By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Sep 05, 2022 at 1:01 PM

Returning to work after a long weekend can be rough. But Central Standard co-founders Even Hughes and Pat McQuillan are helping folks to take the edge off with a very special happy hour that celebrates Wisconsin’s favorite cocktail: the brandy old fashioned.

Having worked with the Wisconsin governor’s office to proclaim September Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Month and the first day of fall (Sept. 22 in 2022) as Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Day, the partners are kicking off the month-long festivities by inviting Wisconsinites to join them at the Crafthouse & Kitchen on Tuesday, Sept. 6 from  4 to 6 p.m. for a complementary old fashioned.

“There’s no better way to commemorate Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Month than raising a free glass of our famed Old Fashioned featuring our North Wisconsin brandy,” notes McQuillan. 

But that’s not all.  

“For us, there is so much to celebrate this September,” says Hughes. “There’s Brandy Old Fashioned Month, the return of football session, the unveiling of our new fall menu and so much more,” Hughes said.

Along with the new fall menu, which is expected to drop soon, Central Standard is also rolling out a number of September specials which help to celebrate Brandy Old Fashioned Month.   

Guests who visit the Downtown bar and restaurant will find a new specialty old fashioned cocktail menu, commemorative t-shirts and posters and the opportunity to revisit Freese’s Candy Shoppe’s Wisconsin State Fair-famous old fashioned s’mores on a stick.

The dessert, which received high praise at this year’s Fair, will be available on the menu at Central Standard throughout the month of September.

“If you haven’t tried an Old-Fashioned S’Mores on a Stick yet, you’re truly missing out on one of the highlights from this year’s state fair,” McQuillan said. “We’re excited to bring a limited-run of them to the Crafthouse for Brandy Old Fashioned Month and support another local, family-run Milwaukee company.”

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.