I'll be traveling to Appleton next weekend. I'm staying downtown for one night. Looking for 1) a good bottle shop 2) tap room/brewery with the best beer 3) tap room/brewery with good food and watch a football game 4) a great place to grab breakfast. Thanks in advance.
1) Bottle shops: Downtown you'll find Flanagan's that will have some good ones but nowhere near the selection of the Woodman's or Festival Foods. 2) For tap lists I have not had good luck downtown, but if you go east side you have Mr. Brews - https://www.mrbrewstaphouse.com/locations/appleton-wi/beers/ Or if you go west side get to Milwaukee Burger Company - https://milwaukeeburgercompany.com/appleton-beer-list/ ...none of the breweries wowed me at all... 3) not sure 4) not sure
Visiting family. At this time in my life, I don't think I could swing that long of a drive for a beer fest. It would be nice though. A trip to Lambeau for a Lion's game in October would be awesome too. I think I'll just watch on TV.
It's been a couple of years since the wife and I were there, but FoxRiverBrewing had some really good food and beer. Yeah, they're in a mall, but don't hold that against them. Beer-wise, they were at the top of our list. AppletonBeerFactory also had some good beers and food. StoneArchBrewpub had some really good food. But my wife and I both thought that the beers were a bit lacking. Tho, that could have changed in the last several years. As to a good place to watch a football game, sorry can't help you there. As to breakfast, I'm drawing a blank as to where we ate. Sorry. I know you didn't ask for chocolate recommendations, but Wilmar's Chocolates is awesome!! It looks like their web site is down, so here's their Facebook page. I know they're still in business, because I get emails from them every so often.
If I had a group of people to take out, then Fox River Brewing could work with their good food and varied beer offerings, including Coors and Miller products. But the beer they make is average or below in 2018 and 2019 from my visits there.
I'll give myself a little plug here for my summer road trip article on the Fox Valley from May. I strongly, heartily, vociferously recommend the Darboy Family Restaurant aka Mohnen's for breakfast. You might have a wait for a table, but things turn over quickly enough. I'll also give a rec to Niemuth's Southside Market for bottle shopping.
I no longer live there but am a native of Appleton. I have to say none of the breweries are that great. I hear good things about Lions Tail in Neenah which is just a short drive over. Might be worth checking out. For shopping: Woodmans is the best. Second runner up is Tandem although they do not price their beers which is annoying. I never bought anything because of this alone. But selection is not bad. You’re better off going to Milwaukee Burger Company for the tap-list and sports. Breakfast: I recommend SAP. Went there twice and I enjoyed it.
Stone Cellar is my favorite Appleton Brewery. I'll also second Lions Tail if you make it to Neenah. My favorite Downtown Appleton bar is Cleos, but that is more for the ambiance and mixers. Not much for beer there.
If you go to Woodman's be forewarned that they don't take credit cards. Debit cards, cash, and checks only. Out-of-state checks are OK. And they've got about the best prices for gas.
Appreciate all of the feedback. Looking forward to the trip. I'm thinking Milwaukee Burger Co. and either Basil's or the Wooden Nickel for beers and food to watch some football on Saturday. SAP or Mohnen's for breakfast. I'll have to let my wife pick that one. I'lll try to get to Wilmar Chocolates as well, that looks good. Woodman's at some point for some stuff to bring home. Anything I should be on the look out for?
Thanks again for all of the advice. Ended up at Mr. Brews Taphouse for some football. The food and beer were great. Awesome tap list. Earlier in the day we went to Lambeau Field. Had lunch at 1919. I highly recommend. If you have time take the tour. It was pretty cool even as a non Packer fan. SAP for breakfast was terrific. The beer selection at Woodman’s was great. Fresh beer at low prices.
The only ding on Mr Brews is that our bartender recommended Club Liquor in nearby Menasha. They had a decent selection including a lonesome 4-pack of Psuedo Sue in the cooler. The can date was early March. It was hard to trust anything else in the store after that.
Used to be a good hidden spot, back when the Goose Island Sisters were at the peak of their notoriety. Now, when freshness in craft beer is at a greater premium than ever, it's really behind the times.
