Milwaukee, WI - 'The Brew City' (11.02.-17.02.) (1)

The next day, my flight from Burlington (fantastic beer selection at the gate: 9 great craft beers) went to Milwaukee via NY LaGuardia. Thankfully, I can stay with Zach's family here. Of course, we went to a brewery on the first evening.

Goodcity Brewing

Everything was kept in an 'industrial style', but it felt a bit uncomfortable with little crowd. However, the white brick, which is typical for Milwaukee ('cream brick'), was beautifully showcased. A 2nd brewery in the city center is just about to be completed. It was also noticeable that the original wort is indicated with huge variations, e.g. IPA 14.7-17.1°Plato, just like bitterness units (50-70IBU), color (12-24EBC), and alcohol (5.0-6.0%).

Sehr Gut (Helles) 4.8%

Not quite as good ;) A bit too malt-focused and bitter. Not the balanced malt-hop ratio you expect from a Helles beer.

Pils 5.2%

Good interplay of German hop varieties Tettnang and Saphir. Unfortunately, the Bohemian bottom-fermenting yeast gives the Pilsner an unsuitable buttery diacetyl taste.

Motto (Mosaic Pale Ale) 5.2%

A SMASH (Single Malt And Single Hop) Pale Ale with too much packed Mosaic flavors.

Risk (IPA) 6.5%

An intense American IPA with only Pale Ale malt and Simcoe & Centennial hops.

Afterwards, we went to a very nice craft beer bar called Draft&Vessel. A constantly changing beer selection (800+) and beautifully furnished with, for example, information about beer or seating in a 'beer barrel'. Here, I also got to know beers from the small 'Brauer-Schule' Barley to Barrel program.