Minocqua Brewing Company 
Madison

Tom Kastle returns to host a "Beer Church" with ballads, sea shanties, and political songs to raise your spirits.

“Tom Kastle is sounding sweeter than ever these days, especially in his ‘natural habitat’ as he leads the whole crowd in Joe Hill songs.” Marilyn Rea Beyer/Midnight Special WFMT

"What do you say about a guy who can command a tall ship and all her crew, whose songs can make an Irishman cry tears of pure Tullamore Dew?" — Bryan Bowers

Tony G returns for another edition of MBC Karaoke. Let your inner rockstar out with other progressive minded folks! 

*Every 1st and 3rd Monday.

Join us for another edition of Ales w/ Authors featuring Mike McCabe as he discusses his new novel as well as hosts a Q&A session and book signing. 

McCabe is an author who's been a farmhand, journalist, educator and civic leader over the course of his career. Mike had a rural upbringing, reared on his family’s dairy farm, before going on to lead the independent government watchdog group Wisconsin Democracy Campaign for 15 years, start the grassroots citizen movement Blue Jean Nation, and run a spirited campaign for governor of Wisconsin in 2018. Decades earlier, he ran a statewide civic education program and served a stint in the Peace Corps in the West African country of Mali. After having two nonfiction books published, Mike's first novel came out in October 2024, Miracles Along County Q".

It’s set in a fictional Wisconsin town, where the characters work through issues of identity, sexuality and economic hardship to illustrate how life in rural areas of the state doesn’t fit into stereotypes.

“I think if the book were to be summed up in one sentence, I could do it in four words: Kindness is a superpower.” McCabe

With soaring harmonies, toe-tapping acoustic guitar, and the warm groove of an upright bass, Adam and Colleen bring a musical experience that's as delightful as it is unforgettable! Get ready for a feel-good blend of melody and rhythm that will have you singing along and smiling all night long!

Singer, songwriter, comedian, producer, bad ass momma... There's not much Chloe Louise Webster can't do. 

After her recent amazing comedy popup, Chloe graces our stage again to do a set of what started her down the road of an entertainer, music! 

Getting her start playing open mics such as the famous Tip Top Sunday Nights, Chloe has performed all over the Southern WI area. Intertwining deeply personal lyrics with traditional Americana stylings, her music also rings with a pop sensibility that leaves you feeling a sense of hope and tranquility. Pair that with a voice that wonderfully straddles the line between soft/subtle and powerful, and you have a perfect blend that should put a smile on the face of any fan of music. 

So join us for a great Sunday of sippin' suds with a superb singer/songwriter. (We love alliteration at MBC MAD, clearly.)

Attention all musicians, comics, poets, creatives, etc: We've got a stage, top notch sound equipment, and a host who loves sharing the stage with people who just need to get their creativity out. that's why we are hosting an open mic! 

Ken has a wealth of experience singing and playing guitar, and in organizing musical performances such as leading church bands and hosting open mics. His core genre is the great acoustic rock music of the 60s, 70s and 80s (think Beatles, Paul Simon, CSN, James Taylor, Winwood, Clapton). He also plays contemporary (think Jason Mraz, Rob Thomas) and original songs.

Fun fact: Ken met his wife Heidi at the open mic at The Minocqua Brewery’s original location

back in 2016. 

So come ready to share a song, story, etc. or just to support other budding artists in Madison. 

Described as "Anti-Folk", the Dandies will bring an afternoon of captivating covers and originals back to our taproom. Backed by Michael Hollywood on harmonica and Lex Dahl on bass, Mike Semmerling leads the "ever-so-tuneful" trio.

So come enjoy a couple of pints and wonderful free music!

Willie Jones from Madison-based grass band, Sortin' The Mail, will be hosting a monthly bluegrass jam at our taproom! 

This jam will be a little different than your standard. While we will never tell a musician how to do their job, our only request was "fun, uptempo, and different". While we love standards and traditional old-timey, we want our jam sessions to be a little more of a broad array of styles. 

Each jam will start with a set of tunes from Willie (and possibly some special guests!) followed by an open jam for anyone who has a tune they wanna share or is just looking to rock out. So come join us for a great afternoon of pickin' and grinnin'! 

Another round of No Kings Protests are coming in October so we are planning another day long event in partnership. 

Saturday 10/18 Schedule:

Sign Making 10am-2pm

We will be open at 10am for sign making. We will provide all the supplies you'll need to make your signs for the march/rally. We will also provide snacks and bottled water to take with you. 

Monthly Bluegrass Jam Hosted by Willie Jones 3-6pm

Can't handle the walking or crowds? Don't worry, we have you covered. We will have a postcarding event so you can still get you activism on as well as a wonderful afternoon of pickin'! 

Willie Jones from Madison-based grass band, Sortin' The Mail, will be hosting a monthly bluegrass jam at our taproom! 

