Extensive selection of craft beers in all styles here. Prices are reasonable and the service is very friendly and attentive.

If you like beer (and I mean GOOD beer, not Budweiser), you need to check this place out. While househunting in the area, my boyfriend and I became curious about the little bar on the corner with no signage. We ended up buying a house within stumbling distance, and needless to say, the Malt House has become a favorite neighborhood hangout. The bartenders are friendly, and if you have questions about any of the beers in their gigantic selection, they will gladly tell you what they know with no beer snobbery whatsoever. They occasionally have live music, but it's acoustic, so it doesn't get too loud in the tiny space. It's far enough away from downtown that it doesn't get obnoxiously crowded. They don't have food, but you can order delivery or bring your own in with you. I LOVE this bar. Period. read more

Service has been gold star every time I have been here. Chill room, even though it gets busy. Very knowledgeable staff, serving quality taps with perfection. I was fortunate to get in on a Pappy Van tasting back in the day. He does these every now and again. Also the place I learned about bonded booze. Parking can be a challenge and one might need to whip a shtty to get into the lot from E wash. If you are looking for beers and cool whiskys, this is one of the places to go in Madison. read more

Simply put - THE BEST place to go grab a beer. You can throw back a Miller Lite anywhere. Come to the Malt House to have a REAL beer. Don't know much? Ask - they'll help you figure out what you like (even if you're a Lite drinker, they'll have something for you). Best place to have beer or whiskey. Period. Go out of your way to check this place out - it's worth it! read more

I'm sitting here lounging in my comfy clothes... they don't match. I don't feel sexy, but you know what... I know I could just roll out the door and over to Malt House just the way I am. There is comfort in knowing you can just be your authentic self and not have to fake a thing when you walk through the door. It's comfy. It's kind. Being there is easy and comfortable in the best ways possible. I'm so glad they are walking distance from my house. ~Just throwing out a little support for this awesome place while we are all keeping our 'social distance'. Thinking of all the little places I adore and have never written reviews for because they feel so much like the kindest neighbors versus businesses. It's times like these, where we are reminded they are more than just our neighbors. read more

Great ambiance, superb beer menu of imported and local craft beers. Bartender was excellent and very helpful! Not too loud, not too soft music that is perfect to enjoy a conversation and watch some superb live oil painting being done! Can't wait to come back and enjoy all the selections here! The Ale Asylum Ortillion Oktoberfest is the best! read more

The Malt House - Hanna Bruer, artist, doing a "live painting"! - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

3 stars but that's it. Want to support this establishment, etc etc, but that's reality. Why? OK - beer. Yes, large selection, but I think they might do slightly better by actually limiting the list, culling and sharpening it. Some stuff is just thrown in which dulls the focus. Too harsh? Hey, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. But the real draw down is the seating. Shockingly cramped when you walk in, you get no inkling of that from the outside view. Too bad, because the bar is nice and long, but looking up from the squished chairs at the tables, you feel like you're about six years old. Believe me, I still like it, it's a plus for Madison, but - as I said. read more

Nice little patio overlooking beautiful East Washington Avenue with a front-row view of Red Letter News. Get drunk and go get your porn on! But seriously folks, great selection of beer. I like the Belgian sours that can be a little hard to find sometimes. They have em. The crowd is usually friendly and they have lots of music to go check out. Cool little joint that is very laid back in an old union meeting house. read more

See all

The Malthouse is just like an English pub, Apart from the lack of our infamous grub, There's hundreds of great beers on tap, Perfect recommendations from the bar chap, And an ambiance that makes you feel part of the club. read more

The Malt House is one of the best bars in Madison. Its interior is definitely unassuming, and there are no food options aside from the rack of chips at one end of the giant bar, but what it does, and it does beer & whiskey, it does well. I can only speak to the beers offered, and wow. This is a great list. The taps rotate frequently, and the bottle selection is broad. The staff has always been friendly and accommodating, offering recommendations if necessary (although I prefer to grab a menu, stare at the tap list on the chalkboard, and have a little inner monologue about which beer to order) and fast, professional pours. I really appreciate the weekly updated tap list on the Malt House Facebook page-- one of my pet peeves is self-proclaimed beer bars with online tap lists that are months out of date! At the end of the night, I'm always surprised by my tab-- in a good way! Hours of drinking great craft beers for what seems a pittance. The patio is a great place to relax during Madison's nicer months, and offers a great view of the Capitol. Sitting inside is dark and cozy. The Malt House draws a varied crowd, and everyone seems comfortable. I've seen families picnicking outside while the adults indulge in a drink or two, plenty of dogs on the patio, and I've had many nights where delivery pizzas were required (both Glass Nickel and Roman Candle deliver, or there's a Papa John's across the street if you're saving your nickels for one more beer). I am glad I found the Malt House. It has definitely aided in my progression as a craft beer consumer and enthusiast, and has been a welcome fit at each stage. read more

