Lowlands marks season with holiday ales
A decade of the Lowlands Group calls for — more beer. The umbrella group for four Cafe Hollander locations, Cafe Centraal, Cafe Bavaria and Cafe Benelux will celebrate with special events but also with an extensive menu of holiday beers.
I tried a few to be sure.
Among the holiday brews is Silly Burgundy, Scotch ale aged in burgundy barrels. Silly Burgundy isn’t as sweet as a Scotch ale can be; the caramel is more pronounced.
Notable is N’ice Chouffee, with flavors of thyme, orange peel and holiday spices offset by herbal hops.
The rum barrel-aged Piraat comes with a story. Jef Versele, owner of Brouwerij Van Steenberge, visited the Lowlands group in Milwaukee one summer and was treated to a boat cruise in the harbor. Versele accidentally dropped a glass in the water and told the staff he would send his son from Belgium back to Milwaukee and, if he could find the glass, Versele would give him the brewery.
Lowlands is the only place in Milwaukee to get kegs of Kapittel Winter, an Abbey Ale with flavors of sour cherry, spices and dried berry, and Petrus Sour Quad from Brouwerij.
There’s more, including Santa Rampage, a collaboration beer timed for the Santa Cycle Rampage Ride on Saturday. Last year, 2,000 cyclists donned Santa suits or some variation of red and white for the 5.5mile cruise.
The Lowlands Group has Cafe Hollanders in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Mequon and Madison. The Hollander at 2608 N. Downer Ave. celebrates the 10th anniversary with a remodel. Not all locations will have every beer.
More beer events to consider:
Friday: Miller Valley Holiday Lites begins and continues each Friday and Saturday through Dec. 17. Look for the giant Christmas tree made of 150 beer kegs. Special guests include representatives of the Milwaukee Bucks Dec. 2; representatives of the Brewers on Dec. 3; representatives from Summerfest on Dec. 9; the Brewers again on Dec. 10; and representatives of the Milwaukee Admirals on Dec. 16 and 17. Special community partners will be joining throughout each weekend, according to the event Facebook page.
Saturday: Romans’ Pub, 3475 S Kinnickinnic Ave., saved the 36th annual anniversary/Christmas party for the weekend.
Saturday: Happy anniversary to Champp’s. They will celebrate with pours of specialty brews from Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout to Oskar Blues Barrel Aged Ten Fidy and more. Doors open at 10 a.m.
Sunday: Raised Grain Brewing, 2244 W. Blue Mound Road, Waukesha, will introduce its first barrel-aged beer starting at noon. The brew is Raised Grain’s Spring City Saison, which has been aged in Great Northern Distilling Vanguard Whiskey barrel for five months. It’s called Barrel One.
Monday: Surly beers get matched with foods from BKC Story Hill, 5100 W. Blue Mound Road, during Bar Bites from 6 to 9 p.m. Dinner is $65 and includes reception, 5 beer-paired courses; gratuity and tax not included. Reservations are required. Call (414) 539-4424.
Monday: Milwaukee Brewing Co., 613 S. 2nd St., hosts the special release of Louie’s Cherry Bounce XVI. The limited-release beer follows the Louie’s Resurrection recipe but aged an extra two months in Copper & Kings oak brand barrels stuffed with Door County cherries. Get it from 4 to 7 p.m. at the brewery.
Wednesday: Happy anniversary to The Brown Bottle, 221 W. Galena St. From 5 to 9 p.m. it will toast with pours of Founders Backwoods Bastard; Founders Pale Joe; Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout; Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Scotch Ale; Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Belgian Quad; Stone Bigger, Longer, Uncut; Upland One Eyed Elmer; Sierra Nevada Narwhal stout; Wasatch 30th Anniversary Extra Pale Ale; and Wasatch Polygamy Porter on Nitro.
Thursday: The Christmas/anniversary party is over, but Romans’ Pub is still rolling out the barrel. This one is De Bruin Imperial Double Chocolate Oatmeal Stout from Karben4. There are only two kegs of this particular beer, and the other one is at the brewery in Madison. Dec. 15-17: Bier Zot Beer Cafe in Sister Bay hosts its first Holly King Festival, a festival of stouts in honor of the winter solstice ahead. The main event is Dec. 17 and the beer list will include 2014 Bourbon County Stout.