If you're brave enough to venture up into Packer/Badger country, you'll fare very well with the excellent beer choices (minus the typical Milwaukee brews). Heck, Wisconsin is the land of beer! Me and the Mrs. decided to visit our old stomping grounds of Madison, WI back a few weeks ago. While there, it was imperative for us to stop by the Great Dane Pub.
With three locations with the Madison area, it's not hard to choose from a great selection of brews. I recommend the Old Glory American Pale Ale and the Stone of Scone Scotch Ale. You can also order a flight of samples from there entire beer selection if you don't know what to pick! Also, they have excellent grub to pair with your drink of choice! Get there early or put in a reservation... Great Dane is very popular with the locals!
More beer after the jump...
We also stocked up on a once Chicago-land favorite, New Glarus. Spotted Cow, a golden ale, was their flagship favorite around here until late 2002 when distribution issues within IL forced them just to focus on their homestate. I highly recommend their Fat Squirrel Nutbrown Ale and the delicious Imperial Weizen from their Unplugged beer series. You can find New Glarus at most liquor stores and bars in Wisconsin. However, it might be worth your while to venture out to the brewery's home town of the same. It's a little piece of Switzerland dropped into the Midwest. It's also a lot of fun during Oktoberfest!
Hopefully, New Glarus will be available again in IL in the near future.
Of course, there are plenty more breweries and brewpubs to highlight up there in the land of cheese-heads, but one blog can only allow for so much! More WI brews to come!
