James O'Boyle
As usual, there will be many great events during Madison Craft Beer Week celebrating in-state breweries. The fun starts even before the official opening day of April 29, with hard-to-find Ahnappe brews coming to town. Here are my top picks from the Wisco crowd.
1. Ahnapee Brewing Tap Takeover
Thursday, April 28, Next Door Brewing Company, 5-11 pm
Get an early start on the eve of Craft Beer Week with this special visit from Ahnapee Brewing of Algoma, which will be taking over the tap at Next Door Brewing. Without driving to Kewanee County, this is your chance to taste the small-batch beer of brewmaster Nick Calaway who will offer four brews: a chocolate milk stout, an English IPA, a red ale made with rye and a barrel-aged Baltic porter.
2. Launch Party for S’Wheat Caroline
Friday, April 29, Wisconsin Brewing Tap Haus, 7 pm-2 am
This is the release of the 2016 beer from students in the UW-Madison Department of Food Science’s Fermented Foods and Beverages Program and the Craft Brewery Project. They competed in recipe design, then brewed their winning recipe at Wisconsin Brewing in Verona. Buy a pint and get free entry to the Ivory Room for a Neil Diamond sing-along.
3. Pale Cream Ale Release Party
Friday April 29, Karben4, 11 am-midnight
Karben4 brewmaster Ryan Koga is releasing a new hoppy beer made with Amarillo hops and lactose (milk sugar). He’s named it “Mieux, Mieux,” as in a French kitty-cat meowing for more.
Saturday, April 30, Breese Stevens Field, 2-5 pm
This isn’t a Wisconsin-only event, but plenty of Wisconsin breweries will be represented; over two dozen breweries are participating. Tickets are $40.
5. Something Special from Wisconsin
Monday, May 2, the Malt House, 4 pm-midnight
Wisconsin favorites Oliphant Brewing, Karben4 Brewing and 3 Sheeps Brewing take over the house with limited releases and regular favorites.
6. Titletown and Tyranena Collaboration
Friday, April 29, Trixie’s Liquor, noon-9 pm
An exclusive offering from Tyranena, Titletown and Trixie’s Liquors called Ménages a T will be tapped. This farmhouse ale is aged with chardonnay-soaked oak chips. Nine other beers will be on tap, too.
7. Potosi Brewing Co. & Madison Homebrewers & Tasters Guild Release Party
Wednesday, May 4, Brocach Irish Pub, 6-8 pm
Potosi Brewing teamed up with the Madison Homebrewers & Tasters Guild to make a Belgian golden strong that’s a beer not to miss.
8. National Star Wars Day Beer Release Party
Wednesday, May 4, Tex Tubb’s, 4 pm-1 am
Celebrate “National Star Wars Day” at Tex Tubb’s Taco Palace with the dark ale Imperial Walker by House of Brews and the highly hopped JedIPA from Dead Bird Brewing.
9. Gr8 Escape
Friday, May 6, Edgewater Hotel, 6-9 pm
It’s the “Gr8” (as in eight great beers) Escape with One Barrel Brewing and Wisconsin Brewing Company in the Edgewater's Boathouse Bar and Grill overlooking Lake Mendota. Tickets are $30.
10. The Big Brew
Saturday, May 7, Hop Haus-Verona, 9 am-2:30 pm
What better way to wrap up the final weekend of Madison Craft Beer Week than by celebrating the American Homebrewers Association Big Brew Day. Homebrewers are invited to collaborate in making an Alt beer. Hop Haus is donating the hops, and the Wine and Hop Shop is donating yeast. Even if you’re not brewing, it’ll be a fun atmosphere in which to share a beer or two with passionate homebrewers. Those making beer will get back together in a few weeks to sample the brew, extending craft beer week even further.
