At Second Chapter Brewing, we love great beer and great stories, including books of all kinds!

The Books & Brews Book Club will explore a range of genres to expand our reading experiences and discover shared interests. 

We meet on the third Wednesday of each month to discuss a chosen genre and suggested read. Newcomers are welcome. A select beer is discounted for the group. 

August 19 | 6:00 p.m.
Read Anything Night

September 16 | 6:00 p.m.
Genre: Classic Lit
Recommended Read: The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

October 21 | 6:00 p.m.
Genre: Modern Classic
Recommended Read: Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens

November 18 | 6:00 p.m.
Genre: SPICY Romance -- Book Signing and Conversation with the Author
Recommended Read: Salt & Smoke, Tempest Wick 

December 16 | 6:00 p.m.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Read: Rose Code, Kate Quinn

January 20 | 6:00 p.m.
Genre: Self Help
Recommended Read: Daring Greatly, Brene Brown

February 17 | 6:00 p.m.
Genre: Culinary Fiction
Recommended Read: Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus

March (DATE TBD) | 6:00 p.m.
Genre: Magical Realism
Recommended Read: The Midnight Library, Matt Haig

April 21 | 6:00 p.m.
Genre: Nonfiction/History
Recommended Read: The Girl in the Middle: A Recovered History of the American West, Martha Sandweiss

May 19 | 6:00 p.m.
Genre: Fiction
Recommended Read: A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman

One morning last summer, our brewery phone rang. I answered hastily, annoyed at the interruption.

However, instead of a telemarketing call, it was a guy named Brent Larson from Minnesota. He and his wife would be coming through in a few weeks.

“Is this Lisa?” he asked. “This may sound crazy, but I think we’re related.”

That got my attention.

Brent told me about how his 90-year-old mother, Jeri Bodger, had grown up without knowing any of her extended family. Recently, she had done some genealogical research and discovered our brewery blog post about our mutual relatives.

[Read the original post: Anchor Brewing Co. to Close]

Could we meet? Could I introduce him to other family members? Absolutely.

Here's the spoiler: Yes, there's family resemblance (looks and traits!) and enough compatibility to justify three different visits already!

[Click READ MORE for the backstory.]

Join us from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, for an oompah good time. This 4th annual celebration will feature craft beer by Second Chapter Brewing, plus some great fun!

*Note: Some times have changed due to the Husker Football game, which we will screen at 3:00 p.m.

On tap this year outside, you'll find Bavarian Brothers (German Pils), and at 12:00 p.m. we'll hold a ceremony to tap the 2026 batch of Mary's Märzen (Märzen Oktoberfest). Griffins' Nectar (Hefeweizen) and other options will be available indoors. 

New this year are Drift Trike Races, sponsored by Pedaler's Corner of Sidney, Nebraska, at 1:00 p.m. Co-ed teams of four will compete in a fast-paced but lighthearted relay race through a course on West 2nd Street. Expect spin-outs and excitement as racers compete the course and then take a few sips of beer before passing the baton to the next teammate. Registration is only $40 per team, includes a full pour for each participant. You must be 18 or older to compete, and must be 21 and older with a valid ID to consume alcohol. Bring your own helmet! 

Other entertainment will include live music, sponsored by the Quality Inn and Suites and Bollywood Indian Kitchen in Ogallala. Live music acts include Last Chance Band at 11:00 a.m., and Heather Wellman at 5:00 p.m. [Unfortunately Neue Polka Colorado has canceled their appearance.] 

The annual Stein Hoist Competition will take place at halftime of the football game (approximately 4:15 p.m.) and lawn games will be held throughout the day. The Ogallala High School Art Club will provide face painting from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Food will include locally-made Bavarian Pretzels with Beer Cheese (made from our own Mary's Märzen), or a delicious meal of locally-made smoked Bratwursts and Sauerkraut.

​Click to read more!

We are pleased to announce that a favorite Labor Day Weekend tradition will continue this year: our 4th Annual Pop-Up Party at Second Chapter Brewing!

Spend the day with us, sipping and shopping from some great area vendors! Plus, enter to win a great giveaway!
Trish and Dave's Kitchen on Wheels will join us all day, serving smash burgers, Philly sandwiches, and more. 

