as possible. In fact, some of the stone goes back to 1875 and it is virtually everywhere along the high walls leading up to a tall ceiling.
“We had hoped for some stone to be saved, but we actually got a lot more,” Kearns said. “It was better than our dreams and plans.”
That is what gives the new Stone Tap its name. “The two (items) were married together,” Kearns said, adding that the name wasn’t finalized until two weeks prior to when work on the place was finished.
“We have the biggest tap beer selection in Hudson, and one of the largest in Wisconsin,” Kearns said, and there are 24 offerings in rotation every day to keep the choices fresh and differing, with beer specials on novel brands provided every weekend.
There also are 50 bottled beers from which to choose, and patrons will be offered drink and food specials every day, as the new establishment that extends with long rooms and halls westward toward the St. Croix River has both a bar and tables on one side of an archway, and more tables and booths on the other. Both rooms have spacious gathering areas for mingling.
There will even be some unannounced surprises during the grand opening week, Kearns said.
With that said, this is what you can expect from Stone Tap in their grand opening:
— Sunday, free Bloody Mary bar or Mimosa from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and food specials all day.
— Monday, enjoy special beers from Oskar Blues in Longmont, CO.
— Tuesday, meet the brewer from Dave’s BrewFarm of Wilson with his original-style, wind-brewed recipe, and possibly be entertained by a surprise from him.
— Wednesday, check out another brewer meet and greet, that featuring the principals behind the Lift Bridge Brewery in Stillwater.
— Thursday, revel in person with the maker of a Firkin from Rush River Brewing Company in River Falls, not to mention with the live music provided from 5-8 p.m.
— Friday, sip on specialty beers from Lagunitas Brewing Company from Petaluma, CA.
— Saturday, special Lips of Faith taps from New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, CO.
All this will make Stone Tap and the downtown as a whole even more of a destination place for Twin Citians, especially since Stone Tap has about seven Wisconsin beers you won’t find on the other side of the St. Croix River.
A lot of the old Dibbo’s clientele who 10 to 12 years ago had taken in bands there, has come back to frequent Stone Tap, and a core group of other regulars has emerged. They and other patrons will enjoy happy hour from 2-6 p.m. with halfprice taps.
Stone Tap, at 517 Second St., is open daily from 11 a.m. to close in historic downtown Hudson. They can be found on Facebook and if you select that you LIKE them, get a complete event schedule and list of specials.
You can also reach them on Twitter, as well as at (715) 808-8343 and at www.stonetaphudson.com.
Patrons can text STONETAP to 36000 to join their text club and receive special text only offers, as well.

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