We’re on the road again! Though we’ve only gone up the road a bit to what my friend Janine refers to as a suburb of Chicago, it still counts as we did cross a state line to get to Milwaukee: the city of beer and cheese and brats.
Other than culinary considerations, the big draw in selecting Milwaukee on the next leg of our journey was the opportunity to take the Amtrak from Chicago. The train may be old hat to my Metra friends, but it’s a novelty to me and Jan. In fact, we’re considering transporting ourselves back West via the Empire Builder Amtrak line (provided other things pan out, TBD.) Onward!
Encased Meats
The spot for encased meats in Milwaukee is Usinger’s. Jan loves their summer sausage, but for me this place is all about the hot dogs. You heard me, hot dogs. I don’t know what they do to get such a nice snap and rich flavor, but it’s the opposite of what you’ll find from your local grocery store. Usinger’s has been in business for over 130 years, and the quality is present in everything from their bologna to knockwurst.
Though they’re not based in Milwaukee, it’s also a great spot to pick up Nueske’s smoked meats. They’re particularly known for their applewood smoked bacon, and I agree that it’s spectacular. I’m also a fan of their summer sausage and brats. We spotted them at the Milwaukee Public Market though you can find Nueske’s at almost any reputable purveyor of fine meats in the state.
Cheese
In Wisconsin, you’re more likely to find fried cheese curds than fries on any menu, and we’re not mad about it! While we still have a preference for Next Door Brewing‘s version fried cheese curds (holla, Madison!), the local breweries in Milwaukee represent this dish well. Based on volume and coating, I’d give the edge to Lakefront Brewery for this dish.
However, if you’re looking for a selection of local cheese to take home, hit up Wisconsin Cheese Mart to find everything from curds to cheddar. We were delighted to find our Wisconsin favorite, Hook’s Cheese, in all its forms. Despite our pending travel weight limitations, we stocked up. An insta friend shared that the Mart will make grilled cheese sandwiches with your purchase, if you want to eat up the cheese right away. We’ll be back to see if that’s true.
Beer
Milwaukee is home to Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, and the Pabst family has left its mark on the city from pop-tops to theater. They also left the door open for a resurgence of local craft brewers. I’ve already mentioned Lakefront Brewing’s food menu, but their beer selection is even stronger. We’ve run the tap list here before, so decided to try to seasonal selections. Funnel Cake Ale and the New Grist Gose were our top picks, I think mostly because we wanted something lighter and refreshing. If I were taking beers home, Fixed Gear would be at the top of the list.
We were fortunate to land a rental just up the street from Good City Brewing. Not only did they let us hang out there for hours until our place was ready, they kept us happy with excellent beers and food.
I can’t say enough good things about their Scarcity 3 Passionfruit Gose, and not just because I’m on a sour kick. It’s a really well-balanced and refreshing sour. Just excellent. We knocked back almost everything on the menu and wouldn’t say no to any of it. Same goes for the food choices, too. The mac-n-cheese is an wise choice, and if they have it, try the berry pie made with their pale ale. So yum!
We’ve got a few days left in Milwaukee, so more beer, cheese & meat to come! Keep up to date via our Instagram posts!
Say YES to cheese curds and encased meats, baby! Is it possible I could meet you at Union Station for a drop shipment of Usinger’s hotdogs and Neuske’s bacon? Wouldn’t mind that yummy Gose either.
Even though it’s less than 100 miles away, Milwaukee has a flavor all its own.