Meet The All-Star Milwaukee Brewers Pitcher Who Brews Actual Beer
One Milwaukee Brewer has really decided to take the team’s name to heart, as pitcher Devin Williams recently became an actual brewer.
The Major League Baseball All-Star recently visited J. Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard at American Family Field (home to the Brew Crew) to begin production on Airbender Ale, a blonde ale and the first player-brewed beer at the working brewery.
Williams partnered with Pilot Brewer Corrine Georges to learn about the science of brewing and begin production. He submitted his “wish list” for style, taste, appearance and aroma to Georges, and together they began the production phase onsite. Williams was put to work pouring hops, separating hop matter from protein, shoveling spent grain and transferring over to the fermenter, appropriately called “pitching yeast.”
“It was a fun experience to work with Corrine to get Airbender Ale started. Brewing is such a science and having the chance to learn more about it and participate in the creation was pretty memorable.” said Devin Williams. “I’m most excited to see how it turns out and how it’ll taste.”
Leinenkugel’s Airbender Ale will take a few weeks to produce with Williams stopping by periodically to check in with Georges as she works through filtration, pulling samples, tasting, and kegging.
The limited-release beer will be released and available only at J. Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard as part of the unique rotation of brews on tap.