The Wisconsin Brewery Tour: One Barrel

The second stop on my hoppy tour through the dairy land was Madison’s first and only nanobrewery: One Barrel Brewing Company. With literally one barrel running at full capacity churning out 10 barrels a week, the supply doesn’t quite meet the demand for this new and exciting operation. One or two lucky bars in Madison boast having this stuff on tap, and the rest is consumed on the spot at One Barrel, just as fast as they can brew it. The sense of community is strong in this little start-up, as is the sense of adventure.

Peter Gentry logged several years of homebrewing experience before he opened his doors to the public last July. With the help of his family and the strong craft beer community in Madison, he’s turned a tiny space into a fully functioning brewery. The bar was made by his dad, the curtains by his mom, and kegs are washed at one larger brewery while supplies are borrowed from another. A few lively investors even paid $5,000 for their own engraved bar stools (which comes with a lifetime of free beer, of course).

The beauty of a small operation like this is the freedom and willingness to experiment. When you come here, you’re part of that experiment, so be warned.

My personal favorite is the Chai Town Brown Ale. The spices in this amber are boldly reminiscent of the popular tea and they complement the amber taste perfectly. Why has no one done this before?

For the Ice Barley, Peter took a primitive approach to distillation, taking advantage of the harsh Wisconsin winter. He throws a batch of beer out back, lets the water separate and freeze, and then drains the beer from the bottom. The result is a much stronger and more flavorful ale that doesn’t waste your time. For another of Peter’s interesting tactics, check out what One Barrel brought to a Madison beer fest a few weeks ago.

The Penguin Pale Ale is a crowd favorite, as is the lovable drawing on its label. Peter’s penguin drawing is inked on his arm, and also adorns the bar’s cardboard coasters, which have been requested for purchase even outside the U.S. Open a brewery, become a sought-after artist. Who knew?

With the backing of Madison’s craft community and with many regulars willing to try anything, One Barrel has an ideal setup to continue to pursue new and exciting tastes in beer. Whether it’s to play a game of Cards Against Humanity with the bartender, or to taste an attempt to better big-name beer with an extra run through a hop back, I’ll be stopping here quite often. As they say at One Barrel, veritas per crapula!