Another fine Madison beer addition - The Mason Lounge on Park Street

While there are many things I do NOT like about Wisconsin winters, I do appreciate that cold blustery evenings encourage meeting up with good friends at local pubs for a good chat. Thanks to my friend Deb for persevering to make an evening happen at the Mason Lounge.

The Mason Lounge is a relatively new place on Park Street that has 19 taps - many of which are Wisconsin brews.  The big beer winner of the night was the Rush River Amber. Rush River Brewing Co. is located in River Falls, WI. They brew four types of beer, all of which are unfiltered and unpasteurized (and delicious). I'd never had Rush River on tap before and I liked it very much. My only issue was that I am not a huge fan of drinking beverages out of Mason jars. Kind of a kitchy detail. 

I liked the ambiance of this bar that felt like a long time neighborhood gathering place. It was cozy and comfortable. There's lots of odd things on the walls - including a fake (but disarmingly real looking) hen under a heating lamp above the bar. I imagine this will be a popular hangout for the Vilas neighborhood people who must be happy to have a nice laid back place to grab a drink after work or on the weekends.

Best Place in Madison to Have a pint of Guinness: The Brocach

I usually focus on Wisconsin beers, but I am going to make an exception to highlight a fabulous place on the Square to stop in on a cold snowy night and have a pint of Guinness.  The Brocach is a great Irish Pub with decent food and great bartenders.  And while the Guinness is not as good as Guinness that comes straight form the source (Dublin) they do a great pour. Plus they always have Powers on hand - never a bad thing!
Every time a snowpocalypse hits Madison I have the desire to head to Brocach to spend some nice toasty & cozy time with a pint and good company.  So thanks buds for braving the elements with me and lets do it again during the next snowstorm!

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Why aren't there more D-Pubs in Wisconsin? Someone please franchise!

A little slice of beer heaven in Oshkosh, WI:

Sooooo - I spent about a week recently in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. And a friend of mine, an Oshkosh native, was very insistent that as a beer blogger I simply could NOT leave town without a visit to the D-Pub.   (the Distillery Pub) So my very last night there we made it happen.  And it really was all that was promised. 

The D-Pub's thing is $1.00 pints.  Now hearing that you probably think you get to choose from Natty Light, Keystone Ice and the Beast. Try again - they offer frosty mugs of Fat Tire, Spotted Cow, Spaten, and several others.   Yes - for $1.00!  In these tough economic times this is a huge find.  I chose Fat Tire - stayed true to my Colorado roots.

Plus they have an awesome Native American Mural and decent jukebox.  What more could a gal want?  I've gotta say - thank you Andrew - your beer blogging instincts were dead on.  Any true beer blogger would embrace this place and spread the word.  Hat's off to the D-Pub. When in Oshkosh well worth gathering your car seat change for a delicious frosty beer!

D-Pub in all it's glory:

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