I love “best of” lists. Their subjective nature allows for endless barstool debate. Draft Magazine’s list of the top 100 beer bars did a fine job of nailing the local places for good suds (I can’t speak to the quality of the Crescent Moon in Omaha…I’ll take the magazine’s word on that one).
How cool would it be to embark on a nationwide tour and grab a tap and each of the 100? If only I had a six-figure bank account. But with little expense I can at least make it to the bars on the list in good old Milwaukee.
The solid picks for Milwaukee were Romans’ Pub (3475 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.), The Palm Tavern (2989 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.), Sugar Maple (441 E. Lincoln Ave.), and The Bomb Shelter (1517 S. Second St.). The selections prompted two thoughts – why not sample one beer from all four places on a Saturday night, and how did the near south side get so lucky?
The mini pub crawl was accomplished last Saturday. The fact that the bars are near each other makes it possible to easily get to them all via Yellow Cab, limo, bicycle or designated driver.
Sidekicks Casey and Tom joined me at Romans’ Pub (the southernmost point on the barley trail) where owner Mike Romans was pouring to a dozen beer aficionados. Romans doesn’t mess around with his 30 or so taps of high quality and generally high flavor beers. I chose a snifter of Bell’s Hell Hath No Fury, a smooth and slightly fruity gem (Bell’s never fails to disappoint). Casey grabbed a Founders Breakfast Stout. A bold start.
Synopsis: A great casual corner bar where beer is serious business.
The Palm Tavern is just a few blocks away. It’s one of my favorite bars in Milwaukee, yet one I rarely seem to get to (as if crossing the Hoan Bridge was some huge trek). We strolled into the dark and crowded spot and I ordered a Sierra Nevada Ovila Quadrupel, a dark Belgian that tastes as smooth as silk. Dark bar, dark beer. Makes perfect sense.
Synopsis: Small, dark and cozy with a hipster vibe.
The busy corner of Lincoln and KK has its share of good bars, but Sugar Maple is a standout. The bar is big, but it needs to be to hold 60 taps (American craft beers are the focus). Here, it was a New Holland Dragon’s Milk. The bold barrel-aged ale had a hint of bourbon – perfect for a cold night. There are plenty of barstools at Sugar Maple’s long bar, which made it a perfect place for my weary traveling party to rest.
Synopsis: A big space for a big selection of American craft beers.
We walked into a packed Bomb Shelter to finish the tour. Beer memorabilia (Pabst light fixtures, Schlitz paraphernalia, etc.) covers most of the bar, and used Brewers ticket stubs adorn the ceiling. I ended the tour with a Southern Tier Crème Brûlée stout…dessert in a glass. The beer had a distinct aroma of crème brûlée and an extremely sweet finish. The Bomb Shelter has a few good taps, but it’s the 350-plus bottles and cans (I can’t imagine how much it costs to power the coolers) that make the place stand out. Casey ended the night with a Pabst tall boy, a fitting choice at the neighborhood tavern.
Synopsis: Part corner tap, part basement rec room (if the rec room was built by an uncle who collected decade’s worth of beer memorabilia).
The “Best of Bar Crawl” was a success, and managed to only take a couple of hours. Can’t wait until next year when a new list comes out.
Quick Taps
Last week I read that the largest U.S. owned brewery is, get this, Yuengling, a beer I’ve got a soft spot for (thanks in part to my cousins Mark and Kevin, avid Yuenglingers).
I tried a New Belgium La Folie sour brown ale last week. I’m still trying to acquire the taste for tart.
Barley Pop of the Week
I picked up a four-pack of Founders Breakfast Stout at Wine Cellar of Wisconsin (12910 W. Bluemound Rd.), which incidentally has a great beer selection and a plentiful shelf of singles. The Founders is a thick, coffee flavored eye-opening stout. Full disclosure, I haven’t actually tried it for breakfast yet.
Events Brewing
Music, food, and beer. Sounds like a pretty good lineup to me. Radio Milwaukee (88.9 FM) is hosting Soundbites, with eight chef-hosted tasting stations and beer from Milwaukee Brewing. The event takes place at the Iron Horse Hotel on Feb. 2. Cost is $125.
Discount Liquor Beer Tastings
Milwaukee (5031 W. Oklahoma Ave.)
Friday: Boulder Brewery, 4 to 7 p.m.
Waukesha (919 Barstow St.)
Saturday: Boulder Brewery, 12 to 3 p.m.
Wednesday’s Suds Club at the Bomb Shelter features porters. Among the highlights on the tasting menu are a newly tapped Lakefront’s Dan Baltic Porter, and the Alaskan Smoked Porter. Cost is $10 and the event starts at 7 p.m.
Schlitz globe photo from The Bomb Shelter
