This evening, Black Husky Brewing will host Kristen Radaich, author of Beer Hiking Minnesota, Wisconsin & The Upper Peninsula. As the title suggests, the new book is a guide to hiking destinations in parts of three Upper Midwest states and some of the craft breweries that are situated near said hiking destinations.
Dozens of trails are featured, each with hike descriptions, turn-by-turn directions, maps, and other helpful background details about the locale. The “beer” part of Beer Hiking is justified by Radaich through highlighting a different independent craft brewery/taproom that’s located a short driving distance from a hiking destination and by offering a recommendation of one specific beer from that brewer. Yes, sometimes the chosen brewery is approximately 10 miles from the hiking spot, but that’s to be expected when many of the trails are in remote and isolated settings.
A copy of Beer Hiking Minnesota, Wisconsin & The Upper Peninsula landed on my desk at Milwaukee Record, and I figured rather than penning a traditional review, I’d take the book with me to one of the trails mentioned to let it be my guide, then chase the hike with the recommended beer pairing.
Of the 40-plus places included in the book, the closest to Milwaukee is Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, located in nearby Bayside. I’m ashamed to say I had never visited the Schlitz Audubon before. Even more embarrassing is the fact I’m pretty sure I had never even heard of it before cracking Beer Hiking. After a short trip up I-43 and a brief jaunt heading east down Brown Deer Road, I was there. I paid the $10 entrance fee, parked, and headed toward the Visitor Center.
On my way to the Visitor Center, I was welcome by a turkey. I held back and let it pass me before venturing in, filling up my water bottle, and embarking on a 2.3 loop detailed in book that included a portion of the Audubon’s Lake Terrace Loop and the entirety of the Central Wetland Loop.
With the guide book in hand and an Audubon-issued map I was given at the front gate as a backup if necessary, I was able to navigate without any issue. When Beer Hiking‘s chosen loop required me to jump from the Central Wetlands Loop to the Lake Terrace Loop by way of Elizabeth’s Trail, I was alerted with plenty of notice and told what landmarks/signage to be on the lookout for.
As the book instructed, I briefly deviated from the path, walked down some steps, and explored the beach before returning to Elizabeth’s Trail. I eventually flanked Lake Michigan on the easternmost portion of the Lake Terrace Loop before rejoining the Central Wetlands Loop.
The longest of the Schiltz Audubon’s four loops, the Central Wetlands Loop takes hikers beside or directly over a handful of ponds and Mystery Lake. It also opens up to the Edwin P. Wiley Amphitheater, a seemingly underutilized performance space I’m currently trying to resist the overwhelming urge to start a new music series at this summer. If you’re reading this, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center heads, please don’t contact me at [email protected] with a lucrative offer to pay us to book a music series at this cute little amphitheater.
With just 0.2 miles remaining on the loop Radaich cobbled together for Beer Hiking purposes, hikers reach the Audubon’s observation tower. As instructed, I climbed the tower. After I caught my breath and “when [I] had [my] fill of the view,” I rejoined the trail that soon let me out into the parking lot where my journey began.
While it left off two loops and some trails, the route put together in Beer Hiking gave me a diverse range of majestic views, brought me up and down a variety of different terrain, helped me work up a sweat as I got some steps in, and gave me an altogether glorious glimpse of a natural amenity I’m so glad to have finally explored. I purposely left a portion of the Audubon untraveled so I have a reason to visit again soon.
Onto the beer! The chosen beer pairing for this hike is Sproose, the flagship from Black Husky Brewing. Instead of taking a roughly 10-mile drive to the Riverwest Brewery I was camped out in front of for hours during Locust Street Festival just a few days earlier, I took a three-block hike to my neighborhood liquor store and picked up a four-pack of Sproose to enjoy at home after my Audubon experience. I’ve had Sproose many times before and very much enjoy the 8.6% ABV double IPA, but I promise it tasted that much better after “earning” it with a hike through one of Milwaukee County’s most serene natural settings.
Both the “Beer” and the “Hiking” recommended to me by Beer Hiking exceeded my expectations. As summer progresses and I eventually venture beyond county lines, I’ll definitely consult this book to help guide me to new-to-me trails and ales in the region. If you’re into hiking, beer, or both hiking and beer, you can pick up Beer Hiking Minnesota, Wisconsin & The Upper Peninsula at tonight’s author event at Black Husky Brewing or from your local book retailer.
