Local Breweries, Distilleries & Wineries
Much of our culture and identity is rooted in beer. Wisconsin is home to the Miller Brewing Company, based in Milwaukee. Even our pro baseball team goes by the name the Brewers.
Countless local breweries, some historic (like the Potosi Brewing Company), populate the state. Usually, a visit to one guarantees more than fresh beer. Some breweries offer behind-the-scenes tours and tasting rooms to help you find your favorite sip. Most focus on using locally sourced ingredients, like Stubborn Brothers Brewery in Shawano and the New Glarus Brewing Co. in New Glarus.
Beer is far from the only drink we do well here.
For a spirited sip, check out our distilleries, producing spirits like whiskey and brandy with home-grown ingredients. The Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee, for instance, uses local honey, cherries and ginseng in some of its drinks.
If wine is your favorite type of drink, Wisconsin will soon become your favorite place. Some of our regions, including Fox Valley and the Driftless Region, have the perfect climate for growing grapes and other fruits, which is why these regions are home to wineries and cideries.
For a traditional wine tasting and live music, check out the Simon Creek Winery, found in Door County. The Apple Barn Orchard & Winery in Elkhorn grows apples, blackberries and more to create fruit wines.
Beer & Cheese, Please
You can pair cheese with anything, like a nice glass of wine. Eat it on a cracker or fried in a curd-style. Enjoy a cheese dish at a restaurant, bar, or tavern. Maybe spend a day at a local cheese factory, which offers tours and tastings, like the LaClare Family Creamery in Malone. Bring cheese back home for your family and friends from the Mars Cheese Castle, a Kenosha icon selling hundreds of cheeses, spreads and more. And, during your visit, check out the annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship held in Dodgeville in April.
Cheese pairs well with beer too. Find both at Wisconsin bars and taverns, which serve everything from delicious All-American cuisine to Irish fare and more. Wash down your meal with a cocktail, a glass of wine or a pint of craft beer. And don’t forget to say cheers to great food and even better company.
Supper Clubs, Restaurants & More
Across Wisconsin, you’ll find the supper club spirit is alive and well, and the restaurant scene is as diverse as it is delicious.
What are supper clubs? In Wisconsin, they started as taverns and dancehalls where food and socializing went hand in hand. Now, these clubs maintain tradition by serving a classic menu, which includes fish fry, chicken, prime rib and traditional drinks like brandy old-fashioned cocktails — another Wisconsin icon. The Ishnala Supper Club, for instance, is a truly unique dining experience located near the Wisconsin Dells. Enjoy the surrounding nature while eating traditional bites and classic cocktails. The restaurant sits on Mirror Lake and overlooks pine forests.
Wisconsin restaurants, in general, serve up regional specialties and All-American favorites everyone in your family will love. From fine dining to casual spots, everyone will be happy.
That’s not all. Wisconsin has plenty of culinary experiences that go beyond the restaurant experience. Get a firsthand look at fruit production at a Door County cherry orchard. Maybe hop on the Door County Wine Trail with stops at several wineries. There are also Wisconsin specialties everyone has come to love, like pies. Be sure to stop by Sweetie Pies in Fish Creek. For other baked goods, like kringle pastry, visit the O & H Danish Bakery in Racine.
There’s a lot of food and drink to experience in Wisconsin, from breweries and cideries to supper clubs and wine tours. You and your family will leave any experience with full stomachs and happy hearts.
Greenwood
