Gnarly Cedar

OVERVIEW
Adam and Katrina Magnuson started their journey into the winemaking industry in 2012 and fell in love with it. They traveled around the world working for others, learning the art of fermentation.

Years later, Adam, originally from Wisconsin, heard from a family friend that Ledgestone Vineyards in Wrightstown was for sale. It was operating solely as a wine bar, with established vines waiting for the right people with the right mindset to breathe new life into the vineyard. In June 2017, the Magnusons purchased Ledgestone and, by that August, had revived winemaking.

As they became more well-known, it didn’t take long for the vineyard to grow in popularity. This growth also meant needing to have more options for their customers. They began carrying beer, and by 2021, they completed their first expansion, which allowed the Magnusons to expand their product line and launch Gnarly Cedar Brewery in 2019.

OUTGROWING THEIR SPACE
As the brewery grew, the Magnusons began considering another expansion to meet the increasing need for space. Around the same time, an opportunity serendipitously presented itself in 2023. The Village of Wrightstown asked the Magnusons if they were interested in a building that their public works department
was using. The building met all the criteria for being a great space for Gnarly Cedar Brewery to call its own.

“We knew with the building itself that we could have visions, but we needed the right people in order to implement them,” Katrina says.

They spoke with several builders in the area, and Alliance Construction & Design immediately stood out.

“There are people at Alliance who have always supported us, even from back when we first opened,” Katrina says. “The team used to come out and have a glass of wine. One time, I got the forklift stuck. I went and found someone with a big truck, who happened to be an Alliance team member, and they helped pull me out. I'll never forget it.”

COMMUNITY APPROACH
The Magnusons also valued Alliance’s community-focused approach.

“I think their grasp on the various communities here is really strong, and that goes back to them living in the
area and understanding what the community needs,” Katrina says. “They’ve been doing this work in the
Green Bay and Appleton area for a long time, and they’ve built relationships with the people who make things happen. They’ll say, ‘Hey, have you tried this lumber yard?’ or they already know some of the inspectors by first name. Just by living and working here, they were always a step ahead.”

STUNNING RESULTS
As the build began to take shape, the Magnusons envisioned a space that would both keep the building's industrial vibe while also feeling warm and cozy. Additionally, they wanted to highlight the views of the water right on the Fox River. Once completed, Katrina and Adam were thrilled with the results.

“One of my favorite parts is definitely the windows. On the street side, we replaced the old garage doors with large arched windows that let in incredible light. We let the metal around the frames rust naturally, so it brings in that warm, orange tone both inside and out,” Katrina says. “On the west side, we removed and preserved the original glass blocks for interior use, and now those huge eight-foot windows let you sit right at the bar and watch the seasons change. The light, the openness, that airy feel, is probably my favorite part of the whole build.”

TACKLING CHALLENGES
The Magnusons admired Alliance’s willingness to take on the challenges that came up. They didn’t let anything hold them back or change their positivity. They were always ready to problem-solve and strategize.

“Their team is always so great to work with, just a bunch of really hard workers,” Katrina says. “It was definitely a challenging project, working with an existing building, but it was more like, ‘Okay, what’s today gonna bring?’ and then move on. That willingness to face the unknown and just conquer it was really refreshing.”

CONCLUSION
The Magnusons have created a space where people can gather together and share in the journey of life, growing along the way. They felt fortunate to have a team on their side with the skillset and knowledge to bring their vision to life.