The Grumpy Troll Brew Pub, Mount Horeb WI

5 July 2023

I should have taken a photo of the outside because in spite of its location right on a street corner, it was a terribly unassuming place! Mount Horeb seems to have a troll thing going on so that’s where the name of this brewpub came from, and I love the name. There’s nothing grumpy about me after eating here, however.

These two photos only show a very small portion of their space but within not too long after my arrival, this space – and all the rest of the building – was FULL. I got there just in time and I’m happy I grabbed a spot at the end of the bar where I had plenty of room for my book next to me.

The Troll serves a flight of any number up to all 12 of their beers; I selected six and loved them all. I’ll share their descriptions of each beer from left-to-right, top-to-bottom, but I’m not going to add commentary other than to say that their brewmaster really knows his or her craft! Everything is true to style but in a refined and elegant, not in an “in your face,” way.

Dragon Ship Wit (5.2%, 11 IBU) – A traditional Belgian “white ale” made with a mix of wheat, barley, Styrian hops, spices, Coriander and orange peel.

Liberty Pole (5.5%, 30 IBU) – This pale ale is brewed with the finest barley malt and ample additions of Cascade hops.

Sunflower (4.9%, 14 IBU) – A Farmhouse Ale powered by the sun. Rich local honey from a local farm is added at the finish.

Hopsburger (4.8%, 30 IBU) – Golden Pilsner that’s clean and crisp with floral hop notes built upon a bready maltiness.

Hoppa Loppa (6.5%, 48 IBU) – Brewed with the finest barley and generously hopped with Cascade, Columbus, Northern Brewer, and Centennial hops.

Norwegian Wood (7.0%, 60 IBU) – The first IPA ever brewed at the Grumpy Troll featuring Maris Otter barley and East Kent Holdings and Fuggle hops.

The kitchen was super busy but the food did finally come out before I’d finished the flight (but not by much). Today’s choice was a Reuben and Tots and both were mouth-watering delicious.

In the background of the picture is a pint of:

Summer Golden Bock (6.2%, 22 IBU) – Brewed for the long summer days. A malty and stronger lager brewed with fine Bavarian Barke Malt, Hallertau, and Tettnang hops.

I was a little hesitant about ordering this beer because often when a brewer says “malty” they mean MALTY. Not this one – it was so well balanced that it became #7 of 7 on the list of my most favorite beers from this visit.

Now I was in a quandary because I wanted another pint to finish up, but what would it be? Should I take a chance on something else, or revisit one of the seven? And which one?

I mentally flipped a many-sided coin and it landed on Hopsburger, perhaps the best Pilsner I’ve ever tasted.

The Grumpy Troll is absolutely going on my list of my all-time favorite brewpubs and places to revisit someday.