Doing a "Beer Belt" MW Road Trip

[Taverner]

For work - I get to be in places like Lansing, Kalamazoo, Madison and Chicago - so why not drive it?

Any suggestions (other than beer - I got that part taken care of) ?

[geardaddy]

1. When in Chicago, go here:

http://berghoff.com/

[Taverner]

5. Wow - that place looks great, and surprisingly affordable

Will do!

[geardaddy]

6. We went there a couple of weekends ago

when we were in Chi-town. Lunch is the best time. They also have their own brew.

[Taverner]

9. But is it a good brew?

Will it make me thrash about in ecstasy, foaming at the mouth in pure pleasure?

[geardaddy]

14. Yeah, it's pretty good.

Not as good as Surly or any Town Hall stuff, but good standard German-style brew.

[TheMightyFavog]

2. What is this you do not mention Milwaukee?

Shame on you.

Although I would reccomend a stopover in New Glarus, WI. it's a small town near Madison whose original inhabitants were comprised almost entirely of immigrants from Switzerland. Yes, the decor in town might be a bit too touristy, but it's home to the New Glarus Brewery, home to New Glarus Spotted Cow, one of the best domestic beers IMHO.

For eats, stop by the Glarner Stube. Good fondue, good bratwurst, and they even claim to have the largest urinal in the midwest. (They sell picture postcards of the thing.)

[geardaddy]

3. I second that recommendation.

:thumbsup:

[Taverner]

4. Ahhh but I am not doing the entire belt

The belt continues through Wisconsin, and into Ontario, and back down into Michigan

Its kind of a buckled belt, or an ouruborous...

[geardaddy]

7. Coming to MN, then?

[Taverner]

8. Oh yeah, the beer belt would HAVE to hit Minneapolis...

Surly and Town Hall are there!

[geardaddy]

10. Mmm...

Just had some Furious last night. I LOVE Town Hall. Especially the cask ales.

[1gobluedem]

11. Kalamazoo doesn't offer much more than drinking I fear

Although there is an aviation museum, I believe. You can run up to Battle Creek to tour the Kelloggs factory and get free cereal or you could drive to St. Joe or South Haven (not all that far) and have a good dinner at a lakeside restaurant.

[datasuspect]

12. in chicago, try this place

http://www.freddieson31st.com/

[arcadian]

13. Wear one of those plastic baseball hats with the beer holders on the side.

And eat a lot of that fried curdled(sp.?) cheese.

[Ellipsis]

15. Perhaps we should start with Mecca first.

http://www.mhtg.org/index.php/great-taste-of-the-midwest


In truth it depends on the time of year you shoot through.

[sasquatch]

16. Go to Cleveland's Great Lakes Brewing Company