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Dakota Midday: Local Brewers Celebrate American Craft Beer Week

Karl Gehrke SDPB

Last summer, according to the American Brewers Association, the number breweries in the U.S. topped 3,000 for probably the first time since the 1870s. The majority of them are small, local craft breweries and numbers are expected to increase as the resurgence in American brewing continues to grow. South Dakota has at least fourteen microbreweries and brew pubs.

This is American Craft Beer Week, a celebration of the culture and community of craft brewers across the country. Josh Fritz, co-founder of Crow Peak Brewing Company in Spearfish, and Seth Koch, co-founder and head brewer of Wooden Legs Brewing Company in Brookings, joined Dakota Midday and discussed craft beer.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.