By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published May 05, 2023 at 11:23 AM

Elkhorn's Duesterbeck's farmhouse brewery and the old-world brewing program at Old World Wisconsin have collaborated on a new saison called Two Red Barns. It will be for sale in cans on Saturday, May 6 when Old World Wisconsin opens for the season.

The limited edition beer is a blonde ale with clove, ginger, orange peel and grains of paradise, and it's brewed as an homage to historic brewing in Wisconsin. Both collaborators have red barns on-site, hence the name.

“With just 648 cans available, we anticipate that this delicious brew, featuring old-world flavors and modern brewing techniques, will sell out quickly,” says Rob Novak, Old World Wisconsin’s brewing experience coordinator.

“Duesterbeck’s, is a perfect partner for our first release, as they represent a 150-year-old farming tradition, and have a deep understanding of historic farmhouse brewing.”

The recipe was created by Novak and Duesterbeck's owners Ben and Laura Johnson.

The goal was create a recipe that represents 18th and 19th-century brewing.

The label was designed by the Johnson’s son, Makai, and it includes images of both the Duesterbeck family barn and Old World’s Wisconsin historic octagonal Clausing Barn.

On Sunday, May 7, Duesterbeck’s brewers will visit Old World Wisconsin’s brewhouse for a demonstration historic brewing techniques.

Two Red Barns will also be served at Old World Wisconsin's May 26 “Plates & Pints” beer pairing dinner in the Clausing Barn.

Tickets to Old World Wisconsin are $20 for adults and teens, $18 for seniors, $13 for children ages 5 to 12 and under 5 get in free. Visit oldworldwisconsin.org for more info.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

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.