Heard great things from friends and had a good beer selection, but the bartenders were very unfriendly to us, even though we were friendly and polite as possible. Asked the bartender to give me his favorite wheat ale... He gave me a sour beer. When I said I wasn't expecting / didn't realize he was bringing a sour beer, he said , "sorry. It's $12." I understand we came on a busy weekend with graduation, but I was very disappointed in the service we received, especially since we tried to be as friendly and polite as possible. read more

From the outside, the Malt House isn't much to look at, but a treasure trove of beer and whiskey await you inside. Cozy, great music playing a level you can talk over without shouting, and the most extensive beer menu I think I've ever seen. The menu is well-organized by beer and liquor type, which is great if you know what you do and don't like. Most of their selection is in bottles, but they have about fifteen or so beers on tap as well. The bartender was polite, knowledgeable, and had a good pour. Bonus points for plenty of seating and a clean ladies' room, and for featuring the oldest bar in Madison (Civil War-era, apparently). read more

The Malt House is simply the best bar in Madison. Well, it may not actually be that, but it is certainly the best beer bar in town and likely the state of Wisconsin. My only complaint would be with regard to the amount of staffing. I have never (in approximately 7 or 8 visits) seen more than one bartender on staff (including Saturday evening visits). The option to bring your own food or have it delivered is quite considerate given the high octane quality of many of the beers offered. I simply cannot say enough about the tap list and the regularity with which management rotates the taps. This is a bar worth visiting on a regular basis as the beers change at least weekly. read more

I love Belgian beer like it is going out of style, so The Malt House is my happy place. The fact that the bar is the Oldest Bar in Madison and has a history dating back more than 100 years only adds to the charm. The bartenders are always knowledgable and helpful. They have a rotating tap that always has great local beers and some hard-to-find American and Belgian brews. They also have an amazing array of whisky. Now, I love Malt House for what it is, but those looking for an upscale place where people will wait on you hand and food will be sorely disappointed. Expect a low-key, comfortable ambiance with a lot of people passionate about beer. read more

We came for happy hour and they had some kind of godawful country music band playing. Besides that, the band members brought along their families, so the place was packed with... wait for it... kids. Really, no thanks. So the only thing I remember - listening to country music and bratty kids knocking into me. If I want to deal with families at 6pm on a Wednesday, I'll go to Chili's. God. (Is there a Chili's in Madison?). read more

You'd never guess from the looks of the place that The Malt House is an amazing spot to grab a beer. My love for The Malt House started when I worked at the Hawthorne Branch Library and I would go after work to grab a drink. I soon realized that this place has got it going on. It is on the smaller side, but it is never too crowded and I have always been able to find a place to sit. I don't know much about beer other than I like it and will pretty much try anything, so I can't really speak to the beer that they serve other than to say that they have a lot of it. Since I don't know much about beer, it's nice that the bartenders are very friendly and are there to assist me with my ignorant consumption. I can say, however, that they have a great outdoor seating area and it is wonderful to sit outside during summer and people watch. read more

Excellent selection of tap beers. Largest selection of bottled beers I have ever seen. Prices arn't bad about 3-4 bucks for a beer(more if you get the Belgium beers but they are oh so good). If your a Belgium beer fan you have to go here. They have about five on tap! I like that there are no TV's, pool table, junk box etc. Only entertainment is conversation(Ive heard they sometimes have live music too). Its kind of refreshing to see that. However...there is nothing to really keep you there after you've gulped down your beers. I would like to see a nice bristled dart board or something(however the bar is small and space is precious). They need to get a spring or door stop on their screen door. People come in and it slams really loud echoing through the bar...the first time it startled me then I really started to get annoyed every time it happened. Overall its an good place to get a beer if that's all your looking for. The bartenders are knowledgeable but didn't seem overly friendly(they were pretty busy though). I like going there and trying new beers....and the Belgium beers on tap are delicious. P.S.- I don't know if this seems kinda tacky but it might be cool if they had a beer club or something(like Old Chicago) a checklist you could mark for beers you tried. ~Rondell read more

