Wisconsin's Best Breweries and Brewpubs

Book excerpt: This information-packed guidebook introduces you to more than sixty breweries and brewpubs-from the Shipwrecked Brew Pub in Egg Harbor, to smaller craft breweries like Capital Brewery west of Madison, to the world-famous Miller Brewing Company of Milwaukee. Robin Shepard includes descriptions and his personal ratings of some 600 local beers, plus a taster's chart you can use to record your own preferences. For each brewpub and brewery site you'll find: - a description and brief history, plus any "Don't miss" features - names, comments, and ratings for all their specialty beers - notes on the pub food, with recommendations - suggestions of other sites to see and activities in the local area - information about bottling and distribution - availability of tours, tastings, gift shops, mug clubs, and "growlers" - address and contact data, including Web sites and GPS coordinates Shepard also introduces novices to the brewing process and a wide variety of beer styles. And, you'll find a list of helpful books and Web sites, as well as information on Wisconsin beer tastings and festivals. As we say in Wisconsin, "So, have a couple a two, three beers, hey?"