Stubby’s “53”?
Todd and Stubby’s love their beer so much that it’s in their name: Gastrogrub and Beer Bar, but what’s up with the “53”. Well, they love their beer so much that the 53 in their name represents the number of taps they have to choose from! Ok, so maybe they only have 52 taps…open to the public. That 53^rd tap line is reserved for Stub Club members and, more often than not, features a pretty exceptional or rare beer. The varied line-up contains 15 staple taps; ones that don’t often leave, while the remainder change on an average of every 1.5 days. This means that you can expect something new every time you head to Stubby’s! As self-proclaimed “Beer Travel Agents”, Stubby’s selection of beer can allow you to travel the beer world from your barstool.

Beer Cellar
If you thought wine was the only thing that could be cellared, you’d be wrong. Beer, depending on a few variables, can be matured as well, and Stubby’s is one of the first commercial places in Milwaukee to have a beer cellar from which one can select beers. The reserve bottle list is lengthy, and like their detailed tap menu, varied: completely different styles, breweries, and so on.

Gastrogrub
As fate would have it, the location Todd and Zarletti had their sights set on was not only prime for a beer bar, but also food. Not in the original plan, the “grub” part of the name came from the fact their desired location already had a perfect kitchen layout. This addition to the plan brought on the idea of gastropub fare; comfort food but with a gourmet twist. Their menu items appeal to both the masses as well as foodies. The recent addition of head chef Brad Clark also brought about a slight change in the menu; a bigger focus on locally sourced ingredients and diversifying the menu based on the culture of Stubby’s many surrounding neighborhoods.

Stubby’s Overachiever Ruben photographed by Brian West, Publisher, Alcoholmanac Magazine

Gourmet Comfort Food
Take one look at their beefy (yep, that’s an intended double entendre) menu and you might be overwhelmed. With the quality of their food and how delicious everything is, I often find myself in the same situation, trying to decide between a few incredible options, so I’ll help you out with a few necessary staples:

The Inside-out Scotch Egg – prepared wonderfully and in a way you’ve never seen before!

Big Sticks – If you like bacon (and who DOESN’T?) and French fries wait until you try this concoction!

The Overachiever Ruben – The name says it all. This massive Ruben will satisfy the burliest, hungriest of men.

Subby’s Burger – “Topped with cheddar cheese, thick cut bacon, and pulled bbq pork. Garnished with onion straws, lettuce, tomato and pickles.” Said best by one of Todd’s friends, “If I want the Stubby’s Burger, I have to plan my day around it when I wake up.” This is by far and away my favorite menu item and one of the best burgers in Milwaukee!

And those are just a small sampling of the incredible items on their menu!

Stubby’s Gastroburger photographed by Brian West, Publisher, Alcoholmanac Magazine

Stubby’s Passion
Service is a passion for Todd and Zarletti because at Stubby’s, it’s all about making people happy and encouraging a down-to-earth personal feel; their food might lean towards the gourmet side but this is a place when no one’s nose will be raised. It’s one thing to have great food and a few beers on tap, it’s another to take the time to train the staff about the beers, and Todd does just that. When new beers are on tap, everyone is encouraged to try them and learn at least one thing about the beer. Additionally, styles are taught to the staff in tasting sessions as well so they can appropriately pair whatever might be on their frequently rotating taps with that certain menu item that’s calling your name.

At Home Gastropub
Creating the atmosphere for Stubby’s was a laid back, hands on experience for Todd, all part of the plan for it’s down-to-earth feel. Working with the layout from the previous tenant, Bayou, Todd utilized the existing massive bar and made it the focal point of the entire space.  An internal “tap island” houses their 53 taps that are protected by the strong and functional concrete bar.  Flat TV screens,  “specials chalkboards”, and an impressive crown of tap handles surround the soffit, showcasing the expansive history of beers and providing entertainment.

The rustic elements from the reclaimed barn boards to the bourbon barrels boast the gastropub’s laid-back atmosphere.  The entryway wall of bourbon barrels also provides some privacy, dividing the space between public and private dining.  For the warm summer nights, leave the TVs behind and, enjoy your craft beers while relaxing on the large patio overlooking the river!

