Of Bikes, Breweries & Beer

This interactive map tells the story...

Let me elaborate. We’re lucky. Our two breweries are connected by an excellent bike trail. With a holiday weekend coming up, this would be the time to take advantage of our good fortune. Here’s what I suggest...

Grab your bike and begin your peddling at the southern foot of the WIOUWASH Trail. You’ll find the trailhead next to 1799 River Mill Rd. Another map...

From there you'll peddle northwest along the Fox River and through the marshes that rim the southeastern portion of Lake Butte des Morts. It's an easy, scenic route four miles long that'll lead you to the doorstep of...

Bare Bones Brewery

Bare Bones has grown quickly since its opening a year ago. The brewery's taproom features 13 draft lines with 11 of them pouring Bare Bones beer. You can view the full line-up here. 

A couple beers to keep in mind: Bare Bones Stone Bone is a recent release brewed in collaboration with Appleton's Stone Arch Brewery. They describe it as a "dank pale ale" and that's dead right. The "dank" comes from the load of Columbus hops the beer was dry hopped with. At 5.9% ABV and 35 IBUs it's a good pick for the hop-loving cyclist. 

A Bare Bones beer that wasn't showing on their list this morning, but should be there this weekend is I Want Her Melon Wheat. I don't know about that name, but the beer itself ought to be a good refresher after a bike ride. This is a watermelon wheat beer brewed by Bare Bones assistant brewer Jody Cleveland on the brewery's pilot system. It's a small-batch beer that won't be available for long. Get it whilst you can.

All right, you've had a couple/three beers at Bare Bones, time to make the return trip. Back you go from whence you came, down the WIOUWASH Trail to...

Fox River Brewing Company

Now in its 26th year of operation, Fox River is at its peak. The brewery is producing more beer than ever before and with its large taproom and beer garden on the river it's an ideal spot for summertime beer drinking.

You can view the taplist here, but for the cyclist, Reel It In Session IPA is an obvious choice. This is a beautiful beer with Citra and Mosaic hops giving off a burst of mango and peach aroma with those same notes following through on the palate. I've grown very partial to this beer. At just 4.3% ABV you can still get your hop fix while managing to keep your bike upright.

A Fox River beer that should be available this weekend is Orange Dreamsicle. This was brewed in collaboration with Oshkosh homebrewers Bill and Karly Schwalbach from their recipe. Bill describes the beer as "sorta like the beer version of an Orange Creamsicle." And if that doesn't scream summer...

If you haven't had your fill yet, there's more beer and bike pairings in the offing. The last couple summers I've posted beer and bike tours that follow the riverwalk down towards Lake Winnebago. You can find those here and here. Whatever you do, have a great holiday weekend! 

Beers for Bikes

I love that the two Oshkosh breweries are connected by a bike trail. The trip from Fox River Brewing Company to Bare Bones Brewery is about 4 miles via the Wiouwash Trail. It’s a great, quick ride, one that I’m going to be taking often this summer. Right now each of their taprooms has a beer going that’s perfect for biking. Check it out...

Session IPA at Fox River
A little hop monster. At 4.3% ABV it goes easy on the alcohol and that goes good if you're going on a bike. Hazy and golden, the beer looks just like an American hop ale should. The sticky, citrus hop aroma and flavor dominates every last thing about it. The finish is dry and quenching. Perfect for slaking a thirst. I didn’t expect this to happen, but I’ve really warmed up to this style and this is a terrific example of it. Let’s hope they can keep this one on over the summer months. Here’s the full Fox River tap list.

Dirty Snout Summer Stout at Bare Bones
Here’s another surprise: a nitro beer from Bare Bones. There’s something about black beer in warm weather that appeals to me. This one is black as coal. Better yet, it’s built for warmer weather. Light notes of chocolate and roast in the aroma with maybe just a whisper of piney hop coming through. The nitro business gives the beer’s light body a pleasant, creamy aspect that puts a nice round edge to the roastiness. At 4.8% ABV a couple won’t leave you feeling like your bike has square tires. Here’s the full Bare Bones tap list.

Wait… I’m not the only one thinking of this sort of thing. Just found out there’s an organized cycle run from Fox River to Bare Bones happening on Friday, May 20. The run starts at 6 p.m. More info on that here.

Oshkosh Riverwalk to Wiouwash Bike & Beer Tour 2015

The last couple of summers, I’ve posted biking tours here that followed the Oshkosh Riverwalk to beer destinations on the Fox River. This year’s trek is going to be slightly different. The opening of Bare Bones Brewery, gives us a good excuse to stretch out and bring the Wiouwash Trail into the tour.

