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Chris Drosner Chris Drosner writes the Beer Baron column for the Wisconsin State Journal. Follow Chris Drosner Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

The principals in two Madison-area brewing operations have joined for a new brewery that will release its first beer this week.

Untitled Art was formed earlier this year by Levi Funk, who runs Funk Factory Geuzeria on Madison’s South Side, and Isaac Showaki, who opened Octopi Brewing in Waunakee last year.

Funk said he will provide the creative direction on the beer — formulating recipes and sourcing ingredients — while Showaki brings his expertise in production and bringing beer to market. The beer will be made 50 barrels (the equivalent of 100 kegs) at a time by the staff at Octopi, which is a so-called contract brewery that primarily makes beer for other companies.

The new project is distinct from their two existing operations, Funk said.

Funk said Untitled Art will not have a bricks-and-mortar brewery or a large staff. That low overhead will give Funk and Showaki the freedom to brew what they want, when they want, Funk said. They won’t use a middleman to sell or distribute the beer, either.