I don’t get out to the Blue Heron quite as often as I should. Located in Marshfield in the historic Parkin Place, the brewpub has great food, beer, and atmosphere. Originally a dairy processing plant, there’s plenty of booths and tables and a bar that wraps around a glass wall so you can sip your beer while watching the next batches ferment 🙂 I’m always excited about a place that has a few vegan/vegetarian options beyond a side salad. Nothing is more disappointing than wanting to go out for lunch and have a beer and realizing you’re restricted to two things on the menu. Maybe. Blue Heron boasts 12 vegetarian meals from stuffed sweet peppers to a zucchini and squash curry bowl. Personally, I’d recommend the Portabella Mushroom Hoagie or, if you’re a meat eater, their Wisconsin Cranberry Salmon Salad. Though my dad would disagree with me and say you gotta get one of their ‘meat thing’ sandwiches lol – that is, whatever the meat sandwich special is that day. 

Beer-wise… I do really like their Hop Heart IPA (no surprise there) which is available all year round. Tiger’s Eye is a nice easy drinker and they did have a really nice barleywine on tap that I was anxious to test against Central Waters Brewer’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Barleywine. While it’s hard to compete with Central Waters, I was very happy with Blue Heron’s barleywine. Smooth, with a mellower flavor profile that pairs great with food. Pleasantly surprised with that one. Blue Heron is between brewers right now, so I’m excited to see what will happen with their beer rotation once they get someone in there permanently. 

Now despite the beer and food, this place wouldn’t be what it is without the people behind the bar. Not only knowledgeable, but tons of fun. Probably one of the most memorable nights I’ve had in awhile was at Blue Heron when my parents and I stopped for a late dinner after a memorial service. Thomas, the bartender, wasn’t just savvy with the beer but Irish whiskey too and wasn’t shy when it came to storytime. So many good laughs and even better conversation. We even discovered a mutual love(?) of Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky. For those of you who’ve never had the pleasure of tasting, or smelling, Laphroaig…it is something else. Full of beautiful smoky, peaty flavors I’ve always likened it to a summer campfire in liquid form. Seriously one of my favorite treats, so I was beyond excited when Thomas pulled a bottle out. Barleywine and Laphroaig in one building? I was definitely starting to feel spoiled lol.  

I also gotta mention The Oven Above the Pup, a pizza joint above Blue Heron that I often hear live music spilling out of. Now, I’ve never eaten there so I can’t give you an honest review yet but I’ve perused the menu a few times and really want to give their Galloway Girl pizza a go. Leave a comment below if you have any other suggestions!

Cheers! ~ Steph

Come check ’em out!

108 W 9th St, Marshfield