Beer
-
Robin Shepard
All hands on deck
Grain Train is a huge, malty, hoppy barleywine from Vintage. Kveik yeast, a Norwegian strain, really sets it apart. Read more
Robin Shepard
A perfect day for a barleywine
Beers rarely seen outside of brewery taprooms and big beers perfect for a snowy winter day were highlights at the 2020 Isthmus Beer and Cheese Festival. Read more
Jan 21, 2020
Dark delight
A change in packaging means that Madison will be seeing more limited-edition big beers from Third Space Brewing of Milwaukee. Read more
Jan 15, 2020
The dark side
It’s the 11th year for the Isthmus Beer and Cheese Festival, but the brewers keep coming up with new and inventive surprises. Our longtime beer writer picks some brews that shouldn’t be missed. Read more
Jan 9, 2020
Robin Shepard
Thin layer of smoke
Full Mile Beer Company and Kitchen just celebrated its anniversary a few weeks ago. A favorite there is Night Society, a German-style schwarzbier. Read more
Jan 1, 2020
Robin Shepard
Winter warmers
Malty beer styles — Scotch ales, bold stouts and rich barleywines — are known as winter warmers. As the alcohol goes to your head, the chill starts to come off, too. Read more
Dec 19, 2019
Robin Shepard
A slushie for the season
It has a crazy amount of fruit — over 1,000 pounds in a 10-barrel batch,” says Lion’s Tail Brewing Company owner and brewmaster Alex Wenzel. His ’Tis the Season is based on a kettle soured Berliner weisse. Read more
Dec 13, 2019
Make tracks
Snowshoe from New Glarus is a seasonal favorite, but it’s not offered every year. But this year, you can haz! Read more
Dec 4, 2019
4:00 PM
Untitled Art
The Italian job
Both Untitled Art and Working Draft are initial Midwest champions of the dry, refreshing Italian pilsner style. Imagine a German pilsner with more hoppy personality. Read more
Nov 27, 2019
4:59 AM
Robin Shepard
The cat’s meow
“The Giving Brewery,” a charitable project from Octopi Brewing, benefits cats and other critters this season with its Bow Chicka Meow Meow! It’s a sweet stout with surprising anise kick. Read more
Nov 26, 2019
4:00 PM
Robin Shepard
Pond water plus
Swamp Thang, a hazy IIPA collaboration beer from Working Draft Beer Company, Lake Louie Brewing, and Wisconsin Brewing Company, is one of the best of the year. It’s a hop monster with a huge amount of Citra, Simcoe and Enigma. Read more
Nov 20, 2019
4:00 PM
Robin Shepard
Drinks at Devil’s Lake
Erica DeAnda is the brewmaster at the new Tumbled Rock Brewery and Kitchen in Baraboo. Her first in-house brews have just been released. Read more
Nov 14, 2019
12:10 PM
Robin Shepard
A quarter century
The Great Dane’s 25th Anniversary Scotch ale is based on its popular Stone of Scone Scotch ale. The beer is being released on the Great Dane’s Anniversary, November 14. Read more
Nov 13, 2019
3:00 PM
