Good morning,
I had to double-check my calendar yesterday when news broke that the Wisconsin State Fair had announced its finalists for this year’s Sporkies and Drinkies awards.
Wait, it’s still April, right? Seems a little early, no?
The list is typically announced in June, and I’m not sure what prompted the early release this year. State Fair is more than three months away, and with Milwaukee’s ever-changing, always-exciting weather now with temperatures hovering in the mid-40s, it feels like we’re taking a step back toward winter more than springing ahead to summer.
But I’ll take it. Even though I’m still sort of reeling from my experience eating all of 2025’s Sporkies winners in one morning last August, the announcement of the new batch of over-the-top fair fare signifies brighter days ahead and culinary traditions to take down, one deep-fried Franken-food after another.
For what it’s worth: All of the finalists make my stomach hurt just looking at them. If I had to choose, the al pastor pizza seems the most appetizing, and I’m a little intrigued by the alligator and crawfish bites in the Bayou Crunch Cup (which is also topped with a whole crawfish, by the way…). On the Drinkies side, the Tilt-a-Spritz has my attention; ginger beer with lime and grapefruit, smoked with hickory and torched rosemary? Sounds like a dreamy mocktail.
Milwaukee got news of another surefire summer signifier this week, as well: The start of beer garden season. Oh, how I’ve missed them. Do we know how lucky we are that Milwaukee has so many incredible beer gardens at which to sip, snack and meet new dog friends all from late spring to fall?
South Shore Terrace Kitchen and Beer Garden opened April 16. Hubbard Park opened April 21. Estabrook Beer Garden opens today (April 30) and the Third Ward beer garden kicks off its season tomorrow (May 1). And, oh yeah, did I mention those last two will have free beer on their opening days?
Even if you’re not into beer (plenty of them serve N/A drinks and some with wine, too), you can’t deny the draw of the beer garden. I’ve spent countless days parked at a picnic table with friends, sipping a pint and snacking on some surprisingly good beer garden food for so long I’ve watched the sun set without realizing how the time had flown by. I’ve been looking forward to those days, and now I won’t have to wait long to recreate them.
Maybe I’ll see you there. If so, I’d love to raise a glass with you.
Happy dining,
Rachel
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dish: Beer gardens, State Fair and summer dreams
Reporting by Rachel Bernhard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
