The Sampler Hard Truth Hills
The restaurant and bar up at Hard Truth Hills really puts the big in Big Woods.
The dining room is the size of a factory floor, lined on one side by a long, modern bar and on the other by picture windows and glass doors that open onto a big deck with a gorgeous view of the surrounding landscape. It has an open ceiling with the ductwork painted black treatment.
But the space is nicely divided by shoulder-high wooden partitions, and we managed to get seated down on one end in a row of booth / tables, next to a 360-degree fire place surrounded by a kind of conversation pit— very cozy and inviting.
It’ s hard to imagine starting off the meal without some frosty libations, since we’ re dining with the folks who have made their name brewing( and now, distilling). In this, Hard Truth Hills does not disappoint.
The drinks menu offers“ classic cocktails” like a Margarita, Martini, or a“ Bacon Bloody Mary” made with house liquors— Hard Truth Vodka and Hard Truth Gin.
Just reading the descriptions of the drinks is fun. The“ Dead Rabbit Tipperary” contains Jameson, sweet Vermouth, green chartreuse, Angostura, and orange bitters. The“ Moscow Mule” is made up of Hard Truth vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. For an extra ten bucks, you can keep the copper mug they serve it in.
But, despite the“ Molly’ s Lane Gimlet” and the“ Brown County Sunset” or even the“ Lost in the Woods,” I feel more inclined toward the beer side of the drinks menu.
Big Woods has been around long enough that we all have some experience of it now. People like the“ Six Foot Blonde.” I’ ve always been partial to the Busted Knuckle Ale, an“ all occasion dark beer with rich, complex flavor and aroma.”
I suppose for the sake of the experiment I should’ ve tried a“ Quafftoberfest”( traditional Marzen style lager), or sample the“ Aquaffalypse,” a brew whose local hops“ give this seasonal IPA a vibrant, wet-hopped punch.”
And who hasn’ t sometimes craved a vibrant, wet-hopped punch?
In the end, I opt for a dark beer called“ Common Necessity,” a stout brewed with hazelnut and coffee. Mrs. Samper ordered a classic gin Martini. Quaff On! The service was outstanding without being annoying, which is always a plus, and as we turned our attention to the food menu, our drinks soon arrived in good order.
As regular readers of these columns will know, I love appetizers. I like to get a couple of tasty treats on the table to start with and think about dinner later. On this particular occasion, this would prove to be my downfall.
Hard Truth Hills has“ tavern fries”( tossed in malt vinegar, dill and cracked salt) and“ poutine”( crispy pub fries and
52 Our Brown County • Nov./ Dec. 2018