WISCO BARRELS

Pop quiz: How many gallons of a beer are in a barrel? 31! And, there are over three times that many craft breweries currently operating in Wisconsin. Dane County is no exception to this trend, and these local brewers’ taps are flowing with innovative pours.

House of Brews

House of Brews creator Page Buchanan loved drinking beer and brewing at home. “In essence, my business is a hobby that got out of control,” he explains.

He still loves making beer, but Buchanan now delights in his facility on Madison’s East Side being a “brand launchpad” by sharing his equipment and taproom—most notably with Mob Craft, a mobile brew crew that began in Madison, but is now permanently based in Milwaukee.

“We were able to brew small batches of our beer to test our business model and spend each day seeing first hand all the things that could go right and wrong in a brewery,” reflects MobCraft CEO Henry Schwartz. “Page helped us grow from home brewers to pro brewers!” houseofbrewsmadison.com.

Lone Girl Brewery

College buddies Kevin Abercrombie, Paul Kozlowski and John Russell opened the Waunakee brew pub in June 2016. The Lone Girl’s motto of “uniquely familiar” references the affable ambiance of the restaurant and the approachability of the brews on taps like their “gateway” ale SpeakEasy. Kozlowski says, “We think of ourselves as an introduction to craft beer by creating beer, food and a space that is inviting to everyone.” lonegirlbrewerywaunakeewi.com.

Next Door Brewing

“The name ‘Next Door’ is more than just words. It is something we live and breathe from our locally sourced ingredients in both our beer and our food to our involvement and support of organizations that do so much to make our community great,” affirms Sales & Marketing Manager Ben Spoehr. And the proof is in the pint at this Atwood Street brewery thanks to Plumptuous, their malty Scotch Ale deceptively smooth and seductively drinkable. nextdoorbrewing.com.

Octopi Brewing

Looking to liven up this Oktoberfest with a festive flair? Octopi Brewing celebrates its one-year anniversary in Waunakee Oct. 22 with the debut of its Barrel Aged Program. Owner Isaac Showaki says, “It’s a limited-release series that explores the creativity and showcases the talent of our brewing team—a perfect balance of beer and wood.” octopibrewing.com.

One Barrel Brewing

Humor and substance unite in every pint of One Barrel beer. Commuter Kolsch is a crisp starter, then slide into the not-quite-a-porter Banjo Cat Black IPA for the second round. Owner Peter Gentry says, “Just like honest Abe Lincoln, here at One Barrel we are firm believers in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts. And beer.” onebarrelbrewing.com.