Carolator 2023

Carolator, our pale doppelbock lager, is brewed each year in memory of Carol Crawford, sister of our founder Steve and mother to brewer Chad, who passed away in 2020. Steve, Chad, and Carol’s husband Brian gather each year in November to brew this special bier.

Every year since the brewery opened in 2014, we have brewed a doppelbock in the winter to be blessed and released around the time of Lent, following a Bavarian brewing tradition. This tradition was established in the 1600s by the Paulaner monks of Munich who brewed a strong bier, or “liquid bread”, to nourish them during their Lenten fast. They called their bier Salvator, meaning “Our Savior”. To this day, Bavarian breweries and others commemorate the tradition by releasing a Doppelbock for Lent and by giving their doppelbocks names with the suffix “-ator”.

Carol unexpectedly passed away in 2020, and we saw fit to name our Blessed Doppelbock after her. Carol’s smile and generous spirt were a constant presence in the Bierhalle, and her warmth was felt by all she encountered. So, in honor of her, beginning in 2021, the Blessed Doppelbock was renamed “Carolator” to pay homage to the original Lenten brew and to honor Carol. Each year, we bring a local priest to the brewery to bless the bier and gather with Carol’s family and friends to celebrate.

Carolator is available now in 6-packs and on draft at the Bierhalle and select retail locations. $1 per draft bier and 6-pack purchased at the Bierhalle will be donated to Developing Potential Inc., a local nonprofit organization that provides habilitation services to adults with disabilities, including Carol’s son, Michael.