Madison beers

A friend from UW-Madison asked me about what beers I recommend today. “Finally,” I thought, “a chance to apply what I learned in school!”

Madison is the beer capital of the known universe, according to brewologists and beeronomers. In fact Lewis Black has a great bit about how he’s gotten drunker for cheaper in Madison than anywhere else in the world. All I have to say to that is, keep on truckin’.

It’s true; for better or worse, Madison has a culture of drinking. Not just drinking, but drinking to excess and beyond. That certainly can be a problem, especially when outsiders take advantage of that and start riots on State Street every year on Halloween. But the bright side of this is that Madison is full of people who love beer, and when people love beer they make good beer.

I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce my favorite brews, some local, some not, to serve as a guide for someone who has yet to venture out into the wild world of beer.

Local Wisconsin beers

Emerald Isle Stout

This is a beer brewed and sold exclusively at the Great Dane Pub, a Madison bar and restaurant that should be designated a national treasure. They have an amazing selection of home-brewed beers, and the food at the restaurant is good enough to make it worth dragging along your teetotaling friends or children.

The beer itself is, as all stouts are, very dark and earthy. But it’s not as bitter as their porter, which I found to be too much of an acquired taste. If you like Guiness you’ll love the Emerald Isle Stout.

Crop Circle Wheat

Another Great Dane Pub original, this one is very fruity and light; it drinks more like juice than beer. I like to call this one “the beer that beer haters love.”

I like to think of Crop Circle and Emerald Isle as being on two opposite ends of the beer continuum, so a neophyte should try both to get an idea of what’s out there. Note that Crop Circle is a little unique in that it’s unfiltered, making it cloudier and giving it more texture than your standard fare.

Spotted Cow

This is made by the New Glarus Brewing Company, and is a staple of local beer lovers, as you can’t buy Great Dane beers in most stores. It’s on the fruitier end of the beer spectrum, maybe closer to the middle than Crop Circle Wheat. It’s very flavorful, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming after a couple bottles.

Raspberry Tart & Belgian Red

These are super-fancy brews also by New Glarus. Forget that Miller bullshit; these are the real champagnes of beer. They’re only available in larger liquor stores like Woodman’s or sometimes at Copps, and they come in big, wax-sealed bottles. They’re extremely fruity and a little on the expensive side, so they’re best saved for dinner parties with more refined people. Don’t try to chug these at your friend’s brother’s cousin’s houseparty that you crashed after smoking a bowl.

Nationwide brews

Honey Weiss

My favorite by Leinenkugel’s, a Wisconsin brewery. Technically I suppose they’re a local company, but they’re famous enough to be available outside Wisconsin. This is a lighter beer with a very subtle honey overtone. This seems to be the beer positioned at the right point on the price-flavor curve that makes it good enough to drink readily and in volume, while still being reasonably inexpensive.

Blue Moon

Blue Moon is made by the Coors Brewing Co., but don’t let that stop you. It’s right up there on the fruity side of the beer spectrum between Spotted Cow and Crop Circle Wheat. This is definitely available nation-wide. It’s very flavorful and can become overpowering in large amounts.

Guiness

This is the Cadillac of beers. It’s dark, creamy, and delicious, but you pay the price for it, as this is the only non-domestic beer on my list. When in Tokyo I readily payed ¥900 for a pint of this ambrosia from heaven.

Honorable mentions

Killian’s Irish Red

Between the light, golden ales and the dark, earthy porters and lagers there’s a whole domain of red beers that I’ve never really gotten into. This is definitely good but I haven’t had a ton of it.

Coronoa Extra

This is an extremely light beer from Mexico. Some people say it’s garbage starch water. I happen to like it. Be sure to squeeze the lime into the beer.