Sadly I just realized that I haven't been to as many brewpubs as I thought I had. (Considering one of the first things I do when I find out I'm traveling to a new place is to find out if there's a brewpub in the area, you'd think I would have been to more...) Though I have been to the Great Dane enough to make up for that. (Currently five days away from becoming the mayor of the one at Hilldale on Foursquare!) Though I haven't been to a couple of these in years, I'll try to give a quick overview of what I remember.
The Great Dane Pub and Brewing Company - Madison (four locations) and Wausau
The Angus of brewpubs. If you've never been, go. If you like beer, go. If you don't like beer, go. (The food is worth the trip by itself.)
I lost track a long time ago how many times I've been to the Dane. I've lost track of all of the different beers I've had, even of the food I've had. Between Vanessa and I, I'm sure we've tried about 80% of their very extensive menu. From salads to burgers to pizza to meatloaf to a burrito and beyond, they serve a little bit of everything. The cheese curds don't disappoint either (which is important in these parts).
I would recommend either the Beer Bread, Humus Plate, or Cheese Curds as an appetizer and then the Burrito or Mac and Cheese for a meal. I'll let you pick the beer because you aren't going to go wrong.
Vanessa will second an of the appetizers and then for an entree would suggest the Peanut Stew or Meatloaf. She recommends the Crop Circle Wheat. (I did not ask her for her suggestions, I just know what she would suggest. Another sign we've been there a lot...)
Side note: We held our rehearsal dinner at the Dane in Fitchburg. Best decision ever.
Official Website
The rest of these I've only been to once, so I won't suggest food or beer, since I can't remember what I drank at most of them, but I'll give my impressions...
Vintage Brewing Company - Madison
Vintage is in the building that used to hold the J.T. Whitney's brewpub, which I went to once, but left thoroughly unimpressed with both the atmosphere and beer. Upon changing to the Vintage, the building was remodeled a bit and opened in early 2010. The food is mostly burgers and sandwiches, but there are plenty of good choices. There are a wide range of beers on tap (they list 11 regular beers and two cask conditioned ales on tap at all times. If you need recommendations, Brian likes the Vintage as much as I like the Great Dane (at least that's the impression I get), he can provide some if you need them.
Official Website
Trailhead Brewing Company - St. Charles, MO
We were at Trailhead in August of 2008, the only reason that I can remember that is because I had to stop watching the Olympic marathon to go to dinner. (Don't worry, there was one tiny TV in the back of the restaurant that had it on.) The brewpub is in an old building in a historic town and from what I remember, laid out kind of weird, as the restaurant wraps around the brewing equipment.
The beer was fine, don't remember the food. If I'm in the St. Louis area again, I think I'll try out one of the brewpubs in downtown St. Louis.
Official Website
Lucky Labrador Brewing Company - Portland, OR
Technically the one we went to wasn't a brewpub, as there wasn't any beer being brewed on site, but I'll put it in anyways. We went to their "Beer Hall", which was located in an old warehouse in the northwest part of downtown Portland. They served mostly pizza at our location, which was fine, and numerous different beers. We were there late on a Sunday night, so the atmosphere was kind of stale, but I'd be willing to give it another shot after I get to all of the other brewpubs in Portland (which may take a while... I want to go back to Portland...).
Official Website
Titletown Brewing Company - Green Bay, WI
(I'll be honest, Tim should be writing this one, he would be the "resident" expert.)
Located in an old train station in downtown Green Bay, Titletown's decor is based around two things, trains and the Packers.
Unfortunately, the only time I've eaten at Titletown, it was the day before I ran a marathon, so I only had one beer, but it (Johnny "Blood" Red) was good. The BBQ Chicken pizza was pretty good as well. I'll hopefully get a chance to get back there this fall when I go to the Packers/Jaguars game.
Side note: I regret feeling like I was going to vomit after the Green Bay Marathon, as Titletown makes a beer called 26.2 Brew that is only available on the day of the marathon.
Official Website
Triple 7 Restaurant and Microbrewery - Las Vegas, NV
I'd have to say one of the last places I would expect to find a brewpub is inside a Las Vegas casino. Triple 7 is in the Main Street Station Casino, which is in the Fremont Street area of downtown.
Though the food wasn't anything special, I wasn't expecting much from a downtown casino, so I guess in that regard, it was actually pretty good. The beer on the other hand, was very high quality, and once again, considering it was in a casino in downtown LV, was great.
If you make it out to Las Vegas, take some time away from the strip and check out the Fremont Street Experience, it's worth the trip downtown. While you're there, check out Triple 7, unless it's changed much in the past three years, it's more than worth it.
Official Website
Mad Fox Brewing Company - Falls Church, VA
This is the only brewpub I will probably ever step foot in and not have a beer. It wasn't that I didn't want one, its that I spent the entire morning walking around Mt. Vernon and was completely dehydrated.
We were there on a Sunday afternoon, so the place was pretty quiet, but if I had to say, the place seemed a little well-to-do, but being in one of the suburbs close to Washington, D.C., I can understand the clientele they are aiming at. Also, the beer list was a little limited the day we were there, though they do list ten beers on their website that cross the spectrum pretty well.
Official Website
Since I didn't post yesterday, I guess I have to do double duty on these...
Yesterday's run: No run... Got stuck at work until almost six and needed food and relaxation. Went to the Dane instead. Worth it.
Today's run: 7 miles - 48:26 - Two days off meant that my guilty conscience forced me to do some form of workout. I chose a tempo-ish run as I hadn't done one in over a year... (stupid knee) Warmup consisted of a mile at 8.3 and then six at 8.8. Good run for the most part. Should have brought a water bottle...
Yesterday's beer: The Great Dane's Imperial IPA - I love this beer. Malty, a lot of pleasant aroma to it, but not bitter. (Read: very well balanced) Not quite a DFH 90 Minute, but still very good.
- Skippy's Rating: 5.5 out of 6 beers
- Skippy's Rating: 4.5 out of 6 beers
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