The Best of Milwaukee Brewing Co.

Originating from the Milwaukee Ale House in 2007, Milwaukee Brewing Company has quickly risen to the top of the list for many craft brew fans. While their flagship beer is the well-known Louie’s Demise amber ale, MKE is far from a one-trick pony. Serving up brews in numerous styles including milk stout, cream ale, saison, IPA and IBA, and pale ale, MKE has something for everyone. Here’s a rundown and rating of their many beers.

 

Polish Moon

Style: Milk Stout

ABV: 4.5%

Bitterness: 3/10

Rating: 10/10

Recommendation: Highly recommended to those who enjoy any kind of stout or dark beer.

Thoughts: Sporting a jet black color, creamy and long lasting tan head, and a smoky aroma with a hint of coffee, this beer looks and smells like the perfect stout. The flavor is reminiscent of a carefully sweetened strong coffee with a subtle hint of chocolate, caramel, and smoke. Bittering hops are subtle but noticeable with some concentration, while aroma hops are overtaken by the malt. Regardless, a stout is not noted for its hop aroma as much as its malt.  As such, the bittering hops lend the beer a dry flavor that couples nicely with the velvety smooth mouth feel. That being said, Polish Moon is dry on the tongue, easy on the palette, and finishes smooth,  making for a tribute to the milk stout style.

 

Louie’s Demise

Style: Amber Ale

ABV: 5.5%

Bitterness – 3/10

Rating: 10/10

Recommendation: Highly recommended to Red and Amber lovers, as well as fans of Oktoberfest.

Thoughts: Sweet and malty with a slight bitterness, a creamy head, and a hoppy finish, this is for good reason one of MKE’s flagship brands. In fact, Märzen lovers will find much to enjoy in this year round offering as this beer greatly resembles the traditional fall style, for caramel and Munich malts are used in the brewing. Setting Louie’s Demise apart from its German cousin is the addition of honey malt and roasted barley, giving the beer a bit more sweetness and adding to its rich malty character. So if the end of Oktoberfest has you down, don’t fret, Louie’s Demise is sure to satisfy your lust for a fine, German-style amber ale.

 

Booyah

Style: Farmhouse Ale

ABV: 6.5%

Bitterness: 2/10

Rating: 9/10

Recommendation: For those who enjoy saison, wheat, Weiss, or amber ales.

Thoughts: A tribute to the Belgian Saison style, Booyah is one of MKE’s most interesting beers. Taking its name from a hearty Belgian inspired stew found in the northernmost reaches of the Midwest, Booyah has the spirit of the namesake stew in that it’s the product of tossing together just about everything imaginable into the brew kettle. Of course, there is a method to the madness, and the product is a beer with a pleasant hoppy aroma, cloudy orange-gold color, and a long lasting, creamy off-white head. While many malts including rye, barley, oats, and likely caramel are used in the recipe, the beer has a distinctively yeasty-caramel flavor. Though the caramel is dominant at first, hints of citrus and spice such as anise and clove shine through long enough to be noticed before finishing with refreshingly dry, earthy bite.

 

Weekend @ Louie’s

Style: Amber Ale

ABV: 4.2%

Bitterness – 3/10

Rating: 10/10

Recommendation: Highly recommended to Red and Amber lovers, as well as fans of Oktoberfest.

Thoughts: This summer seasonal blends the traditional Louie’s Demise amber ale with Rishi Blueberry Rooibos and Hibiscus tea blends. The end result is a beer that goes down smooth with a subtle aftertaste of ripe blueberries. Highly drinkable and low on the alcohol, this beer is fit perfectly for the sweltering heat of the Wisconsin summer.

 

Black Iron

Style: India Black Ale

ABV: 7.5%

Bitterness: 6/10

Rating: 10/10

Recommendation: Highly recommended to fans of both stout, IPA, and bock.

Thoughts: Black as night with a thick tan head, Black Iron is easily mistaken for a bock or a stout until the aroma hits your nose. Featuring a blend of aromas from two very different styles, offering the flowery aroma of an IPA and the roasted coffee of an Irish Stout, this beer is sure to lure in the adventurous dark beer lover. That love is almost guaranteed on first taste, for all of the hallmarks of a fine Irish stout are present from the distinct flavor of roasted malt to the dry finish, only this time the bitter finish is amped up by an copious amount of Columbus and Cascade hops making for a beer that stands in a league of its own. Careful, though: at 7.5 percent alcohol, this one will catch up quick.

