*This is the sixteenth post in an on-going chronicle dubbed the Great Wisconsin Brewery Tour. Follow the journey here.*
Fermented In Sanity. Gotta love a good catch-phrase. All photos by Joe Powell.
Ale Asylum
2002 Pankratz St
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 663-3926
Visit date: 07/11/15
Quick Hits:
1) How many different beers?
14 on tap, >20 total made; 9 bottled
2) How long operational?
Original brewery opened in 2006, new location in 2012
3) Why? (here, this, etc)
Owner/brewmaster from WI, wanted to focus on using the 4 main beer ingredients for all beers
4) Distribution?
Throughout Wisconsin in bars and stores -demand is increasing, and they recently started selling in Illinois
5) What sets you apart?
Consider themselves a brewery, not a “brewpub”. Everything done in-house (brew, bottle) to keep everything up to their standards.
Brand-new brew tanks outside the front door.
With our first foray into the Madison brewery scene, we had to start with arguably one of the most successful. Ale Asylum may only have 9 years under their belt, but they’ve made a name for themselves while establishing a brand new brewing facility and restaurant in Madison as well as creating a new upscale dining establishment on Milwaukee’s riverfront.
Yep, they’re taking over.
Though they say their focus is the beer, the restaurant / pub space is impressively large and new.
Bar…
…Dining…
…and Patio!
This location offers tours, or you can see the production space through windows.
The brewing and bottling line.
While they had more options on draft, the samplers feature your choice of 6 beers for $15. That’s a little pricier than other places we’ve been, but the sizes are also larger.
*clink*
Gold Digger Blond Ale
Essentially Coors Light. Not a bad thing.
Unshadowed Hefe-Weizen
Slightly banana, your standard wheat beer.
Pantheon Imperial Brown Ale
Very nutty and smooth.
Phantasm Autumn Ale
Perfect for a fall night; crisp.
Tripel Nova Belgian-Style Tripel
Good, solid Tripel.
Ambergeddon Amber Ale
Fantastic, if a bit hoppy. I’d say their biggest draw.
Truth.
Ale Asylum isn’t the new kid on the block anymore: they’re wiser and more established. Their success is not only based on attractive beers, but also due to solid business decisions, like brewing/bottling in house and expanding food service. Their Madison location is comfortable, popular, and worthy of a visit when you’re in the capital city.
All gone.