A Perfect Pint's Beer Guide to the Heartland by Michael Agnew

Author:Michael Agnew [Agnew, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Published: 2014-12-11T06:00:00+00:00

ADDRESS: 3560 Oakwood Mall Dr. Eau Claire, Wl 54701 mwra

TELEPHONE: 715–552–0510

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEB SITE: www.northwoodsbrewpub.com

MICHAEL’S PICK: Kelly’s Stout: This one starts out sweet and finishes dry and roasty. In between there is a play of caramel, chocolate, and roast with light earthy/herbal hops to round it out. It’s too light and dry to stand up to dessert, but it works well as a stand-alone beer or with one of the Norwegian lefse wraps on the menu.

TYPE: Brewpub

DATE ESTABLISHED: 1997

OWNER: Jerry Bechard

BREWMASTER: Tim Kelly

BREWING SYSTEM: Seven-barrel DME brewhouse

FLAGSHIP BEER: Floppin’ Crappie

YEAR-ROUND BEERS: Mouthy Muskie Light, Kelly’s Stout, White Weasel Light Ale, Half Moon Gold, Bumbl’n Bubbas Buzz’n Brew, Prickly Pike’s Pilsner, Floppin’ Crappie, Whitetail Wheat, Birchwood Pale Ale, Red Cedar Red, Lil’ Bandit Brown Ale, Poplar Porter, Walter’s Beer

SEASONAL BEERS: Irish Red Ale, Dunkel Weizen, Ripplin’ Red Raspberry Wheat, Oktoberfest Lager, IPA

SPECIAL RELEASES: Occasional

TOURS: By request

BEER TO GO: Growlers, kegs, party pigs, and package

FOOD: Norwegian-themed items from the Norske Nook, breakfast, lunch, and dinner

AMENITIES: Parking lot, happy-hour specials, full bar, Mug Club, pool tables, live music on Thursday nights

PUB HOURS: Daily: 7:00 A.M. to 2:00 A.M.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Lazy Monk Brewing Company, Chippewa River Bike Trail, Chaos Water Park, Children’s Museum of Eau Claire, Country Jam USA in July, Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum, nearby cross-country ski trails

NOTES: When Tim Kelly was approached about becoming head brewer at Jerry Bechard’s new brewpub, he was managing a farm. At the time he had no brewing experience. But the idea was intriguing enough that he went off to Chicago’s Siebel Institute to learn the craft and then interned at a now-defunct brewpub in Madison. After all these years, he still enjoys making fine beers tailored to the western Wisconsin palate.

He doesn’t make extreme beers. Eau Claire is a light-lager-drinking town, so Tim crafts balanced and drinkable beers that offer full flavor without pushing the envelope too far. There are always fourteen house beers on tap, so there is something to appeal to everyone.

All of the beers share a crisp, dry character and sharp bitterness that I found appealing. However, there is a sameness to them, a house character that could stand a little shaking up.

The ambience is cozy, like a North Woods logcabin lodge. It’s a good place to bring the family. The food is from the Norske Nook, a small Wisconsin chain sometimes described as “a Norwegian Perkins.” The menu is full of traditional Scandinavian dishes like meatballs and lefse, a Norwegian flatbread. I had a meatball lefse wrap that was smothered in gravy and seemed a bit bland, but bland is kind of the nature of the beast with Scandinavian fare. If you crave basic meat-and-potatoes kind of food, this is the place. Burgers, pizza, and other non-Norwegian dishes are also available.

Pearl Street Brewery

ADDRESS: 1401 St. Andrew St. La Crosse, WI 54603

TELEPHONE: 608–784–4832

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEB SITE: www.pearlstreetbrewery.com

MICHAEL’S PICK: DTB Brown Ale: Chocolate, toast, molasses, and brown sugar lead the way in this classic English brown ale. It’s light-bodied but full of flavor.

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