While Madison keeps adding brewpubs, this pioneer in the field keeps drawing crowds. The wide-ranging menu includes American pub favorites and world cuisine like the spicy peanut stew. Gluten-free menu available. Don’t forget the handcrafted beers on tap. $6-$16.
Great Dane - Downtown
123 E. Doty St., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
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123 E. Doty St., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
11 am-2 am Sun.-Thurs., 11 am-2:30 am Fri.-Sat. (Food served until 1 am daily.)
, Caterer, Live Music, Restaurant
Locavore, Pub Grub, Salad, Sandwiches, Soup
Kid Friendly, Open Late/24 Hours, Outdoor Seating, Wheelchair Access
Wheat/Gluten Free
Brunch, Dinner, Lunch, Take-Out
Moderate
Mentions
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Aug 22, 2016
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Not clear on the concept
I was puzzled by a recent "Cheap Eats" cover story in Madison Magazine. The point of this sort of article is usually to single out various local entrees as unusually inexpensive and yet still quite tasty. As Milwaukee Magazine put it a few years back in their annual cheap eats feature: "Great finds, unbelievable prices."
Feb 5, 2007
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Madison brewers team up to make biggest beer ever
Two Madison brewers are teaming up to set their sights on one pinnacle of their craft: the biggest all-malt beer ever brewed. To achieve this goal, Rob LoBreglio of the Great Dane and Kirby Nelson of Capital Brewery have designed an elaborate brewing process that extends a fairly common one-day primary brewing period to more than five -- a feat that relies on some sophisticated beer science, artistic elements, and just plain luck.
Dec 10, 2008
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Madison's beer scene heats up this summer
When I started this story, I thought I would focus on a summer beer style or two, like summer wheat beers. But in the process of doing my homework, I learned that focusing only on wheat would be far too limiting. We'll have a great, diverse list of beers to choose from beginning in a couple of weeks.
May 29, 2009
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Beer Here: Mr. Natural's Organic Nut Brown Ale from the Great Dane Downtown
When was the last time you picked up a comic book with your favorite beer? Ever heard of Robert Crumb? If you're into underground comics and know who Crumb is, then the next time you're at the downtown Great Dane Pub and Brewery, look at the beer menu board for Mr. Natural's Organic Nut Brown.
Jun 26, 2009
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Beer Here: Altbier from the Great Dane Downtown
What does the autumnal equinox inspire in the beer person? An altbier comes to my mind -- an indicator of the halfway point between summer and winter, a benchmark for the change of season. These beautiful deep copper-colored brews remind me of the colors of changing leaves.
Sep 25, 2009
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Beer Here: Old Scratch Barley Wine from the Great Dane Downtown
One of the most acquired tastes of the beer world is barley wine. These big brews are among the strongest in flavor and highest in alcohol content. The breweries that make them often sell them by vintage because they have such a long maturation time. The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. has quite a reputation for making these behemoth brews.
Jan 22, 2010
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Beer Here: Belgian Barleywine from the Great Dane and Capital Brewery
The Great Dane Pub and Brewery just released the highest-alcohol beer it has ever made. The downtown Madison brewpub has finally put its Belgian Barleywine on tap after more than a year of fermenting and conditioning.
Mar 5, 2010
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Beer Here: Devil's Lake Red Lager from the Great Dane Downtown
I've hit that point in the summer where I start looking for a beer that will act as a transition into the fall brews. I'm not quite ready for Oktoberfests or the fresh hop-harvested beers that are just beginning to turn up. For me, the red and amber lagers offer unequaled session beer qualities for late summer, and the Great Dane's Devil's Lake Red Lager is my current session beer of choice.
Aug 27, 2010
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Beer Here: Merry Isthmus Ale from the Great Dane Downtown
'Tis the season for holiday brews. Around the time of the first big snowfalls of the season, brewpubs start tapping their big winter beers. The downtown flagship of the Great Dane has a tradition of releasing a special holiday brew named Merry Isthmus. Brewed in a different style every Christmas season, this year's edition is an imperial stout, with smooth malty tones and a dry roasted finish.
