Potential move to central WI

Yes on NG! Central Waters, especially anything from their Brewer's Reserve line. Karben4. In Chicago you'll want to check out Pipeworks. Not sure what Michigan distro hits WI, but Bell's, Founders, Dark Horse, New Holland.

I'll save some of the fun for others...

 

Sounds like you would be somewhere Between Sauk City and Reedsburg. I recommend Viking Liquor in Reedsburg, great selection

 

It's about a 3 hour drive from Madison to Chicago. Though, depending upon where in Chicago you're going, the time of day, and traffic, that 3 hours can be optimistic. So add 3 hours to your 30-60 minute time to Madison.

As to other Wisconsin beers: Three Sheeps, out of Sheboygan makes some great stuff. There's Capital Brewery, whose Autumnal Fire is phenomenal. Yes, it's available only in the Autumn. Milwaukee Brewing makes some GREAT beers. And their brewery tour is well worth the $10 price. They also have brewpubs in Milwaukee and Grafton, which serve really good food. As well as filling growlers.

I don't know about the availability of Chicago beers around Madison. There's a Chicago area chain of liquor stores, Binny's, which carry most Chicago beers, http://www.binnys.com/. The Algonquin and McHenry stores are closest to the border. Going there would save you a lot of time and traffic, as opposed to going all the way into Chicago. Having said that, I'm sure that there's some good liquor stores in Rockford, which is a short drive over the border. I don't know Rockford well enough to recommend any liquor stores.

I second the recommendation of Pipeworks. They make some great stuff. If you can't get the aforementioned Bell's, Founders, Dark Horse, New Holland in Wisconsin, Binny's carries them.

 

Toppling Goliath out of Iowa and Surly from Minnesota are quite popular as well.

 

It makes little sense to regularly drive to Chicago from Madison for beer. You will not be in a beer desert by any means. Wisconsin has an excellent beer game. They get distro of Toppling Goliath who produces the arguably the best IPAs coming out of the midwest. Didn't see Ale Asylum in Madison mentioned. They are very solid and the produce the most mainstream stuff in Wisconsin.

Also, you'll want to keep an eye out for Great Taste of the Midwest which is an amazing beer fest in Madison.

 

Look here-

http://www.seekabrew.com/distro/index.html

 

Having said that, I'm sure that there's some good liquor stores in Rockford, which is a short drive over the border. I don't know Rockford well enough to recommend any liquor stores.

I am from the Rockford area. Chicago beers are getting distro here better now. We have Half Acre, Rev, Pipeworks, and many others. Floyds, 18th Street, Mikerphone, and Spiteful do NOT have distro around Rockford, yet, but I'm hopeful. I would check out Everetts in South Beloit, and Artales or Woodman's in Rockford. Madison is only about an hour drive, and you can get some of what your looking for without driving all the way into Chicago.

 

Supposedly Wisconsin is going to start seeing Half Acre distribution by the end of the month, at least Milwaukee. Daisy Cutter and Gone Away as a starting point.

 

Firestone is in IL not WI. The Bruery is everywhere. You aren't going to miss Russian River??

 

Oh hey, I made this move almost three years ago.WI beer is good and all but I definitely miss CA beers.

For stuff like Pipeworks, Firestone, and others that get IL distribution but not WI there is Everette's in South Beloit. Its less than a mile across the border from WI, its great if you don't want to drive too far into IL.

 

I moved to Madison from Chicago 4 months ago. Chicago's beer scene is out of control awesome (there's almost TOO MUCH good beer), but things are really solid up here. Revolution, Metropolitan and I think Off Color are here already, as others have said. Once Half Acre starts up, the only thing I'll really miss is Pipeworks...at least as far as production breweries go.

 

Going from being thisclose to easy supplication access to soooooo faaaaarrrrrr......Cheers to you - I don't think i'd be able to do that, lol. Nothing else to add that hasn't already been said.......the Wisco beer scene is solid.

 

You will not lack for good beer in the Madison area. We can't compare with Chicago (every new distro in the midwest goes there first...), but for the population size we're boxing well above our weight as it were. Between national breweries expanding distro in the area and local breweries taking off, there's a lot going on.
Besides the breweries already mentioned, keep an eye out for Tyranena (especially anything in the Brewers Gone Wild line), Black Husky, and O'so. If you will be in or near Sauk City/Prairie Du Sac, you'll be able to enjoy the new Vintage Brewing location that's opening there this year.

