End of Summer Beer Events
Summer is drawing to a close, and beer drinking in Wisconsin is just getting started. There are a ton of great upcoming events in the Madison area (I even threw in a few non-beer related events because you just need to go)!
End of August
8/23-28 Sour and Funky Week Redux, Brasserie V. Their July sour event was such a hit, they decided to do it again. Josh always puts a good list together and there will be food and flight specials all week. There will of course be a sour or two from WI (think O'so) but the Tilquin Gueze and Mikkeller Mastodon Mother Puncher would be good places to start.
8/25-29 Tiki Week, Robin Room. Not beer related (although they do usually have a few good ones on tap), but I just love this hip new(ish) cocktail bar. Live music at 8 on the 28th, guest chefs, and a slew of delicious rum cocktails. You can view the menu on their Facebook page.
8/27 Potosi Brewfest, Holiday Gardens Event Center, Potosi. Tickets are still available for Saturday's fest with over 60 vendors. Event goes from 1-5 for $45, but spend the extra $10 and grab the VIP ticket to get in early.
8/28 Wisconsin Cheese Curdfest, Breese Stevens field. Free admission, 2-6, fingers crossed the weather holds up. Be adventurous and get in the cheese curd eating contest. I would, but I'm lactose intolerant :/
8/28 Stone beer dinner, Oliver's Public House. 5 course dinner, each course paired with a Stone Brewing beer. $65, call Oliver's to make a reservation, check out the menu on their website.
September Events
9/2-5 Wisconsin's Best Rib Fest, Oshkosh. $5 to get in and rib masters from across the country. There are few distances I won't travel for good barbeque (and beer).
9/8 Ballast Point 20th Anniversary NFL Kickoff Party, Dexter's Pub. 20 Ballast Point beers will be flowing., including 5 Roots to Boots rarities
9/10 NDBC 3 year Anniversary Party. Outdoor tent will be set up, Badgers game on inside and out, live music at night, and lots of food and beer specials!
9/15 Flavor Trippin' with O'so, Off Broadway Drafthouse. Obviously you've heard of Synsepalum dulcificum, right? No? Well how about miracle fruit? It's a plant known for its berry that causes sour things to taste sweet after eating it. Off Broadway and O'so are messing with you taste buds, giving you miracle fruit tablets and 5 sour beers. 6-9.
9/17 National Beer Mile, Wisconsin State Fair Park. With all these drinking events coming up, I wanted to include some exercise... Just kidding. 4 beers, 1 mile, and an after party. Run/jog/walk a 1/4 mile, repeat. $40 includes your 4 beers during the "run" and an open bar after party with live music and food vendors. The faster you run, the more time you have to drink afterwards :)
9/17 Great Lakes Brewfest, Racine. Ok, so running isn't your thing, me neither. How about just standing around overlooking Lake Michigan drinking instead? SE Wisconsin's largest beer fest, over 450 beers, $50, 3-6:30
9/22 Founders Beer School, Table Wine, 6-7:30. A limited space event, where Founders reps will teach you about different styles of beers (and taste of course) for $10. For those of you who felt like beer knowledge wasn't adequately taught during your undergraduate education. As a side note, if you haven't been to Table Wine and want to check it out, they are also having an End of Summer Happy Hour on 8/31 from 5-7. $3 beers and $5 wines.
9/23-25 New Glarus Oktoberfest, New Glarus. Check out the website for more detailed information on vendors and music times at swisstown.com. My picks are: Wheelhouse Friday night from 8-midnight and The Jimmy's 3-6 on Sunday.
9/24 Isthmus OktoBEERfest, Breese Stevens Field, 3-7. 40 Wisconsin focused brewers, artisan sausage and cheesemakers. $40
9/30 Lake County Beer and Wine Festival, Country Springs Hotel, Pewaukee, 6-11. Beer, wine, food, music, what more could you ask for? $45
October Events
10/1 Milwaukee Cider and Nano Beerfest, 1-4:30. $45 with focus on cideries and small brewers from across the state, if you have a gluten-free friend (don't we all) this is the perfect fest!
10/2 Milwaukee Wing Fest, Harley Davidson Museum, 12-2:30 or 4-6:30. $35 gets you 3 beers and all the wings you could possibly eat. Be brave and do the wing-eating contest.
New Breweries popping up around Milwaukee (have you checked out Lone Girl and Rockhound here in Madison?):
Black Husky Brewing- indoor tasting room and an outdoor beer garden with fire pit
City Lights Brewing- Located in the former Milwaukee Gas Light Co building in Menomenee Valley, this taproom is unlike any others you've been to
Good City Brewing- located at Crank Daddy's Bicycle Works on the eastside, go for the beer and stay for the beer friendly food menu
MobCraft Beer- a transplant from Madison this brewery now has a location downtown by Milwaukee brewing company and Great Lakes distillery
Third Space Brewing- making "midwestern" style beers with easy drinkability
Urban Harvest- close to Brenner brewing, one of the smallest new breweries
Westallion Brewing- West Alli's first brewery, opening with 8 in house beers
Madison Openings/Happenings:
Lucky's 1313 Brewpub is now open on Regent St. Staff are still in training and the menu is still limited, but they are ready for you to visit!
Miko Poke- Located in the former Bluephies spot, this made to order poke restaurant is now open. Tonight they won't open until 5, but starting Friday they will have their regular hours opening at 11am.
Rockhound now has 2 beers on tap that were brewed on site, an Amber and a Belgium-style Brown.
Bent Kettle's K'Paui Coconut Porter is on tap at different spots around town (one being Mr Brews taphouse in Monona) and now available in cans at House of Brews. This beer was a hometown highlight for many at the Great Taste.
