Water Street Brewery considers cricket brew
Cricket beer could happen.
George Bluvas III, brewmaster for Water Street Brewery, is toying with the idea of making cricket beer. He also may produce more barrelaged brews. Anything could happen during the 30th anniversary of Milwaukee’s first brewpub.
One thing is certain. The original Water Street Brewery, 1101 N. Water St., will get new equipment this spring, replacing the original converted dairy equipment that has been used for brewing for 30 years.
Currently, Water Street Brewery has 30th Anniversary Mead on tap. Bluvas has made a mead for each 5-year anniversary.
Bluvas — who oversees all four Water Street Brewery locations (150 miles of driving if he visits all in one day), will take advantage of the new automated equipment to spend more time on research and development and use “more unique ingredients.”
That’s where crickets come in.
Keep reading for more beer events.
Friday: The Brass Tap, 7808 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield, gives seven taps over to Avery Brewing Co. Look for BarrelAged Tangerine Quad and Hog Heaven in the mix.
Saturday: Tour the Historic Schlitz Brewery. You can see the brewing process but you can discover how the beer got its name and more details about the brewery. The tour begins at 3 p.m. at 221 W. Galena Ave. Tickets are $10, according to the event page on Facebook.
Jan. 18: Ray’s Growler Gallery, 8930 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, hosts Five Rabbit Brewery along with author, brewer and 5 Rabbit creative director Randy Mosher from 5 to 8 p.m.
Jan. 18: Cafe Hollander, 7677 W. State St., Wauwatosa, turns the tables on Bierklasse by offering a peek in the minds and recipe books of seven chefs using seven biers in seven new ways. Tickets are $30 at Eventbrite.com.
Jan. 19: Taste the newest in Lakefront Brewery’s My Turn Series at Draft & Vessel, 4417 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood. They’ll pour My Turn Mike, an Imperial Brown Ale, starting at 6 p.m.
Jan. 19: The Boerner Brewtanical Series spotlights Brenner Brewing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. It’s hosted by Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners. Tickets are $15 for the general public.
Jan. 20: The Brass Tap, 7808 W. Layton Ave., celebrates its second anniversary with whales. The lineup includes: Dogfish Head World Wide Stout; Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Coffee 2016; Founders KBS 2016; Bell’s Whiskey Barrel Aged Expedition Stout; Sierra Nevada BBA Narwhal; 3 Floyds Zombie Dust; Founders Lizard of Koz; Epic Big Bad Baptista; Summit Dark Infusion; and more. The party begins at 11 a.m., according to the event page on Facebook.
Jan. 21: Sprecher Brewery, 701 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, hosts a 2017 Barrel Release party for its bourbon barrel-aged beers Czar Brew and Commando. The first 24 people in the door will get a signed 4-year-old bottle of either beer and everyone will get a 12-ounce bottle of Russian Imperial Stout while supplies last. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the tap room, according to the event page on Facebook.
Jan. 21: The Isthmus Beer and Cheese Festival pairs two of Wisconsin’s favorite things from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Ticket prices are $50 for general admission and $85 for premium, which gets patrons in early.
Jan. 25: The Hale House, 10539 W. Forest Home Ave., Hales Corners, taps Dogfish Head 120 Minute and Dogfish Head World Wide Stout (brewed for the first time after a two-year hiatus) starting at 6 p.m. They will also pour glasses of “Heaven and Hell,” both beers mixed together to create a big, bold Black and Tan.
Jan. 26: Glorioso’s Market, 1011 E. Brady St., hosts its first Beer, Cheese and Sausage event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and available at gloriosos .com.