Kopp’s was swarmed. Lines stretched to the door, benches were full of soon-to-be burger-eaters, and children were in vague states of distress. It was Monday afternoon, March 31, the day of the Brewers home opener, and the people wanted “Mr. Baseball” – the Bob Uecker-inspired custard flavor only available that day.
I was one of those people.
On that afternoon, I couldn’t make it to the game to honor Uecker’s memory at the ballpark, but I could try the custard Kopp’s made in tribute to the legendary, hilarious, beloved broadcaster who died in January – and damn it I was going to do exactly that.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
So I ignored my boss’ emails asking when I was finally going to send him my stories for the next issue (Sorry, Chris!), braved the stadium traffic and made for the Kopp’s in Brookfield, hoping it would be the least crowded of the three. I was wrong. But I was also more than willing to stand in line for a while to taste this new flavor.
When I made it to the counter, I ordered “Mr. Baseball,” a caramel malt custard, topped with beer nuts, fudge-covered peanuts and “a splash of Miller Lite.”
As I waited for it to arrive, my anticipation only grew, as did the number of unread emails in my inbox. (Sorry again, Chris!) And then finally, the custard arrived. What was it like, this tribute to possibly Milwaukee’s most universally beloved figure?
Damn good.
Let’s start with that “splash of Miller Lite.” You can really taste it. The first few hoppy bites felt like a Friday evening. In fact, the beer smell was so strong that I had to resist the pavlovian urge to text my ex to see if she misses me. You get the most beer flavor those first bites, presumably where the Miller made its splash.
The caramel malt custard is classic Kopp’s goodness, as you’d imagine, but what really made “Mr. Baseball” unique was the combination of beer nuts and fudge-covered peanuts. Those little treats, studded throughout the custard, made a man feel like he was at the ballpark, ready to hear Ueck call another Brewers win.
In short, it was a great custard and a fitting tribute to Uecker. I hope Kopp’s brings the flavor back a few more times this season so I can give it another go.
And boy, it really did make me sad to miss the home opener. That beer taste … maybe I can just swing by the tailgates for a few minutes. (Don’t tell Chris.)
