A Taster's Guide to Wisconsin highlights destinations for the best craft beer, wines and specialty cheeses across the state.  With help from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the small Wisconsin Craft Brewers Guild and Wisconsin Winery Association, put together a map--a volunteer effort over a year in the making.

What makes the map especially useful is information about tours and tastings. Tourism and visitation is increasingly important to craft brewers and small wineries.  In Milwaukee, Lakefront Brewery has now offers weekday tours, the Milwaukee Ale House offers beer tasting seminars, and in Glendale, Sprecher Brewery attracts more than 20,000 visitors each year.

FROMAGE FORT
In the mood for snacks? Try the "Fromage Fort" a recipe by Laura Werlin from her book, AMERICAN CHEESE (Stewart Tabori Chang, $35).  It's a great way to use up the bits and pieces of cheese left over from a cheese tray for a party. Her original directions call for wine, but I've made this successfully with a mild amber ale instead.