Great Dane Pub and Brewing Co., Madison, WI
- 4 Paws Marketing
- Jun 29
- 3 min read
With multiple Great Dane Pub & Brewery locations in and around Madison, we ended up stopping at two. The Hilldale spot was a swing and a miss, they were out of the sour on draft that day, but luckily, we didn’t give up.
The original downtown location redeemed it for me, they’re set inside of a historic building close to Capitol Square, it was hopping with people and had a lot of energy and the sour I was hoping for. Moral of the story: always give a brewery a second chance.
Drinks:
Let’s just say this brewery stop started out pretty rough but ended on a high note. Our first stop at Hilldale didn’t have a single sour on tap, which for me was a total letdown. Thankfully, the downtown OG location pulled through for me.
The Peach Mango Sour was exactly what I was looking for on a sweltering Wisconsin day: tart, tasty, and super refreshing. It’s not the most adventurous or unique sour I’ve ever had, but it was clean, fruity, and easy to sip. Bonus points for redemption.
Sour Score: 3.5/5 – Unique and easy to put down a few.
Food:
We weren’t really in food mode since we had eaten prior and were just killing time before a concert, but we did sample a couple of apps to tide us over. The Old Glory Cheese Curds were our favorite. They were crispy, cheesy, and perfectly fried. Wisconsin definitely knows its cheese.
Food Score: 3.5/5 – Didn't try much, but what we had was great. They have a nice, complete menu for those looking to eat!
Dog Friendliness:
This one was a tough one for me to swallow. Despite the name, dogs aren’t allowed inside, which I get, since it’s a full restaurant, but still kind of ironic given the Great Dane name. According to their website, pups are allowed on the patio, which is something—but it was way too hot when we were there.
If you’ve got your dog along and are in the vicinity of a Great Dane Brewery check to see that they have a patio (and check the weather) before heading there.
Rating: 0/5 – Huge disappointment considering the name...
Atmosphere:
Both locations had great energy. Downtown’s vintage location along with the casual, upbeat vibe won it for me. The building separates the restaurant and bar sides, which works, especially if you’re just there for a drink. There were games like pool and darts, and plenty of TVs if you're looking to catch a game. It felt like the kind of place you could post up for a full day of football.
Score: 4/5 – Upbeat, casual, and lots of space. Plan to spend a decent amount of time here!
Merch & More:
Great Dane has a logo I love and clearly knows it’ll win over the crowd. They had a nice lineup of gear at both locations. I couldn’t resist grabbing a shirt and nearly walked away with a hoodie too. Anything with a nod to Harley is definitely a win in my book.
Merch Score: 4/5 – Can't go wrong with a dog in the logo!
Overall:
Great Dane may be a local chain of sorts, but the downtown location proved it’s more than just a restaurant with beer as an afterthought. While our first stop left me unimpressed (mainly because of the drink selection), the second made up for it—good beer, great aura, and a memorable spot to hangout and stay cool before a concert.
A heads-up for fellow out-of-towners: parking downtown is tricky, but I’d say it’s worth it if you catch that Peach Mango Sour.
Score: 4/5 – If you’re a sour fan, or just someone who likes a great atmosphere to enjoy your beer, this one is a winner.
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