Service was about as bad as you can get. My glass smelled funky & the waiter thought I was off my rocker. We sat outside & chatted with the locals. I don't drink beer, but they seem to have a good selection. Kinda run down- you would think it was more of a dive bar, but the superior attitude behind the bar proves otherwise. Cool hang out. Crowd varied, which I liked. Patrons even brought their dogs to sit outside with them! I would give it another try becuase I recognize that not everyone enjoys their jobs and is entitled to a bad day:( read more

I am biased. Because anyone that has duchesse de bourgogne on tap already has my vote. Couple that with the proper way to serve it, and boom. Like I said, I am biased as I like to imbibe on Belgian-styled beers. Their beer selection is not huge, but I think it is one of the most original in the area. Things I don't dig about the Malt House... 1. All the times I have been in here, there is always only 1 (friendly and helpful) bartender working. 2. It is a haul for me (again, biased). 3. Their wonky parking lot. So. Really. The things I am griping about are not that bad. This place is original. It isn't a loud sports bar. It has REALLY GOOD beer on tap. It's the perfect place to meet up with friends and have a casual beer or two (just watch the abv's...some of these beers are POTENT). So yes. I'll be back. I'd be back more often, but I shy away from the drinking and driving thing. read more

Great spot for a craft beer. Love their patio. Bartender is always helpful as well. Love how they have the neighborhood bar feel. Will be visiting again. read more

Always good taps (about 18) that change weekly. Lots of Belgians, with other craft brews available - many local. All beer is served in the appropriate type of glass. There's also a full bottle cooler in the back if you're looking for something else. I would suggest getting on their Facebook page or mailing list for tap announcements. They also have lots of Whiskey, and hard-to-find Ciders, Cysers, and Mead. The bartenders are very knowledgeable about the beer, but could sometimes have more information on a particular beer - for example they may not know ABV or OG numbers. Also, the beer board isn't always completely up to date in regards to what's actually available at any given time. For the various type of beers that you have access to, and the portions that are served, the price is very reasonable, particularly as you have the opportunity to taste draft/draught beers prior to purchase. Seating is somewhat haphazard - maybe 6 to 8 tables plus bar, first come first serve, with the tables ending up however the last occupants placed them. It's nice that during warmer months they now have outdoor seating as that should alleviate some of the seating issues when it gets busy. As mentioned by others, there's still no televisions or other distractions, although they did have a WORT DJ playing some decent tunes while we were in there which was a bit loud for the space - I've never been a fan of having to shout to be heard by someone sitting next to you. That was on a Tuesday. They also have live music other days of the week. Speaking of Tuesday, they had a deal on Trappist beers, so that was nice to get reduced pricing on some of the best beer around. And while there's no kitchen available, I believe that they still allow you to order in a pizza or carry in food as long as you clean up after yourself. However, you probably want to check first before you try this. Probably the best beer bar in Madison as far as taps go, but with a tavern atmosphere. It's a bit hard to find (thankfully) as I can envision even more nightly capacity issues if this place becomes too popular. read more

The Malt House is Madison's OG craft beer bar, serving up a well-curated tap list to an appreciative public long before HopCat and Mr Brews came to town. They also have an impressive selection of premium whiskeys, live music and outdoor seating. The bartenders are friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. The Malt House does not serve food, so they are cool if you carry food in. read more

The Malt House is a dream come true for corner bar needs. Their beer list takes up two legal sheets filled imports, locals, and rarities. I want to try them all. Their service was great. It needs to be, because their bartenders guide every beer selection. The place itself is small but brightly lit and colorful, making it welcoming even with have a good sized crowd. The room's centerpiece is a bar dating back to the Civil War ear. A great drinking experience, and I'll have to come nightly for a year to burn through the beer choices. read more

The Malt House - the outside of the building - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Pretty good tap beer selection; some nice Belgian imports. I'm always, always happy to see the Duchesse on tap! Had a couple of firkins. Nice whiskey selection with flight options. My hubby had three Irish whiskeys he really found to like. Nice divey bar feel with great beer and whiskey options. Good music, no TVs; I liked that. Great bar to be able to have a conversation. Nice patio, although the view is nothing special. I imagine they do pretty good with making a cocktail too but didn't have one today. We'll be back for sure though and will maybe try one then. read more

The Malt House - I want to marry this beer. Love, love, LOVE the Duchesse. Great bar in which to enjoy it also. - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