Dec 22, 2010
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Beer Here: Parallel Universe IPA from the Great Dane Downtown
The new year is off to a great start for hoppy beer fans. Eric Brusewitz, brewer at the Great Dane in downtown Madison, just tapped a coal-black beer with the aggressive bitterness of an India Pale Ale. The phrase made famous by test pilots and astronauts, "pushing the envelope," that is going beyond what their vehicle was designed to do, applies to Brusewitz's creation -- and it's appropriately called "Parallel Universe."
Jan 14, 2011
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Gimme the Duck Wilcox: Tastefully boost your Madison IQ with menu items named for local people and places
Menus will tend to host many of the same dishes. Of course not even a grilled cheese sandwich is "the same" from place to place. But some eateries will highlight a standard by bestowing on it a local name. It's a fun way to do a little more eating local.
Mar 29, 2012
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Beer Here: Terminal Gravity from the Great Dane
As the Great Dane family of brewpubs has grown to four Madison locations, three of which have their own brewery operations, company V.P. and brewmaster Rob LoBreglio hasn't been able to be in the brewhaus as much as he likes. While each Dane has its own brewer, LoBreglio oversees the team. So when he does stand over the brew kettle himself, the Madison beer community can expect something special.
May 25, 2012
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Beer Here: Un-Leashed Imperial Red Ale from the Great Dane
The Great Dane brewpubs just introduced a specialty line of bottled beers. The series will feature quarterly releases of limited seasonal beers, sold in 22-ounce bottles, a.k.a. bombers. These large bottles are good for sharing with a friend, often over a meal, as one would a bottle of wine. The Dane calls this series of big bottled beers "Un-Leashed," and the first on the shelves is its Imperial Red.
Aug 31, 2012
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Beer Here: Unleashed Jolly Old Scratch Black Barley-Wine Style Ale from the Great Dane
Just a few days before the big Christmas snowfall, the Great Dane released the newest beer in its Unleashed Series of 22-ounce bottles. The Dane is known for its bold barley wines, and the new Jolly Old Scratch is one of its biggest and boldest yet. With its double-digit ABV, this barley wine will certainly take the chill off the coldest winter day.
Jan 4, 2013
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Beer Here: Furious River IPA from the Great Dane
If you like hoppy beers, this is your time of year. From now through October is when hops are harvested, so you can expect an onslaught of bitter pale ales and IPAs. Some brewers will go to great lengths to use fresh and whole leaf hops while making beer. The Great Dane is out with an early entry, an IPA named Furious River. Brewer Michael Fay took the season seriously and used whole-leaf hops to achieve an assertive level of bitterness.
Sep 5, 2013
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Beer Here: Unleashed Fire Pit Winter Warmer Ale from the Great Dane
When barleywines make an appearance on the Great Dane beer menu, you can be sure first major snow isn't far off. That's because the Dane intentionally releases this seasonal big beer around the time of the first big storm. Brewmaster Rob LoBreglio might not want the credit nor blame that goes with forecasting the weather, but his newest offering, a bomber bottle named Fire Pit, will help you cope with the onset of winter.
Dec 12, 2013
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The Great Dane Pub celebrates 20 years of craft brewing in Madison and beyond
When Rob LoBreglio fired up the kettles at the Dane Pub for the first time, the brewhouse had no glass, no exhaust system, and the paint on the walls was barely dry. "That was interesting," says the co-owner and brewmaster about launching the downtown Madison brewpub 20 years ago.
Nov 9, 2014
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Beer Here: 20th Anniversary Ale from the Great Dane Pub
The Great Dane is marking two decades of craft beer with its new 20th Anniversary Ale, and one might say the idea for it has been fermenting for just as long. "We based it on the fun factor of trying to play off the number 20," says Rob LoBreglio, brewmaster and co-founder for the group of brewpubs. He and his team of brewers created a beer with 20 different malts, 20 different hops, 20 different yeasts and 20 different waters to mark this major milestone.
Nov 13, 2014
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Strong devotion
The Great Dane’s Oktoppelbock combines rich maltiness with the look and feel of an Oktoberfest. But beware — at 7.7% ABV, it’s not a session beer.
Feb 17, 2016
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Three to try
Artichokes benefit from friendly companions in sammies, dips and pastas. Here are three happy matchups, from Crema Cafe, the Great Dane and Bluephies.
Mar 3, 2016
