Anybody have any favorites? I'll be going down there in a couple weeks.

Scott

Scott wrote:
Anybody have any favorites? I'll be going down there in a couple weeks.

My favorite is The Great Dane, a block off the capitol.
Always has a few winners, a few fair to middling, and
occasionally a clunker.
Some swear by Angelic, several blocks the other side of
the capitol. In all the times I've been there I've only
found a couple beers I've really liked, and they've never
had the variety Great Dane boasts.
There's also JT Whitney's on the west side. Solid beers,
occasionally very good, rarely bad (though I have less
experience with this one).
Also be on the lookout for Capital beers on tap around
town.
And I think that was it for in town, unless things
have changed in the past couple years.
--
Joel Plutchak "Too often, our cultural emphasis on freedom and individual
plutchak@[...] rights gets taken to the extreme, becoming a kind of selfish
entitlement that undermines our ability to function as a
civil community." - George Scarlett, Tufts University

My favorite is The Great Dane, a block off the capitol. Always has a
few winners, a few fair to middling, and occasionally a clunker.

A fine brewpub with a wide range of regular and specialty brews--they even
have a beautiful brand new restaurant/pub in the airport (inside the
security area), though their range of beers limited to a few of their
standards.


Some swear by Angelic, several blocks the other side of the
capitol. In all the times I've been there I've only found a couple
beers I've really liked...

Their offerings were always limited and unspectacular, but they have stopped
brewing altogether, and now just serve a range of decent standard micros.


There's also JT Whitney's on the west side. Solid beers, occasionally
very good, rarely bad (though I have less experience with this one).

A very solid brewpub indeed, with some imaginative brews, and more of a
neighborhood atmosphere than the Great Dane downtown, which is a bit more
spit & polish. Free happy hour snacks around 5pm.

If you are up for a half-hour road trip, Tyranena www.tyranena.com has a
tasting room in Lake Mills (east on hwy. 94 from Madison), open limited
evenings. Their bourbon-barrel porter (and last year the bourbon-barrel
barleywine aged 14 months!) and peated beers can be really interesting.


Also be on the lookout for Capital beers on tap around town.

Or pick some up at a store. The Blonde Doppelbock, currently in season, has
a nice, dense kick.

It's also Maibock season, but of all the local Maibocks I've had none are as
wonderful as the Summit Maibock (from Minneapolis), which is just delicious
with malty/spicy character, and makes all others seem austere.

Thanks for the tips...I'll probably check out the Great Dane
place...it's either that or Hooters

Scott




Scott wrote:

Anybody have any favorites? I'll be going down there in a couple weeks.

Scott

"Douglas W. Hoyt" wrote:
Some swear by Angelic, several blocks the other side of the
capitol.

Their offerings were always limited and unspectacular, but they have
stopped brewing altogether

Yes and no, unless things have changed since last Halloween... They
removed the on-site brewery, yes, but are working on an offsite
brewery and bottling plant that, when complete, will supply the
bar (and others) with beer again.
--
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Russ Perry Jr wrote on 07 Apr 2006:
"Douglas W. Hoyt" wrote:
Some swear by Angelic, several blocks the other side
of the capitol.

Their offerings were always limited and unspectacular, but they
have stopped brewing altogether

Yes and no, unless things have changed since last Halloween...
They removed the on-site brewery, yes, but are working on an
offsite brewery and bottling plant that, when complete, will
supply the bar (and others) with beer again.

"We" stole a former Angelic brewer a couple years back, who moved to
Brooklyn and started up the pleasantly successful Sixpoint.

Witzel

Douglas W. Hoyt wrote:
Joel wrote:
There's also JT Whitney's on the west side. Solid beers, occasionally
very good, rarely bad (though I have less experience with this one).

A very solid brewpub indeed, with some imaginative brews, and more of a
neighborhood atmosphere than the Great Dane downtown, which is a bit more
spit & polish.

Interesting how perceptions differ. I think Great Dane is more
individualistic and characterful, and JT Whitney is more cookie-
cutter corporate in atmosphere (sorta like a TGIFriday or Benigan's).
Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.

If you are up for a half-hour road trip, Tyranena www.tyranena.com has a
tasting room in Lake Mills (east on hwy. 94 from Madison), open limited
evenings. Their bourbon-barrel porter (and last year the bourbon-barrel
barleywine aged 14 months!) and peated beers can be really interesting.

I've heard good things about them, and have enjoyed a
few of their beers.
--
Joel Plutchak

"...it is impossible to communicate with someone who, by his own
admission, is not concerned with rationality." - George H. Smith

I think Great Dane is more individualistic and characterful, and JT
Whitney is more cookie-cutter corporate in atmosphere (sorta like a
TGIFriday or Benigan's). Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.

JT Whitney took over a property that was once a buffet with mushy food
frequented by geriatrics (Bishop's Buffet) and probably invested only
minimally in bargain pre-fab furnishings which makes it look more generic
(whereas the Great Dane is definitely spiffy), but the clientele at JT
Whitney is definitely more neighborhoody (rows and rows of numbered mugs for
the reams of local regulars) whereas the Great Dane tends to draw more of a
trendy, restauranty, or passing-through clientele. This is reflected in
staff attitude toward patrons.

"Joel" wrote in message
...

Interesting how perceptions differ. I think Great Dane is more
individualistic and characterful, and JT Whitney is more cookie-
cutter corporate in atmosphere (sorta like a TGIFriday or Benigan's).

Exactly my impression. JT Whitney is, IMO, more fitting with its suburban
location, while the Great Dane has more character to it, especially with the
two main rooms (at least two when I was last there) being quite different
from each other.

I'd have no problems drinking beer from either, atmosphere aside. Although I
found Great Dane more impressive. One of the better brewpubs to be found in
any city.

-Steve