Craft beer connoisseurs eat in style at Hop Haus Brewing. The OG location in Verona now has a sister outpost in Fitchburg, which is grander in terms of its scale and menu but offers the same quality brews and bites that Hop Haus has always been known for.
The ground floor is spacious—providing plenty of room for those who prefer to have prime seating at the bar, take a brewery tour or pop by for dinner with kids in tow. An added bonus is the rooftop terrace. The aerial outdoor lounge is designed to attract sunbathers and shade lovers with occasional live music performances capping off an afternoon spent having a few pints, wine slushies or beer-infused cocktails with friends.
What also sets Hop Haus apart from other restaurants in the area is the food. If dining in, arrive hungry because the generous portions reflect both typical German and American appetites—as do dishes like the house-made pretzel bites and Friday Fish Fry. And even though upon first sight the menu may not appear allergen-friendly, Executive Chef Nick Nesthus is adamant modifications can be made for most dishes upon request. “I am always thinking about how to better accommodate,” he says. “This has resulted in me planning each entrée so that substitutions are merely a simple request for customers, while being equally easy for the staff to execute.”
Other noteworthy offerings include an exclusive brunch menu on weekends with too-tantalizing-not-to-try items like Boozy French Toast (whiskey compound butter, anyone?), in addition to fire pits available for rent and use post-sunset on the large grassy knoll skirting the building’s exterior.
However, the likeliest standout is Nesthus’ beer dinner series. Each month’s event has a different theme—highlighting unique courses paired with current brews on tap. One recent feast was coined “It Hops,” thus each plate served was an edible adventure thanks to him incorporating unconventional cuisine like kangaroo, rabbit and chocolate-covered crickets. “I don’t like to follow anyone,” Nesthus says. “I like to do my own thing.” Which at the moment is definitely paying off in spades by infusing a bit of novelty into Dane County’s culinary scene.
To learn more about Hop Haus Brewing, visit www.hophausbrewing.com.