Beer Festivals Begin in May

Alpine Beer Fest

After a long, cold winter that didn’t want to leave us, spring has finally come to Milwaukee, more or less. And this week is American Craft Beer Week. So there is plenty of reason to celebrate, and lift a stein or can or bottle. Here’s what’s on tap — literally — in the month of May.

May 11-17: AmeriCan Craft Brew Week

For the entire American Craft Brew Week, the Milwaukee Ale House  will be serving canned goodness from a variety of American brewers including MKE, Founders, Oskar Blues, Desthil, Ballast Point, Six Point, and Sierra Nevada. If canned craft beer isn’t your fancy, the Milwaukee Ale House has you covered with a variety of freshly-tapped beers from Milwaukee Brewing Co.

May 15: Sprecher Beer Dinner at Envi

Celebrating American Craft Beer Week in style, Sprecher and Envi Ultra Lounge in Racine (316 Main St.) have teamed up for a four-course dinner featuring Milwaukee Mule cocktails and select beer pairings, including the infamous Czar Brew, a bourbon barrel aged Russian Imperial Stout.    Reservations are made through Envi Ultra Lounge, $50 per person, $80 per couple.

Part beer tasting, part beer expo, Alpine Beer Fest at Milwaukee’s Wisconsin Center is easily the crown jewel of beer related fun this spring. With nearly 400 beers from 100 brewers across the nation including Sprecher, Coronado Brewing, Dogfish Head, Water Street Brewery, St. Francis Brewing and Anchor Brewing, beer lovers will feel right at home. Best of all, the brew masters themselves will be in attendance giving beer lovers and home brewers a chance to talk shop and enjoy great beer. Tickets start at $45 general admission and $25 designated driver.

Estabrook Beer Garden

As we’ve previously reported, Estabrook Park’s annual summer Beer Garden, which serves Hofbrau brews, opened a month early this season, and has already been going for two weeks. If the weather’s warm, it’s a great place to relive an old Milwaukee tradition.

New Seasonal Releases

One interesting drink that is only in town for the week of American Craft Brew Week and is definitely worth stopping in for is Iron Horse Shandy, a delightful combination of New Glarus’ Spotted Cow, triple sec, simple syrup and fresh squeezed lemon juice. This specialty cocktail is only available at the Iron Horse Hotel.

Meanwhile, with perfect timing, Lakefront Brewery has announced the release of its newest brew, Growing Power, an organic Belgian-style farmhouse pale ale that has arrived this spring. The beer is available wherever Lakefront products are sold, but hurry and get it now, there’s always the chance this one might wind up a limited release if it doesn’t get the full support of Milwaukee’s hearty drinking — but often choosy — beer fans.