This jam will be a little different than your standard. While we will never tell a musician how to do their job, our only request was "fun, uptempo, and different". While we love standards and traditional old-timey, we want our jam sessions to be a little more of a broad array of styles. 

Each jam will start with a set of tunes from Willie (and possibly some special guests!) followed by an open jam for anyone who has a tune they wanna share or is just looking to rock out. So come join us for a great afternoon of pickin' and grinnin'!

After Party 6-CL

After a long day of protests, come shake off the heaviness of the moment with a little dance party! Our GM will dust off his old wedding DJ name, DJ Clorox aka DJ Saltine, and provide the tunes. 

We are releasing our new Cider and Winter IPA and wanted to have a little shindig. Seeing as it's a protest weekend, we decided to turn it into a full blown parking lot party! We will have live music all day long. And for the Packer fans, don't worry. We will have the game on our projector so you can still root on the Green & Gold.

Music Lineup:

Brass Knuckles 1-2pm

Soul Call 2:00-3:15pm

Tani Diakite and The Afrofunkstars 3:30-5pm

Tickets are $15 and include a sampling of each of our new releases. You can also add a VIP pass ($20) that includes unlimited tap beer and a swag bag! We also have a Child/Designated Driver ticket available for 50% off. Tickets can also be purchased in our taproom to avoid fees. 

For tickets go to: https://tinyurl.com/5n7dfrjd

Tony G returns for another edition of MBC Karaoke. Let your inner rockstar out with other progressive minded folks! 

*Every 1st and 3rd Monday.

A staple of Southern WI, you could definitely call Thomas "Tud" Bowden a renaissance man. Take one part musician, one part artist, and one part chef, mix them together and you get Tud.

Bowden brings his Wundo Band Duo to our a taproom for a special evening of protest music. Tud was a regular on the MBC GOTV Tour last fall and brings the same energy to MBC MAD. So join us for an energizing evening of fight songs! 

*$5 cover

A masterful singer-songwriter and guitarist, David Cox blends sharp wit, heartfelt storytelling, and stellar musicianship. A longtime Steel Bridge Songwriter, his work has been praised by Tom McCarthy (AP, LA Times) as “original, funny, and heartbreaking” and by Grammy nominee Pat MacDonald as “brilliant and authentic.”

Guitarist/bandleader/teacher

Charlie Painter is a self-studied, self- producing, Madison-based guitarist, band leader and teacher since 2008. Painter's multi conceptual approach is informed by decades of weekly/monthly residencies, transcribing records by ear, and a mentorship under NYC Jazz guitarist Jordan Klemons since 2020.

* 2022 Jazz at Five performer

* Two time MAMA winner (for best Jazz group, and best Jazz album) 

Laughing Liberally Madison

Monday August 25th, 2025, 7pm, $10 suggested donation

Minocqua Brewing Company – Madison Taproom

2927 E. Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53704

With a second Trump presidency upon us and rising right wing attacks on LGBTQ rights, abortion rights, voting rights and more, we need progressive laughs now more than ever. That’s why we’re excited to present Laughing Liberally Madison, a monthly progressive political comedy show featuring a rotating lineup of the area’s top liberal and progressive comedians at Minocqua Brewing Company’s Madison Taproom.

Laughing Liberally Madison is hosted by comedian, cartoonist and satirist Matthew Filipowicz. Matthew’s work has been featured by CNN, NPR, PBS, HBO, BBC, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, the Nation, the London Times, Ain’t It Cool News, and the Huffington Post. Matthew also hosts the creatively titled Laughing Liberally Milwaukee Podcast.

For more information on Laughing Liberally visit https://laughingliberallymadison.com/ 

Join us for a timely discussion of how screens are not only affecting the mental health of humans, but also the development of our children specifically.

Wright is the Superintendent of the Sauk School District and recently ran for State Superintendent. A Harvard grad, Wright was named “Administrator of the Year” by the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance in 2024.

“I've been working in public schools for the last 27 years. I was a teacher, I got to be a principal at a high school on the south side of Chicago for about nine years and now been working here in Sauk Prairie for the past 13, and six as superintendent,” Wright said. “I have a sixth grader and eighth grader in our own family, and my wife and I just know how important it is that our schools are doing well, not only for our kids, but for kids across the whole state. We know that when our schools are doing really, really well, that our communities thrive too, and to be able to do that work, to lead schools of all sizes and bring my experience, both in a big city district and in rural Wisconsin to our state capital, I think is a way that I can serve the state and make sure our schools are doing as well as possible for our kids.” -Jeff Wright

Madison musicians from the folk and Celtic traditions play traditional music from the French regions of Canada. Known for a great set at this year's String Gathering in Baraboo, Quebec! plays the dance music of the Maritime provinces that reflects the French, Irish and Scottish roots of the early European settlers. Come to listen or come to jam and have a beer with us!

This event will be hosted monthly on the last Thursday of each month!

*Due to scheduling conflicts, this edition will take place on Oct 2nd.