*This is the twenty-third post in an on-going chronicle dubbed the Great Wisconsin Brewery Tour. Follow the journey here.*
Next Door Brewing Company in Madison.
Next Door Brewing Company
2439 Atwood Ave
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 729-3683
Visit date: 08/24/15
Quick Hits:
1) How many different beers?
10 on tap, ~50 styles all-time
2) How long operational?
2 years
3) Why? (here, this, etc)
Owners knew market/business. Near biking corridor.
4) Distribution?
Growlers to go, on tap locally, bottling in process.
5) What sets you apart?
“Beer’s damn good.”
6) How did you get your name?
“Wherever you live, your next beer is Next Door.”
Dang that’s a good line.
Though I was interrupting his lunch, co-owner Pepper was all too willing to answer my questions about Next Door Brewing Company when we stopped by late one Monday afternoon. We had taken a seat near the bar and brewing space, though the building opened up into a much larger dining area. Pepper named off just about every brewmaster in the state as friends or acquaintances: this guy knows the industry. He’s also passionate about why Madison, specifically the east side, is the right place to brew: “This is a tight brewing community. We do collaborations with other breweries all the time, not to mention the 30-some non-profits we’ve partnered with for private events and fundraising.”
During our visit they had 10 of their standards on tap, four of which we sampled ($8).
Bascom Blonde
Very light, with a crisp bite and hint of orange.
Amber Natt
Light and malty with a hoppy aftertaste.
Rockets Red
Really odd Red Ale, with a pine-y taste.
Iron Brigade Stout
Classic, coffee-ish Stout.
Besides the beer, Next Door Brewing Company has a full kitchen serving up locally-sourced bar-bite dishes and more. Hanging on the walls were plenty of signs inviting people to events and parties throughout the summer and fall. Next Door Brewing Company is no misnomer; they’re the neighbor you go hang with while finishing up a homebrew and grilling a burger. Their east-side establishment was a comfortable and welcoming spot on the Great Wisconsin Brewery Tour.
