The Year in Beer

Name: Badger Red Rye

Brewer: Moosejaw Pizza & Dells Brewing Co., Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

By the numbers: About 180 calories per 12 oz.; 6 percent alcohol by volume

Notes: I went to a pizza place/brewery and did exactly what I caution people against, I had a burger (meh) and not the pizza. That’s like going to a rib joint and getting the spaghetti. You should always go for the specialty. Well, at least I did try their beer. I’ve developed a liking for rye beers, so I gave Moosejaw’s version a try. The taste was spot on and spicy, but the beer was a bit flat. I’ve found this to often be the case with small breweries that keg their own beer. Maybe the lower-than-commercial grade kegging equipment doesn’t allow for the pressure needed. I’d almost rather they bottle-conditioned, but I get why they don’t. Anyway, the beer poured deep reddish brown and had a spicy-malt aroma. It wasn’t bad, but it could have been better.

Try it with: A late summer trip to the Wisconsin Dells. Though I think this one was a seasonal offering, so they might not have it all the time. The restaurant, which bills itself as the Dells’ only microbrewery, has a rustic log-cabin theme. You can also get some of their brews at their sister restaurant, Buffalo Phil’s, which also offers train-delivered food. It’s exactly what it sounds like: you sit at tables surrounding a model railroad setup and they put the plates and drinks on the flatbed train cars. Yeah, it’s exciting.

    — Posted by Mike Freimann