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| - I don't really have a neighborhood bar, but if I did, it would be Brasserie V. As much as I enjoy the food (and I do), the main reason to go is the enormous selection of beers from around the world.
First, the menu: My favorite meal includes one of the V Burgers (they usually have two on the menu, and I believe at least one rotates with the season), medium rare, with frites. We usually put together a cheese board (Pleasant Ridge Reserve, yum) to kick off our meal. I just noticed that they have Belgian meatballs on the menu - I'm going to have to try those next time. My vegetarian daughter has no trouble ordering a delectable dinner. And, unlike so many other Madison establishments, the service at Brasserie V is actually quite good, despite how busy the restaurant can get.
And yet - the reason to go is because there are so, so many outstanding beers. They specialize in Belgians - but they have so many other styles on tap and in bottles. A flight of three pours is a good way to sample. I am particularly drawn to porters and stouts, and Brasserie V does not disappoint. For kicks, I just now took a look at their current bottle list, and it includes the following stouts: Dark Horse Plead the Fifth Imperial Stout, Evil Twin Bozo Beer (17% ABV!), Central Waters Satin Solitude and Bourbon Barrel Stout, Del Ducato My Blueberry Nightmare (from Italy), four versions of Mikkeler's Beer Geek (Denmark), To Øl Barrel-Aged Pineapple Express (Denmark), Samuel Smith Imperial Stout and Oatmeal Stout (UK), and 17 more.
See what I mean?
So, by all means, please enjoy stick-to-your-ribs Euro-style pub food at Brasserie. But recognize that the frites and mussels and cheeses and meaty entrees - as delicious as they are - are the sideshow, and beer is the main event.
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