Get Planning
Pick a day and eat light because with all Stubby’s has to offer, you might find yourself feasting on more than a delectable burger or sandwich. And if you’re having as hard of a time selecting a beer as you’re having with food, Stubby’s also offers a variety of beer flights from themed to custom. Plan on indulging.

Cheers,
Andy and Tricia Guy

Stubby’s Gastrogrub • 2060 North Humboldt Avenue • Milwaukee, WI 53212

Thanks to Brian West, Publisher, Alcoholmanac Magazine, for the appetizing pictures!

Brewery:

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.
Pairings: Visit this link for extensive food pairings.

Appearance

I’ll be forthcoming; I’ve never had a either monk fruit or soursop so lets see what it’s like! Bright clear golden colored, Rolle Bolle (pronounced “roll-e bowl-e”) is crowned by a moderate stark white head that leaves thin lines of lace traipsing around the glass.

Smell

Suggestions of unique tropical fruit suggest the contributions of monk fruit and soursop and add a great, almost pear-like crisp citrus accent to the beer’s light yeasty spice and gently hopped nose.

Taste

As if the nose wasn’t quite light enough, the flavor thins out even further focusing more on the addition of the two unique fruits. A pale malt base has grainy undertones with light hints of sweetness and a complimentary, light hop profile, which adds a light trickle of floral notes on the finish. Mildly influential yeast doesn’t quite direct me towards this being a “Belgian” beer though.

Mouthfeel

Crisp, light, and quite refreshing, the balance of sweetness from the added fruits are wonderful against the mild hopping and dry, floral finish giving Rolle Bolle a terrific summer beer feel that will certainly quench thirst and refresh the palate!

Overall

Rolle Bolle is a great summer addition to New Belgium’s line up. The experimentation with two unique fruits pays off wonderfully giving the beer nice nuances of tropical fruit while maintaining a crisp and easy drinking profile, perfect for the warmer months!

Score: 85 / 100 - Wonderful

Cheers,
-Andy

Brewery:

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

Light haze forms over the beautiful golden colored beer. Proteins in the hops help keep the chunky off-white head afloat for quite some time and further encourage sticky gobs of lace to grapple the glass.

Smell

Really Cool Waterslides has an explosive aroma of hops; not too huge, not faint or underwhelming, just right. The earthy-citrus combination conjures up suggestions of mango, pineapple, and grapefruit rind with notes of lemongrass and white pepper along the finish. This ride isn’t all hops though, as it’s balanced nicely by a background of biscuit-and-caramel-smelling malt.

Taste

The twists and turns of Really Cool Waterslides continue with a citrus flavor that abandons the bolder pineapple and mango notes the nose offers for a straight forward grapefruit rind and lemon zest that works out nicely, adding floral qualities also. The malt base continues to balance this hop-forward beer very well!

Mouthfeel

IPAs are meant to be bitter, so when I say Really Cool Waterslides is fairly bitter, it shouldn’t scare you off. Starting smooth and almost soft, this beer goes down incredibly well, lingering with a mildly dry, hoppy bitter finish that almost requests another sip.

Overall

Like a great water slide attraction, this beer is worthy of coming back to time and time again, almost immediately, in fact. It rides a fine line of balance with submissive, sweet malts and forward-flowing hop intricacies for a hoppy-yet-drinkable IPA that doesn’t disappoint or overwhelm.

Score: 87 / 100 - Wonderful

Cheers,
-Andy

3 Sheeps Brewing Co. began, as many breweries do, in the kitchen of its founder and brewmaster, Grant Pauly.  What started as a Christmas gift quickly turned into an obsession, prompting Grant to quit the family concrete business and pursue a life as a brewer.  After searching long and hard for a location, he was able to purchase the equipment from a former brewpub and rent space in an old sock factory in Sheboygan, WI.

