David Michael Miller
One of Wisconsin's most popular beer festivals drew a bigger crowd than ever this year. More than 5,000 people attended the sixth annual edition of Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest, held on Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall.
More than 70 breweries served their finest, with a list that for the first time included out-of-state names like Solemn Oath Brewery and New Holland Brewing. Up-and-coming Oliphant Brewing of Somerset earned raves, as did cheese samples from Wisconsin dairies like LaClare Farms and Sassy Cow Creamery. The fest's musical accompaniment from Mama Digdown's Brass Band entertained revelers too. (The only less-than-stellar reviews went to the festival's entrance lines.)
Here are some images and observations from the 2015 edition of Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest.