Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. - Fitchburg

Ownership

Great Dane was founded by college friends Eliot Butler and Rob LoBreglio in 1994 as an independent craft brewery with 5 locations in the Madison area. There is no evidence of PE backing, franchising, or outside ownership.

Local Sourcing

Menu items reference some local suppliers like Ellsworth cheese curds and Wisconsin cheese, but sourcing details are not comprehensively documented. Without detailed sourcing information, the rating reflects an unknown mix of local and national suppliers.

Community Involvement

Great Dane's Adopt-a-Family fundraiser provides thousands each year in gifts and supplies to local families. Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. has partnered with initiatives dedicated to autism awareness, brain cancer research, suicide prevention and mental health education with portions of beer proceeds donated to nonprofits. They regularly provide funds and supplies to nonprofits helping animals in Wisconsin.

Local Workforce

Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company has a 4.0 out of 5 stars employee rating on Glassdoor based on 37 reviews. However, reviews show mixed signals: some employees report good culture and appreciation from management, while others note shifts can be long and there are times when the location is understaffed.

Revenue Retention

Great Dane is described as a local chain with 5 locations throughout Dane County and Wausau Wisconsin. With ownership, brewing, and food production based locally, significant revenue likely stays within the community, though operating multiple locations means some revenue flows to support regional infrastructure.

Local Presence

Mixed signals: Strong local identity with Wisconsin branding, 30-year local history narrative, and multi-location focus on Madison/Fitchburg area pubs. However, corporate elements include location selector navigation, franchise-like structure with multiple locations, corporate careers portal, and templated party/event booking language that lacks personality.