Visiting Wisconsin - What beers to try?

[mavrick1903]

I fly often. Take beer back in a check bag, you'll be fine if you pack it smart.

Vintage has a beer dinner (Madison) Tuesday (tonight) and Wednesday this week. There's also a Beer Fest at Quivey's Grove (dinner joint) on Saturday. You'd likely be able to get a ticket walking up.

As to beers, Central Waters is one to try for sure. Oso is great. and if you dont find it at home Founder's is great, look for the Breakfast Stout.

When I go to PA (often) I'm in the PHL area and cross over to DE to buy and bring home.

 

[mavrick1903]

Oh, and Lake Louie, how could I forget Lake Louie! Warped Speed Scotch Ale; Reserve Scotch Ale (if you can find it). From where you are, come to Madison, and look for Woodman's and Steve's Liquor.

 

[mavrick1903]

New Glarus Staghorn (their oktoberfest) is one of my favorite beers from them. That and Fat Squirrel.

They won an award for their BlackTop at GABF this year.

 

[Zamial]

What I find pretty funny in threads like this, is that I see the typical WI micro/craft brews being talked about, in pretty much the exact same ways the locals feel/talk about the brews, save one. Point. I know some of their offerings are less than stellar but as far as a Wisconsin brewed Lager goes, they blow Lienie's out of the water and very few craft/micros around here make a Lager, let alone a good one. I am not saying it is the best Lager in the world but it is better than any standard BMC product, IMO. I often wonder why Point gets overlooked, not only in threads like this but in general?

If it was me and I had to choose what to do where...I would say take the Lake Front tour in MKE, it is FANTASTIC. If you find your way up around Green Bay - stop in at Titletown. They have great food and a HUGE selection of beers (They are a large brew pub) and while in GB if you like sports head over to the Football hall of fame.

 

[IffyG]

I know some of their offerings are less than stellar

There is your answer right there. I lived in Milwaukee for four years and purchased one mix pack of Point beer and didn't get another, everything I had was drinkable, but not something I'd seek out. There are plenty of better option, especially for someone from out of state.

 

[DrBergeron]

I think if you really want to get the true Wisconsin Experience go to the store and get a 6 pack of the following:
Schlitz in Bottles
Blatz in cans
Mountain Creek (Munroe Brewery, this should be roughly $1.34 for a 6-er "great" value)
Old Style
Pabst

+1 for Lakefront Brewery if you want to check out the Craft scene, though. If you take their brewery tour you can get their lakefront 88 (4 x 22oz) for about 8 bucks. I brought 2 of these home in a suitcase no problem wrapped in towels.

 

[IffyG]

The spotted cow is so-so, too much hype for this beer.

It's a fantastic gateway beer for BMC drinkers. My Dad wouldn't really touch anything aside from Budlight and his occasional Sam Adams until I brought home a case of Spotted Cow. He had one and loved it, now he can't get enough.

 

[richbrew99]

Oh, and Lake Louie, how could I forget Lake Louie! Warped Speed Scotch Ale; Reserve Scotch Ale (if you can find it). From where you are, come to Madison, and look for Woodman's and Steve's Liquor.

I tried their IPA... very dissapointed. It was I could do just to finish the six pack.

 

[BlackJaqueJanaviac]

My loyalties evidently aren't just to Wisconsin but to Central Wisconsin.

Oso and Central Waters brew some excellent beers. I have not noticed anything "off" with their yeast. In fact I know that Oso brews with ale yeast so their ales are actually ales.

Point is good.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Boerderij_Kabouter
How do you like the Octoberfest from Hinterland?

I haven't had this year's, but I haven't been crazy about past years batches. I really like their darker stuff and the pale and Pub ales.

Finally someone has mentioned Capital.

Autumnal Fire by Capital (really their whole portfolio is great too, but Autumnal is their best beer by far, it is one of the best dopplebocks I have ever had, and I have drank heartily at Cloister Andechs just outside Munich...).

They make world class lagers all around. Autumn is seriously incredible every year.

I guess I must have tried the wrong stuff

I can agree with you there. I really like the Red that CW makes but it is funky. The rest of their beers are passes, but you have to get your hands on some of their reserve stuff.

