Bull Falls Brewery announces permanent closure effective later this month

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – A favorite local brewery will close permanently before the end of the month. The owners of Bull Falls Brewery announced on Facebook on Friday the brewery’s final day is Monday, Sept. 16.

Bull Falls Brewery opened in 2007 on East Thomas Street in Wausau.

In May, a Facebook post explained financial woes and failed acquisitions had led to uncertainty and prompted the cancellation of Bock Fest that month. The post continued to explain the taproom was open 7 days a week despite rumors.

The news Friday comes as a sad end to a business that is surely now part of Wausau’s history. The brewery’s beers such as Five Star Ale and Oktoberfest were commonly sold on tap and by the can at businesses throughout the area and beyond.

In 2010, NewsChannel 7 shared a story of how the brewery’s owner was happy to receive a recipe log book from the old Marathon City Brewery. It featured recipes from 1953-1956 and allowed the brewery to recreate Marathon’s Superfine Lager.

“We were excited to be able to get this book. And it was old and dirty, and some of it had mold on it. Some of it we couldn’t read but we could make out a few things,” explained owner Michael Zamzow in 2010.

During the story, former NewsChannel 7 reporter Liz Hayes learned Bob Mohr, a native of Marathon found the recipe book in his father’s brewery memorabilia collection. Mohr’s father, Joe had helped dismantle the brewery in 1966. While the recipe wasn’t precise, Zamzow was able to nearly duplicate the taste of the original beer.

The story ended by explaining it had been served for the first time that year at Marathon’s annual ‘Fun Days’. Zamzow knew he had a hit after they ran out.

The city of Wausau inspections department shows no new permits had been issued for the address. However, a site plan review was submitted through a third-party agency on July 19. No additional details about the plan were available through city hall. NewChannel 7 will continue to follow this story for future developments.