From today’s chatters:
(1675) Adam (Roselle, IL)
Keith, some good breweries to check out in Milwaukee: Lakefront and Sprecher. Other good local beers are Point, Capitol, and New Glarus.
(1674) Kyle (Chicago)
Ack! Take my advice and thank me later, Wisconsin is the 2nd fastest up-and-comer on the US craft beer scene (after Michigan). Here’s what you need to look for; New Glarus, Sprecher (German style stuff), Central Waters, Furthermore, Capital (more German) and Tyranena. If you want the best of those, the Black Bavarian from Sprecher and anything wheat or fruit-based from New Glarus are all world class.
(1533) Shawn (WI)
See if you can get your hands on some Capital Brewery or Lakefront Brewery Beer.
(2552) DTK, Troy, NY
In Milwaukee, try Sprecker. Little homestyle brewery. They have awesome rootbeer and ginger ale, too.
(2163) Jon UK
From a Chicago beer writer Milwaukee beers:- I’d pick Lakefront, although Roger Protz would opt for Sprecher instead. Plenty of other Wisconsin micros to pick there, too.
(1709) Evan (Philly)
Keith, try Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee. Good craft beer.
Someone asked what “Old Mildred” is … it’s Old Milwaukee, a bad beer made by Pabst.
You cite Old Milwaukee as a bad beer made by Pabst. Dare I ask what a good beer made by Pabst is? I can’t think of one although I have a soft spot for Olympia which I keep in the fridge for unwanted guests.
Not sure how its been since Miller bought it, but Lenie’s Honeyweiss and Creamy Dark is very solid. New Glarus is a good reco too.
Did you know Papst makes a non-alcoholic malt liquor drink? I don’t even know how it makes sense. I’m afraid to try it, but I took pictures of the 6-pack I found in the local super market to prove it exists. They also make a PBR light, which just seems ridiculous, considering how light PBR is to begin with. Not that I’m complaining; I love pale, bland American big-brand beer, despite knowing how bad it is.
In the wise words of my college roommate, as he tipped back his 15th Milwaukee’s Best Ice (aka Beast Ice) of the day, “If this is Milwaukee’s best, they gotta start doing a whole lot better.”
Enjoy the trip…
Keith – have you ever tried the Wachusett Beers or been to their Brewery in Central Mass? Their Blueberry Wheat Beer is great, as is the Country Ale and Nut Brown…not to mention the IPA (very hoppy and can be bitter, unlike Harpoon’s). Check them out if you can.
Well, I don’t know anything about Milwaukee’s beers (except Old Milwaukee, which as a college student, I prefer over Keystone Light), but If you are ever in Northwest Indiana, I suggest trying Three Floyds. They have a very large variety of beers and all are extraordinary tasting in my opinion.
They’re based out of Munster, here is their website:
http://www.threefloyds.com/
First off, PBR and Old Milwaukee are not bad beers. It just depends on the situation.
Keith, I assume you’re coming to town for the series but if you have time before heading to the park, take Lakefront’s Brewery tour and stick around for the fish fry. You can take a cab to the game afterwards.
Miller Park actually sells some locally brewed beers, I believe. Look out for the little beer stands throughout the stadium.
The best local brewery? I think the other commenters have hit on the best ones that are widely available.
I second (or I guess, third at this point) New Glarus. All of their beers that I’ve tried are quite good.
If only New Belgium brewery distributed in WI though…sigh…(was in heaven in Fort Collins this summer)
I’m a loyal reader and Marquette graduate student. I would recommend taking the Sprecher Brewery tour. For $4, you get 4 samples of their beer and unlimited sodas. Their root beer was selected by the NY Times as the best in the country. I like it because they use actual sugar and honey instead of corn syrup.
Knowing your interest in food, I would recommend trying McBob’s on the corner of 49th and North (about 15 blocks north of the stadium). They are known for their fish fry and corned beef. I’ve heard their breakfast is good as well.
Keith…I stopped at a Trader Joe’s today just to buy those chips. on and on with the chips, I gave in. once, and never again. I like your chats, but you didnt warn me about the people who work at Trader Joe’s. and I have to assume you push those chips due to nutritional content. For a lousy, crunchy, low-fat, no taste rice cake-esque chip, it was tolerable. The people in the Hawaiian shirts were much, much worse.
I just tried Buffalo Water a couple weekends ago and that was pretty good.
http://www.buffalowater.com/
Try the Milwaukee Ale House in the Third Ward if you’re looking for a brew pub. I’m not a fan of Water Street Brewery (or most of that area of Water Street), so I recommend avoiding that place.
It looks like people hit most of the micros: Sprecher and Lakefront, New Glarus, Capital.
I look forward to seeing some Milwaukee restaurant reviews.
…and if you stop by a Sendik’s or Discount Liquor, you can pick up some of the original recipe Schlitz.
New Glarus. It’s good.
Mike – judging from the “no taste” comment, I think you bought the wrong thing.
Any of you Wisconsites know of a bar/pub around here (I’m in Milwaukee now) with a big beer selection? I’m not going to go to the liquor store and get a six pack. I have my limits.
Keith, sorry to change the subject but I’ve been meaning to ask you – why isn’t there any worry about Jon Lester’s dramatic increase in innings? Does the Verducci Rule not apply? It looks like he threw 128 innings in 2006 and 153.2 in 2007. After last night, he’s up to 210.1 IP and has at least one more start left (and hopefully more).
Keith, where are you? If you’re near Miller Park, head up to Bluemound Road. Take your pick of bars. For a good selection not far from the stadium but not near Bluemound, I’d say Benno’s around 74th and Greenfield in West Allis. They have Delirium on tap along with a slew of micros and seasonal beers.
The Wicked Hop is a nice place in the Third Ward (I think it’s on the corner of Jefferson and St. Paul, right by the Public Market). The Milwaukee Ale House is down the Buffalo on Water St.
If you’re looking for food and are willing to do a bit of driving, check out Pizza Man on North and Oakland. Great food, good beer and wine list. You could walk around and check out any of the bars and restaurants in that area.
Keith,
How long will you be in Milwaukee? Word is that Lou is running out the AAA lineup (more or less) again today, but you should get the regulars on both weekend days.
Old Milwaukee? That’s a damn fine beer. I’ve tossed back a few of those while on the Penobscot River. It just doesn’t get any better than that.
Mader’s has a good beer list. It’s on 3rd street. That’s the only good thing I can say about that place.
Damn, I would have sent you to Roman’s Pub. It is probably what you were looking for. Although Milwaukee has more bars with longer beer lists than anywhere in the US.
http://www.romanspub.com/index.html
Of course, there are also close to a dozen bars that feature an extensive German list.
Others in the Bay View neighborhood where you would be at for Roman’s Pub, Palm Tavern, Palamino. then Nessun Dorma, great beer/lager list, it is a gourmet hole in the wall.
This place, has an absurdly extensive beer list, nearly all from Belgium and the Netherlands. http://www.cafehollander.com/
If you are near Miller Park again, go to Sobelman’s Cafe for a burger. Great Milwaukee bar food. I’m sure you have heard of Kopps, which I love, but it is not for everyone, Sobelman’s will be more familiar.
If you go to these places and like them, then hang with me as I send you to Three Brothers.
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=558
Skip the fake fancy places that exist in every city, Milwaukee can pull off “gourmet hole in the wall” better than anywhere.
Finally, if you want to be a real Milwaukeean all you can eat bacon, Comet Cafe on Sunday after 6. Bacon garnish in bloody mary’s too, grubby everything, it is great.