Western Wisconsin Breweries

Me and a beer buddy spend a Thursday-Saturday in the Duluth/Superior area and touched 'em all. These are my rankings based soley on the quality of beer (YMMV). I made another ranking based upon the space as a whole but won't bore you with that.

1. Earth Rider
2. Ursa Minor
3. Bent Paddle
4. Hoops
5. Blacklist
6. Duluth Cider
7. Canal Park
8. Dubh Linn
9. Fitger's
10. Thirsty Pagan
11. Lake Superior

 

Driftless Cafe, Viroqua Food Co-op in Viroqua, WI
Driftless Brewing (no taproom): list of accounts

The Hideaway, Chaseburg, WI
Nice little roadhouse bar & grill, used to brew, not really a destination though.

Alternatively:
Deb's Brewtopia Taproom (just opened), Schera's in Elkader, IA

Eagle River Liquor, Fulton, IL
Family Beer & Liquor, East Dubuque, IL
Dubuque, IA also has a few newer breweries as well.

 

Driftless Brewing in Soldiers Grove. Their beer is most excellent and their new taproom just may be open in time for Memorial Day weekend. This place is highly recommended!

 

Great list just for the off the beaten path of it all! Dubuque has Dimensional, which I have had some of their stuff, so far not bad!

East Dubuque...I've been there once. Once was plenty, but I will have to hit that Family Beer and Liquor.

Elkrader might be a spot we hit on the way home, thanks again!

 

And Hillsboro Brewing Company in Hillsboro WI has a very impressive new brewery about to open in an old creamery. Regardless, their beer is good and the current location is worth a visit

 

Thirsty Pagan has opened at the new location, soft opening now with the Grand reopening on June 8

 

The new brewery taproom at Hillsboro Brewing Company is finally opening tomorrow.

 

Has anyone tried Round Man brewery in Spooner lately? I am going to be driving thru in August and was curious if it is even worth a stop.

 

Worth a stop for the food, not so much the beer. If your in the neighborhood, I'd recommend The Whistle Punk (Stone Lake), The Knapp Stout (Rice Lake), or Angry Minnow (Hayward) for better beer.

 

Indeed, went there opening day! Good crowd, good beer. But still no regular hours yet.

 

Driftless Brewing grand opening July 20: https://www.driftlessbrewing.com/events/

 

Hopefully by the end of the month, when i’ll be back up there. Will have to wait and see I guess.

 

Will be spending a day biking in and aroundEau Claire this summer. Any suggestions for beer there or in the 20 mile radius. We're planning on Lazy Monk and Brewing Projekt for sure...food suggestions welcome too!

 

Lucette is right on the Red Cedar State Trail in Menomonie, approx 20 miles from Eau Claire. Good beer along with tasty wood fired pizza and salads. The brewery itself is pretty cool too.

 

Sad news out of Eagle River. VaLynda (Bill the owner's wife) from Tribute Brewing is on a respirator being kept alive until her organs can be harvested. She came down with menangitis after complaining of back pain and eventually succumbed to the infection.

 

We are having a can release on Friday of our Blood Orange Milkshake IPA called Mr. Dream.

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