As any Wisconsinite can attest, this state is damn proud of its beer. Stemming primarily from a heavy German heritage, Wisconsin has grown famous for its beer tradition, yielding celebrated brands from Miller to Pabst to Schlitz. We love our beer so much, we even named our baseball team after the craft of production, and rejoiced when the team’s mascot, Bernie Brewer, went sliding into a giant vat of the intoxicating liquid throughout the 1980s.

But although Milwaukee, the “Brew City” and home of the Brewers, garners national recognition for its beer, good, carefully fashioned beer can be found throughout the Badger State. Dozens of microbreweries and brewpubs dot the landscape of Wisconsin, and I visited three to get a taste (figuratively and literally) of some non-Milwaukee brewskis.

Capital Brewery

Found in Middleton, in a former egg processing plant, Capital Brewery has churned out quality beer for almost two-and-a-half decades. It features seven annual brews: Wisconsin Amber, Island Wheat, Rustic Ale, U.S. Pale Ale, Capital Dark, Special Pilsner and Bavarian Lager; four seasonals: Maibock, Wild Rice, Oktoberfest and Winter Skal; and a series of limited edition varieties. Wisconsin Amber, a filling, somewhat bitter make, is the brewery’s top-seller. However, Island Wheat, an American-style ale produced exclusively with wheat from Washington Island (located between Lake Michigan and Green Bay), has a growing fan base. A personal favorite—which, unfortunately, is only available from February to April—is Maibock, a bock beer with a smooth but strong flavor, which leaves a pleasant taste lingering on the tongue.

New Glarus Brewery

One of the largest microbreweries in the region, New Glarus recently unveiled a sprawling, spectacular, $21 million brewing facility—just up the street from its decidedly smaller, original location—to accommodate the 80,000 plus barrels it produces each year. This husband and wife owned brewery situated about 25 miles southwest of Madison, offers eight annuals: Spotted Cow, Fat Squirrel, Organic Revolution, Hop Hearty, Stone Soup, Crack’d Wheat, Wisconsin Belgian Red and Raspberry Tart; seven seasonals: Coffee Stout, Black Wheat, Dancing Man Wheat, Yokel, Staghorn Octoberfest, Snowshoe Red Ale and Totally Naked; as well as a handful of limited varieties, all of which are only sold in Wisconsin. While Spotted Cow is far and away the most recognized of the New Glarus selections, I recommend the distinct flavor of Crack’d Wheat, a unique creation with a parade of flavors heading down your throat.

Shipwrecked Brew Pub

Jutting out conspicuously into the heart of Egg Harbor, Shipwrecked Brew Pub may not match the above two in size or scale, but it undoubtedly tops them in back-story. Over eight decades ago, Shipwrecked became a favorite hangout for none other than Al Capone, complete with tunnels under the building and town in case the gangster needed to bail. According to legend, multiple people have died on the premises—including Capone’s illegitimate son—and they continue to haunt the building to this day. The brew pub offers five annual beers: Bayside Blond Ale, Door County Cherry Wheat, Captain’s Copper Ale, Peninsula Porter and Lighthouse Light; as well as seasonal offerings like Pumpkin Patch. Additionally, it offers a full menu of food to be washed down with their homebrewed selections. Though Peninsula Porter is reportedly the most popular, the Door County Cherry Wheat offers such a distinct flavor, one would expect to find cherry pits in the bottom of the pint—it’s a must try.