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Starkweather Beer Company

 When I moved back to Madison to attend law school in 1987, we moved to a crappy little apartment near the banks of Starkweather Creek on the unfashionable east side.  Today, the east side is booming, and one of the newer brewpubs is called Starkweather Beer Company. It was Saint Pat's Day.  While Guinness is a decent light-bodied stout, I opted for Starkweather's dry Irish Stout, named "Jamestown Jackdaw." Coming in at 5.9 ABV, it had a malty chewable backbone.  It's a new favorite stout for me.  Julia had Late Winter Haze, a New England IPA that didn't have as much fruitiness as she likes in a hazy.  It was still well-executed. We walked down the street to the Harmony Bar, where Julia enjoyed a complete corn beef and cabbage dinner.  I opted for the Reuben sandwich.  Mine was washed down with an Edmund Fitzgerald porter from Great Lakes Brewing.  Julia enjoyed her Chaos Pattern IPA from 3 Sheeps Brewing.  Both are great beers. Justin update:   After a long h

Alma: a small town on the Mississippi River

During our recent trip to Merrick State Park, we drove about 15 minutes north to the small town of Alma.  With low expectations, we were pleasantly surprised. 

Alma is a both a barge and railroad town.  The Corp of Engineers maintains the locks.


 



At one time, Alma, like many small Wisconsin towns, had its own brewery. Only the sign remains.

We hiked up the Buena Vista Trail, which starts on Main Street and switchbacks up the bluff for a nice view of the River below.


Note:  I've not been busy blogging this month, but I have been busy.  We managed to sell our wooded acreage to help fund some of our early retirement and health insurance.  That money will also help us support our son Justin's move to an apartment in Madison.  The land was originally meant for our dream home, but dreams change, as we all know. Since it was a build-able lot and came with increasing taxes, it actually was a relief to let it go before the housing market collapses again.

Although Justin qualifies for Section 8 housing, based on disability and income, no apartment was ever going to be available to him as a non-resident.  We will get Justin set up for a year or two, and hopefully he will then qualify for cheaper housing.  Madison apartments are terribly expensive, starting at about $900/month for a one bedroom "affordable apartment" with a tax credit to the developer. And, of course, any apartment for Justin also has to be accessible.  Section 8 housing is 1/3 of income including utilities but in very short supply.  The accessible ones would qualify as "rare." 

Comments

greg said…
I hope Madison, and y'all, provides the life-style Justin is looking for. Been a long time since we rented but it still sounds kinda steep!
John said…
It is steep and not sustainable in the long term. I'll do another post about it after he signs a lease.


TMO said…
The mighty Mississippi! I saw the photo and thought it could very well have been captured at Cliff Cave Park, where I hike regularly. I live two miles from Ole Miss in South St Louis, Missouri, and I love to see snaps of it! :)

I sometimes wonder if they trains that run along the Western side of the Mississippi in Missouri go as far as the tracks in Madison. But then again, some go across the river, itself.

Nice blog!

- TMO

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