Spring Brew News

I'm a bit late on this but 23 April marked the 490th anniversary of the Rheinheitsgebot purity law. Thusly now is as good a time as any to take a vernal look at beer.

According to a post at the Isthmus forum, Madison's newest brewpub, Ale Asylum, is to open on 12 May.

Close to home at Capital Brewery, I see that their Bier Garten is set to open on 3 May. A trip to the brewery in the near future could be very worthwhile as Great Lakes Brewing News reports that Capital "recently made a limited release of Eis Phyre, which is Autumnal Fire given the Eisbock treatment and barrel aged." The Capital webpage says nothing about this so it seems that heading to Middleton is now imperative. Finally, next month sees the release of their seasonal Fest beer.



While Lake Louie's Milk Stout is still to be found, their spring seasonal, Dino's Dark is now available. It's described as the "springtime version of our ‘Tommy’s Porter’ brewed with less dark malt and more hops".

The Gray's website remains perpetually unupdated but I'm going to assume their Wisconsin Weiss will become available next week as it's usually out on Beltane.



Also to the south of Madison is the Huber Brewery. Their Solstice Wit has been available for a while now and will be so until July.



To the east, Lakefront's Cherry Lager is their Beer of the Month for May. I've never had it despite my allegiance to New Glarus' Belgian Cherry Ale.



As I wrote previously, Leinenkugel's recently released their Sunset Wheat, a Belgian Wit beer. I haven't tried it yet so I'll have to make it a point to do so.



Apparently it will replace their Amber Light and Northwoods Lager so get any last cases of these beers while they last. This month Leine's also brought out their Berry Weiss for the season. It's a bit on the sweet side for me so I can only take one per sitting but it's a refreshing brew.



Point's Spring Bock will still be around through May so get it while you can.



Sand Creek Brewing Company's spring seasonal is Oderbolz Bock.



They are also advertising Woody's Wheat which is to be released soon. A new wheat beer to try out this summer.



Over at Tyranena, the current seasonal is Fighting Finches Bock.



However, in late May, they'll release their summer seasonal, Fargo Brothers Hefeweizen.



Also available next month will be the second installment of brewer Rob Larson's Brewers Gone Wild! series, Bitter Woman From Hell, an Extra India Pale Ale. Prepare for some super-mega bitter hoppy goodness!



The venerable Sprecher Brewing Company has their Maibock out now.



You may have seen bottles like these at your local liquor store:



These are 1-liter bottles of their Brewmasters Premium Reserve. They seem to be their limited edition brews (sans Generation Porter) in a bottle more suitable for aging. There's supposed to also be a similar line of Bourbon Barrel Aged brews but I can't find any info on them at their webpage. If you're keen on aging their beers, they published a handy chart in their January newsletter which I reproduce below. And here's the legend for the Aging Recommended column: + = limited aging, 1-2 years; ++ = 2-4 years; +++ = long term aging, 3-5 years.



Further up north in Dallas, the Viking Brewing Company is pushing their Honey Pale Ale and will be until June.



Last from Clear Lake comes 'Sconnie ales from William Kuether Brewing. Like some others, their webpage hasn't been updated in ages. Their Tamarack Timber Spring Ale was listed as coming soon last year so perhaps it's out now. If anyone around town sees their stuff, please let me know as I'm keen on sampling the stuff.



Potosi is a small town in the southwest corner of Wisconsin – it's due north of Dubuque, Iowa and near Dickeyville which, as all Wisconsonians should know is home to absolutely no Norwegians. The Potosi Brewery closed its doors in 1972 after 120 years of operation. There's now an effort to restore the building as a historical landmark. The charge is being lead by The Potosi Brewery Foundation. To raise money, City Brewery in La Crosse was contracted to brew Potosi Light and it was sold in the area. The latest word is:

The site, when completed, will house both the National Brewery and Potosi Brewery museums, the Great River Road Interpretive Center, a restaurant and microbrewery and gift shop. The complex is projected to open in 2008.

Lastly, I want to add that I had CopperHead Ruby Lager from Viking Brewing Company this evening. It was a great beer! It poured a nice copper color with a medium head. The aroma was malty and fruity/wine-like. The fruitiness carried over to the taste and it was very smooth. A highly recommend brew.