Lacey Muszynski
It's definitely summer in Milwaukee. There are about a million beer, wine and cocktail events coming up, and the beer gardens are hopping. The first big beer festival of the summer season is also coming June 20, the Wisconsin Beer Lover's Festival.
I went last year, and plan to go again this year. The festival takes over the streets of Bayshore Mall and lines them with brewery and food vendor booths. Your ticket ($25 for a DD ticket with just food to $65 for VIP ticket) gets you unlimited beer samples and food. There's 28 breweries slated for this year, which is fewer than last year for some reason, but I doubt anyone will go thirsty.
New this year is the focus on beer and food pairings. Each brewery will be teamed up with a food vendor to pair specific brews with small plate-sized snacks. That could add a new dimension to the festival, if you're into that kind of thing. I'm not so sure I'll have a very discerning palate a few hours into the event, however.
Participating breweries include Point, Mob Craft, 3 Sheeps, Grumpy Troll, Lake Louie, Karben4, Great Dane and Titletown Brewing, plus the usual favorites like Sprecher, Lakefront and Milwaukee Brewing. Restaurants inside Bayshore are of course represented as food vendors, like Bar Louie and Devon, but there's also Rumpus Room, Stubby's, BelAir and Red Lion Pub, among others. Last year the food was substantial, so no one goes hungry. Don't forget to pace yourself so you can last all four hours!
Upcoming Beer and Food Events:
The Scout Lake Beer Garden, an extension of the Estabrook Beer Garden, is open at 5902 W. Loomis. Hours are noon until 10:00 p.m. with last call at 9:00 p.m.
June 13: Discount Liquor at 5031 W. Oklahoma is hosting a number of tastings plus a charity cookout with sausages from The Vanguard in conjunction with Surly Brewery. All proceeds from the cookout will benefit the Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance. Also sampling Guinness and Central Standard Distillery.
June 13: Bavarian Brew and Brat Fest will be held at Old Heidelberg Park at 700 W. Lexington in Glendale. Live polka music, brats, Bavarian dancing. Prost!
June 14: Locust Street Festival Beer Run sounds like something taxing, but it's really just an excuse to drink. The route is 1.8 miles in Riverwest, with four mandatory beer stops. That's my kind of exercise.
June 16: Classic Cocktail Dinner at Le Reve Patisserie and Cafe at 7610 Harwood in Wauwatosa. A five-course dinner menu will be paired with cocktails by Daniel Beres with Death's Door Spirits and Pierre Ferrand Cognac. Reservations required.
More Around Wisconsin:
June 13: New Glarus Polka Fest and Beer, Bacon & Cheese Festival: $30 gets you New Glarus beer, bacon, sausages and local cheese. Plus it's also Polkafest!
June 13: Great Northern Beer Festival in Eagle River. Lots of camping available around there, make a weekend of it.
Got the scoop on alcohol-related news or upcoming events? Contact me at lacey@shepex.com or on Twitter @BrewCityBooze.
