Latest reviews from Mount Horeb
| 72 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Visited on 11th November 2019. A short hop off the I94 brings you to this place. Situated a block off the main drag through town. Nice looking spot. It's a large venue which was surprisingly busy when we stopped off at lunchtime. Decent beer range, based mostly around German styles, quality was Ok. Didn't eat but the food did look good. Service was friendly and prices decent enough. Nice place.“ |
| 80 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “This place is sorta famous in the tuba world, weirdly enough! Stopped in mid-November, 2018 when passing by. I suppose that makes me give it a higher rating knowing it's fame a bit. Pretty average to mediocre to good beers on my stop, but the staff was super friendly. Dark wooden place kind of in the middle of nowhere. Split into two floors, restaurant and bar downstairs and pizza place and bar upstairs. We got some beers there and a pizza to take home. Pizza was great! Staff was friendly and prompt! We will be back for sure!“ |
| 72 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “We saw a sign on the highway on our way to Madison and since it was 11 AM, we figured why not stop. It’s a cutesy place in a cutesy town. The four beers we tried were all pretty decent and the bartender was super friendly and chatty. Glad we stopped.“ |
| 62 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Visited on Friday afternoon before Great Taste. Small building in a small town that feels more rural than it is, trolls everywhere. The restaurant was very busy at 2 pm, we were fortunate to get a table in the bar for a few beers, both priced at under $5. This was my first time here but I have found the beers to be hit and miss. About ten beers on, so a good selection.“ |
| 60 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Smallish place is a cute little town that seems to be completely given over to troll occupation. Central L-shaped bar and restaurant tables. Most folks were eating burgers, as pizza is only available in the evenings. Beers are available as flights or pints, but they were probably my least favorite brews of the trip. Friendly service.“ |
| 72 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “One of my favorite places. Great food. Great craft beer. Too bad it’s two hours away. Every time I’ve been there I’ve enjoyed myself. The last time (a week ago),I wasn’t wowed by the beer. My favorites are Erik the Red and the Russian Stout. I don’t care for IPAs much, but I can recognize thee Maggie Imperial IPA is a fine example. Monk is a decent Belgian Ale. The most interesting is the Trailside Wheat. Tastes and smells like bananas and...I think cloves. Good beer. Had an amazing pasta dish I can’t remember the name of. And the pulled pork wrap is awesome. Servers always friendly. Bartenders seemed a little put out even on a slow night. Not much, just a hint. Overall a fantastic place.“ |
| 66 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Just off the main drag in a kinda cool town, only 15 minutes from Madison. Not too big of a place; bar on main floor/pizza place upstairs. 12 taps of all GT beers. Shrug? Ones I had were solid to not great. Pizza was very good though. Hope to be back and given a chance, will go.“ |
| 70 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Been here several times, surprised I have not reviewed. Place is deceptively huge. I bet between upstairs and downstairs, they can fit about half the town. Bar has an interesting setup, and there are a few things to look at down there. Upstairs is the pizzeria, and I think a pool table and some video or pinball games. Service can be hit or miss, as some people that work there truly are grumpy. Beer is also hit or miss, and do not depend on their website to tell you what they have on tap, as it is rarely current. Be advised that there are no growler fills after 9 PM!!!! Worth coming here for the pizza though, so I will be back.“ |
| 62 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Made a mid-afternoon stop on a Wednesday afternoon. The place was understandably somewhat empty. The service was OK, although our waitress couldn’t wait for us to close out our tab so she could leave. The little bit of food we sampled was good, if a bit of American average. Same for the beer. I shared the ginormous sampler tray (they did offer a lot of different beer titles) with a friend, and none of the beers either offended or overly impressed, and the variance in styles was barely noticeable. The one I liked best earned a pint and a midling score. Average American brewpub tavern. (Brewery #609)“ |
| 80 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Visited 10/9/2010. Pepsican says this place sucks now that the brewer left for Sweet Mullets but when I was there I enjoyed it. Might have to stop in again next month on the way to Madison.
Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon after stopping at New Glarus. This place is right on the edge of a quiet looking neighborhood and I could definitely see this being a neighborhood bar. Inside is clean and old looking, all wood. The bar is long and there was plenty of seating. The bartender was very nice and prompt. He set me up right away with a sampler and answered my questions. I had some pretty good beers (Curly and Freedom Forward) and a bunch of decent beers. The only bad beer was the Captain Fred. With 12 taps going I’d definitely return here if in the area as I’m sure they’ll always have something new to try.“ |
| 96 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Love this place! Great Beer - I really like the Maggie IPA. Their burgers are from local beef and they taste fresh. Awesome.“ |
| 80 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “My wife and I stopped in for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. There was about a 20 minute wait for seating but I enjoyed the decor while we waited. There is the pub and restaurant on the ground level and the pizzeria upstairs, both which will offer beer. Food was tasty, especially the grump chips! I did a little research and decided to try one of their better rated beers which was great and took home a 22oz bomber of another to enjoy. Small quaint little place but very clean and busy. Highly recommend.“ |
| 90 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “I’ve been here twice and both times I got the full tasting flight. They brew a wide variety of brews ranging from humdrum to quirky to extreme. They do a lot of less-common styles you don’t expect to see at a brewpub. Food is tasty but nothing special. Worth the slight detour between Madison and the New Glarus brewery for a beer-themed excursion, or if you’re in town for a craft fair or something.“ |
| 68 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Enjoyed a spot out on the patio, had a super friendly waitress as well. Ordered a beer flight with nachos and cheese curds. Nachos were awesome and the cheese curds, the beers however left me rather disappointed.“ |
| 82 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Stopped in and quite enjoyed my visit. It appears there is an upstairs with a pizzaria that opens later, but I visited the main pub. Nice feel with friendly bar staff. The beer was above average with a few misses. Food was nice too! Definitely worth a stop with the opportunity to sample 12 beers.“ |
| 78 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Neat little place that fills up quickly on the weekends. I have been wowed and under-impressed with several of their beers. Food has generally always been exceptional. Friendly staff. Worth a stop if going through the area.“ |
| 74 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Small town bar/brewpub - busy on the lower level, less so on the upper level. 12 house taps. Flights available. Great spot!“ |
| 78 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “If you’re in this neck of the woods this place is always worth a stop. They have quite a wide selection as far as brewpubs go, and most of the beer ranges from good to awesome. The food is delicious and the prices are good.“ |
| 80 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “We enjoyed all their beers and it has a great atmosphere, just wish it was closer to home.“ |
| 66 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “The pizza we ate was excellent, the decor was not. There seemed to be a waif of pretenciousness and uncomfortability from the other diners. Perhaps it was just me. Good "big" beers and a nice selection on tap.“ |
| 86 /100 Le Cork Wine & Spirits (Beer Store) 1204 US HWY 18 AND 151 “Mount Horeb’s local liquor shop. They are getting more and more adventurous with their beer stock and are always willing to stock my requests. There are bigger and more diverse shops in Madison but this one is pretty impressive for the size of town that MH is.“ |
| 74 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “To be open and honest, I must say I live in Mt. Horeb, go to the Troll at least twice a month and am a mug-club member. My fondness for the place is enhanced by being local but I love the atmosphere, people and ever-changing beer selections. While I always try whatever is new my continual favorites are "Maggie’s" and whatever they have in Cask.“ |
| 72 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Stopped by for a quick brew and my wife had a slice of cheesecake. Nice ambiance - lots of wood and old stones with a quasi-sports bar feel. Service was decent although a bit disorganized at the bar. Both brew and food were good quality and the price/value was about average. Worth a stop if you’re traveling by Mt. Horeb.“ |
| 68 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “A dimly lit fairly standard brewpub atmosphere. Eleven taps plus one cask, with some interesting options. Food is average at best brewpub fare. Service was slow on our visit on a not too busy Saturday afternoon. All in all a good stop if you’re in the area but don’t know if this is a real destination based on the lackluster food and service I experienced.“ |
| 90 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “I love the GT. If you live anywhere reasonably close to Mount Horeb and you like beer- then you’re nuts not to make your way out there.“ |
| 76 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Visited in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday. It was fairly busy but there were plenty of spots open at the bar. We had the giant sampler, which allowed me to try mostly everything on tap. The beers were fairly hit and miss but overall pretty good. The environment was pretty cool with several friendly locals present that we struck up a conversation with. There were flyers on the wall advertising their beer dinners, which sounded pretty interesting. We had a couple appetizers which were actually pretty good. It is cool little joint off the beaten path. I would recommend a visit if you’re passing by Mt Horeb or in the Madison area.“ |
