Week In Washington, Wisconsin Winter Beers

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• This Week In Washington – January 3, 2018

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  President Trump disavowed former advisor Steve Bannon today, saying that Bannon has “lost his mind.” We talk about the implications of the split, the possibility of a government shutdown later this month, and other top stories with a Washington reporter.

• 4 Wisconsin Beers To Get You Through The Winter

  As the weather changes, so does our taste in beer. From barrel-aged stouts to fruit-infused seasonals, Wisconsin craft breweries take advantage of the season’s best flavors to offer up special, limited-release beers.

  Brewers look for beers “to reflect the coziness” of the season, said Kyle Nabilcy, food and beer writer for Isthmus.

  Or in other words, beers that warm you from the inside out and typically feature a high alcohol content, like barrel-aged stouts and barley wine, he said.

  Yet on the other end of the spectrum, citrus also comes into play in Wisconsin this time of year, paving the way for tart, high-acid sour beers to also make popular tap lists.

  Ultimately, it comes down to good, interesting beer, Nabilcy said.

  “Really you can make an excuse for any kind of beer, any time of year,” he said.

  Nabilcy shares his top four recommendations for regional winter beers.

  
  Wisconsin Public Radio file photo

  For The Bourbon Barrel Enthusiast:

  Central Waters Brewing Company Brewer’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout

  Aged in oak bourbon barrels with roasty notes of bourbon and vanilla, this imperial stout is the brewery’s most sought after beer.

  “You’re dealing with barrels that previously stored bourbon, so you get those flavors leaching through, and you’ll get some of the flavors the wood provides,” Nabilcy said.

  Central Waters Brewing Company is based in Amherst, Wisconsin.

  For The Sour Fan:

  Untitled Art and Forager Brewing Company Blackberry Berliner Weisse

  This sour beer is a collaboration between Madison-based brewery Untitled Art and Forager Brewing, based in Rochester, Minnesota.

  “It’s a very heavily fruited blackberry Berliner … kind of a light, tart baby sour,” Nabilcy said.

  The characteristic tart, sour flavor can even hint toward vinegar.

  For The Spotted Cow Purist:

  New Glarus Spotted Cow Grand Cru

  In its second year of release, Grand Cru is essentially an imperial version of the Spotted Cow Wisconsinites know so well. The brewers also added coriander and orange peel for a seasonal twist.

  “It feels bigger, boozier, kind of creamier and fuller on the palate,” Nabilcy said. “We’re in the state that if you don’t pay deference to Spotted Cow, you feel a bit like a cheater.”

  The beer is best paired with Indian curry, Havarti cheese and apple pie with caramel sauce, according to the New Glarus website.

  For The Dark Beer Lover:

  3 Sheeps Brewing Paid Time Off

  3 Sheeps has sharpened its approach to dark beers over the years. The big draw of this imperial stout is the adjunct ingredients — the toasted coconut, cocoa nibs and walnuts.

  “This is a little bit of a deviation from what they used to do,” he said. “Now they do an honest-to-God stout, and it is a very rich, very thick feeling beer. It’s high alcohol so you want to take your time with it.”

  3 Sheeps Brewing is based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

• Wisconsin Winter Beer Releases

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  As temperatures turn frigid this winter, and the days get darker, so does the beer. From barrel-aged stouts to fruit-infused seasonals, many Wisconsin craft breweries use this time to offer up unique, limited release beers.

  We talk to a beer expert about some of the best winter seasonal brews from Wisconsin breweries.

  We’d like to hear from you. Do you have a favorite beer you like to break out during the winter? Is there a special Wisconsin beer you like to drink around the holidays or during the cold months?

  Let us know by emailing ideas@wpr.org

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