Robin Shepard
Nick Calaway, brewmaster, Ahnapee Brewery.
Madison Craft Beer Week started a day early at Next Door Brewing Company. On April 28 it hosted Ahnapee Brewery and brewmaster Nick Calaway from Algoma, Wis. Ahnapee is a small brewery that rarely distributes — only occasionally can you find it even in Green Bay. This was the first time Madison has seen any of its beers on tap.
Calaway brought with him Two Stall chocolate milk stout, Noble IPA, Multigrain Red (made with eight different barleys and rye) and Crooked Hobo Baltic Porter (aged for 18 months in whiskey barrels). The Baltic Porter proved to be a favorite of the crowd with its deep chocolate maltiness, oak and roasted background, and alcoholic warmth at 10% ABV.
S’Wheat Caroline, a hoppy wheat beer made by students in the UW Madison’s Department of Food Science’s Fermented Foods and Beverages Program was on tap April 29 for the first time at the Wisconsin Brewing Tap Haus. This light golden beer has a crisp hoppiness from Wisconsin-grown Chinook hops.
Another standout on Friday evening was the release of Ménages a T, a collaboration beer by Titletown Brewing of Green Bay, Tyranena Brewing of Lake Mills and Trixie’s Liquor Store of Madison. It was being served at the new Growlers to Go Go, a growler filling station run by Trixie’s. This deep amber Biere de Garde was aged with chardonnay-soaked oak chips for rich, smooth and sweet fruity warmth.
Robin Shepard
The "T" in the beer Menages a T. Left to Right: Dave Oldenburg (Titletown), Colleen Welch (Trixies), Ryan Nikolay (Tyranena).
On Friday, the “Reinheits Revolt!” beer release party at Tex Tubb’s Taco Palace was so packed that the line to get in at times spilled out onto the sidewalk along Atwood Avenue. This event takes place each year; the winner of a homebrewing competition gets to brew with Next Door Brewing’s Bryan Kreiter and have the beer released at Tex Tubb’s. This year homebrewers Michael Chronister and John Moran made a Belgian witbier that was light and refreshing, with hints of peppercorn and accented with piney juniper. At one point, the bar ran short of the beer, but before an actual revolt occurred, an additional keg was wheeled down Atwood (on the sidewalk, mind you) several blocks from Next Door to Tex Tubb’s. Thank goodness.
Robin Shepard
At Tex Tubb's Taco Palace, the Reinheits Revolt. Left to Right: Bryan Kreiter (Next Door) and Homebrewers Michael Chronister (middle) and John Moran.
On Saturday, the gluten-free Uncommon Thread was released at Alt Brew. It’s similar to the more widely available Common Thread — also a kettle-soured gose, but made without barley (instead, a blend of sorghum, rice, Mt. Hood hops, sea salt and coriander). It also has a touch of honey to boost the strength, which in the case of this gose, seems to soften the acidity and take some of the edge off an otherwise sour beer.
Robin Shepard
Uncommon Thread (the gluten free version of Common Thread) on the bar at Alt Brew.
This year there’s no shortage of sour beers. A surprise find over the weekend was Sour Puss Saison, a tart farmhouse ale from the Great Dane at Hilldale. It’s the first sour beer ever made by Madison’s Great Dane Pub and Breweries. Also, on Saturday evening the Blue Moon Bar and Grill and the Malt House were simultaneously hosting tap takeovers by O’so Brewing of Plover, which provided several sours to both taverns.
Among the out-of-town breweries, my weekend favorite beers were from Perennial Artisan Ales of St. Louis. I’ve visited this brewery and am excited to see them be part of the festivities here. Perennial took over eight taps at Dexter’s Pub on Sunday. This brewery is known for its sour beers and bold imperial stouts. And it didn’t disappoint. The Abraxas, a fan favorite and a spiced imperial stout, barely made it through the afternoon before the beer ran out.
Meanwhile, sours such as Anniversaria 2015 (a Belgian pale ale fermented with brettanomyces in wine barrels), the Hopfentea (Berliner weisse and tropical tea), and the Stowaway (sour saison) were just as well received. Perennial makes another appearance later this week at the Coopers Tavern (May 4, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.); don’t miss it.
Great Taste of the Midwest tickets went on sales at several venues around Madison on Sunday morning. The hard-to-come-by tickets prompted overnight camping at many outlets. Star Liquor saw lines forming beginning Saturday evening, more than 12 hours ahead of sales. For those not willing to face the lines, a mail lottery is the next-best hope of getting tickets to the Aug. 13 event.
Finally, a few beers to watch for coming up later in Madison Craft Beer Week:
On May 4, Brocach Irish Pub (6-8 p.m.) will host Potosi Brewing, which, in collaboration with the Madison Homebrewers & Tasters Guild, releases a Belgian Golden Strong.
Also on May 4 at Tex Tubb’s Taco Palace (4 p.m.-1 a.m.), House of Brews will release Imperial Walker, while Dead Bird Brewing offers JedIPA.
And again on May 4 at the Malt House (4 p.m.-midnight), Ale Asylum releases its first Maibock, called “Mai the Bock Be With You.”
Unbelievably, also on May 4, at Natt Spil (5 p.m.-10 p.m.), Karben4 and Next Door release their unique collaboration, an India Red Ale made with goldenrod honey.
Moving on at last to May 6: 3rd Sign Brewing (6 p.m.-11 p.m.) will tap its Jungle Grapefruit IPA, Castor Strawberry Wheat Ale, Sumatra Mocha Mild Ale and Jungle Mango IPA. There is also expected to be a hoppy surprise beer that gets infused with Soursop.
Finally, on May 7 at the Parched Eagle (noon-midnight), celebrate the one-year anniversary of the nanobrewery with the release of brewmaster Jim Goronson’s La Chingada Caca Maibock.