Sunday, September 6, from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Taproom will be open until 7:00 p.m.

Confirmed vendors include:

• Bekah's Bath Works (handmade bath and body care)
• Little White Delights (baked goods)
• PermaLinx by jBloom - Bloom With Grace (permanent jewelry)
• Serenita Stregheria (plants, crystals, herbs, & more)
• Wholesome Sandhills (gluten free baked goods)

​ADDITIONAL VENDORS ARE WANTED!!! Click READ MORE to see the details below. 

​Wheat harvest can be long, hot, and stressful, as farmers race to bring in their crop before the next thunderstorm rolls across the plains.

Once the last bushel is in the bin, well, then it's time for a little celebration!

This photo, taken in 1917 in Otoe County, Nebraska, shows several of David Miesbach's family members and others enjoying some refreshment after threshing. The keg in the center presumably contained one of the final batches produced by Hastings Brewing Company, as Prohibition went into effect in Nebraska in May of 1917, causing all alcohol sales and manufacture to cease. Perhaps they held up the "soda" advertisement to avoid suspicion? 

After Prohibition, former Hastings brewmaster and part-owner Louis Kraus -- recently widowed with three children and having lost his brewery investments -- remarried and took up a new trade: farming in Perkins County. The page turned for the Kraus family.

Now, a few generations later, Louis' great-granddaughter Lisa Kraus and her husband Richard Gibson are proud to carry on a new chapter in their family's story here at Second Chapter Brewing.

​Cheers to all the legacy of the farmers and brewers across the history of this great state!

P.S. We've got your post-harvest party supplies on hand.

At the end of June, our family had the opportunity to get away. We traveled up and down the Oregon Coast, visiting family and friends, camping with our kids, and taking in the beautiful scenery. Of course, we also enjoyed some great food and drink along the way! Market research is important!

We came back last week into the rush of tourism season in Ogallala. It has taken us a moment to catch our breath. We are still waaaay behind. But we are reminded of how much we appreciate the serenity and perspective gained from stepping away.

We are extremely grateful to our team members -- in the taproom and behind the scenes of the brewery and office -- who kept things here humming along in our absence. It is not easy to entrust a small business to others' hands, especially during such a busy season, but they proved themselves beyond capable once again! Thank you!!!

​We hope you enjoy these photos from our trip -- sea lions, beaches, wildflowers, cheese factories, and more. You can find a few tastes of Richard's home state on our menu too.

Congratulations to the top teams that qualified for the Nebraska State Fair Puzzle Competition in September!

This edition of Puzzles and Pints was so much fun! Our first place finishers sped through all 500 pieces in only 39 minutes, 28 seconds. The next three teams finished back-to-back at 1:03:54, 1:04:04, and 1:05! It was a real nail biter.

Congratulations to all the teams.

A huge thanks to everyone who came out for our Spring Comedy Series. We laughed, and then laughed some more, with the supremely talented headliners Tom Thakkar, Ray Harrington, and Andrew Sleighter!

Comedy nights at the brewery take collaboration and hard work, but they're worth the effort when we get to see so many people enjoying a good laugh and a great beer.

Special shoutout to our taproom staff, who kept the drinks pouring even when the room was packed to capacity or they had to overcome technical difficulties. We are also grateful to our local partners, including the Best Western Plus Ogallala Inn for housing the comedians; Bubba's Smoked & Loaded, Piglee Wiglee BBQ, and Prokops' Smokin' BBQ for feeding our customers; and the Keith County Chamber of Commerce, and Visit Ogallala & Keith County, for helping us get the word out to make this event series a success.

More photos after the break (click Read More). 

Until next time!

What an incredible time we had at our St. Patrick’s Celebration at the brewery! From the lively atmosphere to the amazing company, it truly was a day to remember.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us, and a special nod to:

- String Fling, for bringing such great energy and music to the event.
- Main Street Meats, for the delicious salami and Irish cheddar.
- Bittersweet Bakery, for transforming our Imperial Stout into a delicious Irish soda bread.
- Richard, for brewing such a delicious Irish Prose Red Ale.
- Our taproom crew, for their tireless hustle and warm Irish welcome.

We’re so grateful for this community that gathered together and made it feel like an old Irish pub, full of laughter, stories, and good cheer.

Slainte!