New Brewpubs, etc.

Yesterday's Capital Times had an article about a couple new brewpubs that will be opening here in Madison anon. The first was another edition of the venerable Great Dane slated to open by the ever-gentrifying Hilldale Mall.

The Hilldale Great Dane is proposed for the corner across from the planned Sundance Theater.

The Hilldale Great Dane would be a scaled down version of the other two, Peterson said, with about 8,000 square feet and seating for about 250. There will be outdoor seating, probably a private dining room and the feel will be a "little more upscale".

The other is to be called Granite City Food & Brewery, a chain.

Granite City is a publicly traded company based in suburban Minneapolis. The regional chain has 12 sites open and is aiming to open six more this year, including the West Towne site.

Granite City styles itself as "upscale casual dining with craft beers," spokesman Dan Bauer said, noting that all of the food on its 85-item menu is made from scratch.

The company has a patent-pending brewing process that allows it to efficiently serve its brewpubs in Minneapolis and St. Cloud, Minn.; Sioux Falls, S.D.,; Fargo, N.D.; West Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport, Iowa; Lincoln, Neb.; Kansas City, Mo.; and Kansas City, Kan.

Under "Fermentus Interruptus," the initial stage of the brewing process - the production of non-alcoholic wort - takes place at a central location, with the wort then transported via truck to the fermentation vessels at each restaurant where the brewing process is completed in 20 to 30 days.

Lastly, there's been some word on the opening of Ale Asylum, a new brewpub on the north side. According to a post at the Isthmus' forum, the joint will be opening on 31 March.

And, if you're planning on seeing a play in the woods this summer, you'll also be afforded the opportunity of checking out a new brwepub. Furthermore Brewing is expected to open one up in Spring Green this summer.

And don't forget that there's a few beer-related events going on this weekend in the region. Closest to home is Bockfest at the Capital Brewery in Middleton.

On Saturday at Milwaukee's Public Museum is the Food and Froth Fest:

Sample more than 200 types of beer from Midwest and international breweries, including special creations and seasonal beers, among Museum exhibits during the eighth annual Food and Froth Fest, Saturday, Feb. 25, 7-10 p.m.

Taste the latest creations from Milwaukee’s hottest restaurants. Groove to live tunes from local bands.

In Chicagoland, Delilah's is hosting their Vintage Beer Fest:

On Saturday, February 25th from Noon to 6 PM, Delilah’s (2771 N. Lincoln - (773) 472-2771) hosts its eighth annual vintage beer festival. Mre than sixty beers, primarily strong ales, from over 40 breweries will be tasted - side by side, for the first time ever in Chicago - many in multiple vintages.
Regionally, Three Floyds, Goose Island, Greg Browne Brewing, Capitol, Two Brothers, Rock Bottom, Flossmoor Station, Flatlander’s, Bell’s & Lakefront Brewing will be represented, and many of these brewers will be in attendance.

Strong ales have been traditionally brewed during and for the Winter and early Spring months and are quite suitable for aging - often being brewed a year before release. Many of the ales for this tasting will be sampled in vintage, the J.W. Lees Harvest Ale, for instance, will be available from both the 1989 and 1999 vintage and the George Gale’s Prize Old Ale will include a 1996 and 1997 - plus six vintages of Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot Barley Wine.

There will also be a special tasting of strong blonde beers from around the world - filling an obscure category which falls under the broad sector that is barley wine itself. These beers include: Lucifer, Trois Pistoles & La Fin Du Monde from Unibroue, Malheur Millennium, Capitol Blonde Dopplebock - multiple vintages, Two Brothers Bear Tree Weiss Wine, Maredsous Triple, Delirium Tremens, EKU 28, and the French Belzebuth.

A very unique experience to sample all these strong beers together - along with vintage dated brews including: Anchor Old Foghorn, Avery Hog Heaven, Thomas Hardy’s Ale, Harvey’s Elizabethan, Skull Splitter, Portland Brewing Adam Barley Wine, Dog Fish Head Immort Ale, Rogue Ales Old Crusty, Sam Adams Triple Bock and Young’s Old Nick.

Admission is $20 for a sampling of the offerings. Information concerning each product will be available. This tasting is a must.

Lastly, my buddy Renaldo gave me a 4-pack of Maudite - The Damned. I haven't had one yet but am looking forward to it. The webpage indicates that it's a fine contender for aging. So I'll have to throw a bottle in the cellar along with my barley wine from New Glarus.