Capital Brewery’s beer has a new home at a brewpub called Capital Tap Haus in the former House of Wisconsin Cheese at the top of State Street. It curiously opened the day before Thanksgiving and with little advanced word–not sure if that was a smart combination.
I love the atmosphere: the big wooden booths and tight space make me think I could be in a bar in Chicago or even Boston. You’ll see a nice mix of business professionals from the Capitol, students and everyone in between.
On a lunch visit I tried the burger, and I was quite disappointed in several ways. I think the hallmark of any brewpub is its burger, but Capital Tap Haus’ was dry (despite ordering it medium) and tasteless. On top of that, toppings cost extra (e.g 50 cents for grilled onions, $1 for bacon) and fries are an extra $3, all of which can add considerable heft to a $6.50 plain burger.
From the appetizer list I tried the fried pickles. I was expecting pickle coins, but instead they were spears and quite salty. However, the ranch dressing dip significantly helped. Meanwhile, the soup of the day–corn chowder–was really watery instead of the normal mushiness that make for a delicious soup.
On top of all of this, the food took a long time (26 min.) to bring out, and it wasn’t crowded at all.
On a dinner visit (this time it took 29 min. for our food to be brought out, though the waitress apologized twice for the unknown delay), I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and loved it. The pork was tender and the sauce was amazing. It included a side cup of BBQ sauce with a dab of mayonnaise, both of which I used as a dip for my fries.
I also tried the pan-fried walleye, which was fine but not an entree I would order again. Capital Tap Haus also has a daily fish fry dish, and I will likely order that next time. All entrees list a suggested beer pairing.
I did join the mug club, which for $35/year you get one free beer and 24-oz beers for the price of 16 oz (does that scream binge drinking or what?), amongst other deals. I think I will definitely get my money’s worth, seeing how much I enjoy the various beers (especially the bocks) from Capital Brewery.
Capital Tap Haus is open Monday-Saturday for lunch and dinner.
When Peppino’s closed on Dec. 23, 2009, rumors circulated that its successor would open in early 2010. As I walked by the building over the past few months, I’ve noticed the interior remodeling has been extensive, which may be the reason for the delay in opening.