Year-round Beers:
Baaad Boy
Cirque du Wit
Really Cool Waterslides
Rebel Kent The First

Seasonal Beers:
Ewephoria
Hello My Name Is Joe

Limited Beers:
None, yet.

Retired Beers:
None!

Brewery:

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

Rusted copper-colored, Happy Ending is hazy and pours with a lasting ivory head that lingers in a densely packed ring below a rocky lace silhouette of a mountain range.

Smell

Happy Ending’s full aroma wafts out immediately and offers a bouquet of Belgian yeast esters; clay, lemongrass, white pepper, and grains of paradise. Caramel notes slowly emerge with dry biscuit following while a swirl brings out granny smith apple slices and a funky off-yeast hint that’s not quite aggressive but present nonetheless.

Taste

Soothing malty presence starts the beer with caramel and sliced warm whole wheat bread before abruptly shifting to the yeast’s relentless esters which mirror the nose’s earthiness; clay and white pepper with a mélagne of spices along the finish. Traces of molasses and dark candi sugar trail off on the finish of Happy Ending.

Mouthfeel

Happy Ending ends happily with a smooth feel yet mildly carbonated finish; the perfect balance for an Abbey brew. Spiciness trails on the tongue, gently balancing out the sweet malt which lingers in the background all while a faint trace of alcohol warms the throat and stomach.

Overall

Ale Asylum’s Happy Ending has a great base of maltiness and features quite a bit of Belgian yeast character, though somewhat forced-feeling; faintly unnatural. By no means does it distract from the overall impression, which is a soothing and delightfully balanced Belgian-style brew.

Score: 84 / 100 - Very Good

Cheers,
-Andy

Brewery:

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

The golden-orange body shines bright even with a light particle haze but the real show-stopper is a monstrous cream-colored thick and rich head. It’s retention turned to a rocky surface is only matched in awesomeness by the incredibly thick and art-like lacing it leaves on the glass.

Smell

Hopalicious has a fantastically potent blend of fruity and floral hop aromas that’s more akin to an IPA. Mandarin orange and nectarine create a nice fruity medley around light pine and a slight citrus tang. A crystal and light malt sweetness stands strong in the background comfortable letting the hops steal the show.

Taste

Neither the hops nor malts dominate the flavor the way they do in aroma, instead they work harmoniously. The flavor starts off smooth and malty with no real flavor definition but shifts seamlessly to the hop bitterness. The hops lack the big fruity punch but retain the floral aspects; flower pedals and light pine-needle mingle with a small squirt of citrus.

Mouthfeel

Hopalicious is well carbonated but without the serious throat-bite at the end; instead, this beer is a bit creamy and smooth. Bold hopping in this pale ale imparts a dry and bitter profile that finishes with a touch of alcohol warmth in the stomach.

Overall

Ale Asylum has struck gold with Hopalicious, a delicious and round-bodied pale with a great aroma and inviting appearance. The flavor lends itself very well to a (richer) hoppy session beer that has great drinkability!

Score: 90 / 100 - Exceptional

Cheers,
-Andy

Brewery:

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

This lighter copper amber color pours totally hazed and the turbulence creates a large bone-white, sudsy and long-lasting head. The creamy descending head shrouds the glass in thin but coating lace.

Smell

Amber malts co-mingle with hop aromas very well here; malts impart a nice and sweet caramel note with suggestions of toffee while earthy hops round out the nose. Their presence is marked by a big floral aroma with hints of pine and citrus.

Taste

Hops’ floral strength is undercut by earthy pine needle and up-rooted clumps of grass. Malt holds it own, pushing back against the hops with sweet caramel and toffee with a freshly opened loaf of white bread.

Mouthfeel

Ambergeddon is medium in body and a bit creamy, finishing with a piney hop punch of moderate bitterness and a crisp carbonation bite to really round out the feel nicely.

Overall

Better than the average amber, Ambergeddon brings a little something extra to this “catch-all” style of beer; assertive hops meet a beefy later of maltiness but neither backs down and neither overwhelms the other for a balanced and flavorful brew!

