Zoning change for new brewery considered by La Crosse planning committee

Another brewery should be open in La Crosse by summer, if things go as planned for Phil Humphrey and his friends.

Humphrey is an owner and brewmaster for the coming 608 Brewing Company on Copeland Ave. A small craft brewery starting off as most of them do — a labor of love.

The brewery seems all but assured. The City Plan Commission meets tonight and is expected to approve a staff recommendation for a zoning shift so just north Causeway Blvd.

It will join the long-established Pearl Street Brewery and Turtle Stack Brewery as competing micros in La Crosse, though Humphrey says he’s not at all concerned about competition — just the opposite.

“Definitely helps to have the more the merrier,” Humphrey said. “I think this area is pretty under-saturated compared to some areas with just as many people.”

Although Humphrey is an award-winning home brewer, making his love of beer into a business has been a bit of a career shift.

“It’s pretty big,” he said. “I mean, career change, stopping a fairly successful IT career to taking an adventure of all new terrain.”

City staff has recommended a 1,000 barrel per year limit for production at the brewery, which will feature 12 taps and a tasting room.

Humphrey plans to be open seven days a week.