In an unusual move to help revive the state’s lagging tourism industry, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials in Wisconsin plan to completely drain a small lake, and refill it with beer.

The 30 acre Chapman Lake near Stanley, located in a remote area in the northwest part of the state, will be completely drained of its water. Crews will then seal the bottom with a special neoprene liner, and fill it back up with leftover and pour-off beer donated by breweries, bars and taverns from around the state. The project, which is expected to be completed by Labor Day, has been underwritten by a grant from the Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee. The boozy lake is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.

The state hopes the lake will be certified in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest draught beer ever poured.

“We’ve got thousands of lakes and ponds in this state - why can’t just one of them be filled with brewski?,” said Lori Rose, spokesperson for the Wisconsin DNR. “Beer is what this state is known for, so why the hell not?  Minnesota has the biggest ball of twine. We want to pour the biggest beer. And you can float on inner tubes in this beer! You tell me where else you can do something like that!”

DNR officials plan to aptly rename the pond “Lager Lake.” State leaders maintain that the lake will be used for floating only and advise that taking a sip from the lake would be a really bad idea, though some argue that it will always taste like Miller Lite, no matter what.

Wisconsin tourism officials plan to unveil the new lake with a Labor Day fish fry, using beer batter made from (of course) the lake. DNR biologists believe the lake will maintain its naturally-frothy character for several years, though it won’t support any marine life.

“Wait ’til that lake freezes over this winter and some knucklehead tries to go ice fishing on it,” chuckled Stanley mayor Dick Cooter. “That’ll be a hoot!”