7/07
From the parking lot, the place looked small enough to be a bait shop. Luckily the awning sign proudly proclaimed their micro & import beer selection. A couple was walking out with a couple New Glarus 6-packs, which was a good sign. Even better was a printed out seasonal press release from Lake Louie taped on the door.

Inside the place was packed with bottles and crates, lots of wood paneling that gave it a homey feeling. All the way back to the coolers, where we found the beer selection. A strong regional craft selection: Ale Asylum, Lake Louie, New Glarus, Central Waters, etc. I found everything I needed and more. NG Unplugged singles, plus many other choice options at affordable prices. There was a walk-in cooler for cases, but I already had pulled a ton of stuff, so I didn't venture in. The smaller cooler on the left side held some Belgians and the NG Unplugged, with some dusty Belgian glasses on top of the cooler priced cheap. Worth a stop in the area.

reviewed on: 2010-06-04 23:26:24

Update: 7/31/8 No more Bob's in the name. This store has been sold to an owner of three other Madison stores. That should mean more buying power, and lower prices according to the clerk. They had a good selection from the big names in craft brewing around Madison but no gems of one offs from the area. The singles were interesting but nothing to unique. I will have to see how this store progresses.


This is a tiny little store that is rather unassuming from the front. The wines are in the front and the beer is in the back. They have a great selection of local brews with many, but not all, sold as singles. I was looking for WI beers not found in IL and I was not disappointed. They have a wall of coolers for local beers and a small 2 door cooler that held most of the imports.
The owner was really friendly and gave us lots of suggestions on what was good and new along with some free swag for buying so much beer. He said he really wanted to focus on small wineries and breweries that you don't see at other stores but offer just as good or better products. They were having a charity raffle with some good beer related prizes and some interesting glassware that you don't see very often.
This is a nice beer store that is close to the ring road around Madison making it a new stop for me when I'm in the area.

reviewed on: 2008-07-31 11:59:40

Bob's is located slighty off the beaten path in a low flat roofed building. From the exterior you might not expect much as far as selection is concerned.
The interior of the building is narrow, but deep. The front of the store is well stocked with wine and spirits.
The rear and rear left of the store are where the beers can be found. Large reach-in coolers are packed with a good selection of imports as well as micros and craft beers from all across the country.
There is a heavy local and regional selection here too. The mix a 6 pack policy is fairly liberal and picking only six bottles here will prove difficult.
There is also a walk-in cooler well stocked with cases of beer.
NOTE: Lake Louie product are available here, but only in 6 packs or cases. In other words no breaking up a 6 pack of Lake Louie.

reviewed on: 2007-08-13 08:34:28