If you brew it, they will come ... and that's why Broken Bat Brewing in Walker's Point is brewing Can of Corn for the second straight year.
The "American Ballpark Ale" is brewed with corn that was harvested Nov. 1, 2020 from the "Field of Dreams" – in Dyersville, Iowa – that was used in the film of the same name. It's a collaboration with Minneapolis-based Low and Inside, which has worked with the Field of Dreams site since 1989.
This year's batch will release on Thursday, Aug. 11 in the taproom, 135 E. Pittsburgh Ave., at 3 p.m. to coincide with a watch party for the annual MLB Field of Dreams game. First pitch is at 6:15 p.m.
Can of Corn is baseball slang for an easy-to-nab high fly ball to the outfield, which is a good name for an easy-drinking 5 percent ABV ale.
"(We) brewed exactly 20 barrels this year," says co-owner Tim Pauly. "It’ll move very quickly through the taproom and limited distribution around Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay."
The beer will be available in 16-ounce four-packs and each comes with a certificate of authenticity.
In what's always great news for me, Broken Bat's Oktoberfest marzen – called Mr. Octoberfest – is also returning this week, joining the Oktoberfests that have begun trickling out at Central Waters, Third Space and other area breweries.
Also new to the tap list at Broken Bat is Kangaroo Court, a 5.1 percent watermelon kolsch-style brew with a dry finish and watermelon freshness.
But, of course, the real star of the show will be Can of Corn. Don't sit on this one as these babies will fly by faster than a deGrom fastball.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