| 70 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Maybe I stopped in on an off day. Usually have 12 beers on tap... on my day they were at 10. This included 3 special beers (woody stein, an impy stout, and the ginger/jasmine). All three were disappointing. There other regular beers on tap weren’t terribly impressive either (a pretty piss poor regular stout)...but their regular lager was great...the best out of the 10 I tried. I split a veggie quesadilla that was pretty sad and over priced (beer was fairly priced). Service was nice. I would have to go back and get knocked out (I know they can do better) and order something else that tasted good to recommend this place.“ |
| 88 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Stopped in to meet the Grumpy Troll but only met really happy people who cared about the beer, the food and their customers. Had the Baltic Porter, which was a gold medal winner in the 2008 World Beer Cup competiion. The judges got this one right; an excellent brew. The very friendly and knowledgable bartender (thought he was the owner) also served tasters of their two Stouts. Excellent libation! Had the bread bowl with warm veggie dip. Really tasty and it complimented the beer so well. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and pay the Grumpy Troll a visit. You’ll be happy you did.“ |
| 80 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Nice cozy little brewpub in a small town 20 min west of Madison. Bartendress was perplexed as to how I came to be at her bar after seeing my NC drivers license, but what can I say. Beers were pretty good overall, and they gave me an 11 beer sampler for $9. I was pleased. And they sold bottled bombers to go! Bar food fare, appetizers were pretty good (had to save room for all the beers). Assistant brewer came out to talk to me for a bit, and the rest of the staff was friendly too. Pretty quiet on a Monday night, but probably pretty busy on the weekends since there aren’t a lot of options in said one-horse town. Worth a day trip if you’re in the area.“ |
| 70 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Visited the Grumpy Troll on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Not a big brewpub but very nice. Selection of beers (via the Sampler) was very good and food was good. Service this day was below par with having to wait for the Sampler and food for an extreme amount of time resulting in a lower overall score. The quality of the beers dispelled the service deficiencies“ |
| 88 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “The food was good and the samples was big enough for sampeling the beer but small enought so you didnt get tipsy. The room is quit cosy with both booths and free standing tables.“ |
| 76 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “The beer is certainly better than the food, which is just average bar food. Several nice beers on tap and 22oz bottles were for sale there. Close to the Mustard museum.“ |
| 70 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Nice ambiance. Clean, cosy, corner pub feel. Had higher expectations for the beer. 3 selections were out and this was on a Thursday afternoon. Bartender was not that knowledgeable, but friendly. Will return again.“ |
| 80 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “This was #1 on my list of Brew Pubs I was looking forward to this vacation. 8 beers on tap (a Barrel Aged one to boot). Waitress said they just ran out of a couple other ones due to an Arts Fest over the prior weekend. Above average beer and this visit did not dissapoint. Well worth the ~2hr drive from Milwaukee.“ |
| 72 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Nestled into downtown Mt Horeb, the troll capital of the world. Perhaps they could go for the roundabout capital of the world too, since I’ve never seen so many roundabouts on one area before. Went on a Friday night – noisy atmosphere with lots of families and screaming kids to go with me in the corner examining and drinking my beer. Bought a nine sampler for $9 and a tenth beer on the side. Decent beer, though it still leaves me hunting to find my Wisconsin destination brewpub that calls me back for more. Food was good and the staff was friendly. Bombers are available of some of their beers and they have plenty of shirts and hats to buy with that grumpy ass troll on it.“ |
| 94 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “This old creamery with it’s brick walls and hardwood floors gives it a nice retro feel. You and also sit outdoors in the ally in the summer. THE BEER IS AWSOME! As is the food but it would be nice to see at least one spicy dinner on the menu. Service can be spotty on the weekends but still worth the trip!“ |
| 80 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “A typical brewpub atmosphere. A good selection of above-average beer and some good pub food (deep-fried green bean pods......MMMMmmm). The service was pretty good and employees were nice, although they were a bit busy there when we got there and their hostess table is set up in the back of the bar, oddly enough.“ |
| 70 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “This is a nice little brewpub in a sleepy little town. The service wasn’t anything mind-blowing, but it was good nonetheless. The Ratebeer brewpub certificate was nice to see hanging from the wall. The beers were well done and there was some pretty good variety there. The food was your basic pub grub, but again, very good. It’s definitely worth stopping at if you’re in the area.“ |
| 86 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “The Grumpy Troll is, by far, my favorite brewpub in the state, and perhaps my favorite brewpub anywhere. Every time I’m within 20 miles of Madison, the Grumpy Troll draws me toward it like a magnet. The atmosphere, food, and service is typical of a small-town bar/restaurant, but the beers are entirely atypical. There are about 10 beers on tap but the list feels more expansive because there’s a beer for everyone, each is of exceptional quality, and they rotate frequently. In addition, the past few times I’ve been there they’ve had a different barrel-aged specialty brew each time (this time brandy-barrel Spetnaz). As I mentioned before, the food and atmosphere are very good, but nothing outstanding. The real star here though is the beer, and boy is it good.“ |
