The Best Madison Breweries

Many of you think of Wisconsin as a state full of dairy farms and snowmobiles. And much of the state is like you envision it. But Madison, the state capitol and home of the University of Wisconsin Badgers, has a metropolitan vibe that might surprise you. Beyond the cultural and sports-related activities you’d expect in a Big Ten university town, Madison boasts a vibrant local independent dining scene. Check out Madison Originals website to learn more about efforts to build on that trend.

Beyond dining, Madison-area residents enjoy the fruits of local agriculture in the form of interesting wines and craft brews that are winning national and international awards. Read on to learn about a few of the Madison, Wisconsin breweries we visited.

Capital Brewery

Capital Brewery is located minutes from downtown Madison in Middleton. Since we visited in November, the beer garden was closed for the season. So we stopped by the bier stube for a few samples one Sunday afternoon. The room was full of locals watching NFL games or playing board games or cards. You might think Bears fans would feel uncomfortable in a room full of Packer fans, but the bartender made us feel welcome right away. We each sampled two beers and found the Munich Dark and Ghost Ship to be our favorites. You can learn more about tours and events on their website.

Grumpy Troll

The Grumpy Troll is a brewpub in nearby Mount Horeb that features its own hand crafted beers. Mount Horeb is known as the Troll Capitol of the World due to the many carved wood troll statues that decorate their Main Street – thus the name Grumpy Troll. Their beers are good, especially the hoppy ales. But if you’re in the mood for something other than beer, try the bloody mary. It’s a meal in a glass!

New Glarus

Our favorite Madison area brewery bears the name of its hometown – New Glarus Brewing. The brewery is located at the top of a hill just outside of town. Access is via a narrow, winding road so you may have to leave your RV behind. Nevertheless, when you reach the brewery itself and see the view, you won’t regret it. Here are a few photos of the brewery and beer garden that should show you how far the owners have gone to create an old-world experience for visitors.

The beers are also quite good. You can taste three samples for $8 and you can keep the tasting glass. If you like the place as much as we do, you’ll end up hanging around for a pint or two to enjoy the view.

To learn more about Madison, check out visitmadison.com