Beers of Wisconsin

Settled largely by German immigrants, it is no wonder Wisconsin is considered the best brewery state in the nation. The capitol city of Milwaukee was once the "beer capital of the world". Despite losing two of their breweries, Milwaukee is still heavily regarded as a beer town, thanks to the Miller Brewing Company. By selecting a Wisconsin beer, you are taking a step back in the old world tradition of how beers should be brewed, and taste. This formula hasn't changed, which is why Wisconsin beers still ranks high amongst hop lovers in the world. They know not to mess up a good thing, and yet they come out with new ways to push the envelope.

At the top of the Wisconsin brews is the Wisconsin Belgian Red brewed by New Glarus; a sweet, cherry ale with light to medium body and a rich red pour. The aroma is overwhelmingly cherry with a hint of grain, more reminiscent of a wine than a beer. With high carbonation, this is an easy drink. The sweetness tends to build as you drink more, so I wouldn't recommend this for a kick-back beer, but more a special occasion, have-with-desert type of drink.

Another favorite from the New Glarus Brewery is the Spotted Cow. Brewed with flaked barley and malts, this beer is ideal for lounging in the chair on a hot day. There is a minimal head after the pour, and a very light, thin mouthfeel and a faint bite to the finish. The brew is flavored with hints of corn and fruit. Not the most punchy of beers, but a perfect armchair drink.

The Ale Asylum produces a tongue-biter called the "Hopilicious". Yes, for those that demand their beer should jump, this is one to get. Granted there are more stinging beers out there, but this golden bodied, piney scented APA goes down easy and maintains a bitter finish. The aroma is sharper than the taste, but nonetheless this beer is a favorite, especially on tap.

A worthy mention is New Grist, a gluten-free beer from Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee. While the majority of beer drinkers readily dismiss this drink (just what is sorghum, anyway?) there are a lot of beer lovers who can not tolerate wheat. Brewed with sorghum and rice, New Grist provides a decent alternative. Dubbed a "session beer", it pours a nice, golden color with more bubbles than you might expect. The taste is light, almost apple-like, and not hoppy. No, it does not taste like the traditional beer. With gluten-free beers coming more into the mainstream, this is a good effort.

Lakefront also produces the Riverwest Stein, a creamy lager with a good combination of malt and hops. An amber pour, this beer has a frothy head and crisp mouthfeel with some caramel and floral flavoring. The finish is slightly dry. This is a good, casual beer, just watch the head on that pour!

If you are trying a beer for the first time, I would definitely recommend going with a Wisconsin brew. Ask around. Tastes vary, and you will need to partake in a lot of sampling in order to discover what you like in a beer. For reviews and recommendations on the latest beers and new brews, try www.beeradvocate.com.