Cocoon Brewing: “Your Carefree Backyard”
Matt Walters, co-founder of Cocoon Brewing, draws inspiration from his childhood fascination with collecting butterflies, a passion shared with his co-founder, Mike. This early curiosity and sense of adventure have deeply influenced their approach to life and business. Cocoon Brewing is a celebration of authentic, vibrant experiences—moments that go beyond observation to embrace the full richness of living. DeliveryRank offers you an exclusive interview.
Cocoon Brewing emphasizes a "taste for adventure" and aims to provide a backdrop for moments of curiosity and exploration. How do you incorporate this philosophy into your beer selection and overall customer experience?
Part of the inspiration for creating Cocoon in the first place was a general desire to explore - everything. We have an evolving beer and food program that is ready to try any idea we can come up with on our own or are inspired by through travel, reading, collaboration etc. Sure we want regular customers to have their favorite menu items, but we are also determined to introduce them to new flavors, ingredients or beer styles they haven’t heard of or tried before. At the very least have a sample pour and give us some feedback!
Your brewery is designed to be a "carefree backyard," featuring a main taproom with access to an expansive lawn and distinctive "cocoon" structures for small groups. Can you elaborate on the inspiration behind this design and how it enhances the communal atmosphere for your patrons?
“Analog experience” is a core focus of what we want to bring to our customers. We wanted to create a space that had ample room to spread out and nimble enough for patrons to create their own unique way to socialize. With yard games, fire pits and multiple distinct areas on the grounds it's possible to soak up some sun, have a private conversation or play catch with the kids. Our “cocoons” are four season mini cabins that allow groups of up to 12 an even more curated experience with designated servers, access to their own television and music choices - a Northwoods cabana so to speak. Taken altogether our facilities allow groups and individuals to be as social or private as they want to be.
Located in De Pere, Wisconsin, Cocoon Brewing seeks to reconnect visitors with their sense of wonder and exploration. How does the local culture and community influence your brewing process and the events you host?
The local community is vital to our business and it is important to us that we ingrain ourselves deeply into the community while also expressing our perspective on beer. For our regular events we strive to keep the brewery vibrant and look to provide ways for our patrons to participate in their entertainment with things like trivia, bingo and cornhole leagues. We prefer to see a group playing cribbage or chatting with friends than simply tuning into the TVs they already have at home. We have also hosted numerous fundraisers in our first two years and will continue to find ways to help in our community. As far as specifics about our brewing process, easy drinking lagers and classic styles are a fixture in Wisconsin and we will continue to keep those on hand while pushing creatively into areas of craft beer that excite us personally and we hope surprise patrons as well.
With a commitment to providing a unique experience, what strategies do you employ to keep your beer offerings fresh and exciting for both new and returning customers?
At the outset we were determined to eschew a flagship beer and simply have an ever-rotating list of taproom offerings. As we mature, we have altered that mindset slightly to keep a few of our most popular beers always available. However, just as our pizza menu changes with the seasons our beers are always evolving and we work diligently to be on the forefront of new hop compounds, yeast strains, and techniques. So whether it is batch over batch/year over year subtle variations in previous beers or completely new fruit adjuncts in a never brewed sour beer, we are determined to keep things fresh. Finally, and I think one of the most exciting aspects of craft beer, is our willingness to collaborate with other breweries to learn from each other and create beers that are as ephemeral as a summer butterfly. In this way, we not only create a completely unique beer but we may also expose patrons to another new brewery as well.
Cocoon Brewing offers distinctive "cocoon" structures for small groups seeking a singular experience. How have these unique spaces been received by your guests, and what role do they play in fostering a sense of adventure and connection among visitors?
Our “cocoons” are certainly the most unique aspect of our taproom experience and have overwhelmingly been received in a positive way. Even outside of the world of craft beer our “cocoons” are a unique hospitality experience and act as a draw unto themselves. These spaces are well appointed and cozy allowing guests to have a memorable experience all their own. We’ve hosted everything from wedding receptions to retirement parties and fantasy football drafts to Bible clubs. Time in a “cocoon” could be a planned romantic night for two, a raucous dance party or a work gathering, we let the guest set the expectations and hope they emerge invigorated!
If you would like to find out more about Cocoon Brewing, please visit https://cocoonbrewing.com/