midwest IPA help (visiting Milwaukee, WI)

It is a 2 hour drive from Milwaukee to Munster Indiana

 

Several Milwaukee stores carry Three Floyds. (with Chicago in the way, it'll be more than 2 hours to Munster).

Try the following places (great beer selections outside of FFF):

Woodman's grocery stores (particularly in Menominee Falls and Waukesha)
Discount Liquor (in Milwaukee proper and Waukesha)
Sendik's grocery stores
Consumer Beverage in Hales Corners
Otto's Liquor in Brookfield
Sonoma Cellars (in Ocontomowoc which is 30 min. away, so if the wedding is to the west of MKE, try there for sure).

I consistantly see Dreadnaught, Arctic Panzer Wolf, etc. at these places. Good luck.

 

3F's does not do a good job of distribution. Supplies are thin. They do distribute to Madison, Wisconsin.. but you will likely only find Gumballhead and Alpha King in Madison. Both great beers, but if you're looking for Zombie Dust, or any of the "special" 3F beers, be prepared to make the trip to Munster Indiana. It will take you longer than 2 hours in my opinion.. I94 is a mess going through the Chi.

You will, however, find lots of New Glarus in Wisconsin (they do not distribute outside of Wisco), and they are another excellent "cult" midwest brewery.

 

Huh?
Let's fix this post. There are at least 12+ different 3F beers on the shelves in Madison at any given time. Not all IPA's, but plenty of styles from 3F. I'm not saying they are fresh either.
Alpha King
Gumballhead
Arctic Panzer
Dreadnaught
Blackheart
Rabbid Rabbit
Moloko
Behemoth
Robert The Bruce
Pride and Joy
Broo Doo (soon)
Brian Boru
and a few others I can't think of.

 

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Let's not say "Midwest IPA" and then JUST want Three Floyds.
Three Floyds really isn't even a good representation of a "Midwest IPA." They just HAPPEN to be in the midwest, but they tend towards the "Xtreme" mindset of coastal breweries [flamesuit on].
Midwest IPA's tend to be more aromatic, and SIGNIFICANTLY less bitter than their coastal counterparts.

While you're at Discount Liquor, look for these Wisconsin gems: get "Illumination" IIPA from Central Waters, "Hop Rise" session IPA also from Central Waters, "Bedlam" IPA from Ale Asylum (absolutely AMAZING), "BPA" from Lakefront (black IPA), the Lakefront IPA, *IF IT CAN BE FOUND* the New Glarus "IIPA", and Point's "Beyond the Pale" IPA.

At Three Cellars in Franklin (South of Milwaukee) get "Sproose Joose IIPA" from Black Husky.

"Saga" IPA from Summit is from MN and also very good, and a Midwest version.

If you just like hoppy, and aren't married to IPA's, "Hopalicious" APA from Ale Asylum is good, "Moon Man No-Coast Pale Ale" from New Glarus is great, "Emerald Rye" lager from Schell's, and "Cane and Ebel" from Two Brothers (gotta get to Illinois!) are winners.

I don't want to tell you what to do, BUT, having lived in the SW myself, 3F isn't going to be that drastic of a change from the West Coast styles you can get in NV. Since you'll be in Milwaukee, DRINK LOCAL! You're going to find the Midwest IPA's more interesting, anyway. You can get 3F-esque IPA's all day, every day out West; it will be EXACTLY what you're expecting. They make good hopbombs. But why come to Milwaukee and only seek out hopbombs?
Finding the aromatic, yet not-too-bitter (do not, for even a second, think this means they are not "hoppy") IPA's of the Midwest in the West is going to be nearly impossible (I tried for years!), so why not take advantage of your opportunity to the fullest!!!

Also, for the love of god, Get a New Glarus "Strawberry Rhubarb" and/or "Serendipity" lambic. You will thank me later
Also, Kopp's.

 

Also, if I may take a second post, I'd say, if you're REALLY adventurous, you should seek out the AMAZING lagers of Wisconsin.

"Totally Naked" by New Glarus is still around, Lakefront's Oktoberfest, "Riverwest Stein", and Pumpkin lagers are available. Capital has "Autumnal Fire" out if you want to try an "Xtreme" maltbomb. Sprecher's "Black Bavarian" is a quintessential Schwarzbier. Schell makes amazing lagers, too.
You cannot find anything out West that comes close to the refinement and awesomeness of WI lagers. They are REALLY worth your time if you are interested in really pushing your palate out of your comfort zone.

Also, "Berliner Weisse" from New Glarus can still be found....sweet baby Jesus is that good. Pretty much ANY New Glarus is going to be great.
Oh, and take the Lakefront tour
(And, again, Kopp's)

 

I might add Sparkly Eyes, from Black Husky. It's a 2x version of Sproose Joose, which I also highly recommend. I will have to second Bedlam and NG IIPA, although that one is a tad old now, but can still be found.

And, yeah....get a burger and some custard at Kopp's!!!!

 

Shit...forgot to add, Hop Happy from MKE. And it's in cans!!!!

 

2X SPROOSE JOOSE!?!?!?
That.....that....that must be....glorious!!!

 

It is.

 

I'll throw in
O'so Hop Whoopin
Ale Asylum Satisfaction Jacksin and Ballistic

 

I like you guys! I agree with those recommendations, particularly for anything New Glarus (drinking a Wild Sour Ale right now, awesome), and of course Kopps (went tonight!). Enjoy your time here, great people, great beer.

 

Grilled cheese, burger, and custard from Kopps---Discount liquor (51st and Oklahoma) for beer. Your life will be complete.

 

Guys, please remember that FFF = Three Floyds and 3F = Drie Fonteinen. That is all.

Sincerely,
Sour Hop Head

 

Could not agree more, follow this guys instructions. Sure buy some 3Fs but spread the love about all the beers he has listed are awesome IPAs and I am not an IPA person. Anybody can make hopbombs but an IPA that is a drinking experience, you can find many of those originated in WI

 

All you assholes are really making me miss Milwaukee and all the great eats it has to offer, I miss Kopps especially, and their tiramisu custard

 

Yes. I agree in regards to the ???Freshness??? My observation is that Wisconsinites buy suds from their own turf. I saw Gumball, Alpha, and Rye'd Da Tiger a few weeks back. The Gumball I bought was, IMO, old. Buyer beware unless you consult with the store as to freshness. Thanks.

 

How hard is it to find fff on tap? Someone the small town I live in has gumballhead on tap and I'm in southern Wisconsin. Pretty crazy considering the taps around here usually don't have much micro.