This blog came to life from a comment I received on a blog I posted about food in Wisconsin. The comment mentioned that I hadn’t said anything about Wisconsin’s strong beer culture, and I replied that I could easily write an entire blog post about just that topic. So, here we are, the beers of Wisconsin.
Chances are good if you’re a beer drinker, you’ve had a beer that was brewed here in Wisconsin. Miller Brewing Company, brewer of the ever-popular Miller Lite, is based in Milwaukee as is a local favorite that is starting to gain a wider audience outside the state, Leinenkugel.
The best beer you’ve never had, yet. Photo from beeradvocate.com
Leinenkugel is popular for their seasonal beers such as Summer Shandy and Oktoberfest, which, when in season, can be found at many homes and pretty much any gathering in the state. A comparable sort of beer from Texas would be Shiner Bock, which is famous in its particular neck of the woods, but relatively unknown elsewhere. Imagine my surprise when I was able to find a six-pack of it at my local Festival Foods!
Another beer some of you younger folks may be more familiar with is Pabst Blue Ribbon, or PBR as it’s more commonly known in dive bars and backyard parties. This beer is a little different in that, while it was originally brewed in Milwaukee it is currently based of out Los Angeles. This may sour its reputation among Wisconsin loyalists, but to the college student on a budget it doesn’t matter where it comes from, the price is right.
Not to let all the big breweries have all the fun, Wisconsin is also rich in tradition when it comes to craft beers. There’s a group called the Wisconsin Brewers Guild whose mission is to bring Wisconsin craft beer brewing back to the point it was once at and promote craft brewing around the state. They regularly host events and their membership includes brewers from all over the state.
Now, to get a little serious on everyone for a second, not everything about the state’s love affair with beer is good. One of the first results I got when Googling “Wisconsin and” was “Wiconsin and drinking,” and while to many people it’s a funny stereotype, it rings painfully true throughout the state. One need only look at this recent article from JSOnline to see that Wisconsin’s love with drinking regularly costs them almost $7 billion, with taxpayers picking up the bill. The state is also 30% higher on average in terms of alcohol consumption than the rest of the country.
In an attempt to not end this post on a downer note, I’m going to say that while it’s okay to drink, be careful. Have a designated driver, know your limits, and don’t do anything stupid. There’s a great culture here of wonderful beers, so take your time and explore them slowly.
The World Around Us 
