Holy Brewers at Ballpark Day of Faith

Since receiving his first beer kit at Christmas in 1993, Mark Geronime's passion for home brewing has grown—so much so that his kegs empty quicky at Ballpark Day of Faith. What began as a holiday hobby has become a cherished tradition at Ballpark Day of Faith, where brews like “Pope Leo’s Lager” create approachable, easy‑drinking varieties. In this Q&A, we explore how diverse backgrounds shape each brew, the storytelling moments that keep the team pouring year after year, and what new enthusiasts can learn from Ballpark Day of Faith's dedicated home‑brew tent.

How did you first get into brewing, and what keeps you passionate about it? 

1993 with a beer kit gift during Christmas.  People like the beer I make, and it keeps me going as I give most of it away.

For someone who’s never been to Ballpark Day of Faith, how would you describe the role the home‑brew tent plays in the overall experience? 

It is a small part of BDOF, but we have a loyal following of the congregation that wants to try some of each variety we brew.  The kegs are usually empty within the first hour of the tailgate.

Each member of your brew crew—Dave Keech, Pete Weingarten, and Tom Ostrenga—brings a unique background. How do those diverse life experiences influence the beers you create together? 

Everyone makes their own...we do try to brew a variety of styles, but all of us have been brewing for years, so we have the ability to brew a number of different types of beer.

What new or experimental styles are you excited to pour this year, and what should adventurous beer lovers look for first? 

The goal here is to have a variety of easy-drinking beers that would appeal to the crowd.

Home brewing often involves a lot of storytelling. Do you have a favorite moment—funny, challenging, or meaningful—from past Ballpark Days of Faith that captures why you keep doing this? 

It really is just sharing of a craft/talent. That and I haven't found someone else to take over as "BDOF Chief of Beverage." I might have to put out some employment applications on the serving table this year... 

What does your brew‑day process look like? 

We all brew/ferment/keg on our own timeline. Brewing takes about three hours from setup up to cleanup. Fermentation can take days or weeks, and IPAs can have several rounds of dry hopping. Kegging only takes about 30 minutes plus 3-10 days of carbonating. We arrive at 8 am to set up all of the drinks and let our kegs settle. We will have 30 cases of canned beer to ice down and an equal amount of soda/Gatorade/juice to get iced down (~1,000 pounds of ice).

For someone thinking about trying home brewing or even volunteering, what advice or first step would you suggest?

Join Beer Barons of Milwaukee or find someone who brews and ask to watch the process.  I still do this myself to see better ways of brewing.

Finally, where can people find you during the event if they want to say hello, swap brewing tips, or just raise a glass in thanks? 

Layout changes almost every year, but just find the end of the food line. We set up tables near the canned drinks and serve our beer and white/red wine.

Cheers! Don't forget to get your tickets and meet the other Brew Crew at Ballpark Day of Faith!