| 70 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Located just a block off the main drag of Mt Horeb, it’s a typical brewpub with a better than average beer selection and better than average quality. A sampler of 8 decent sized pours will set you back a few bucks and help get your drunk on for sure, and a snifter or two of their high gravity or barrel aged selections should set you right. The bartender was genuinely friendly and talkative, and the other folks in the place were nice, talkative and seemed to be enjoying their travels as well. Highly recommended, with better beer than can be found at any Madison area brewery.“ |
| 86 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “This was the highlight of my trip to Mount Horeb (it even beat the Mustard Museum)! The bar had a nice small-ish brewpub feel to it, and the lack of smoking made it truly enjoyable! They offer good, comfortable food, and my burger was excellent! They had 10 beers on tap, with ranged from average to very good, and they were cheap. The restaurant was on the quieter side, and our server was very attentive. I’m looking forward to my next trip out there.“ |
| 62 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Visited over the holidays. AMBIANCE: Nice small brewpub feel. The shops in downtown Mt. Horeb make visiting the brewpub especially worth the time. SERVICE: Frankly, the guy at the bar was rude SELECTION: The 8 pour sampler for 8 bucks is a great deal, particularly considering the quality of the beer. All were well crafted with good flavors, although nothing spectacular FOOD: Did not eat there OVERALL: Enjoyed the beer the bartender could have been friendlier.“ |
| 80 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Between this Brewpub and the mustard museum, I would say that the village of mount Horeb is worth a visit. Flyer and I hit the Grumpy Troll after a Badger game. The place is nice, the beers are pretty good, the wait-staff was friendly, the food was good, and it was a good value. All-in-all, I was impressed, and this may well be the best brewpub I’ve visited in WI (beats Water Street Brewery, Milwaukee Ale House, Ram, and Rock Bottom).
I ordered a beer sampler, which wasn’t on the menu. It consisted of a ton of 3 oz samples (all they had), and was only $9. We sat at the bar, and the barstaff was attentive, knowledgeable about their beers, and friendly. I had a buffalo chicken sandwich and "Grump Chips" (thick cut homemade potato chips with parmesan cheese) which was good and a decent price ($8.50).
I may be back before or after our next Badger game.“ |
| 68 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Right next to a scenic bike trail, and a great place to stop by after a ride (which is what we did). Atmosphere is very typical of a nice brewpub. Service was fast and friendly, and the food was solid to good. The beer was significantly better than what you’d typically find at a brewpub-only operation (i.e., no packaging operation). I had the barrel-aged stout and the Monk’s Sweat Belgian ale. The former was outstanding and the latter was very good. I sampled my friend’s Wit, which was also top-notch. Worth going out of your way for.“ |
| 78 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “ I stopped in here after a club ride to check it out and try the sampler. It was a slow Sunday afternoon so service was great. Bountiful parking can be found in the side streets. The menu is fairly typical brewpub fare with large serving sizes. There is plenty of choice depending upon what kind of mood you are in. The space itself was fairly small so it might get cramped on a busy night but wasn’t bad in the afternoon. The beer choices cover a wide style from pale ales to stouts and one Belgian. The special was a barrel aged stout which I didn’t have a chance to try but will go back for. The sampler is reasonably priced at $8.00. The best offering was either the Monk Sweat or Trailside Wheat. “ |
| 74 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Stopped in for a sampler. Chatted it up with the barkeep. He mentioned that the place is back to the first brewer and when that changed, the beer quality got immediately better. (not sure when this was). Anyway, most of the beer was quite good. I really liked the Bourbon Barrel Aged Foreign Stout. Quite unique and very delicious. Sampler of 8 was $8.“ |
| 70 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Beer isn’t bad, the guest taps are a nice touch, typical bar food but in general well done and not too greasy. Nice little place with a relaxed atmosphere. Service was friendly, and like muzzlehatch says, the mustard museum is right across the street. Score.“ |
| 84 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “A favorite place for a beer and a burger on my way back to Madison after a day hiking.
I like the beer, my wife likes the cute little troll... we’ll be back often!“ |
| 60 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Walked in to try a few beers and take home a growler of beer. I was very disappointed with the brews but enjoyed the ambience. The bartender slobbered beer all over the outside of the growler and I would recommend that he learn how to pour a beer from a draught as I paid for a 1/4 of foam. Then to top it off he did not seal the beer right and when I got home it was flat. Ugggh“ |
| 74 /100 105 SOUTH SECOND ST “Visited the Grumpy Troll on a Tuesday night. They had 6 of their own beers on tap and 2 guest taps (Capital Brewery Winter Skal and Sand Creek Oscar’s Chocolate Oatmeal Stout). Their beers were pretty good. I had some soup and cheese curds which were pretty standard. Service was great.“ |
