Recent Trip to Madison WI

[Fast_Eddy]

I just returned from a business trip to Madison, WI. Here are my beer observations:

1) Great Dane Pub - American Pale Ale - This was not a good beer. Maybe it didn't condition long enough. Was very, very cloudy. Had a strange off taste and smell. The taste was like the smell of dry erase markers from several feet away. Bad enough the waitress removed it from my bill.

2) Great Dane Pub - Irish Ale - Pretty good. Reddish in color. Clear. They used nitro to create a guinness type head on it. Sweet malty taste. But the same off taste as #1 but much less prevalent.

3) Great Dane Pub - Cask Conditioned ESB - This was interesting. I can see the appeal. I think perhaps the cask had been open for a while. Still the cellar temp really highlighted the hops - very earthy. Would recommend.

4) Leinenklugels Dark - Hotel Bar - Crap.

5) Hotel Bar - New Glarus Spotted Cow - Weird tasting. The bartender thought maybe the taps were mixed up. Told me it was supposed to be an ale but looked and sorta tasted like a pilsner. Never really found out what the problem was.

I think The Great Dane's beer is usually better than what I had. The problem could have been that we showed up on a Monday night and the all we got was the dregs.

[YamahaXS]

Wish I had know you were in town...
:)

I would agree with all of your assessments, except for the ESB and Pale ALe, which I haven't ever had.


leini's is just regular cheap beer.

The Angelic brewpub is a bit better than the Dane.


Excellent Wisconsin beers to try...you can buy these at stores...

Sprecher (Any, but I prefer the IPA and Amber)
New Glarus (Any, I don't care for the spotted cow too much... i don't know why that beer is so popular... I think it is the name.)
Garten Brau (brewed in Madison/middleton).

[Fast_Eddy]

We had diner at Lousiannes (sp?) in Middleton. Pretty good beer selection. I had Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, Guinness, and Hacker-Pscorr(sp?) Weiss while there.

We tried to hit Capital Brewing afterward but they had just closed....they told us that they closed early or weren't normally open on Tues...there was some kind of radio promotion thing involved too.

We hit The Nitty Gritty the day we left. I have to admit it's appealing to think that you can drink all day for free on your birthday ;)

Yamaha - I'll send you a PM next time I'm up that way.

[YamahaXS]

I don't think the PM system here is very good, but its worth a try.

[BluesHarp]

The last time I had the Great Dane Pale Ale it was incredible...just malty enough with a hop flavor that would put Sierra Nevada or Alpha king to shame! I wonder if it was the same one??

A far as New Glarus...the Spotted cow is a cask (bottle) conditioned ale. It generally has a bit of a yeasty taste; you either like it or you don't. It contains some corn and flaked barley along with the traditional malts.

If you are lucky enough to come upon their "Hop Hearty" IPA...WOW!!

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
The last time I had the Great Dane Pale Ale it was incredible...just malty enough with a hop flavor that would put Sierra Nevada or Alpha king to shame! I wonder if it was the same one??

A far as New Glarus...the Spotted cow is a cask (bottle) conditioned ale. It generally has a bit of a yeasty taste; you either like it or you don't. It contains some corn and flaked barley along with the traditional malts.


I think I just had bad luck at the Great Dane.

The Spotted Cow had something wrong with. I don't mind yeasty one bit(I'm a home-brewer)...the bartender confirmed that it "doesn't taste like it normally does".

Is the Spotted Cow that you drink normally yellow - like pils yellow? What I had was pils yellow and clear.

[b3s]

unlike others, i just don't like the new glarus brewing company's beers. been there, toured the place, camped and hiked 2 miles away, purchased fresh beer, didn't like them...now, the stout would probably be OK, but one thing i hate is coffee stouts; just can't stand them, which is odd because i love stouts and i love coffee...tried three different brews of theirs and really didn't care for their beers. the spotted cow i had made me want to ask for a refund...imo, that was worse than coffee stout.

[Fast_Eddy]

I'll be in Madison two nights this week on business. I figure I can force one night of business dinner to occur at an establishment with good beer - either a micro/brewpub with good beer and good food or a good restaurant with wide beer selection, preferably composed of local/regional beers.

Any ideas, guys?

[YamahaXS]

try Quiveys Grove. Its south of town a bit. Good beers on tap (good bottle selection too) and the food is very good. I suggest the stables, rather than the house.

Also, there is Angelic Brew pub, and JTWhitneys Brewpub. Angelic is better IMO, buts its been a while since I have been there.

