Mars' Cheese Castle

Mars' Cheese CastleMars' Cheese Castle
Mars' Cheese CastleMars' Cheese Castle
Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

2800 120th Ave
Kenosha, Wisconsin, 53144-7531
United States

(262) 859-2244 | map
marscheese.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.61
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
22
pDev:
13.85%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bowzer4birdie:
Photo of bowzer4birdie
Rated by bowzer4birdie from Illinois

4/5  rDev +10.8%

Jul 25, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
The alleged Disney world of cheese! I had long avoided this fib infested tourist trap, but this week we had to stop for a bathroom break so why not try it? Actually a charming find foods store, so my loss. From a beer perspective the selection is much larger than expected, especially the imports. The price make ups are silly though, especially on new glarus. There is a pub with limited options. Service is fine, like a grocery store, no beer knowledge. Go for the cheese
Sep 12, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by PapaGoose03 from Michigan

May 08, 2022
 
Rated: 3.78 by slasich from Pennsylvania

May 16, 2020
Photo of TheGent
Reviewed by TheGent from New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +8.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.5
Once a year I drive from Chicago to Milwaukee for work. This year, I decided to finally stop in to try and pick up some New Glarus beers.

Tons of cheese options, which I did not buy cause I had no way to refrigerate them. A lot of smoked meat options too.

A very kitschy souvenir section, which was great for just that, souvenirs. Cheese Castle, Wisconsin, Wisconsin sports, etc. Like an airport gift shop on crack.

The beer selection is large, and their fridge section is too. I was honestly surprised by the beer prices. They were higher than I thought they would be for Wisconsin (assumes they would be relatively low). For example the Toppling Goliath 4 packs were $19.99, the same price as NJ. Definitely priced for tourists, but overall, a great selection of beer.

Service is neautral. Not a bad experience, but no one went out of their way to assist me.
Aug 20, 2019
Photo of Hopheadjeffery
Reviewed by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois

3.59/5  rDev -0.6%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
This is a tourist trap with high prices and average service. That said, the beer selection is solid. They also have a big cooler, so there's plenty of cold choices too. I stopped because I wanted to check it out and it is easy to get on and off the expressway. Not sure if I'll go back for the beer. The selection of quality cheese is impressive.
Feb 11, 2018
 
Rated: 3.91 by cryptichead from Illinois

May 15, 2017
Photo of Barnoloid
Reviewed by Barnoloid from Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Beer store selection is decent - plenty New Glarus, although pricey on that side. Picked up a 4 pack of Pseudosue (not refrigerated) which involved purchasing a 4 pack of Golden Nugget dated from August. Not turning my nose up totally at a 5 month old IPA but feeling like this was a little off base. The pack was held behind the till, hence no chance to check the dates before buying. Ah well. Cheese was good!
Jan 11, 2016
 
Rated: 2.69 by Angerhaus from Rhode Island

Nov 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by Hendrick24 from Wisconsin

Jun 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.26 by puftdank from Illinois

Apr 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.73 by pagriley from Illinois

Feb 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.38 by tommy5 from Michigan

Jan 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by Eman17 from Illinois

Oct 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by blue-dream from Virgin Islands (U.S.)

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by greenspointexas from Texas

Jul 03, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by hoffke88 from Illinois

Mar 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Buttermilk from Illinois

Mar 08, 2014
Photo of joe1510
Reviewed by joe1510 from Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -6.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.75 | service: 2.75 | selection: 3.75
Mar's Cheese Castle is the tourist trap to end all tourist traps, with that said they do provide a decent beer selection and some quality WI cheese. Mar's is not far from the border so it's the closest place Chicagoans can go to get their Wisconsin roadside cheese shop fix while their kids run around like maniacs and knock things over. Sausage and beer are also available. Everytime I've stopped here it feels like an amusement park, people are just out of control.

The beer selection is solid. Mostly Wisconsin locals. Ale Asylum, New Glarus, MKE, Lakefront, and the like. There are a good selection of seasonals around and things seem to be fairly well taken care of. I've never had problems with out of date or old beer.