Point. I know some of their offerings are less than stellar but as far as a Wisconsin brewed Lager goes, they blow Lienie's out of the water.

Agreed. That is some good cheap swill.

you would be missing out if you didn't pick up some Lacrosse, Hamms, Point Special, or some other very cheap Am. Lager

 

[Jakemo]

Sprecher!!!

 

[JonM]

Another vote for Vintage in Madison. It's like a brewpub for serious beer geeks. They do complicated brews that hb'ers can appreciate like a Flemish Barleywine and some others I can't remember right now. And their standard beers like the oatmeal stout and red IPA are excellent.

 

[Grinder12000]

Stay away from Capitol Brewery - the guy HATES home Brewers. Furthermoor is average - Central Waters has excellent beer - Potosi is "good" but they have the Brewing Museum which is fantastic.

I work in a craft brew store and know most of the beer - Hinterlan makes good beer - Tyrenenna in Lake Mills has very good beer and Ale Asylum has extreme but good beer.

ANYTHING made by Minhaus is pure garbage. Sprecher is macro-ish

O'so and Lake Lewie are how and of Course New Glairus and their soon to be gone Black Top IPA are Golf medal winners.

BTW - Spotted Cow is wedding beer. It's what you give people who drink Miller but want to be classier. Good but . . .over hyped.

Funny story about Vintage. When the old brewery went belly up they purchased the brewery and found the reason the old places beer started to taste like ass. There was a leak in the cooling and brown water was being leaked into the beer as it was being cooled.

 

[Steelers77]

Another vote for New Glarus Staghorn. Ale Asylum's Bedlam is fantastic, but might be hard to find right now.

Just had Bedlam on tap Saturday night, very tasty!

 

[Steelers77]

Funny story about Vintage. When the old brewery went belly up they purchased the brewery and found the reason the old places beer started to taste like ass. There was a leak in the cooling and brown water was being leaked into the beer as it was being cooled.

The old owner owns a Pub in Janesville (the best one in town actually), I'll have to bring that up next time I see him.

 

[BlackJaqueJanaviac]

I like New Glarus' Nut Brown Ale. And I think I enjoyed a few others. But what stands out most in my mind with New Glarus is that I so frequently dislike their beers that I'm afraid to try them. It's about 50/50 that I crack it open, take a few sips, walk off into the tall grass and pretend I'm taking a pee but dump it out. It just takes the fun out of drinking their beers. If I have to drive I can only have two or three beers, and 50/50 odds that I'll enjoy them is pretty bad.

NG seems too infatuated with being unique that they can't brew something normal.

I strongly suspect that there is profit to be made simply because drinkers are willing to try something new. People will call it good - only because they've never had anything like it before.

To me a good beer is one that I would be willing to have again, and again, and again.

 

[Yooper]

I like New Glarus' Nut Brown Ale. And I think I enjoyed a few others. But what stands out most in my mind with New Glarus is that I so frequently dislike their beers that I'm afraid to try them. It's about 50/50 that I crack it open, take a few sips, walk off into the tall grass and pretend I'm taking a pee but dump it out. It just takes the fun out of drinking their beers. If I have to drive I can only have two or three beers, and 50/50 odds that I'll enjoy them is pretty bad.

NG seems too infatuated with being unique that they can't brew something normal.

I strongly suspect that there is profit to be made simply because drinkers are willing to try something new. People will call it good - only because they've never had anything like it before.

To me a good beer is one that I would be willing to have again, and again, and again.

It's funny how people's tastes are so different! I like very one of New Glarus' beers, except for the Belgian Red and Raspberry Tart as I hate fruit in my beer. But I really like all of the ales especially, and most of their lagers are top notch even though I am not a lager drinker as a rule. I'd take a New Glarus over just about any other offering of the same style! I don't think of any of their styles as out there or "new" as they are pretty traditional beers for the most part.

 

[motobrewer]

I've never had an issue of consistency with NG's beers.

Their "Unplugged" series is pretty hit or miss....more misses than hits, for me anyway....

 

[sgoehner]

Big fan of Lakefront's Riverwest Stein, and they have the best tour imho. It is a ton of fun and you get to drink a lot.