After weeks of voting, cheering, and some super close matchups, Wisconsin has officially crowned its all-time favorite in our first-ever “Best Of” Bracket Challenge, celebrating one of the state’s most beloved foods: fried cheese curds. Run entirely by fan votes and proudly presented by Central Standard Craft Distillery, this statewide showdown brought together 32 spots from across Wisconsin. And now, the results are in… Read on to meet the winners!
Our Statewide Champion
Taking the top spot and earning the title of Discover Wisconsin’s Best Fried Cheese Curds is:
Pioneer Keg – Theresa, WI
Located in Theresa, Wisconsin, Pioneer Keg, a local favorite, rose above the competition with its signature fried cheese curds, made using Widmer’s Cheese Cellars brick and cheddar. They’re crispy on the outside, melty on the inside, and packed with that unbeatable, fresh Wisconsin cheese. One bite in, and it’s easy to see why voters kept coming back for more!
Our Regional Winners
Before the final showdown, we crowned eight regional winners. These local favorites proved they have what it takes to stand out in their region:
Eastern Region: The Local Lounge – Hilbert, WI
Northwest Region: Johnny’s Bar & Grill – Mercer, WI
Southern Region: The Old Fashioned – Madison, WI
Northeast Region: Four Seasons Supper Club – Arbor Vitae, WI
Central Region: Feltz’s Dairy Store – Stevens Point, WI
Western Region: Bass Lake Cheese Factory – Somerset, WI
Southwest Region: Hillsboro Brewing Company – Hillsboro, WI
Each of these winners earned their place through unwavering community support and incredible flavor!
Our Proud Sponsor
Central Standard Craft Distillery is more than a name. It’s an idea. An idea to craft better spirits using locally sourced ingredients, made by hardworking Wisconsinites who are passionate about what they create. They turned that idea into a reality, with many spirits earning local and national recognition for quality and excellence, including Door County Cherry Vodka, North Wisconsin Brandy, and Cabin Strength Bourbon. We are Crafted To Gather.
Door County Cherry Vodka is a 100% handcrafted, award-winning vodka infused with locally sourced honey and 50 pounds of cherries from Door County, creating a sweet, ready-to-pour spirit. You’ll fall in love with its rich flavor and quickly understand why they say you “open the Door” in every sip.
North Wisconsin Brandy is aged more than two years in fire-kissed oak barrels and then finished in bourbon barrels, which mellows the spirit into a sweet, exceptionally smooth brandy. Whether you’re finishing off the perfect Old Fashioned or sipping it neat, North Wisconsin Brandy is made in the true Wisconsin tradition.
Cabin Strength Bourbon goes one step further in the aging process. Bourbons are first placed in new American white oak barrels and aged between four and six years, then Cabin Strength is re-barreled for an additional year. That second barreling in their signature new American white oak barrels deepens the flavor and elevates the true bourbon experience. It is listed on Fred Minnick’s list of the Top 100 Whiskeys in America and is the only one from Wisconsin.
Milwaukee through and through, Central Standard Craft Distillery pours its heart and soul into every bottle to craft the perfect spirit for your next cocktail. That’s why they’re so proud to raise a glass as the sponsor of this brand-new Discover Wisconsin “Best Of” Bracket Challenge, celebrating local flavor and a little friendly competition.
What’s Next?
This is just the beginning… Discover Wisconsin’s “Best Of” Bracket Challenge will be returning with a brand-new category, giving you another chance to nominate, vote, and crown Wisconsin’s best! Until then, congratulations to all of our winners! And to our cheese curd lovers everywhere, your voices were certainly heard! Stay tuned for what’s next at DiscoverWisconsin.com.
