44 MONROE Monroe is a popular destination for those who enjoy cheese and beer, shopping, bicycling, ATVing, outdoor recreation, and fun events. Everyone loves the high-flying Monroe Balloon Rally, held annually over Father’s Day weekend. Discover the freshest tastes of the season at Market on the Square. Even Monroe’s Swiss residents are ‘Irish for a Day’ for the Celtic Crawl and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Chili Cook-Off & Oktoberfest spice up the fall season, and the festive Santa Parade marks the start of the holidays. There’s also the <strong>Green</strong> <strong>County</strong> Fair, and the Fall National Tractor Pull. See the calendar beginning on page 63 for more fun throughout the year. It’s hard to talk about Monroe without bringing the word “cheese” into the conversation. Discover the roots of cheesemaking at the National Historic Cheesemaking Center. Located in a restored railroad depot (with the freight room once the site of thousands of pounds of cheese awaiting delivery to all over the country), the center now houses a myriad of cheesemaking memorabilia and artifacts, and provides a quick study of the cheese and dairy industries, and the history of cheesemaking in Southern Wisconsin. The museum has a variety of exhibits from “an era that once was....but will never be again.” New this year is the Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory. The building, dating to the late 1800’s, was moved to Monroe from a nearby farm where it had sat untouched since 1917. All the original equipment is still in place as it was when the Imobersteg Family made cheese, one kettle at a time, using the milk from their own herd. On the front lawn of the center you will meet Honey Belle the Holstein, and inside you will meet friendly volunteers who keep the racks stocked with visitor guides, brochures and area maps. Guided tours are available. Contrast Old World methods with new cheesemaking technology with a visit to Emmi Roth Kase. There’s a large glass window observation hall right down the middle of the factory and you can watch the cheesemaking video to learn more. Switzerland native Tony Zgraggen manages the Alp and Dell Cheese Store and will be happy to answer questions. If you listen carefully, you might hear him yodeling in the back room! New in the cheese case is Moody Blue, capturing 2nd place in the Smoked Cheese category at the 2009 U.S. Championship Cheese contest. The gift shop has fondue pots, fun and cheesy items, a great selection of wine, and one-of-a-kind specials in the cheese bargain bin. Bus group tours are also welcome – please call ahead. Another great place for a Wisconsin cheese-buying stop is Maple Leaf Cheese Outlet Store in Juda, just minutes east of Monroe. Resident cheesemonger Gordy Bergemann offers over 75 different varieties including those made by <strong>Green</strong> <strong>County</strong>’s numerous Master Cheesemakers. The outlet also sells deli meats, sausages, hand-dipped ice cream, and hot olives. Fresh Cheese Curds – get ‘em while they’re sqeaky-fresh! For fresh cheese that is shipped right to your door, it's www.cheesemouse.com for a fantastic selection of quality Wisconsin blocks, curds, and wheels. Cheesemouse.com offers numerous shapes, sizes, and flavors local independent specialty cheesemakers. To sample a variety, try a gift boxes like the “Baby Mouse” - a trio of cheese varieties plus summer sausage, or the “Smoke House” – with smoked cheeses accompanied by a garlic log. Brennan’s Market has been a cornerstone in Monroe since 1942 when founder Frank Brennan began selling produce from the back of his station wagon. Today, Frank’s son Skip and his family have five stores and a company with a reputation for an outstanding selection of premium fruits and vegetables, locally made and imported cheese, gourmet appetizers and ingredients, micro beer and new world wine. The Brennan family travels to each farm, cheese factory, brewery and vineyard to bring your family the finest products available. Beer, the perfect companion to cheese, is also made in Monroe. Learn how it’s brewed at Minhas Craft Brewery. With roots growing deep since 1845, the Minhas Family is proud of their brewery’s status as the oldest continual brewer in the Midwest, and second oldest in the USA. Brands produced include Huber, Mountain Creek, and Rhinelander. The newest member of the family, Boxer Ice, is a Canadian-style lager. The brewery also makes the popular line of Blumer’s sodas - including rootbeer, blueberry cream, and orange cream. After seeing the raw ingredients and various aspects of the brewing process, guests enjoy samples in the tasting room. The brewery is also home the “World of Beer Memorabilia” on permanent exhibit courtesy of Herb and Helen Haydock. The couple discovered their passion for brewery-related items from various decades, brands, and advertising styles back in 1951 when Herb was stationed with the US Air Force in Germany. His original investment started with eight beer glasses; today their holdings have grown into the largest private collection of beer memorabilia in the world!
Map Key page 69. Herb and Helen Haydock's WORLD OF BEER MEMORABILIA at Minhas Craft Brewery 45
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