Green Bay Day Two

On day two my wife and I got ready and walked down to the Farmer's Market in Downtown Green Bay. Since we really did not know where we were going we wound up taking a less than direct route.  Once we did make it to the Market it was a cool little one, it only took about a half hour to walk the whole thing.  Then we went and made our purchases.  We checked in with our friends and they were checking into our hotel so we walked over and checked in.
After checking in we decided were to have lunch and we decided upon Curly's Pub at Lambeau Field. http://www.packers.com/lambeau-field/curlys-pub.html  After a bit of a wait for a table we were seated in a banquet room that is normally not used unless the restaurant is busy.  Actually it was great for us since we wound up having a decent sized group, including a baby that is in the process of learning how to walk so he had plenty of room to explore.  The food sounded really good, but actually was a bit disappointing.  They did have a couple decent beers on tap. The first was Curly's Ale, brewed by Leinekugel's specifically for the pub.  This is a decent pale ale that probably was the best regular beer they had.  Also they had Leinekugel's Oktoberfest, which is again a decent beer, some malty notes and low hop notes.  After lunch we headed back to our hotel, since the rest of the night we would be walking.  As an aside for all of you Packers Fans – some of our group met Bart Starr while at Lambeau Field that day.  It made their whole weekend!
I had previously checked the Hinterland Brewery website, http://www.hinterlandbeer.com/ to make sure of the hours of operation, on Saturday it stated they opened at 4PM.  So we left the hotel about ten till 4 so we would be there right at opening.  We walked in the door and were rather indignantly told by what we later figured out to be the General Manager that on Packer weekends they do not open until 4:30 PM and that the upstairs lounge is not open at all, only the dining room.  My wife and I as well as our friends were determined to actually make it inside and sample their beers, since none of us had ever been it the place.  This was my wife and I’s third attempt.  So we had to go kill a half hour and found a local bar named Kegger's.  
This is a typical northern Wisconsin bar.  Small, wood filled and just a place where the locals hang out.  We walked in and there was a bartender and one customer besides the six of us.  They had a typical beer selection, Bud, Miller and Coors, but also had a couple craft beers. We all had one beer each and felt welcomed to be in Kegger's, the bartender was a nice lady and understood our frustrations with Hinterland. 
 We finished up and headed back to Hinterland and this time we were able to get in.  We sat at the downstairs bar and ordered a beer a piece.  All of us felt our presence was less than welcome from the time we walked back into Hinterland.  The waitstaff was still in chaos and they had more important things on their mind than six people stopping in for some beers,  I over heard the bartender complaining that there were people at the bar,  Also for some reason we did not understand the upstairs lounge area was actually open for customers.  Needless to say we only stayed for one beer each and will not go back to Hinterland.  I am sorry that we tried so hard to make it to Hinterland.  Also from talking to more locals over the weekend our experience was more of a common happening.  So please avoid Hinterland when in Green Bay!

The beer we had was average at best!  Amongst our group we had the Pale Ale, thin and watery, the IPA, again thin and watery, the Oktoberfest, a slightly above average version and the best beer we had was the Bourbon Barrel Stout.  It was a nice balance between roast, chocolate and the bourbon, but could use more body.  Overall a very good beer, but it cannot make up for the quality of the other beers and the lack of courtesy from the employees.  Again do yourself a favor and do not go to Hinterland.
We left Hinterland and walked across the street to Titletown Brewing Company http://www.titletownbrewing.com/ and into a different world.  Good beer, good food and a staff that seemed to be happy to have customers.  We had a 45 minute wait for a table so we went upstairs for a beer or two while we waited.  They had at least 10 beers on tap so there are lots of choices.  My first beer was the Wild Train Rye'd a really good ryePA that checks in at 7.5% ABV.  It had a good spicy rye malt backbone complimented by American hop aroma and flavors.  Also I had a Nuptuale, which they describe as a marriage between an American and European amber ale.  I did not find to be a great beer but did enjoy it nonetheless. 
Our table was ready early into my second beer, so went to the table with the beer.  The food menu is extensive and we had no problem finding our meals.  They have burgers, wraps, pizzas and other entree meals, so there is something for everyone. When we finished up with our meals we headed back to our hotel.  Thus ended day two and up next the game and Titletown revisted.

QC Beerguy