These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Ask any hardcore Wisconsinite to list their favorite things, and you’ll undoubtedly hear things like cheese curds, Brandy Old Fashioneds, and of course, the Packers. 

Oh sure, there are many more, and some might disagree, but there are two things that have been on everybody’s list since the first cheesehead came over on the boat from Germany. You guessed it, beer and brats.

So, let’s talk about beer. According to Benjamin Franklin, beer is “evidence that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” This tasty elixir has been delighting mankind for thousands of years. In fact, there is evidence of brewing in ancient Mesopotamia around 6,000 BC.

As one might imagine, over the years there have been thousands of breweries and thousands of beers, but In the latter half of the twentieth century there were only a few major players dominating the market; Anheuser-Busch, Miller, Coors, and Pabst had almost 75% of the US market. Why? Because they were in the best position to compete on the two major drivers of success; economies of scale and marketing.

As such, they sucked out all the cost, and arguably all of the flavor, from the brewing process, creating bland, uniform beers. Saving a couple cents per barrel amounted to millions of dollars in increased profits.

Furthermore, they threw millions of dollars into the marketing game. Super Bowl commercials from Budweiser, for example, became a fixture in pop culture with famous campaigns such as the frogs, Clydesdales, and Wazzuuup?!

As mass produced beer became just more of the same ol’ thing, many consumers demanded more which eventually stimulated a significant shift in beer consumption patterns. This shift not only delivered on a promise of more flavorful beers, but also ignited an interest in supporting local businesses.

And what a shift it has been. According to a study by the Brewer’s Association, in 2023, there were almost 10,000 breweries in the United States, including 2,000 microbreweries, 3,500 brewpubs, 3,800 taproom breweries, and 260 regional craft breweries. This is an all-time high, with the number of breweries increasing steadily each year. 

So, gone are the days of settling for whatever the penny-pinching accountants and mind-altering marketers were pouring, to an endless list of wonderful, hand-crafted, flavorful choices. Yes, by all accounts, it’s a great time to be a beer drinker. 

But what about the brats? Well, it's always been a good time to enjoy brats. One of the most famous of all sausages, the bratwurst, or brat, is typically made from veal, beef or pork. But that’s just the beginning. Seasoned chefs, and backyard burners alike, have found infinite ways to make brats one of the most versatile of all meats. Served with sauerkraut, onions, and especially when boiled in, of all things, beer, Wisconsinites like their brats like Minnesotans like their hot dish, Illinoisans like their deep-dish pizza, and Texans like their barbeque (with all due respect to North Carolina, Tennessee, and Missouri).

So it was just a matter of time before someone came up with the idea to celebrate brews and brats in one glorious festival - like Sand Valley’s annual Brews & Brats weekend. Held in March every year, this end-of-winter spectacular features a “tap take-over” representing regional breweries with craft beer tastings accompanied by brats served six ways to Sunday. 

This year’s festival, Sand Valley’s fourth, also included a raffle, swag giveaways, music and activities for the whole family.

But the coolest part, as always, is the competition among the brewers. All guests are invited to sample and vote for their favorite. This year’s participating breweries included 3 Sheeps, Surly, Dogfish Head, Founders, New Glarus, Hinterland, O’so, Lone Girl, 2 Doors Down, and the newest entry, Rome’s own Up North Brewing Company.

With beers ranging from the light and lemony to the bitter and chocolaty, there was something for every taste. And with names like Chaos Partners, Mosh Pit, and Kosmic Kolsch, the competition was intense. But in the end, the newcomer prevailed. Up North Brewery raised the trophy in this, their first year of existence. Congratulations to Up North and all the participating breweries, because as most will agree, there really were no losers.

And the brats? Oh, the brats! So good!  Though they couldn’t steal the attention away from all the fantastic beers, they sure were the perfect complement. From the Cajun Shrimp and Aioli Brat to the Cheesy Brat Poutine, brats never tasted so good.

So be sure to check in regularly at visitromewi.com for all the details on next year's Brews and Brats because this festival has raised the bar on all festivals, and for Wisconsinites, there is nothing better than beer and brats. 

And you know what else? It’ll definitely make you happy!

Cheers!

Written by: Lydell Capritta