Honoring a Local Legend: Norm Dombrowski and the Spirit Behind Dombrowski’s Pivo

This week, the Portage County Historical Society and District 1 Brewing Company raised a glass to one of Central Wisconsin’s most beloved cultural figures with the release of Dombrowski’s Pivo—a Polish-style lager brewed in honor of polka legend Norm Dombrowski.

While the release event has come and gone, Dombrowski’s Pivo is still available for a limited time on tap and in cans at District 1 Brewing in Stevens Point. Don’t miss your chance to take home a piece of Portage County history—or enjoy it fresh at the source.

From Stockton to the Stage

Norm seen here as project manager for the Clark Street Bridge rebuild. (Stevens Point Journal, 10-13-2000)

Norman Leo Dombrowski was born in 1937 in the Town of Stockton, Wisconsin. The oldest of eight children in a Polish Catholic family, Norm grew up immersed in the rural traditions of Portage County. He attended small schools—including Liberty Corner and St. Mary’s in Fancher—before moving to Stevens Point, where he graduated from P.J. Jacobs High School in 1956. In true Norm fashion, he never missed a single day—earning a perfect attendance award all four years.

After graduating from Mid-State Technical College, Norm began a 42-year career with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, working on road and bridge projects across the region, most notably as the project manager for the Clark Street Bridge rebuild in Stevens Point. Known for his easy smile and strong people skills, he was honored with a public relations award by the state. But for many, his most lasting impact was made after hours—on stage with a drum kit and a polka band.

The Happy Notes: A Polka Phenomenon

Norm began playing drums in 1957, and by 1960 he helped form what would become his lifelong musical outlet and legacy: the Happy Notes Orchestra. The band quickly grew in popularity, known for its spirited performances and personal, often humorous touches. Norm wasn’t content just playing the standards—he brought showmanship and storytelling to every performance.

The controversial "Pollack from Polonia" record is featured in PCHS's current feature exhibit Rhythms of the River: The History of Music in Portage County.

In the 1970s, the band released a local sensation: “Pollack from Polonia,” a parody of Merle Haggard’s hit “Okie from Muskogee.” What started as a stage joke became a Central Wisconsin phenomenon. With lyrics celebrating Point Beer, local taverns, and small-town pride, it quickly climbed the “most requested” lists at local radio stations and sold out in stores and bars across the region.

Unfortunately, the record caught the attention of Haggard’s label, which threatened legal action. Norm, ever humble and family-focused, agreed to cease distribution and destroy the remaining copies. Still, the song’s legacy—and the buzz it created—remains a treasured part of local lore.

A National Spotlight

Stevens Point Journal, 8-24-1998

Norm’s musical talent and cultural significance weren’t confined to Central Wisconsin. In 1998, the Smithsonian Institution invited Norm and the Happy Notes to perform at its annual Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., where Wisconsin was the featured state. On the National Mall, the band represented the state’s vibrant polka tradition to audiences from across the country—a proud moment for Norm, his family, and his hometown.

A Celebration That Still Brings People Together

Norm Dombrowski passed away in 2013, but his spirit and sound live on. The Happy Notes continue to perform today under the leadership of his son, Mark Dombrowski, with a mission to spread the same joy and energy that defined Norm’s career.

And that joy was felt once again at the Dombrowski’s Pivo release party on July 28, where more than 250 people gathered to celebrate the beer and the man who inspired it. Guests filled the brewery with music, laughter, and dance—just the way Norm would’ve wanted it. As the Happy Notes played into the evening, people sang along and danced the night away, proving that Norm’s greatest legacy—bringing people together—lives on.

The current version of the Happy Notes kept the crowd dancing into the evening during the release party of Dombrowski's Pivo at District 1 Brewing Company in Stevens Point.

Available Now (But Not for Long)

Dombrowski’s Pivo is available on tap and in cans at District 1 Brewing for a limited time. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the Happy Notes, a lover of local history, or just looking for a crisp, classic lager with a great backstory, we invite you to stop in and try it while it lasts.

Here’s to Norm—a proud Polish American, a public servant, a polka pioneer, and a man who made Wisconsin dance.

Na zdrowie!