Wisconsin’s Craft Beverages – Raise a Glass
Air Date: 06/29/2019 - 06/30/2019
Here in Wisconsin, there is a rich culture of craft beverages that encompasses a long list of places to check out throughout the state. Hosts Mariah and Eric decide to knock some of those spots off by visiting three major craft hubs of the state, and get a look behind-the-scenes of their beverage production. They begin their travels in La Crosse County, where Mariah gets involved at Lost Island Wine and Skeleton Crew Brew. As a location thats both a winery and brewery, they offer a variety of options for their patrons. And not far away, Eric gets a tour of one of the oldest and more established breweries of the area, Pearl Street Brewery, known for it’s creative flavors.
Next stop is on the other side of the state, not far off the Mascoutin Valley State Trail, near the Ripon Area. Mariah gets too see a harvest in action at Vines and Rushes Winery, while also getting to enjoy some wood-fired pizza and live music in their tasting room. Eric has a very different experience in Ripon, as he heads to a 1962 schoolhouse where Rushford Meadery and Winery have redesigned their tasting and production rooms, providing a fun and unique experience. They’re also one of the few locations in the state for locally harvested and produced mead.
Finally, Eric makes his way north to the Stevens Point Area and gets a taste of some strong, distilled beverages at Great Northern Distillery in Plover, WI. And Mariah takes a look at one of the larger craft brewers in the state, Central Waters Brewing, where they invite her to see their processes and huge barrel-aging room. Mariah doesn’t leave the Stevens Point Area without making an appearance at their Tourism Takeover event, where all their craft beverage producers come together for great music and good times.
So grab a cold one and join us; As we raise-a-glass to some of the best Craft Beverages Wisconsin has to offer.
this Episode
La Crosse
As the largest Wisconsin city along the Mississippi River, the La Crosse area provides weary travelers plenty of places and events to explore. Perhaps its most popular draw is the renowned Grandad Bluff, which overlooks parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota and even Iowa. This area is also well known for its festivals – such as The Bluffs Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival and Oktoberfest – so plan your trip accordingly! And don’t skip town before making your way to downtown La Crosse. You’ll be thoroughly impressed by the city’s award-winning restaurants and vibrant nightlife. Whether you’re up for an exciting trip, a relaxing getaway, or just a good craft beverage, La Crosse has a little something for everyone.
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Ripon Area
Coasting down the Mascoutin Valley State Trail, you find yourself in the area of Ripon, a small town in South Central Wisconsin. Nothing tells Ripon’s story better than it’s rich Craft Beverage scene. Right off the trail on your way into town lies Vines and Rushes Winery on the Prellwitz Family Farm. Known for their locally harvested wine right from their own vineyard, Vines and Rushes also serves wood-fired, brick-oven pizza, and has a steady stream of local musicians that perform live in their tasting room every Friday and Saturday. And not too far away is the Hendricks Family Distillery, where they make their award-winning Pure Class Vodka. As the name suggests, the Hendricks’ use artisan distillation to achieve a very high proof potato vodka. Once you make it into downtown Ripon, Knuth Brewing Company is a great spot to stop for a beer and some grub. Right in the heart of downtown, David Knuth meticulously brews his small batches to ensure quality, and uses only locally-sourced ingredients in his brews, as well as in his wood-fired pizza and coffee. Here, you can see right into the small brewery, with David hard at work making each batch by hand. On your way out of Ripon, you might pass what you think to be a small, old schoolhouse. Rushford Meadery and Winery encompasses 6 classrooms of the 1962 schoolhouse they have taken over, where they craft and serve a variety of sweet and dry meads, as well as wines, right from their own vineyard. Ripon is a small community, yet full of quality and unique experiences that you can’t get anywhere else.
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Stevens Point Area
The Stevens Point Area is nestled in the center of Wisconsin, with a vibrant community is intertwined with the love of outdoor recreation, craft brewing and the arts. When the area was founded, the logging industry and trading posts defined the location. With help from the Wisconsin River, the railroad and rich soil, the area continued to prosper. Today, you’ll find a mix of industry (including headquarters for Sentry Insurance, Delta Dental, and Skyward) and a strong commitment to the environment (home to the world’s largest renewable energy fair, the nation’s first college of natural resources at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame). Natural resources are mixed with arts and culture, with public art dotted throughout the communities, including the city-owned Stevens Point Sculpture Park that connects to the Green Circle Trail, a popular 27-mile recreational trail. Local flavor and farm to fork is not a passing fad in the Stevens Point Area. The state’s oldest farmers market is still held in the same spot in downtown Stevens Point, and the 160-year old Stevens Point Brewery is still a staple here along with the other breweries, wineries and distillery that make up the Central Wisconsin Craft Collective. A booming restaurant scene accentuates the local food and craft beverage scene, from a strong local food movement, classic Wisconsin supper clubs and everything in between.
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