Madison has its fair share of watering holes. Whether they contain concerts, college kids, hipsters, or true Sconnies, you can’t take many steps in this town without a shiny bright Schlitz sign beckoning to you. But ask anyone what spot is most deserving of a visit on your only night in town, and I bet you’ll be directed to The Dane.

The Great Dane is Madison’s favorite brewpub. Upon opening in 1994, The Dane was the first brewery in the city of Madison in almost 30 years. Not only did The Dane’s founders revive the brewing industry in Madison, but they also revitalized the historic building the brewery calls home, which was erected in 1883 and is now on the National Registry of Historic Places. Now, almost twenty years later, we have many more reasons to love The Dane.

The Music

Whether they’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo or nothing at all, the small elevated seating area behind the bar transforms into a stage quite often these days. A casual Tuesday last summer turned into a dance party when a band from Austin rolled into The Dane on their way through town. Suite 709 has since rocketed to the top of my personal most-played list, and has returned to Madison on their subsequent tours – on purpose this time. Thanks, Dane.

The Community

What better way to share your crafted love with the community than to sponsor recreational sports teams? On summer Tuesdays, you’ll find me amongst a hoard of sweaty ultimate Frisbee players collecting free pitchers after our games. The prospect of a cold craft beer as a reward for an hour in 90° heat does wonders for my attendance record.

Celebration

Last year, The Dane hosted the release party for Common Thread, the pinnacle event of Madison’s Craft Beer Week. Common Thread is a collaborative ale made by the brewmasters of Madison’s finest breweries: Great Dane Brewing Co, Capital Brewery, Vintage Brewing Co, The Grumpy Troll Brewery, Lake Louie Brewing Co, House of Brews, Karben4 Brewing Co, One Barrel Brewing Co, Potosi Brewing Co, and Wisconsin Brewing Co. The beer flows freely at this event, and they even provide taps where you can pour your own. Cutting out the middle man? I’m all for it.

And, of course, the Beer

The Dane is the only place one block from the capitol where you can grab a brew that began life less than 50 feet from where you are standing. Old Glory APA is the crowd favorite. Pitchers of it surround the pool tables, and pints clink together boisterously during football games. In the beer garden, Crop Circle Wheat is the pick. It’s a well-seasoned craft with a strong citrusy presence and a bright yellow hue, a nod to the warm weather that has finally graced us with its presence. These crafts circulate so quickly though that the beer board doesn’t have many permanent fixtures.

As Sconnies, we appreciate The Dane for its role in the Madison community. As craft beer enthusiasts, we applaud it for bringing life to what is now a rampant craft beer industry, and for providing us with fresh, rotating crafts. This is the type of place a craft enthusiast can, and will, keep coming back to.