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
You got beer in my cheese
It’s not just a novelty act. When beer is added to cheese, the pairing is more than the sum of its parts. Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Robin Shepard
Serve somebody
One Barrel’s Veteran’s Brew will commemorate those who served, as well raise funds for Madison veteran Zak Holmes who was injured in a motorcycle accident. Read more
A crisp apple ale
Apple ales are a highlight of the harvest season. Among the new Wisconsin apple ales this year is Lakefront’s Ted. Read more
Robin Shepard
Cherry on top
Kriekenlaan from Funk Factory Geuzeria is tart, crisp and bubbly with lots of sharp cherry character. And for creator Andrew Holzhauer, it’s personal. Read more
Robin Shepard
The best dubbel
The recent Great American Beer Festival win for Vintage Brewing’s signature beer Dedication is well deserved. The strong Belgian-style ale has a rich malty backbone that complements notes of raisin and dark stone fruits. Read more
Deanna Hoppe/Vintage Brewing Com
Tangent to become Vintage
A big win at the Great American Beer Festival prompts Vintage to make some changes. Tangent, its downtown location, will be renamed to highlight its Vintage connection. Read more
Inspired by history
Jessica Jones did not set out to recreate an obscure Burton ale, but it’s a good one and so popular it might find a regular place on the brewery’s taps. Read more