You can probably drive past 100 bars from the other side of Capitol Square to get to the Malt House -- and you should. Just "Like" them on Facebook and watch every week as they update their tap selection. If you're a connoisseur, you'll find something you love or at least want to try every single week. I think they have 18 taps and something like 200-300 other beers in bottles. Whiskeys, too, if you're into that. Plus, Saturdays are $5 off 750 ml bottles, so you and a friend can split that exotic brew you've been eying for a reasonable price. There are no TVs and no jukebox here, and when night falls, the place gets dark. A few friends, no visual distractions, the best beers ever and only your conversations in your ears? It really doesn't get any better than that. read more

Great place to have a beer and you can enjoy the outdoor seating. They have a very nice selection and they carry my favorite Lindemans Lambic beer! read more

One of my favorite bars of all time. The Malt House has an excellent beer and whiskey selection. Staff is friendly and the typical Malt House bar patron is pretty chill. During the summer it's fantastic to sit in the outdoor seating and watch people drive like maniacs on East Wash. No food there, but they are cool with people ordering delivery. read more

Perfect bar for those that aren't into the hipster or college bars downtown. The Malt House has a chilled out crowd where everyone can feel at home. They offer a no frills environment with reasonably priced beers and endless selection. My 9.5% beer helped send me on my way to a pleasantly drunken Friday night. Maybe it was the beer, but I almost got trapped in the ladies room. Ladies: use the top door knob when trying to leave the bathroom. Just a heads up. After driving by this bar a million times---it's on the corner of E. Wash and Milwaukee---I'm so glad I finally went. Can't wait to sample some more beers, or maybe take a 3/$10 whiskey ride. Check out The Malt House! read more

This place has just about everything... except food. It's also a very confusing place, directly across the street from an adult video store, the capital building in the distance. The building itself seems to be suffering an identity crisis, a converted gas station, retrofitted with one of the oldest bar tops in Madison. Made from wood older than me, this thing is huge, the kind I might imagine the old west had a lot of. I can imagine rolling in after a long day of cattle-thieving and damsel distressing, ordering a stiffy off the extensive whiskey menu with the tip of my cowboy hat. Yeah, if I was a cattle thief, or a bandit, I would definitely come to this place to wind down from various sundry pursuits. This place really reminds me a lot of Barley Johns in New Brighton, MN. Sure, they don't brew their own beer, but they have at least twenty high-quality beers on tap (my recommendation being the ale asylum IPA). They're also stocked to the gills with bottles of beers like Chimay and Dogfishhead 90/120 minute IPA. Also, because there is no kitchen, they actually encourage you to order in from delivery places in the area (Glass Nickel Pizza, etc.). This is a concept I can really get behind. Never before have I thought it possible for a bar to have a BYOF sign out front. Oh golly, I'm getting a little light-headed, my sense of the universe is shifting subtly. So many things to like. So, you may be asking, why not the requisite fifth star? Well, I'll tell you. I'm not a follower, I'm a cattle thief, and this place is full of beer snobs. Despite being an amateur beer snob myself, I still get annoyed when I see others like me in public. Jerks. Oh, still feeling light headed, my vision is blurry, like I'm having a dream, or... a flashback to the wild west. I rise from my seat after two Asylum Ales and a malt whiskey, my spurs jangle as I approach the table of a beer snob eating pizza. "Pardon me mister, I believe that's my pizza you're eatin'." As I say this, I twist my mustache with one hand and stroke my revolver with the other, in plain sight. All the patrons, and the barkeep see the conflict brewing and take notice. Malt House is now completely quiet, save the tumbleweeds rolling by. "Why no sir, you must be mistaken. I ordered this pizza just a moment ago." I cock my brow and screw my lips, spitting into a spittoon over thirty feet away "Well, I guess we're at an impasse here sir. What say we step outside and have a gentlemanly talk about this." read more

I love Malt House. I also love that it's a hop and a skip from my apartment. I can't wait until it's warm enough to sit out at one of the picnic tables! They certainly do have a lot of great beer at reasonable prices. No food is served, other than snacks. You can bring food or have it delivered if you must. The space is beautiful and has lots of old woodwork to admire. It's a pretty small place, and can get cramped/loud. I'm shocked at some of the reviews saying they've had poor service. I've been here dozens of times and have always had friendly folks serving me beers. I was there on St. Patrick's Day, and the ladies working the bar were fantastic. Now, I'd give Malt House a full 5-star review, but I do have one problem with the place. And that problem is...when they have live music. This bar is small and loud as it is. When they stuff a band in the corner and blast out some music, it is SO...LOUD. There really isn't any reason for my friends and I to go there when there's live music, because conversation is impossible. For a bar that size, it's rather strange that they would even have live music. read more