 

Have fun exploring !

 

I don't think I saw Lakefront mentioned. Not sure if a Cali guy would appreciate their excellent lagers, but their hoppy is also quite good. Their My Turn Series is always fun and some have been excellent (shout out to My Turn: Josh!) and their recent brandy barrel beers have been spectacular (shout out to Brandy Barrel Aged Cherry Lager!), they were all over 13% this year. mmmmmmmm.

3Sheeps, Tyranena, Karben4, MKE, Ale Asylum, One Barrel, Central Waters, Next Door, Lake Louie, and O'so all have very good beers, even if not every single one is great. O'So does super fun sours and Brett beers lately. Tyranena does drinkable/affordable blended barrel aged beers, they released a ton of them this past year, and some were quite good. Central Waters is the premier barrel aging brewery in the area. Their Brewer's Reserve line is pretty affordable and quite excellent (just check out their scores on here!) They also do some bombers of great beers (I personally love De Klein Dood.)

New Glarus, though, is king. Almost everything they do is great for it's style. They aren't into super big high alcohol stout or hop bombs, but if you look up their schedule this year, there are a few gems, beyond the great reliable sessionable ales and lagers. Black Top, which is hop forward black IPA is one of my favorite beers ever and I will be getting cases of it later this year after going three years without it. Enigma comes out very soon, and is a fantastic Oud Bruin with cherries. They have something called their "Wild Fruit Cave" and do world class Belgian Style Sours. "Strawberry Rhubarb" is coming back in the more affordable 4 packs this year, and all the sour fans around here are drooling for it. And their Staghorn Oktoberfest every year is a massive hit and sells out fast.

Enjoy!

 

Riley's was always popular when our son was attending UW

 

Bottle Shop: Steve's Junction Rd.
Bar: Brasserie V
Tap Room: Karben4

None of these are close to each other though, unfortunately.

 

I grew up in the area, if you have any recommendations feel free to reach out

 

I agree 100%. Steve's on University I know has gotten some things that Junction hasn't but overall I think both of those Steve's are great. Haven't made it down to the southwest one yet.

 

There's a job in Spring Green worth moving from California for?!?! My wife's mom lives just outside of Spring Green in Arena. Personally, I couldn't even fathom living there. If I where you, I'd look in western Madison/Middleton. It's really only adding 10 miles to the commute. If you're looking for something lower key and lower cost of living, Cross Plains would be a good option. Only 10-15 minutes from everything Madison has to offer. Just my two cents.

 

Welcome to Wisconsin! Be prepared for some terrible winter months, but spring/summer/fall are beautiful. Wisconsin is a pretty cool state, especially if you like being outdoors, eating good food (and cheese) and drinking good beer.

Pretty much all of the best beers in Wisconsin have been mentioned above. Two of my current favorite WI beers are Black Husky Spruce and Ale Asylum Bedlam. Take a Saturday trip and do the Lakefront Brewery tour, it is the best tour in the state, IMO. The best craft beer selection in the state is probably Ray's Wine and Spirits in Wauwatosa.

Cheers! Oh, and be prepared for a Culvers butter burger...

 

Don't forget Discount Liquor they have a great store.

Get cheese curds w that burger !

 

Half Acre confirmed consistent but limited Wisconsin distribution today. You'll have to check their site to see exactly where.

 

I'm curious as to what all they'll be bringing in. I actually wasn't the biggest Daisy Cutter fan but I'm still excited to try their other stuff.

 

My guess would be just the core year-round cans to start: Daisy Cutter, Pony, LeadFeather, Akari, GoneAway and (hopefully) Navaja. Even in Chicago, the bottled stuff is a pretty limited distro in my experience. They also just started canning Space, their house IPA, so maybe that'll find its way to WI as well.

 

Steve's Junction is your best bet on the west side. Great selection, friendly staff, and they have a great singles selection (every shop in town does mixed 6ers, but Steve's is one of the few that does singles of limited\premium stuff, which I appreciate).
I would the reccomend the Old Fashioned as a good bar to visit for someone new to town; it's at the very center of downtown, so a pain to get to, but they have a huge local tap list and pretty good food too.

 

Don't do it!