Comet Café hosts a monthly event focused on furthering your brew knowledge. The southern half of the bar transforms into the evening’s reserved classroom space, and each month they take on a new brew. This month: Porters.
We ended up at a booth on the outskirts of the action, where we unfortunately had a little trouble understanding the lesson. The noise from the other half of the regular dining crowd proved overwhelming, but we still managed to learn some key facts.
Our teacher gave a brief overview of each beer: where it’s brewed, alcohol content, flavor, whether it’s difficult to find, etc. The highlight was the Alaskan Smoked Porter, which tasted exactly like smoked salmon. So crazy. We assume the flavor comes from an Alaskan who deals with fish all day and then brews this beer without washing his hands. I’m pretty sure we nailed it.
The beers gradually became more potent and flavorful. We tasted a total of 10 beers for our $20 admission fee, and I was pleased with the value. We were privy to some beers that cannot be found anywhere near the Midwest, each with a generous pour accompanied with pretzel rods. Comet’s co-owner Adam Lucks distributed trays of many cups with the occasional anecdote. His stories were usually directed to the VIP table next to us, but I listened in. One beer on the list prompted a story involving cases and cases of beer in a truck driving through the Pacific Northwest and a little need for explanation to a curious police officer.
After an hour and a half of ear cupping and eavesdropping on our neighboring table, I was a little disappointed with the session. But then the teacher came to our group and apologized for his voice not carrying through the noisy restaurant. He basically went through the whole spiel again and answered all of our questions. Beer school was saved!
If you are interested in learning about beers, Comet hosts these sessions the first Tuesday of every month. The next class is Tuesday, March 2. Try to get a seat at the bar or a booth along the wall.
Later that weekend, I found myself headed to Circle-A Café (932 E. Chambers St.) in Riverwest. This is also known as the Anarchy bar; however, lawlessness was at a minimum in the brightly cluttered establishment. The lighting was dark in the small space, but the eye candy, including hanging instruments, a static TV, a row of red velvet movie theater seats and the vinyl jukebox, livened up the bar. A few people were dancing in front of the juke while DJs Barricks and Laplae spun records they borrowed from the library. They even borrowed sculptures to keep with the public collection theme.
The drink special of the evening was a whiskey concoction named The Grand Disaster for $2.50. We tried the cocktail but ended up giving it away to the lucky young man behind us for fear of mixing our poisons.
This bar is only open on the weekends and always features live bands and/or DJs. The place is a real treat — probably one of my favorite finds in Milwaukee so far.
Don’t forget to check out this month’s Sporting Fraternity at Bryant’s with cocktails by Chad Doll and Evan Barnes.
1579 S. Ninth St.
Thursday, Feb. 11
The Sporting Fraternity
This evening includes three cocktails, coffee and light appetizers from the National Café. Admission is $35 with seatings at 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Past events have sold out, so e-mail BryantsCocktailLounge@gmail.com to reserve seats.
Cactus Club
2496 S. Wentworth Ave.
Thursday, Feb. 11
9 p.m.
Project Transmit, Collections Of Colonies Of Bees, Zelienople.
Apartment 720
720 N. Milwaukee St.
Friday, Feb. 12
This Friday, check out special guest DJ Ginger Kid with $5 tall mixers and $100 bottles of Three Olives grape and cherry. This Snow Bunny-themed event also features a day ski pass for two giveaway.
Benno’s Genuine Bar & Grill
7413 W. Greenfield Ave.
Mondays
$1 off all taps, and three sliders for $3.
Rustico Pizzeria
223 N. Water St.
Mondays
From 9 p.m.-close, take advantage of $1 slice night.
Blackbird
3007 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Tuesdays
Blackbird offers one of my favorite happy hour specials: Free tacos from Hector’s, 4-8 p.m., or until supplies last. Also, $4 margaritas and $2 Pacifico and Corona.
Café Lulu
2265 S. Howell Ave.
Wino Wednesdays
Every Wednesday starting at 5 p.m., enjoy $10 off bottles of wine.
Polish Falcon’s Nest 725
801 E. Clarke St.
Wednesdays
Open Bowl on the oldest lanes in town. And it only costs $3.25 a game plus $1 for shoes.
Decibel
1905 North Ave.
Thursdays
Hey ladies! Free drinks until midnight. Everyone else pays $3 for Stoli drinks. Not bad. No cover.
Hi-Hat Lounge & Garage
1701 N. Arlington Pl.
Thursdays
Ladies Night: DJs Kid Cut Up and Steve Marxx. Two complimentary drinks for the ladies.
Kenadee’s Ultra Pub
718 N. Milwaukee St.
Fridays
Bitch Pleeze Fridays: Ladies drink free mixers every Friday from 10 p.m.-midnight. Kenny Perez provides the music. No cover. No dress code.
Brocach Irish Pub and Restaurant
1850 N. Water St.
Monday-Friday
From 3:30 to 6 p.m., try happy hour: half off all top-shelf Irish and scotch whiskies. 20 oz. pint of Guinness and shot of Powers for $6.25. $5 wines by the glass.