Just to clairfy: This is a DIY, self-guided tour that you can do at anytime. This isn’t an organized, one-time event.

The tour is 12.6 miles long and includes six stops for beer. Most of those miles are at the front end of the ride with the beer stops coming in rapid succession during the last couple of miles. At the bottom of the post is an embedded map, that’ll help if you get lost. And here’s a DIRECT LINK to that map that’s a little easier to access on your phone. Here we go…

Beer Stop #1: Dockside Tavern / 425 Nebraska St.
This is the meet-up point. A place to enjoy a beer on the patio overlooking the Fox River while you gather and prepare for the road ahead. The Dockside always offers a few good craft beers on draft and in bottles. The food is good, too. After you’ve fueled up, it’ll be time to hit the road.

Bike: Exit the Dockside parking lot onto W. 6th Ave. Follow 6th about a half mile west to Michigan St. Head north for a couple of blocks to the end of Michigan where it meets the paved Oshkosh Riverwalk.

Follow the Riverwalk northwest along the river to the Wisconsin/Ohio St. bridge. Cross over the bridge then pass through the tunnel under the bridge. this will put you in Carl E. Steiger Park. Here, you’ll join up with the Wiouwash trail.

This is where the long part of the ride really begins. We’re headed about 5.2 miles up the Wiouwash Trail to Bare Bones Brewery. You’ll probably be able to make it there in a half hour.

Follow the Wiouwash along the river where it runs beside the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Campus. At Rockwell Ave. the path turns to gravel until you reach Summit Ave. Follow Summit over Congress Ave. where it turns into Arboretum Dr. Continue about two blocks on Arboretum, then take a left onto River Mill Road.

A couple blocks down River Mill Road you’ll hook back up with the Wiouwash. Follow the Wiouwash for about a mile and continue on as it passes over Highway 41.

Now it’s easy. Just keep following the Wiouwash for about 3.8 miles. When you reach the large parking lot at County Roads S and Y, it’s time to reward yourself with a beer. Across the street you’ll see….

Beer Stop #2: Bare Bones Brewery / 4362 County Highway S
Bare Bones Brewery opened its taproom in May pouring guest beers from other Wisconsin breweries. This summer, the brewery will begin working in beers from its own brewhouse, but in the meantime, they’re doing a nice job filling their 12 taps with good beer. Here’s their current taplist.

After a couple of beers at Bare Bones, it’ll be time to get back on that saddle...

Bike: It’s dead simple from here on out. Just go back the same way you came. You have about 3.8 miles of easy pedaling ahead of you before you get your next beer at…

Beer Stop #3: Fox River Brewing Co. / 1501 Arboretum Dr.
You’ll want to plant yourself out on the patio, of course, and watch that big river slide by while you replenish your vital bodily fluids with the juice of barley and hops. Could be a good time for a snack as well. You gotta maintain your strength. The road ahead isn’t long, but it will be filled with beer.

Bike: Easy, just keep heading back the way you came. Only instead of crossing over the Wisconsin/Ohio St. bridge again, take the tunnel under the bridge. When you come through it, look straight ahead and you’ll see…

Beer Stop #4: Mahoney's Restaurant & Bar / 30 Wisconsin St.
This is another perfect spot for bikers. Mahoney’s has good food, a nice selection of craft beer on draft and a comfortable patio looking out onto Wisconsin St. and to the river.

Bike: After you leave Mahoney’s, follow Marion Rd. (which is just behind Mahoney’s) for about a block.  Marion Rd. will take you back onto the Oshkosh Riverwalk where it hugs the north bank of the Fox River. After a couple of minutes on the seat of your bike you’ll arrive at…

Beer Stop #5: Becket’s / 2 Jackson St.
Just what you need: 15 draft lines pouring great beer, a terrific menu to choose from, and a sunny patio looking out onto the Fox River. After you finish up here, it might be a good idea to walk the last leg of the trip.

Bike/Walk: The Riverwalk continues on behind Becket’s ending about a ¼ mile southeast at...

Beer Stop #6: The Ground Round at River's Edge / 1 North Main St.
Things may begin to blur at this point. Don’t give in. You’ve arrived at the finish line and deserve to reward yourself with a beer. Your choices here will be somewhat limited, but you’ll be able to find something good. Plus, there’s another great patio here overlooking the river. As you settle back with your beer, bask in the glow of your accomplishment and appreciate the view. You’ve made it!

The Oshkosh Riverwalk to Wiouwash Bike & Beer Tour Interactive Map...