A Brewery Adventure in Milwaukee Part 2
I wake up with the giddiness of a full day of Milwaukee fun ahead of me. After a busy first half-day in Milwaukee, I am ready to get up and find some coffee. I get on my phone and realize that there is a new coffee shop located three minutes away, by foot. I gather my laptop and do my best to keep quiet because my beercation compatriot is not an early riser.
V For Very Good Start to the Day at Vendetta Coffee Bar
As I walk out into the brisk Milwaukee morning feeling rested and invigorated. I always look forward to a great cup of coffee when I am traveling. I am on my way to Vendetta Coffee Bar in Bayview. They have 2 other locations and I think that the Bayview is relatively new. As I walk in, the vibe is chic and new. I grab a table by an outlet and order a cup of coffee and a pistachio honey croissant. There is a fun playlist going that straddles the line between chill and upbeat. I text Courtney and let her know I am at the coffee shop. I have plenty of writing to do. The good thing is that a new coffee shop can often be a fantastic catalyst for creativity.
I am writing and trying to also figure out some things for the day’s adventure. Before I know it, I have company at my table. Courtney has arrived, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. She snaps some pics and sweet talks the barista into getting a really cool sticker. We are chatting about the plan for the day, recapping yesterday’s fun, and reveling in the fact that we are on a beer trip. I am sure you have been on a trip and find that there is an excitement that doesn’t really hit until you wake up in the spot and realize that you are there. I think that is what we are both realizing. Also, the first full day of the trip has an excitement of limitless possibilities. All the places and visits you have talked about are options on the table and you just need to pick which ones are best.
As we sip our coffee and enjoy our pastries, we are coordinating with Ben and Maria about our custard experience and subsequent beer stops. Our plan is to meet them at Kopp’s Frozen Custard for lunch and then immerse ourselves in breweries for the rest of the day until our dinner at a distillery. Time flies when you are caffeinating with a friend. It is time to bid goodbye to Vendetta. I have enough caffeine coursing through my veins to fortify my for an ambitious day of fun.
Where YOLO Meets FROYO: Kopp’s Frozen Custard
For several years, Maria and Ben have been extolling the virtues of the Milwaukee custard scene. So, today is a big day because I finally get to see what all the fuss is about. Ben and Maria are picking us up in Ben’s dad’s minivan. Ben’s dad has graciously volunteered to be our Uber for the first couple of stops.
Ben grew up in South Milwaukee. I always enjoy the commentary of someone who knows what every building used to be in a city. We pack into the car. Ben and his dad are in the front seat and they are having a planning session about which way to go. We pass the building that houses 3 breweries and a distillery and Ben’s dad explains that the building used to be the place where they manufactured all the hydraulic parts for the city dump trucks. This is something that no AI bot could tell us in a million years…