Pint In Hand: Lakefront Brewery Wisconsinite

We've been drinking a lot of Wisconsinite this summer. In addition to having a stellar name, everything in it, from the hops to the yeast is all grown in Wisconsin. Being a summer weiss, it's a lighter, fresher and clean summer beer. It has paired really well with the summer salads and grilled chicken we've been eating on our patio. Cheers!

Pint In Hand: Left Hand's Good JuJu

Here's me sending some good JuJu for everyone watching the Superbowl today. I thought the name of Left Hand Brewing Co.'s seasonal beer, Good JuJu would be a good compliment to all the finger crossing going on during the big game. Brewed for the upcoming Mardi Gras season, it's a pale ale brewed with ginger root. Unlike most spiced beers, this one is pretty palatable. It has a mild ginger freshness along with a good base of balanced hoppiness and maltiness so it goes down pretty smoothy. I give it a thumbs up.

Pint In Hand: Lakefront Brewery Pumpkin Lager

For most, the transition into fall begins with Labor Day weekend or the first chilly night of the summer. For me (and probably many Milwaukeeans alike) it cannot possibly be fall unless Lakefront Pumpkin Lager has hit the shelves. As Lakefront's fall seasonal beer, it is made in limited quantities and only supplied from Late August to Early November. The flavors are rich with pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and cardamon -- supplied by Milwaukee's Spice House--and yes, real pumpkin. There are quite a few pumpkin beers available today. "Produce" beers, beers made from spinach, beets, etc. seem to be trending. But Lakefront's is the only lager on the market. Therefore, it's weightier, more complex, and more intoxicating. It's definitely a sit-down-and-sip type of beer. After a good meal, it's like a liquid pumpkin pie dessert.

Pint In Hand: Fox Barrel Pear Cider

There were many, many beers to try at the Brewfest on Saturday, but I really enjoyed sipping my ol' favorite, Fox Barrel Pacific Pear Cider. In the nearly 100 degree heat, it was the coldest and most refreshing out of everything there. Most craft beers are darker and a little heavier which is great for taste, but not for the heat. To preserve the flavor, the darks like porters to brown ales are served a little less than cold so that you can taste the flavors better. This is not what I wanted on Saturday. I was ready to put ice in my beer. So, the pear cider was perfect. Cider is not a beer because it's not made with the traditional barley and hops. But, because it's a liquor, it gets very, very cold. And the subtle light fruitiness was perfect for a nice summer day.

Pint In Hand: Goose Island Matilda

Goose Island Matilda is one of my favorites. Not only does it have one of the most sophisticated and polished product styling I've seen on a beer bottle, but it tastes really, really good. It's a Belgian Strong Pale Ale (similar to a true Abbey Ale). It's a very smooth and drinkable beer with some fruity sourness and yeast flavors. The scent has some clove/spice and hop aroma - very pleasant. If you don't usually like beer, you may like this one.


****If you're excited about the South Shore Farmers' Market this Saturday, then you should read my post on InsideMilwaukee entitled Farmers' Markets: locally chic.

Pint In Hand: O'so Night Train Porter

The hubs has been really into dark porter beer lately, so I picked up a sixer of O'so Night Train Porter at Groppi's this afternoon. There's been a lot of media buildup about the blizzard on its way this evening. Schools are closing, a state of emergency was called, and people are stocking up on essentials. We got our beer, so we're good.

Here's a description of Night Train:

This complex Oatmeal porter is as black as coal that fueled locomotives for generations Made with judicious amounts of crystal and chocolate malt for a rich, smooth, creamy experience. Go ahead and jump on the night train. Enjoy! During Festival Season 2008 & 2009, Night Train has won O'so Five of Six awards! ABV: 6.7%

Sit back and enjoy the snow!

Pint In Hand: Ommegang Cup O Kyndnes

One of my favorite things about my neighborhood, Bay View, is that microbrews and specialty brews are a staple. Honestly, it's hard to find Miller Lite around here. The mecca of this niche is Sugar Maple. The menu changes often, the sixty taps are always on, and the selection is hard to match. Last night, I tried Ommegang's Cup O Kyndnes--their dark and smoky fall seasonal scotch ale. It's definitely a beer you sit and enjoy to taste all the unique flavors. What interesting beers have you had recently???