Showboat Saloon

Taking a quick look down Broadway and it looks like every shop is trying to lure you in like you're a tourist, including the Showboat Saloon. From the outside, you are expecting a 19th Century experience with the bases covered for beer. I stayed in the bar area, but there are additional rooms which you can explore. Beer decor from yesterday and today pasted to the walls, including a Leinenkugel branded baseball scoreboard from the 1960s-1970s. So far, it's par for the course.

Then you look at the beer menu. 4 towers pouring 6 taps each for a total of 24 taps, and what's pouring is well curated, not what I would expect in a tourist trap. Multiple taps from Toppling Goliath including Dragon Fandango and Naughty Temple (at $20 a pour!), Brewing Projekt, multiple Drekker's including What So Proudly We PRRRT, Paulaner Pils and Hefeweizen, Blackrocks, Central Waters, Three Floyd's Gumballhead, 903, and Bevy. You will either get a shaker pint or an 8 ounce pour into a big goblet. Waitstaff went beyond the standard expectation and went to our table twice to see if we needed another round.

Come during Happy Hour if you can. 3-6pm M-F and all day Sunday it's half off all taps.

 

 

 

An oasis in a desert. I've been coming out to the part of Wisconsin for years for my wife's family. Never realized the craft beer gem just over yonder. Came in during happy hour apparently all drafts were $2.50. 3 floyds zombie dust, Westbrook/evil twin Mexican imperial biscotti cake, imperial vj, tg golden nugget to just name a few notables. I know it turns into a pretty busy place on evenings and weekends but I went at the perfect time and the bartender was friendly and attentive

I've been going to the Showboat for a few years. A average to slightly dumpy bar with an incredible beer selection. I went by the other night to discover that they had doubled the price of their beer. They are now serving almost all their high end craft beers, not just high gravity, for $4.5 to $8 dollars for a 8 oz pour. I know it's the Dells where high prices are the norm, but the gouge level here is ridiculous.

 

 

 

A place I'd passed by many times without considering ever going in. Macro neons, country music blaring, a place for the young popped collar set. Something changed in the last couple years, namely the beer selection. Cool historical building with an unfortunate karaoke bar stuck in it. Recommended for day drinking only.

Selection is great for the area, craft focused, heavy on Founders, Surly, and FFF, though there was good local representation from Port Huron, Central Waters, and a Kölsch from One Barrel. A couple from Toppling Goliath in bottles, a couple Surly cans, Oberon, and Spotted Cow, otherwise mainly just draft. They update BeerMenus frequently which is commendable.

Service was quick and friendly early in the evening, frozen pints were kind of a rookie mistake though. They offered samples of the drafts which was great.

Vibe was relaxed, country music playing, thankfully not a rowdy crowd early in the week. People watching from the front windows is a bonus I guess. I'll be back again for sure.

 

 

I know you won't expect to find a destination beer bar in Wisconsin Dells, but prepare to be surprised and impressed. Over the last year or two, Jesse has transformed this local's bar into a craft beer lover's paradise. 24 taps that are meticulously maintained and served by 100% Cicerone Certified bartenders, there is something for everyone at The Showboat Saloon. My recommendation, ask for a room temperature glass (they chill their pint glasses to appeal to the masses), and start sampling 16oz at a time. The beers rotate constantly, but it is safe to assume you will find gems from Toppling Goliath, Founders, Dogfish Head, 3 Floyds, Port Huron, Mobcraft, Central Waters, Karben4, One Barrel, Lagunitas, Leinenkugel's, Great Lakes, New Belgium, Wisconsin Brewing Company, Tallgrass, Bell's, Bent River, Dark Horse Brewing, Alaskan Brewing, Rogue, Point and so many others! Do yourself a favor and set aside ample time to enjoy the premier craft beer bar in the greater Wisconsin Dells area, :-)

 

 

From the outside, it looks like just another one of the countless tourist traps that line the downtown of the WI Dells. Once inside though, you get the feeling of a well-worn pub that has some history to it. It should be noted that it's 3 places in one - Captn. Brady's Showboat Saloon is the "upstairs" tavern part, Tug's Kitchen being more the pub/eatery, and Mama's Garage being the outdoor concert portion. Took the family on a Thursday around 5:30 because after all who, in their right mind, goes to the Dells without kids. The food menu is pretty standard pub food, but the fried cheese curds and pizza were big hits. The pizza crust was that thin crackery stuff and the sauce was not sweet.

The tap selection is a FIB's paradise. Just to name a few, they had NG Yokel, Dave's Brew Farm Odd Job, TG Golden Nugget and Smoove Opferator, and offerings by Karben4 and FFF. I could have stayed a lot longer trying to make my way through their 24 taps, but we had the kids with us.

Definitely worth seeking out if ever in the Dells.