At EDWC, “Your Growth. Our Passion” is more than just a tagline—it’s the foundation of our mission. Our work with Brewed Omen demonstrates the impact of collaboration and strategic financing in fostering business growth and community revitalization in Washington County.
When Ane and Bill Ohm envisioned a thriving destination in downtown Hartford, Wisconsin, they knew they needed the right partnerships to bring their vision to life. Through the Impact Loan Fund, EDWC joined forces with Forte Bank, HADC, the City of Hartford, and Washington County to help them launch the Brewed Omen Tasting Room.
From Vision to Reality: A Riverside Taproom
Opening Memorial Day Weekend in 2022, the Brewed Omen Tasting Room transformed the lower level of the historic Millstream Building into a vibrant gathering space. The taproom features an indoor seating area and an outdoor beer garden along the Rubicon River—an ideal setting for locals and visitors alike. This project marked a key milestone in Hartford’s downtown redevelopment and was a testament to the Ohms’ commitment to enhancing the community.
A New Chapter of Growth
In March 2024, Ane and Bill Ohm took an ambitious step forward in the growth of Brewed Omen with the purchase of 128 N Main Street in Hartford. This property, located adjacent to the Millstream Building that houses the Brewed Omen Tasting Room, will become the home of their proprietary brewing operation.
This expansion will transform the lower level of the newly acquired building into a state-of-the-art brewery. With brewing equipment already purchased and stored locally, the space will undergo significant renovations to accommodate efficient and compliant brewing operations. 
Plans include:
- Modifying interior structural walls to create an optimized brewing layout.
- Installing a water conditioning system and a cooler for storing brewed and kegged beer.
- Constructing a new staircase to connect the brewing area to street-level offices.
The street level will house distribution and management offices for Brewed Omen’s brewing operations, ensuring streamlined processes as the company scales. The brewing facility will allow the Ohms to achieve their goal of serving their own beer on 20 of the 24 taps in the Brewed Omen Tasting Room.
Once they meet in-house demand, Brewed Omen plans to expand production, enabling self-distribution to other craft beer bars and breweries in the area. This strategic move will not only diversify Brewed Omen’s revenue streams but also support the broader craft beer community by creating “customers of customers.”
By leveraging EDWC’s Impact Loan Fund, the Ohms are bringing their vision of locally brewed beer to life while continuing to contribute to Hartford’s downtown revitalization. Their success reflects the power of innovative financing and collaboration in realizing shared goals for economic development.
EDWC is proud to support businesses like Brewed Omen, whose growth directly impacts the vitality of Washington County communities.
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