Last time I was in all the cashier did was bitch about kids and not getting to take her lunch on time, she was miserable. I couldn't hardly get her to ring me up. If you're crossing the border for either beer or cheese I would recommend a stop at Woodman's in Oak Creek. Better cheese, beer, and all sorts of other local Wisconsin offerings.
Oct 23, 2013
Photo of brew3crew
Reviewed by brew3crew from Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A- typical tourist stop. Tons of people and crap that you would buy and never need.

Q-Top notch cheese and all of the new galarus 6ers in the fridge and warm for purchase

S-Didn't really encounter anyone, no need to

S-For what it is, a tourist stop, it was a good selection. Everything reasonably priced

F-Good array of local Wisconsin food. Some of the food is marked up, but didnt really notice it with the beer. High quality stuff too.

Would I stop here again? Prolly not. Was it worth it? Yes. I can say I have been to a cheese castle
Aug 23, 2011
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

2.69/5  rDev -25.5%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 1 | selection: 3.5
Low service score is for the blatant price gouging.

Disneyland of cheese. Once inside the door, children were hugging a giant mouse with an equally giant cheese wedge... okay. Frenzied families of tourists everywhere, in a sterile grocery store setting. Nothing like the kitschy old location but still fairly overpriced.

The beer area is to the left past the registers, towards the back, adjacent to a food court type area. Two short shelves, imports one side, micros on the other. Token WI beers from New Glarus, Ale Asylum, Sprecher, MKE, Hinterland (only a couple from each). Endcap with NG Unplugged singles. Pretty good import selection, Belgian heavy, though there was Sam Smith and a couple Spaten including Optimator. Rochefort, Chimay for trappists and Cuvee des Trolls. Craft in the cooler was ok, some Bells, Founders, Goose Island. Nothing too extensive or especially interesting here. Typical pricing example: Thumbprint Barleywine is $12 here (no case discount offered), $9.19 at Woodmans (case discount).

Didn't see any signage or anything indicating a bar in the building (went in the front entrance). It was mostly families running around everywhere, cheese shopping and chowing down. Bar has a separate side entrance, and they open at 11am.

No employees around besides at the deli counter and multiple cashiers. Another roadside tourist attraction, not really worth a beer stop with much better prices at Woodmans nearby. If it's quality WI cheese & sausage you're after, Bobby Nelson's is around the corner without the crowds of tourists.
Jun 12, 2011
Photo of beerwolf77
Reviewed by beerwolf77 from Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +17.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
The "new" castle is quite impressive. Especially from a size stand point. It literally is a castle. The place is huge. I made my way through all the themed rooms and was very impressed. The jams, jellies and salsas room was nice as well as the bakery. However I was here for beer and cheese. Well TMC did not disappoint. The craft section was very well put together. Pretty much all your Wisconsin needs as well as all the usual Midwest beers. Sixers, bombers, singles and a make your own New Glarus six pack. Very cool. The cheese was plentiful and they certainly didn't skimp on the free samples.

Once through all that, we headed over to the bar area. It's connected to the store and you can access it from there but it does have it's own entrance as well. Huge oval shaped bar with 4 huge flat screens. It seemed like the taps were geared toward the transitional palate. NG Totally Naked, Spotted cow and Unplugged Apple ale. Lakefront Wheat Monkey and so on. Nothing super sexy from a beer geek stand point but solid. Bottles covered pretty much all the local favorites.

My favorite part of the bar was while enjoying your tap beer they continually passed a tray of crackers and a huge bucket of port wine cheese around the bar for your enjoyment. Grab a couple crackers, slather with cheese and pass. Very cool.

You can order food from the sandwich shop in the store and they bring it right to your stool.

Overall I wish this place was next to my house. I would drink here everyday.
Jun 02, 2011
Mars' Cheese Castle in Kenosha, WI
Place rating: 3.61 out of 5 with 22 ratings