Western Wisconsin Breweries

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by islay, Jan 30, 2018.

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  1. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    The breweries of western Wisconsin seem to get lost in the shuffle at BA because they're far from Wisconsin's population centers, but some of them are doing impressive and interesting work. So this is a thread to discuss those breweries: What you think of them, which are best, new or particularly good beers, brewery news and events, breweries-in-planning (BIPs), etc.

    I've compiled a list of the breweries of western Wisconsin (say, west of the Dells area). It may be incomplete, so please add to it if you know of any others (or correct for any closed or not-yet-open breweries I've included):

    1. Angry Minnow, Hayward
    2. Barley John’s, New Richmond
    3. Bloomer, Bloomer
    4. Bobtown, Roberts
    5. Brewery Creek Inn, Mineral Point
    6. Brewster Bros. (Chippewa River Distillery), Chippewa Falls
    7. City, La Crosse
    8. Dave’s BrewFarm, Wilson
    9. Driftless, Soldiers Grove
    10. Earth Rider, Superior
    11. Ffats, Whitehall
    12. Fountain City (The Monarch Public House), Fountain City
    13. Hillsboro, Hillsboro
    14. Hop & Barrel, Hudson
    15. K Point (The Coffee Grounds), Eau Claire
    16. Lazy Monk, Eau Claire
    17. Leinenkugel, Chippewa Falls
    18. Lucette, Menomonie
    19. Mel’s Micro, Richland Center
    20. Mines Creek (Spring Valley Golf Course), Spring Valley
    21. Modicum, Altoona
    22. Moonridge, Cornell
    23. Northwoods, Osseo
    24. Oliphant, Somerset
    25. Pearl Street, La Crosse
    26. Pitchfork, Hudson
    27. Potosi, Potosi
    28. Real Deal (Raw Deal restaurant), Menomonie
    29. Rush River, River Falls
    30. Sand Creek, Black River Falls
    31. Sawmill Pizza & Brew Shed, Clear Lake
    32. South Shore, Ashland
    33. Swinging Bridge, River Falls
    34. The Brewing Projekt, Eau Claire
    35. Thirsty Pagan, Superior
    36. Turtle Stack, La Crosse
    37. Two Beagles, Onalaska
    38. Valkyrie, Dallas

    And this is a list of known BIPs:

    1. Aberforth, Hudson
    2. Agonic, Rice Lake
    3. Amery Ale Works, Amery
    4. Common Man, Ellsworth
    5. Durand, Durand
    6. Trap Rock, St. Croix Falls
    7. Zymurgy, Menomonie
     
  2. cl3

    cl3 Savant (1,244) Aug 16, 2013 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Great list. Nice to see some love for my neck of the woods.

    Also, Round Man Brewing (Spooner) is opening relatively soon. (Fall 2018)
     
    islay likes this.
  3. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    Some notes:
    • Barley John's Brewing Company in New Richmond is affiliated with Barley John's Brew Pub in New Brighton, Minnesota, albeit with technically separate ownership. Any distributed product is produced by the New Richmond, Wisconsin brewery.
    • Dave's BrewFarm in Wilson is perpetually for sale. Sam Harriman of the excellent Sisyphus Brewing in Minneapolis nearly bought it a while back, but the deal fell through. It's usually open two weekends per month for several hours in the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday only. It also happens to be, in my opinion, the second best brewery in Wisconsin behind only New Glarus (although I haven't been to any of the many Madison or Milwaukee breweries that opened in the last couple of years).
    • Mines Creek in Spring Valley is a tiny operation based out of the Spring Valley Golf Course. The Mines Creek brewer is the son of the owner of the course.
    • Real Deal Brewing in Menomonie is the brewery component of the vegan/raw Raw Deal restaurant.
    • Common Man Brewing in Ellsworth is open now as a bar and claims to be a BIP, but I'm skeptical that it ever will brew.
     
  4. emerge077

    emerge077 Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,962) Apr 16, 2005 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Brewing Projekt in Eau Claire is doing some great stuff.
     
  5. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    I agree. The Brewing Projekt been doing strong work for almost three years now (long before it released Dare Mighty Things, its zeitgeist-capturing IPA), but its recently increased distribution network has allowed more people to catch on. Potential visitors to Eau Claire should note that The Brewing Projekt, which specializes in modern, style-busting beers, is just a couple of blocks from Lazy Monk, which tends to focus on more traditional Czech and German styles. K Point and Modicum are within a few miles.
     