Now, for a beer selection without the food, go to UW Memorial Union. You will have to buy a temporary membership, but they have some good beers on tap, such as Bell's Two Hearted Ale, Spatan Optimator, Sprecher's Amber and about 6 or 7 others.

You might want to venture to the EssenHaus for some german food (fair) and good beer. Gets loud though and is a college hang out.

[b3s]

essenhaus is very good, imo, and i always liked the union! too bad it's not spring time before the thaw! always fun to sit outside at the union and drink good beer and watch someone sit on thin ice until they fall into the lake.

there was also a place south of town on 151 i think (not sure) that had prime rib and yorkshire pudding. i seem to recall some decent beers, but it's been nearly 20 years since i've been there. i think it was capitol something or other. closer to verona than madision if memory serves.

[YamahaXS]

that would be Quiveys Grove i believe

[YamahaXS]

Oh, and consider Fyfe's. very good food and excellent bar.

[b3s]

20 years ago there was a nice european restaurant on state street that was in a cellar, i think. decent food and some good belgian beers (or at least i seem to remember it that way). wonder if it's still there.

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by YamahaXS
You might want to venture to the EssenHaus for some german food (fair) and good beer. Gets loud though and is a college hang out.


...and right next door, the Come Back Inn..great sandwiches and a selection of over twenty tap beers...micros and imports.

[Fast_Eddy]

Thx for the info guys. I'm leaning towards EssenHaus 'cuz I haven't had any good German in a while.

[b3s]

heh, want good german food? karl rauches (sp) in milwaukee....mmmm, spatzen like ma used to make!

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by b3s
heh, want good german food? karl rauches (sp) in milwaukee....mmmm, spatzen like ma used to make!

We have German communities both north and south of Austin I'm usually just too lazy to drive very far....so if I can combine good German and a bock or two with business - that's a winning proposition for me.

[Fast_Eddy]

While in Madison I went to:

1) Captain Bill's - mediocre food, good Capitol Amber

2) Quivey's Grove - very good food, good Capitol Winter Skal(right name I think), okay Sprecher Dark (a little too grainy for me).

3) New Steak House called "Something" Chop's or something like that at the Holiday Inn between Middleton and Mineral Point Rd - way overpriced food, many good Capitol Okto's.

Then we tried to go to Essenhaus for lunch but it didn't open until four so we went into the Come Back Inn next door ----- he shoots, he scores

4) Come Back Inn - who cares about the food - had my first delicious Two Hearted Ale, first delicious Celebration Ale, and lastly a Fuller's London Pride. A delicious lunching experience.

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by Fast_Eddy
While in Madison I went to:

1) Captain Bill's - mediocre food, good Capitol Amber

2) Quivey's Grove - very good food, good Capitol Winter Skal(right name I think), okay Sprecher Dark (a little too grainy for me).

3) New Steak House called "Something" Chop's or something like that at the Holiday Inn between Middleton and Mineral Point Rd - way overpriced food, many good Capitol Okto's.

Then we tried to go to Essenhaus for lunch but it didn't open until four so we went into the Come Back Inn next door ----- he shoots, he scores

4) Come Back Inn - who cares about the food - had my first delicious Two Hearted Ale, first delicious Celebration Ale, and lastly a Fuller's London Pride. A delicious lunching experience.


Originally posted by BlueHarp:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...and right next door, the Come Back Inn..great sandwiches and a selection of over twenty tap beers...micros and imports.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------



You're Welcome!!

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
Originally posted by BlueHarp:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...and right next door, the Come Back Inn..great sandwiches and a selection of over twenty tap beers...micros and imports.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------



You're Welcome!!

Thanks Buddy - I owe you one.

-Eddy

[davesarman]

Is the Spotted Cow that you drink normally yellow - like pils yellow? What I had was pils yellow and clear. [/B]

Spotted Cow is one of my wife's favorite beers and I think it's not too bad either. Yes, it is very pale yellow. But I've found the best flavor comes from making sure you swirl the bottle enough to get all of the yeast off the bottom of the bottle and into the beer. Makes it cloudy for sure, but also gives it a little more body and substantial taste. New Glarus makes better beers for sure, but I think this one is pretty good, when served properly.

[bierboy]

Originally posted by Fast_Eddy
I'll be in Madison two nights this week on business. I figure I can force one night of business dinner to occur at an establishment with good beer - either a micro/brewpub with good beer and good food or a good restaurant with wide beer selection, preferably composed of local/regional beers.

Any ideas, guys?

Essen Haus rocks!! That is one of my favorite places. The Great Dane is by far the best brew pub in Madison. Angelic is ok, but nowhere near as good as the Great Dane.