A brewmaster's secret

Widow of Grain Belt Beer's brewmaster ceremoniously

presents recipe to Ted Marti of Schell's

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

MINNEAPOLIS -- Ted Marti was all smiles Friday night, and yes, it was because of the beer that he was so happy.

Marti was one of the key figures behind the purchase of the Grain Belt label by New Ulm-based Schell's from Minnesota Brewing Company in July. Schell's got the bid for the sale of the 142-year old label after Minnesota Brewing declared bankruptcy this summer. Schell's bought the label for an undisclosed amount.

"It's been a tough road," Marti told some 700 people at the old Grain Belt Brewery in Minneapolis Friday night -- an event billed as "The Great Moving Party," which officially marked the coming of the Grain Belt label to New Ulm.

Schell's bottled beer for Grain Belt for nearly a year before the bankruptcy, Marti, who is brewmaster and president of Schell's, said his company is already making Grain Belt full-time. The addition of the label has already added seven new jobs at Schell's New Ulm facilities.

Schell's currently makes 37 different brands of beer, 21 of which are brewed and bottled under contract with other companies Schell's currently brews about 20,000 barrels of its own labels and makes thousands more with its contracts.

Friday night's festivities were held in Grain Belt's old bottling house. The beer was first brewed there starting in the late 1890s.

Like Schell's, Grain belt earned a rather loyal following. Such evidence was on display Friday night. In the center of the room was a keg sitting on a table with several black markers for the Grain Belt faithful to sign their names. "The Great Moving Party" on it.

Over in another corner, Bob Hajicek of Minnetonka, Minn., and a couple others were selling vintage Grain Belt memorabilia. Some of the things for sale dated back to Grain Belt's beginning. Hajicek said he's been a loyal Grain Belt drinker since he turned 18. He's now almost 40 years old.

Like many at the party, Hajicek said he was saddened by Minnesota Brewing's demise and was concerned about its future, but said he's glad the name is staying in its home state.

So too was Greg Roiger of New Ulm. He and his wife drove up from New Ulm earlier Friday. It was an event Roiger said he couldn't possibly miss.

"I'm a closet Grain Belt drinker," he admitted, adjusting a hat his family made for him using some yarn and a few old Grain Belt cans. "I had to come out for this. I know Ted and Jodi (Marti). I begged Ted on my knees for this."

Roiger said he was "tickled" when he heard the news of the purchase.

"It's good for New Ulm, good for Ted and Jodi, good for Schell's and Grain Belt beer," Roiger said. "It's in good hands with Ted."

Samantha Turnock of Minneapolis seemed to agree.

"I think it's wonderful," she said. "I'm glad Schell's did it."

But not everyone thought the sale was the right idea.

"I hate to see it go," said Alice Kreitz, of Eagan, Minn., "I think it shouldn't go. I'd rather have seen it stay here and stay the same."

The evening highlight was quite possibly the handing-off of the original Grain Belt recipe from Kay Mathis, the wife of Frank Mathis, who was brewmaster and a Grain Belt employee for more than 40 years, to Marti. The recipe was handed to Marti on a small scroll and placed inside the keg and tapped shut.

"I think it's a good idea," Mathes said when asked about her views on the sale. "They know Grain Belt because of their connection to Minnesota. My husband would be dancing in his grave because he knew it will continue."

Marti paid tribute to the folks who produced Grain Belt for over 100 years in his speech.

"I want to say ... if these walls could talk, there's a lot of history here," said Marti. "And I'm going to do my damnedest to make it perfect and the same."

In addition to a large crowd of Schell's and Grain Belt loyalists, the evening attracted a few local celebrities. The Bock fest Boys provided the Minneapolis audience with polkas and waltzes. New Ulm City Council President Dan Beranek mingled in the crowd.

"I think this is part of economic development. This is a big plus for New Ulm. It's a big plus for economic development and tourism," Beranek said.

"Schell's is always strong for tourism and anything that helps the brewery get stronger makes tourism stronger, so it's a big plus for New Ulm."

Marti expects the addition of Grain Belt to help add volume, which he said will help influence retailers and distributors. It also helps increase the brewery's stature within the state.

"This makes Schell's the largest and oldest brewery in Minnesota," Marti said.