The Old is new again; Visiting repurposed places and getting our drink on in the process.
After navigating a busy couple of weeks and much procrastination, we can today say the blog is officially up and running (well…sort of). The visuals are not where we need them to be but we figured it’s time to start sharing, since we haven’t stopped drinking. This month we go toe to toe with our breweries of choice for the first time. 336 miles separate our respective brewery choices but both definitely have a local appeal and make us wish maybe they were a little closer. Taylor got the ball rolling with Old Bakery Brewing, located just off the Mighty Mississippi in Alton, Illinois. My choice was no closer to home as I had us hopping over the state line to a favorite childhood weekend spot – Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. <–Not Geneva, Illinois Taylor…, to visit Topsy Turvy Brewery.
The Old Bakery Beer Company – Taylor
Topsy Turvey Brewery – Jeff
My turn! So Sunday we decided to visit Topsy Turvey Brewery as Taylor mentioned earlier in the week. It prompted the question “What happens when you haul a bunch of brewing equipment down to the lake and set up shop in an abandoned church?” You take me to my happy place that’s what happens. As an elder millennial and someone who loves all things with a bit of age and patina, visiting Topsy Turvey was a no brainer. Aesthetically it’s been a while since I’ve seen a more unique twist on a bar backsplash than the stain glassed window that serves as a focal point of this southern Wisconsin watering hole. Downtown Lake Geneva has a lot of options when it comes to quenching your thirst but if it’s local beer you must have then this is your spot. It’s also just down the street from the lake so it’s a perfect weekend trip destination. Finding parking was also relatively easy.
What You Should Drink – The Secret Cherry Tree Stout (5.5% $7.25) that has just right hint of cherry for a stout and isn’t loaded with lactose, Stellar Nova Lotus IPA (7% $8.25) The Tangerine Tango Mash (5.3% $7.25) are all must tries, regardless of where you lean on the taste spectrum.
In addition to all these phenomenal flavors, after doing some additional research for this article, it appears we just missed out on some fantastic fall releases as well which might warrant a return trip back… The fall menu is loaded with (for lack of a better phrase) items to get loaded off of. Sign me up for the Smore Imperial Stout (11.8% ABV…ok we WILL BE BACK), Ferro Baked Apple Ale (5.3 ABV%), English Toffee Stout (5.0% ABV) and the Funtana Pineapple Jalapeño Ale (4.2% ABV). Also still want to try the St. John’s Fermented Wart Hibiscus Pale Ale (6% $8).
What Else We Drank –
The Funtana Frog Midwest Coast IPA (7.0% $8.25) and the Midnight Raspberry Dunkelweizen (5.6% $7.50).
Pick your poison The Lime and Squeezee Shandy (4.9% ABV $7) hands down. Way back when I was a broke college kid (now I’m just a broke adult), a majority of my paycheck went to the Leinenkugel family. Admittedly that was probably the last time a shandy was my go to beer. Fast forward to 15 years later and here I am proclaiming my love for a shandy, again. This beer would have probably been the only thing I drank were it summer. I was a little hesitant at first but the lemon lime twist from the drink and an extra nudge from the fantastic bar staff made me game for a little time travel.
Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night ’til it be morrow
