Hey guys! Looking for a few friendly recommendations. I'm traveling with my fiance to Madison, WI and Rochester, MN, for a long weekend. We're both big beer geeks, and I know I could look at the Places section of the website for highly-rated spots to check out, but I also like getting personal recommendations. What would be the best bottle shops to hit up in Madison and Rochester? I think we'll specifically be looking for Central Waters, Great Lakes, Tyranena, and Surly...we're visiting the New Glarus brewery, so I'm sure we can stock up on NG there. Also, what are some of the best shelf beers/limiteds out right now that we should be looking for, from those breweries or not? Finally, if anyone is interested in some Free State beer for an IP trade, let me know. They bottle and offer growlers as well. I also might be able to pick up some Perennial or 4 Hands. Thanks!
Woodman's market in Madison for all things Wisconsin,Apollo or Andy's for MN. bottles,Newt's for some tap beers in Rochester. (off the top of my head here at work)
Also visiting Toppling Goliath before heading to Rochester, so if someone wants a TG growler I am sure we could work something out. Thanks!
Do not bother buying NG beer at the brewery. It can be had for cheaper at Woodmans or most other retailers.
Thanks for the recs so far! Fortunately we'll be in Rochester on Monday as well, so I can evade the Sunday rule. The main reason we're going to Rochester is to visit friends, so although I'd prefer to be in the Twin Cities, I doubt we'll make it up there . And thanks for the NG tip, I guess I should have remembered that buying at breweries is generally more expensive. I'm sure there will be a good amount in Madison. Any recommendations for specific beers we should try and buy?
While going from Madison to Rochester, stop at the Side Note Bottle shop in La Crosse, WI. It is located downtown La Crosse across from the Bodega Brewpub, also has a great selection of beer, 15 taps, over 300 beers.
There should still be some Abrasive on the shelf in Rochester, not sure how fresh it is. I typically go to Andy's Crossroads location. Cap N' Cork is a block away which has a decent selection of singles. There might still be some CW BBStout, I haven't seen BBBW but I haven't been there in a week. Check out Olvalde, a small local brewery making a few tasty brews- Auroch's Horn and Ode to a Russian Shipwright. There might be some Fulton Worthy Adversary and War and Peace as well. Newts has good burgers and some craft on tap. Whistle Binkies has decent food and a large selection of bottles and taps. Their prices are very reasonable. The Tap House downtown has 50 taps and is a little more expensive than Binkies.
Whistle Binkies will have their mystery beer Monday with the new expanded (added 40 new names to the bucket) beer selection starting 3/11. They upped the price to $2.50 a bottle but if you pull something you don't like, you can just order off of the beer list. They still have Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout on tap (at least they did on Monday, and it's been there a few weeks) for $4 a 10oz pour. That's a steal in my book. Best beer prices in town.
