Lake Louie Brewery - Arena

Although their brewery is no longer open to visitors, they continue to provide some of the best microbrew selections! Check out the local liquor and grocery stores liquor dept..

Currently, their website is down, so I recommend messaging their Facebook page. Their sales representative is very responsive and handles inquiries. The brewery offers two afternoon tours on one Saturday each month. Our group was small—fewer than 10 people—but Tom mentioned that he’s had groups of up to 50 before. He guided us around the brewery, encouraged questions, and there were plenty of samples to try. There’s no fee for the tour, but honestly, I would have gladly paid for such a great experience! The brewery is located about 50 minutes from downtown Madison in Arena, WI, making it a nice weekend getaway. We also explored Spring Green after the tour, which was a lovely detour. I highly recommend visiting, and don't forget to ask Tom about the history behind the name and logo of Lake Louie. Also, don’t expect to see signage when looking for the brewery; just follow the address. Drive down the gravel driveway all the way back to the house, and you’ll find the brewery and Lake Louie waiting for you. You can park your car beside their trucks, which are located between the house and the brewery.

You know why I haven't moved away from Madison since graduating from the University of Wisconsin? The beer selection. Lake Louie produces the best beer I've ever tasted. Their Warped Speed Scotch Ale and Arena Premium Ale are both excellent, handcrafted beers that won't let you down, and you can only find them in Dane County. They used to be available only in growlers (gallon jugs), but now you can find six-packs at better liquor stores, and don't forget to look for Lake Louie on tap at your favorite bars.

Lake Louie serves all of my favorite beers: Scotch Ale, Cream Ale, Pale Ale, IPA, Milk Stout, and Belgian Farmhouse Ale, and they take unique styles to rare heights, especially with their Scotch, Milk, Belgian, and Cream Ales. While some of their darker beers can be a bit syrupy at times, their endless experimentation yields impressive results. Although they’ve only been around since the beginning of the millennium, they are becoming more widely available and consistently delighting customers with their selection and quality.