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  6. JohnnyChicago

    JohnnyChicago Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2010 Illinois

    As a proud FIB, who makes his way up north several times a year, I salute you for compiling this list.
    I look forward to sullying these fine establishments with requests of, ‘can ya’ put on the Cubs game?!’ in the near future...
    :stuck_out_tongue:
     
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  7. ChangSing

    ChangSing Zealot (640) May 5, 2013 Illinois
    Trader

    There's quite a list here..I couldn't spend a long time looking up each of them, but was hoping someone could point out a few of the better breweries that would be located around Prairie du Chien-ish? Last year after running Bix in Davenport I drove up to Decorah for the night. Coming home I drove through Marquette, IA crossing over to Prairie du Chien. I'd like to do it again, and if there's something noteworthy I could also stop at not too far off Route 18 I'd love to do that (aside from ultimately New Glarus). I'd be down with taking the Great River Road south too, so that would put Potosi in play I suppose.

    Any ideas would be appreciated! thanks!
    ~I'm sure most are locals on this thread, but for anyone who isn't that entire NE Iowa/SW Wisconsin/SE Minnesota area is absolutely beautiful. Breweries or not, it's worth the 6 hour drive.
     
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  8. grantcty

    grantcty Savant (1,016) Feb 17, 2008 Minnesota
    Trader

    There aren't any except for Potosi, which you mentioned already. There used to be a brewpub in McGregor, which left to become BackPocket Brewing in Coralville.
     
  9. ChangSing

    ChangSing Zealot (640) May 5, 2013 Illinois
    Trader

    Ah..sounds like most of these on the list are up more towards La Cross / Eau Claire I take it. Looks like I will shoot down to Potosi to check in out (I drove by there like 15 years ago when they were fundraising, always wanted to go back). Decorah=>Potosi=>New Glarus=>Home.

    anyhow, thanks for the help!
     
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  10. grantcty

    grantcty Savant (1,016) Feb 17, 2008 Minnesota
    Trader

    Yep--a lot of places on the list are farther north. There just aren't many breweries near 18/151--If you do take 18/151, you could hit the Grumpy Troll in Mount Horeb, but I couldn't tell you how the beers as I haven't been in a very long time.

    Potosi is definitely worth a stop. If you have the time, take a tour of the museum. Lots of cool brewerania and they did a great job re-furbishing the building.
     
  11. EvilMidnightBomber

    EvilMidnightBomber Initiate (0) Feb 12, 2015 Wisconsin

    Haven't had much from Potosi, but I'm digging the Northern Method Dopplebock I'm drinking this afternoon.
    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/17157/269707/
    Got burned out on stouts from the overload of stuff that came out at Christmas, and all the bocks dropping now are the perfect remedy.

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. Beerbadger55

    Beerbadger55 Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2017 Wisconsin

    Tribute Brewing in Eagle River is definitely worth a stop, it doesn't look like much from the road but they have really good beer.
     
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  13. wisconsinbeer1

    wisconsinbeer1 Pundit (822) Nov 11, 2004 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Brewery Nonic also opening up in Menomonie this summer.
     
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  14. cl3

    cl3 Savant (1,244) Aug 16, 2013 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Agreed, but I wouldn't consider it a "Western Wisconsin" brewery. (Sorry, I'm geographer by trade.)
     
    bound4er likes this.
  15. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

  16. cheeseheadinMinneapolis

    cheeseheadinMinneapolis Pooh-Bah (2,011) Sep 20, 2017 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    I am thinking about stopping at K-Point this weekend. I haven't been there for a year or so. They just released a red ale and smoked red ale. Hopefully they they still have some bock (Mai Bock) left. I also want get some more cans of lazy monk smoked bock while I am in the area, Drank the last of my stock last weekend.

    Anybody been to Swinging Bridge, River Falls? I have never been there
     
  17. islay

    islay Savant (1,211) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    I think Swinging Bridge in River Falls is above average for a newer brewery (opened in the first half of 2017), with solid efforts in a wide variety of styles. I'd say it got off to a better start than did Hop & Barrel (not that the latter got off to a bad start). It's worth a stop if you're in the vicinity. Note that Rush River and the impressive DeVine Liquors also are in River Falls.
     
  18. cheeseheadinMinneapolis

    cheeseheadinMinneapolis Pooh-Bah (2,011) Sep 20, 2017 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Has anybody seen Potosi Northern Method Dopplebock on the shelf in the Hudson / Eau Claire area? I want to pick some up this weekend
     
  19. wisconsinbeer1

    wisconsinbeer1 Pundit (822) Nov 11, 2004 Wisconsin
    Trader

    It was only available at the brewery, but if you get a chance to try Oliphant Just Horseplay, do not hesitate. It is damn good.
     
  20. cheeseheadinMinneapolis

    cheeseheadinMinneapolis Pooh-Bah (2,011) Sep 20, 2017 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

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