For a malt-in-your mouth beer experience, head over to Karben4. | Photo by @karben4brewing

Time flies when you’re drinking beer. Family-owned local brewery Karben 4 is celebrating a decade of business in the 608 this week. We chatted with owner Ryan Koga to celebrate the occasion.

Q: With two brothers leading the pack, what are the benefits of working with family?
A: When one of our egos tries to grab the steering wheel, the other can point it out and redirect the effort to simply “work the problem” without worrying about some silly perceived power play that isn’t actually taking place.

Q: If you could bring one out-of-rotation beer “back from the dead,” what would it be?
A: Martian Sunrise Red IPA. Delicious beer, great label, and probably my favorite T-shirt.

Q: What K4 beers would you recommend to newbies easing into the beer scene?
A: Our Midwesty pilsner or the Helles lager when it comes around. Also, if someone is more of a wine drinker, then Lady Luck Dark Red Ale is my homage to Bordeaux. For white wine lovers, our Slow IPA would be right up their alley.

Q: What are some of your favorite community events you’ve done?
A: My favorites have been working with dog adoptions and rescues, the Madison Police K-9s and horse-mounted patrols, the Army 1-147th Blackhawk Squadron, and especially the Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing.

Q: If you ever have a moment away from the brewery, what are some of your favorite 608 spots to grab a drink or bite to eat?
A: Umami for steamed buns and dumplings as well as Ha Long Bay for mango curry and the LS7. My in-laws always insist on getting takeout from both places whenever they visit from Michigan, and I am more than happy to oblige. For the record, my full list would take up a book.

MORE Q'S BREWED HERE

EVENTS

Click here to have your event featured.

Today, Jan. 18

Will Greene Trio | Wednesday, Jan. 18 | 7-9 p.m. | Arts + Lit Lab, 111 S. Livingston St., Madison | $12 | Enjoy a jazz performance from this experimentally dynamic trio. 🎷
Family Pajama Storytime | Wednesday, Jan. 18 | 6-6:30 p.m. | Fitchburg Library, 5530 Lacy Rd., Fitchburg | Free | Don your finest jammies and wind down with your toddler via crafts, songs, and bedtime stories.

Thursday, Jan. 19

Words with Nerds | Thursday, Jan. 19 | 7-8:45 p.m. | Crucible, 3116 Commercial Ave., Madison | $10 | Like a TED Talk, but funnier — stop by for comically educational lectures about mind-controlling parasites, how we define virginity, and tales from the dementia unit.
Madison Mini Night Hike | Thursday, Jan. 19 | 5-7 p.m. | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton St., Madison | $12 | Lace up for a 0.5K adventure through the Wonderground followed by hot cocoa and a participation pin for the littles. 👟

Friday, Jan. 20

Cocktails in the Conservatory | Friday, Jan. 20 | 7-11 p.m. | Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison | $10 | Stroll through Olbrich’s Conservatory, sip a cocktail, and enjoy the beats of local DJs. 🌺
Wisconsin Badgers Hockey vs. Ohio State Buckeyes | Friday, Jan. 20 | 7 p.m. | Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton St., Madison | $25 | Cheer on the Badgers as they drop the puck against Ohio State.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

NEWS NOTES

Weather

36º | Mostly cloudy | 24% chance of rain
Winter weather returns to Madison this week after a week of reprieve. Wet and heavy snow will make an appearance early Thursday morning which may affect your morning commute. Keep your eyes on the weather radar to stay prepared. ❄️ (NBC 15)

Civic

We’re about a month away from the Spring Primary. Have you requested your absentee ballot? Check out the City’s resources page or contact the Clerk’s Office for more information. 🗳️

Closed

The Roman Candle is permanently closing its doors after 15 years in the 608. Its farewell post touched on the trials and tribulations of the restaurant industry and urged Madisonians to keep supporting local restaurants and businesses. Locals have until Saturday, Feb. 4 to grab a pie one last time.

Announced

It’s a Dairyland delight. Alabama, the iconic country music band, will be kicking off this year’s State Fair on opening night. Tickets for the Thursday, Aug. 3 show go on sale Friday, Jan. 27. Don’t forget to grab your cream puff voucher while you’re at it. (Channel 3000)

Cause

Madison’s Second Harvest Food Bank received a hefty donation from the Wisconsin Farmers Union. The food bank received 35,000 pounds of pork — one of five regional deliveries totaling 90 tons of meat being distributed in WI, MN, MT, ND, and SD. 🍖 (WKOW)

Health

New Year’s resolutions are a great way to make positive changes in your life. Here’s a tip to make them last: Instead of cutting things out, try adding things in. (Think: Instead of cutting out sugar, try adding new veggies to your plate.) Another resolution that’s good for your health? Joining the All of Us Research project.*

Travel

Scott’s Cheap Flights is going, going...Going. The travel membership that saves you hundreds on flights has a new name, and in honor of the rebrand, you can get 30% off a Premium membership with code 6AMCITY30. What you’ll get: last minute weekend trips, mistake fares, and early deal alerts. ✈️*

Sports

If you’re into (or even sort of into) sports: The GIST is a must-subscribe newsletter that provides a refreshing female voice and perspective on sports four times a week. Read: If ‘do the thing and score the points’ is your baseline understanding, you might enjoy this to uplevel your knowledge. ⚽ *

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

EAT + DRINK

60(ate) 🍽️

City Editor Ally recommends Merchant for their steak frites. | Photo by 608today team

Don’t stress over dinner plans next week. Madison’s 2023 Winter Restaurant Week has got you covered. Check out these 22 participating eateries that are offering prix fixe lunch and/or dinner menus ranging from $20-$50 per person.

Amara | Coastal Italian, new to 608
Bandit | A la carte tacos
Bassett Street Brunch Club | Vintage theme, plus all-day brunch
Bonfyre | Upscale casual eats
Buck and Honey’s | Comfort food and live music
Craftsman | Craft beers and classic tavern menu
Delaney’s | White tablecloth steakhouse
Eno Vino | Tapas with a Capitol view
Heritage Tavern | Upscale contemporary American bites
Liberty Station | Classic smokehouse tavern
Mariner’s Inn | Old-fashioned steakhouse
Merchant | Farm-to-table gastropub
Migrants | Mexican food with vegan options aplenty
Nonno’s | Casual Italian dining
Osteria Papavero | Large portions of classic Italian eats
Palette | Classic American fare with unique craft cocktails
Porta Bella | Romantic ambiance and Italian food
Salvatore’s | Locally sourced Italian food
Steenbock’s | Modern American bistro
Tavernakaya | Japanese sushi, ramen, and tapas
The Statehouse | American hotel dining
Villa Dolce | Modern Italian cafe

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Ally.

Editor’s pick: While I would love to spend all of my free time and money hitting every Restaurant Week spot, I don’t think that’s in the cards for me. I’m deciding between Heritage Tavern and Palette, feel free to convince me one way or the other.

Missed our last newsletter? We commemorated MLK Day.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Ally Geiger, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Ana Gibson | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?

You received this email because you are signed up for newsletters from 6AM City.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.