 

O*Gii

Style: Tea infused Wit

ABV: 9.2%

Bitterness: 4/10

Rating: 8/10

Recommendation: Recommended to Wheat and pilsner lovers, as well as adventurous beer drinkers.

Thoughts: The first signs of a great Witbier is a shimmering gold hue, a creamy white head, and a spicy aroma. O*Gii hits the first two marks but falls short of the third. O-Gii’s has an aroma best described as a cross between pineapple and corn. It’s strange and somewhat off-putting yet intriguing at the same time. Flavorwise, O-Gii has a bittersweet, complex flavor that blends the spice and citrus of a traditional witbier with a hint of ginger. As expected, O-Gii drinks smooth but at over 9% ABV, this is a one and done kind of beer.

 

Louie’s Resurrection

Style: Bourbon Barrel Amber Ale

ABV: 7.5%

Bitterness: 3/10

Rating: 10/10

Recommendation: For those who enjoy bourbon or strong beer, especially amber ales.

Thoughts: Another seasonal product utilizing Louie’s Demise as its base, Resurrection is MKE’s answer to the bourbon barrel beer craze, and does hold its own. After spending two months in bourbon barrels, what was once Louie’s Demise becomes Louie’s Resurrection. Like its original form, Resurrection is smooth and creamy, heavy on the malt, and light on the hops. What’s new are subtle hints of oak and vanilla and a smooth, smoky, and fiery finish reminiscent of an actual shot of bourbon. On the whole, this beer is delectable and deserves to be included in the regular lineup, or at the very least, be made available in quarterly increments.

 

Hop Happy

Style: India Pale Ale

ABV: 7.7%

Bitterness: 5/10

Rating: 8/10

Recommendation: Any fan of IPA won’t want to miss this beer.

Thoughts: a shimmering and transparent bronze with a creamy off-white head, and an invigorating aroma that’s equal parts caramel and citrus. The product of three malts, three hops, and oats, Hoppy Happy features a smooth, dry mouthfeel, and is delightfully hoppy. Flavorful from start to finish, this IPA finishes strong with a crisp, long lasting bitterness that hangs on for some time. The smooth texture and complex flavor is a little deceiving, however, for at 7.7 percent alcohol, this beer will throw you off kilter after a bottle or two.

 

Pull Chain

Style: Pale Ale

ABV: 5%

Bitterness: 4/10

Rating: 7/10

Recommendation: The perfect middle ground for IPA and Amber fans.

Thoughts: A blend of American and English pale ale styles, thus sporting a long lasting, creamy white head, a complex aroma, and a shallow bronze hue, this beer is inviting, but feels like the middle ground between Louie’s Demise and Hop Happy. Like Louie’s, Pull Chain has the distinct flavor of caramel and the reddish hue of a red ale, instead of the pale straw color normally associated with a pale ale. Furthermore, it is quite strong on the hops for this style, making it feel like a session IPA, especially the dry finish. Nonetheless, Pull Chain is a refreshing beer and fits nicely in between Louie’s and Hop Happy, for it brings the best of both worlds to the table at a relatively low alcohol content.

 

Hop Freak

Style: Double IPA infused with Jasmine Tea

ABV: 8.8%

Bitterness: 7/10

Rating: 10/10

Recommendation: Fit for only the bravest IPA lovers.

Thoughts: Powerful is the most descriptive word available to cover this beast. Hop Freak is the second of MKE’s collaboration with Rishi Tea. The result of this partnership is a double IPA that hits high across the board.  A powerful aroma that blends citrus and tea into a decadent package that lures one in, as does the bronze hue. Though high on the bitterness, Hop Freak drinks smooth and is intensely flavorful. The maltiness of the Caramel and Munich are first in line after the bitterness subsides and gives way to the delicate flavor of the jasmine tea making for a delightfully addicting Double IPA.

 

Outboard

Style: Cream Ale

ABV:5%

Bitterness: 1/10

Rating: 10/10

Recommendation: For anyone who enjoys Spotted Cow

Thoughts: Creamy as the style implies, Outboard is easily one of the best beers MKE has to offer. With brilliant golden hue, creamy white head, malty aroma, and a delightfully refreshing flavor made possible by saaz hops, corn and Pilsen malts, Outboard starts out crisp and finishes smooth. Outside of the fan favorite, Spotted Cow, there are few beers that can match MKE’s expertly crafted take on the cream ale.