The brunch was actually a special event coordinated with Milwaukee-based Lakefront Brewery. (It helped that it took place on the day of a Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers game—yes, the one, where the Packers crushed our beloved Bears.)
American Craft Kitchen is no tiny diner; there are 350 seats, with the chef saying that the kitchen churns out up to 1,200 dishes during breakfast. The experience showed, as attendees were inundated with delicious dishes that included beer-can chicken with Belgian waffles; charred jumbo shrimp with grits and quail eggs over-easy; beer cheese fondue; bacon-wrapped stuffed dates with goat cheese; and various mini-pastries.
Lakefront’s offerings ranged from the fruity to the hoppy, and paired well with the various dishes. Among the drinks were Fixed Gear American Red IPA, IPA India Pale Ale, Rendezvous Bier De Garde; and New Grist Gluten-Free Pilsner, which the microbrewery’s founder said is the first certified gluten-free beer in the United States.
People can visit the microbrewery, and even chow down (and drink, of course), with fare such as pretzels, sausages and cheese. Find out more about Lakefront at www.lakefrontbrewery.com/.