Score: 86 / 100 - Wonderful

Cheers,
-Andy

Brewery:

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

With large “glugs”, the beer was poured with vigor creating a small tan head that fades to a foamy ring of suds below wispy lacing. Clear reddish-brown highlights show some clarity through this very dark porter.

Smell

Contorter’s aroma immediately bursts fourth with really roasted, almost burnt qualities followed by bitter baker’s chocolate, dry cocoa, and a light toffee and coffee-bean nose. While the aroma is assertive, it’s also got a nice “light” feel that trails off with earthy notes of dirt and English hops.

Taste

Roasted black and chocolate malts give Contorter a strong flavor presence of dry cocoa and crumbly bitter chocolate while also bittering it significantly on the finish. Light, watered down coffee flavors are present as well but underwhelming when set next to the roasted malt.

Mouthfeel

Crisp and well-carbonated this medium-bodied porter surprisingly has a very smooth feel for it’s carbonation level, finishing a touch dry and fairly bitter from the roasted malts.

Overall

Contorter Porter is one of those sinister-looking dark beers that’s no where near as aggressive as it first appears. It might not be immediately approachable, but this is a dark beer that’s got good flavor without really packing a wallop or “being too thick”. It’s an easy-drinking porter that would fit right in with the English session ales; a few at your favorite pub wouldn’t be a bad start to the night!

Score: 82 / 100 - Very Good

Cheers,
-Andy

Brewery:

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

Vibrant golden in color, Doom pours with a firm white head that lingers with Swiss cheese-like holes letting the clear beer show through the cap below dots of lace which adorn the glass.

Smell

Doom’s subtle barrel-aging imparts a smooth note of vanilla which pairs well with the plush, juicy tropical fruit hop aroma of candied passion fruit and mangoes. Blending in nicely is caramel and Munich malt sweetness before the aroma finishes with a soft touch of bourbon and oak.

Taste

While decidedly malt-forward, this double IPA doesn’t lack hops, it’s soft underbelly of robust tropical fruit flavors do give way to the sweetness and barrel-aging, however. Munich and caramel sweetness linger with a light (real) maple syrup-like flavor which works well with it’s time in barrels. Oak and notes of vanilla are a unique addition to the fruity-hopped beer while the finish trails off with a touch of the liquor.

Mouthfeel

Full-bodied but quite smooth, Doom has a big feel that captures each essence of the beer nicely; soothing, warm alcohol from the barrel, sharp, almost tart hop bitterness, and plenty of sweet malt to balance it all out.

Overall

Doom runs the gamut of aromas and flavor profiles for a unique beer that works very well. The hops’ respective qualities pair well with the barrel-aging process’ natural characteristics. It’s not too big, not too boozy; in fact, it’s just right and surprisingly smooth!

Score: 87 / 100 - Wonderful

Cheers,
-Andy

Brewery:

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

Pouring clear dark bronzed walnut in color, Madtown Nut Brown forms a thin bone colored head. Dots of lace speckle the glass in rings but the fleeting head disappears rather quickly.

Smell

Madtown Nut Brown has a openly nutty aroma with toasted biscuit and caramel sweetness trailing. As the beer warms hints of woody maple and a fine layer of earthy hops make their way in on the back end with raisin and dark cherry emerging as the beer warms.

Taste

A blend of dry nuttiness opens the flavor profile with a follow up of equally dry toasted amber malts and a dollop of caramel sweetness. Wood shavings present earthy tones, which compliment the nuttiness along the finish.

Mouthfeel

Madtown Nut Brown starts smooth and lush with a round malt mouthfeel but dries out quickly in conjunction with the carbonated finish. The entry brings some needed balance to the dry, nutty ale.

Overall

Nut-rich and earthy, the dry toasted notes seem to overwhelm the sweetness of this beer for a significant balance shift to the “nutty” side. Madtown is certainly not a bad beer, by any standards, it’s just not my cup of tea when it comes to brown ales; the sweetness hides providing minimal balance and it’s dryness becomes cloying.

Score: 72 / 100 – Decent

Cheers,
-Andy