Getting Around Town One Beer at a Time

One good thing about being away from Oshkosh for a while is that you get to come back and discover there’s a bunch of great, new beers on tap. The other thing about being away is that you quickly gain a greater appreciation for what we have beer-wise in this city. Spend a few days traveling around the state outside the orbit of Milwaukee and Madison and you soon realize we’ve got it good here. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at a few of the local highlights currently pouring around Oshkosh.

Nut Hugger Brown Ale at Oblio's
In the land of Imperial-Double-Baltic-Quadruples, nobody gets excited about a lowly Brown Ale anymore. That’s a damned shame. Well here’s one that sets itself apart. Nut Hugger, by Upland Brewing of Bloomington, Indiana, is a rich, malty brew and a great change of pace for anybody getting burned out on the hoppy beers that seem to dominate the summer session. Weighing in with an ABV of 6.2 and and an IBU count of 41.4, Nut Hugger is a little bigger than a traditional brown. The thing to take notice of with this beer, though, is its mouth feel. The beer is incredibly silky and creamy, yet the body remains relatively light. I had this recommended to me by Andy and Sandy McClain and if they hadn’t suggested it, I probably would have taken a pass and missed a great beer. Thanks!

Hennepin Farmhouse Saison at Becket’s
We don’t often get Saisons in Oshkosh so when one shows up you’ve got to take advantage of it. And this one is begging to be taken advantage of. Hennepin is a bright, lively beer that’s perfect for summer. The aroma has a slight kick of that earthy, farmhouse funk that some find off-putting, but I think it’s a good introduction to this beer with its swarm of flavors that bounce from herbal to sour to peppery. Highly carbonated and dry, the beer continually invites you to take the next drink. At Becket’s their serving the beer in a goblet that compliments the brew nicely. It definitely adds to the experience.

Raspberry Tart at Dublin’s
Raspberry Tart, a fruit beer from New Glarus, is consistently rated as one of the top 100 beers in the world and until recently it’s only been sold in 750 mL bottles. It’s now available in kegs, as well, but Dublin’s is the only place I’ve seen it on tap. This beer is terrific. The name tells you just about everything. The tart raspberry flavor comes through fresh and sweet with just the slightest twinge of sourness. If you’re looking to convert a wine drinker to the pleasures of beer, this would be the beer to start with. I think we’ve begun to take this beer somewhat for granted in Wisconsin. Do a quick Google search on New Glarus Raspberry Tart and you’ll see how envious others our of what we’ve got pouring at Dublin’s.

Belhaven Scottish Stout at O’Marro’s
This came to O’Marro’s about a month ago and we mentioned it then, but we’re not the only ones taking notice. A couple weeks ago former Oshkosh resident Todd Haefer wrote about this beer in his nationally syndicated Beer Man column and in the process paid homage to our very own O’Marro’s Public House. It’s a good article, but somewhat disorienting when you come across it in the Daily Comet from Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. Check that out HERE. Just think, they’re reading about our little beer scene way down South!