Capital Brewery, Middleton, WI

4 Paws Marketing
Jun 28
3 min read

I landed at Capital Brewery on a record-hot day on our way to Madison from Milwaukee, and let’s just say… thank goodness for shade and cold beer. This local staple (founded in 1984!) is one of Wisconsin’s OG breweries, and even though the indoor taproom was closed during my visit, their huge outdoor biergarten made for a decent place to sip and chill—well, as much as you can in 90+ degrees with lots of Midwest humidity.

This wasn't originally on my route, but I was nearby, in need of a cold one, and curious about the reputation. Capital has built a name for themselves in the area for their German-style lagers, solid beers, and laid-back patio scene, and I wanted to check it off my list.

Drinks:

Despite the heat and closed indoor bar that day, they did have two sour beers on tap, and I grabbed the Strawberry Limoncello Berliner Weisse. This was a fruited sour and actually a pleasant surprise—light, crisp, with just enough citrus to refresh, I'm not usually a fan of citrus either.

This sour was the perfect hot-day drink: low ABV, easy to drink, and none of that heavy hoppy-ness. It's one I could see keeping in the cooler on a road trip or cracking open at a campsite after a day on the water.

The other option on tap was a lemony Berliner Weisse that I just didn't like much - I did have a sample, but too lemon forward for my taste.

Sour Score: 3.5/5 – I’d order the Strawberry Limoncello again for sure. Bright, summery, and very tasty.

Infographic of 2 full pint glasses representing a rating of 2 out of 5

Food:

Food was a no-go the day I was there. No food trucks. No kitchen. Slim pickins' for snacks at the bar. The silver lining? You can bring your own food—and the crew at the next table had clearly planned ahead with what looked like a full family picnic. Not a bad move. I’m not sure if they serve food when the indoor space is open, but it didn’t look promising. If you visit, it's probably a good idea to eat first or come prepped with snacks.

Food Score: 0/5 – Pack a cooler or plan to Door Dash it.

Graphic of 0 colored plates, representing a 0 out of 5 food rating.

Dog Friendliness:

Since the whole operation was patio-only during my stop, that meant the furry friends were welcome too. It was admittedly too hot for most pups, but I did get to meet Frank and one other tiny dog before they bailed early—can't blame them. Heat + dogs = big nope.

On a cooler evening, though? This would be a great dog spot. Tons of outdoor space, and everyone there seemed super relaxed about it.

Rating: 3/5 – Patio access and a dog-friendly vibe, just not ideal on record-setting hot days.

Atmosphere:

Honestly, the biergarten-style patio was the star here. The building itself has seen better days and was closed during my visit, but the yard had a rustic, backyard-beer-party feel that kind of worked. I could totally see this place coming alive with live music, a cooler breeze, and a pint in hand under the string lights.

Capital has been a part of the Middleton community for decades, and you can see that— easygoing, and a little bit old-school.

Score: 2.5/5 – I'd be curious to see it in full swing, but the potential is there.

Infographic of 2.5 yellow light bulbs, representing an atmosphere score of 2.5 out of 5

Merch & More:

Even with limited access, they had a small table of merch set up: hats, clearance tees, and some newly released apparel. According to the bartender, they’d just stocked some fresh gear. I didn’t leave with anything this time—didn’t feel like a “souvenir-worthy” experience—but if I’d been more impressed or better hydrated, I might’ve walked out with a hat.

Bonus points for being able to say you visited one of the oldest craft breweries in the Midwest. From being an early adopter of organic and gluten-free beers to their new-found efforts in sustainability, there’s a lot going on.

Merch Score: 3/5 – Good merch, great legacy. Worth a stop even if the drinks aren’t your jam.

Infographic of 3 yellow shirts representing a score of 3/5 — 3 out of 5

Overall:

Capital Brewery didn’t blow me away, but it held its own on a scorching summer afternoon. The beer was solid, the people were kind, and the outdoor space offered just enough reprieve from the sun to enjoy a little peace and a pint. Would I plan a whole trip around it? Probably not. But if I’m in the Madison area again—especially on a cool night with music on the calendar—I’d definitely give it another go.