*This is a reflection by editor, Katie, about the on-going chronicle dubbed the Great Wisconsin Brewery Tour. Follow the journey here.*
When I wrote this article back in 2017, I had NO idea it would take us over two years to hit 150 breweries in the state of Wisconsin. Joe & I started this journey almost five years ago, but from May 2015 to March 2018, we averaged one brewery per week. We hit the pause button at brewery #145 last spring; we had every intention to make it to 150, but homeowner woes caused us to cancel our last planned trip. Then a few out-of-state adventures and an out-of-county trip stole our attention, and lastly this happened:
Which officially turned our brief pause into a 14 month hiatus. But now with our new Squeaky Curd Intern by our side, we’re back on the dusty GWBT trail – and let me tell you, we get a lot more attention with a baby alongside!
Breweries 101-150 have created a lot of great memories. And as much as I love trying all the beers (and believe me, after 9 months of not drinking, I love being able to indulge again), my sentiments after visiting 50 breweries still ring true: it’s all about the people.
We’ve met brewers who are university trained, and ones who learned in their garage. We’ve met owners who are double hustling between a full-time job and their hobby-turned-business (#respect) and ones who are full-time craft beer business people. All in all, we’ve met a lot of cool Wisconsinite entrepreneurs who have made our state’s craft beer culture something to brag about!
At each stop we explain that TSC is not a review site, and that our goal is to get information out about the breweries in this great state – we hope our readers can someday visit all 150 breweries just like us! And I always tell people choosing a favorite brewery is like choosing a favorite child (although right now I definitely have a favorite child, so I may need a new phrase…) But during the last 50 stops, these breweries were the ones I couldn’t stop talking about:
GWBT #114: Eagle Park – Milwaukee, WI
I’ve been telling anyone and everyone that Eagle Park is an impressive MKE Brewery since our visit in 2017; and now USA Today agrees! If you haven’t tried their beer yet, do your taste buds a favor and make it happen.
GBWT #116: Copper State – Green Bay, WI
I loved the decor and branding inside & the outside patio space at Copper State. The beer + coffee + food combo won me over instantly.
GWBT #121: Aqualand Ale House – Boulder Junction, WI
Talking with owners Dick and Susie Govier was the cherry on top of a perfect brewery visit. They paid homage to Susie’s grandfather with the name and strive to offer a solid beer menu and fresh food offerings. Definitely worth a trip if you find yourself Up Nort’ this summer.
GWBT #122: Tribute Brewing – Eagle River, WI
We’ve never had such remarkable breweries back-to-back on a trip, but co-founder Bill Summers truly welcomed us to Tribute. His friendly demeanor and delicious beer are still ingrained in my memory. He gifted us a beer token (that still lives on my keys!) and said something along the lines of: “Even if you lose everything, you’ll have a beer waiting for you at Tribute.” (Thanks, Bill!)
GWBT #128: SwitchGear – Elkhardt Lake, WI
Head Brewer Nick and the loyal patrons of SwitchGear made us feel at home in Elkhardt Lake. Their beer community atmosphere were one-of-kind.
GWBT #142: New Glarus Brewing Company – New Glarus, WI
Expect to be wowed with a visit to the home of Spotted Cow. Indulge yourself in a day trip to the west-side of the state for a self-guided tour of their impressive facility. Oh yeah, and drink some really really good beer (#OnlyinWisconsin).
GWBT #144: Hubbleton Brewing Company – Hubbleton, WI
Located off an unassuming country road, Hubbleton is a small family-run affair, literally located in a garage across the driveway from the family house. I knew things would be great when we were met by this guy on the way in:
GWBT #149: McFleshman’s Brewing Co – Appleton, WI
Their motto says it all: Respect the Beer. That they do, with delicious true-to-style English brews and a commitment to paying their staff a living wage, these guys are truly impressive.
We’re 150 breweries in, and thanks to the every-growing industry we’ve got 50+ to go. I’m currently taking bets to see how long it takes us to make it to 200. Until then, I’m back to editing (I’ll leave the writing to Joe). Cheers!