Catching up...
We've been on the road so much lately that by the time we get home, the last thing we want to do is blog about our travels.. this leads to a backlog (backblog?).
So:
Way, way, way back in May we went to Chicago to see a Cubs game. Of course there was a beer component to the trip. On the way to the Windy City we stopped in Munster, Indiana, home of Three Floyds Brewery (and not a whole lot else). But oh, the beer. Three Floyds makes some of the very best beer there is-- Alpha King, Robert the Bruce, etc., etc. Now I had hoped while there to try some of their legendary Dark Lord Imperial Stout, which had recently been released. But alas, I discovered that they sold out in about 4 hours. 4 hours. For.the.year.
No matter, I did get a Dark Lord t-shirt (pretty cool looking, I can tell you) and got to sample several beers at their cool pub which they don't sell elsewhere. I tried the Alpha Khan, similar to the Alpha King but even hoppier (and more citrusy), Brian Boru (a hopped-up version of Robert the Bruce), and I think Daniela had the Rabbid Rabbit (a saison). Great pub, amazing beer, really a must for any beer lover who's anywhere near Chicago.
Not long after that, in June, I went to Wisconsin for a wedding. You might know that Milwaukee was just named America's drunkest city. I did my part by drinking quite a bit of beer while there. But I also had to make a side trip for beer purposes only-- to Madison, Wisconsin, home of the University of Wisconsin and, I had heard, some great beer.
Yep.
I only went to one place (though I've heard and read about many other great ones), which Beer Advocate members seemed to agree was the best in town. That place was the Great Dane pub. Now, people who know me know that I like brewpubs and have been to quite a number of them. This may well be the best I've ever found.
On the day I visited, they had 17 beers on draft, including one on cask. You read that right-- 17 of their own beers.
I had my work cut out for me... I sampled nearly half of the offerings and all were outstanding. There was the Extra Pale Ale on cask, a lovely example of what kind of beer to have on the hand pull for maximum effect: wonderful cellar temp, beautiful hoppy nose, fruity and delicious.
There was the Tri-Pepper Pilsner, with habañero, poblano, and jalapeño peppers!
There was the Dark Mild, a great session beer with roasty flavors but light body.
There was the Vintage Ale, a sweet tripel type beer.
There was the "New Peculiar," an homage to the venerable Thackeson's Old Peculiar.
It was amazing... I could have spent days there.
I also went to several good bars in Milwaukee, but nothing to compare to this place....
Almost caught up!
So:
Way, way, way back in May we went to Chicago to see a Cubs game. Of course there was a beer component to the trip. On the way to the Windy City we stopped in Munster, Indiana, home of Three Floyds Brewery (and not a whole lot else). But oh, the beer. Three Floyds makes some of the very best beer there is-- Alpha King, Robert the Bruce, etc., etc. Now I had hoped while there to try some of their legendary Dark Lord Imperial Stout, which had recently been released. But alas, I discovered that they sold out in about 4 hours. 4 hours. For.the.year.
No matter, I did get a Dark Lord t-shirt (pretty cool looking, I can tell you) and got to sample several beers at their cool pub which they don't sell elsewhere. I tried the Alpha Khan, similar to the Alpha King but even hoppier (and more citrusy), Brian Boru (a hopped-up version of Robert the Bruce), and I think Daniela had the Rabbid Rabbit (a saison). Great pub, amazing beer, really a must for any beer lover who's anywhere near Chicago.
Not long after that, in June, I went to Wisconsin for a wedding. You might know that Milwaukee was just named America's drunkest city. I did my part by drinking quite a bit of beer while there. But I also had to make a side trip for beer purposes only-- to Madison, Wisconsin, home of the University of Wisconsin and, I had heard, some great beer.
Yep.
I only went to one place (though I've heard and read about many other great ones), which Beer Advocate members seemed to agree was the best in town. That place was the Great Dane pub. Now, people who know me know that I like brewpubs and have been to quite a number of them. This may well be the best I've ever found.
On the day I visited, they had 17 beers on draft, including one on cask. You read that right-- 17 of their own beers.
I had my work cut out for me... I sampled nearly half of the offerings and all were outstanding. There was the Extra Pale Ale on cask, a lovely example of what kind of beer to have on the hand pull for maximum effect: wonderful cellar temp, beautiful hoppy nose, fruity and delicious.
There was the Tri-Pepper Pilsner, with habañero, poblano, and jalapeño peppers!
There was the Dark Mild, a great session beer with roasty flavors but light body.
There was the Vintage Ale, a sweet tripel type beer.
There was the "New Peculiar," an homage to the venerable Thackeson's Old Peculiar.
It was amazing... I could have spent days there.
I also went to several good bars in Milwaukee, but nothing to compare to this place....
Almost caught up!
posted by Eric | 2:41 PM
1 Comments:
The Great Dane! There's a brewpub I have spent many an hour in. They were not as well-stocked or experimental back in 1996 (but neither was the mid-west brew scene), but man, they brewed some good beer. Glad to hear they are still around and flourishing.
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