beer

Hoops Dockside, Bayfield, WI., 6/25/24

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
order area – 207 Wilson Ave., Bayfield, WI., 54814

Hoops Fish Market has two retail shops (second one opening in 2019) operated by Craig Hoopman Fisheries.  The Hoopman family has had 6 generatons of commercial fishing from Lake Superior with the primary catch being whitefish.  The family went all in to open Hoops Dockside this year which is a short walk down the driveway next to their retail store.  They are open during the summer and have live music on weekends from 6:30 – 10:30.  The music line up is on their Facebook page.    They have built a lovely seating area with stools along the sides facing Lake Superior.  You can watch the boats go by to the marina next door as the band plays and you munch on whitefish caught that morning.  It’s a simple menu of fried whitefish, fries and slaw in a basket.  He cooks the fish and his wife and son were taking payments and selling drinks.   It is truly a family operation.  They have wine by the glass, beer and soft drinks.   As you enter the booth is on your right and you make your order, pick up drinks and pay.  They call you when your fish is ready.  The band that night was not my particular favorite but what a stunning backdrop for a fun, casual dinner.  Coming from the heat of Texas it was particularly lovely to be able to sit and enjoy the outdoors.  I thoroughly recommend you check it out. Continue reading →

Moody Tongue, Chicago, 2/23/22

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Exterior

Moody Tongue expanded their brewery to include The Bar, a casual restarant with snacks and drinks, and The Dining Room, a fine dining option which is paired with beer at the highest caliber, striving to unite beer and cuisine in an unprecedented, interactive way.  Chef Jared Wentworth was recruited by Moody’s President and Brewmaster Jared Rouben when they expanded their operation to include fine dining in 2019.   The small 28 seat dining room offers only a 15 course tasting menu alongside specialty beer pairings.  The Dining Room has recieved a 2 Michelin star rating.  It’s a dark room with dark wood walls, black tables and chairs and low lighting.  Music is in the background and some windows looks out to the street but they are covered with blinds.  They offer 2 seatings (5:30 & 8:30) each evening that start promptly and have a tough cancellation policy, so be sure before you book.  Everyone seemed to get the beer pairings with their tasting and they are a bargain at just $45pp.  It was a younger, more casual crowd but the service people felt programmed with their introductions of the dishes and often picked up the plates while you were still chewing.  The plates were often lost with so many ingredients. Continue reading →

Bavette La Boucherie, Milwaukee, 12/1/21

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building

Bavette started out as a butcher shop and evolved into a restaurant.  It still has the butcher shop concept and procures the whole animals raised on local farms and then uses the entire carcass to generate less waste.  Now the consumer can buy retail cuts and/or prepared foods from the counter or sit back and enjoy the food in a restaurant setting.  Most of their produce also comes from local farms mandating a seasonal type menu.  Also available are craft beers, wines and cocktails.   It’s a medium sized place with music in the background, a high wood ceiling with exposed duct work and plastic partitions between tables. Although currently in the trendy Third Ward section, the word is that they want to move to a larger location soon, so check their website before going <https://bavettelaboucherie.com&gt;.  Service was relaxed and very friendly and the food was excellent. Continue reading →

Denali Brewpub, Talkeetna AK., 7/31/21

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exterior

Denali Brewpub is in the center of the small town of Talkeetna, nestled at the base of Denali. It is a large place with guests being those arriving by train, outdoor enthusiasts and families.  Dogs are welcome on the large outdoor patio.  Inside there is a log cabin feel with wood ceiling, walls and floor along with a large fireplace.  A bar dominates one of the several rooms and the kitchen is in back.  Lots of decorations adorn the walls, including some of the things for sale.  There is free wi-fi and music is in the background.  A large number of beers are from their brewery that is close by.  Service was good and very friendly but lunch does start at 11:00 not at 10:00 which was on the website. Continue reading →