A Fall
Beer Tour

Why not investigate the local brewpubs in October?

By Wendy Webb

There’s nothing quite like sitting down with a burger or a pizza accompanied by a fresh beer brewed onsite. Why not take advantage of the chilly days in October and plan an indoor beer getaway?

Thirsty Pagan Brewing
1623 Broadway, Superior
715-394-2500
http://www.thirstypaganbrewing.com

Ask Steve Knauss, owner of Thirsty Pagan Brewing in Superior, why he built a business around beer, and he’ll laugh and say, “I like beer.” There’s no better reason than that. One must have a passion for one’s product, after all.

“It’s really about quality,” he says. “Creating and serving a quality product, whether it’s beer or our food or the growlers or the experience of coming here. I’m dedicated to that quality.”

Thirsty Pagan’s atmosphere is casual and inviting. You walk into the place and see a collection of comfy booths and tables and wonder where in the world the bar might be. It’s through the doorway on the left. There, you’ll find the brewery and a long bar that evokes nostalgia – it has the feel of an old-fashioned tavern. Most nights, that’s where you’ll find Knauss pouring beers  (there are nine on tap) and greeting customers by name.

Smoking in bars is legal in Superior, but Knauss bans it before 9 p.m. Because of that, and also because of its great pizza, it’s an excellent place to bring the kids for a relaxing dinner.

Fitger’s Brewhouse
600 E. Superior St., Duluth (Fitger’s complex)
218-279-brew
www.brewhouse.net

Fitger's brewmaster Dave Hoops knows that beer fans appreciate good home brews— especially in Duluth~Superior.

“We’ve got the best beer drinkers in the Midwest here in the Duluth~Superior area – people who really know and appreciate a good beer – and that’s really saying something," Hoops said.

The Brewhouse specializes in casual fare with a twist – you can find an Ahi tuna sandwich, a wild rice burger, hearty salads and plenty of excellent vegetarian fare along with nachos, quesadillas, burgers and the best onion rings in town.

In addition to the tap beers (sometimes over fifteen), the Brewhouse offers live music several nights of the week.

Worth the Drive: More brewpubs in and around the region

If you’re thinking about taking to the road this August, here are a few more brewpubs within about 2 hours of Duluth~Superior.

L.C. Wilmarth’s Deep Water Grille & South Shore Brewery
808 W. Main St. Ashland, Wisconsin
715-682-4200

Brewmaster Bo Belanger creates several regular varieties, a cream ale, a nut brown and a stout, along with several seasonal beers. Deep Water Grille is also an excellent casual restaurant serving burgers, sandwiches and salads and a Friday night fish fry.

Library Brew Pub
62 N. Isle Royale Street, Houghton, Michigan
906-487-5882

Here, you’ll find eight draft beers and a house-made root beer along with a casual menu  (the burgers are excellent) in a comfortable atmosphere, right on the canal separating Houghton from Hancock.

Michigan House Cafe & Brew Pub
300 Sixth Street, Calumet, Michigan
906-337-1910
www.michiganhousecafe.com

This spectacular turn-of-the-last-century bar evokes nostalgia. House specialties include cedar-planked trout, French onion soup and burgers. Don't go on Wednesday, though—it's closed for brewing.

 

This article appears in its entirety in the April 2008 issue of Duluth~Superior Magazine.
Pick up the current issue at one of these locations. Get future issues delivered to your home or business. Subscribe today!