Happy Birthday to Raised Grain
I didn’t know what to expect last October when I pulled into the Waukesha strip-mall home to Raised Grain Brewing (2244 W. Bluemound Rd.). My first beer there was the Paradocs Red Ale, and that’s all I needed to try to realize that these guys knew their stuff.
Raised Grain got ahead of the wave of new breweries opening this year and is celebrating its one-year birthday on Saturday.
“We’re absolutely surprised by the level of success we’ve had, and we’re so grateful for the loyal customers we developed right away,” says co-owner Nick Reistad. “They have really made our year special, and that is what we’re celebrating above all else. We’re excited to be part of the [Milwaukee brewery] boom and we’re happy to see Milwaukee catching up to other craft beer cities. We’re making some really good beer that we feel stands up to any brewery across the country, and we’ve already gotten some amazing recognition in our first year.”
To mark the occasion, the brewery is releasing a limited oak-aged version of its Black Walnut Belgian Imperial Stout (also very good), roasting a pig and hosting brewery tours at 2 and 3 p.m. The doors open at noon. Find out all of the details on their website.
Raised Grain has made quite an impact in just a year. Well done.
Erv’s Mug: A Craft Beer Outpost
I love the old-school-friendly feel of Erv’s Mug (130 W. Ryan Rd., Oak Creek), and the fact that the spot has a great beer list doesn’t hurt either. If you’ve never made it to Erv’s, I suggest getting there on Saturday for Ervtoberfest from 5 to 9 p.m. An impressive list of more than 60 beers – big on Oktoberfest beers and pumpkin brews – is on tap to sample, and there will be plenty of food and live music. Tickets are $50 at the door ($40 if you buy them in advance at Erv’s).
Barley Pop of the Week
With Oktoberfest celebrations barreling down upon us, I figured it was appropriate to feature SurlyFest, Surly Brewing’s loose take on an Oktoberfest beer. The copper color hints at a traditional Märzen, and there’s a bit of biscuit malt on the first sip. The finish, however, is a nice departure and includes a fair amount of welcome bitterness. It’s a nice crisp way to celebrate Oktoberfest. Prost!
Quick Taps
Draft Magazine has an interesting look at 40-year-old The Book of Beer. Some interesting highlights are outlined by writer Joe Stange.
Cheers to Alaskan Brewing, a true craft beer pioneer celebrating its 30th anniversary. To commemorate, Alaskan is releasing Perseverance Russian Imperial Stout.
Events Brewing
Tuesday, Sept. 6: Hard-to-find beers are the subject of Beer School at Comet Café (1947 N. Farwell Ave.). At 7 p.m. you can begin tasting beers that you can’t get in Wisconsin.
Wednesday, Sept. 7: This is a great tap takeover at Ray’s Growler Gallery (8930 W. North Ave.). The theme is “staff picks” and considering the staff at Ray’s knows a thing or two about beer, it should be worth going to see what they choose.
Wednesday, Sept. 7: Belgian beers are the topic of discussion at the weekly meeting of the Milwaukee Beer Society. Head to Best Place (901 W. Juneau Ave.) from 6 to 9 p.m. to try a few.
Thursday, Sept. 8: Just in time for another Packers season, The Malt Shoppe (813 N. Mayfair Rd.) is hosting a sampling of brews from Titletown Brewing from 5 to 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 8: The women from Barley’s Angels are headed to The Fermentorium (7481 Highway 60, Cedarburg) at 6 p.m. to hear from founder Kris Volkman and sample a few beers. Cost is $10 and includes four samples. RSVP on the group’s Facebook page.
Friday, Sept. 9: Third Space Brewing pours its beer at the Humboldt Park beer garden (3000 S. Howell Ave.).
Friday, Sept. 9: Brenner Brewing takes over the taps at The Tosa Tavern in Whole Foods (11100 W. Burleigh St.) from 6 to 8 p.m. Try six Brenner brews for just $3 a pint.
Friday, Sept. 9: The first of two Oktoberfest weekends kicks off at ABV Social (11200 W. Burleigh St., Wauwatosa). The festivities include six or more Oktoberfest taps to choose from, commemorative glassware, a firkin tapping and specials on food. It all begins at 11 a.m. and runs through Saturday. You get a free beer if you wear lederhosen or a dirndl.
Friday, Sept. 9: Leinie’s is bringing seasonal samples to Discount Liquor Milwaukee (5031 W. Oklahoma Ave.) from 4 to 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 9: Try brews from Sprecher at Discount Liquor Waukesha (919 N. Barstow Ave.) from 4 to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10: Sample Leinie’s at Discount Liquor Waukesha from noon to 2 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10: Bring a yoga mat to The Fermentorium for Down Dogs and Drafts Yoga starting at 11 a.m. Work on your core and balance and reward yourself with a couple of tasty beers. The $15 price includes tokens for free beer. Namaste.
Saturday, Sept. 10: Oktoberfest beers are the subject of the weekly sampling at both Three Cellars locations (7133 S. 76th St., Franklin and N72 W13400 Lund Lane, Menomonee Falls) from 1 to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10: Tyranena commandeers a few taps at Ray’s Growler Gallery in a mini-takeover.