This is a great neighborhood watering hole. You will find a few bar snacks but you'll need to eat before or after your visit as this place focuses on the drinks. During the summer you can sit inside at the bar which has a traditional feel with lots of character or outside under the tent. Bring your cash as no plastic is accepted which can ensure you don't go overboard on the drinks. I recently stopped in on an evening when there was a small band setting up to play and we could've eaten food as there was also a food truck parked nearby. My companion and I stuck with a couple of beers and were impressed by the number of tap and even more bottled choices from which we could choose. Prices and styles vary so every budget and tastebud will be happy. read more

One of the places we miss the most since we left Madison. You could say it's a little out of the way if you're hanging out downtown, but it's really easy to get to and more than worth it if you love beer, or just enjoy a cozy, friendly, usually quiet place to hang out and actually talk to friends instead of being packed into a crowd of college kids who love bad music and are total a-holes when you're waiting to get a drink. Allegedly residing at the location of the oldest watering hole in the state, the ambiance here is just a bonus. Nice and warm inside during the long winters, and a nice outdoor space for the beautiful Wisconsin summers. The beer and whiskey selection is mind-blowing, with tons of bottles to choose from as well as a regularly rotating selection of taps from just down the street or across the globe. read more

As others have stated, there are a ton of beer and liqueur selections. The recent addition of outside seating is a nice improvement! read more

The Malt House - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Hmm.. Impressive Scotch selection, great beers and music - yes, please! My friend is a regular here and I'm a fan. We stopped in for one and heard some great music and loved the no tv zone. This place has a relaxed atmosphere, a great drink selection and constant music- as well as a patio. read more

who can say what hasn't been said about this place? It has one of the best beer selections in Madison as well as such a cool environment. Its been on the short list of the best bars in Wisconsin several times. If you're still reading this and not driving to the Malt House then you're a lost soul and there is no helping you... read more

They have a really nice selection of beers on tap (craft beer week). Full bar for those that prefer something a little 'more' than beer. The inside is a bit rustic and has a friendly neighborhood pub vibe. The servers were attentive and very knowledgeable about their offerings. The prices of drinks was higher than other places in Madison, which surprises me. The venue doesn't have a great location. The patio overlooks a very busy roadway, some major construction across the street and an adult superstore across on the other corner. For some, maybe the location is fantastic. The patio offers some nice shade and lots of chair and picnic table seating. Kids are welcome. They offer food via a food cart. We didn't eat, but the plates of sandwiches looked good. There were a fair amount of cyclists stopping in for a beverage, families sitting and playing games while they ate/drank and lots of others enjoying some beverages as they talked the afternoon away. They were offering half pours of the beers too. That's a good way to check out the craft beer week selections. read more

The Malt House - Strawberry Rhubarb Sour Ale by New Glarus Brewery - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Fantastic place, a neighborhood pub where friends can gather to talk over a good beer without a lot of distractions. An outstanding selection of beers on tap and in bottles, and a great whiskey selection too! I love the low-key nature of the place, just a bar and a few tables. There is no food on the menu, but outside food is welcome, including pizza delivery from the outstanding eastside pizza options (Glass Nickel, Roman Candle...). read more

What's not to like? They have a great beer selection and I really like the atmosphere. They also have a patio that's nice in the summer. My only minor complaint would be their parking lot which is full of holes and can get pretty dicey in the rain/snow/ice. read more

The Malt House - Tyranena Carnal Knowledge in the Wood. With my husband in the background. - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great prices and great selection. They have happy hour every day 4-7 pm, with a dollar off drafts. And, there is a great draft selection, with lots of Wisconsin selections joined by great Belgian offerings. Parking is easy. They don't have much foods--I saw some chips on sale--but some people brought sandwiches in and the bartender didn't car at all. read more

Great Beer--Always! The selection is usually filled with beers I am not familiar with so it is a fun experience picking out a beer. Good place to stop for a drink after work, or later at night. It is off on its own and requires a u-turn to get to if you were heading east on E. Washington from the capitol. The only reason I am not a bigger fan is that I can't walk there. read more