The one Bloody Mary to rule them all

#FoodTripping Day 19: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Want a morning pick-me-up, Milwaukee style? Oh, how about seven ounces of vodka? “The Beast” at Sobleman’s will oblige. This behemoth wake-up call is also known as the “chicken-fried Bloody Mary,” an apt description since it features a whole, deep-fried bird. Oh, and there’s also a steak, ribs, deep-fried cheese curds, jalapeno poppers, shrimp and bacon. The $50 beverage is as overstated as the venue is chill and casual; think a cross between a German beer hall and your grandparent’s basement.

The joint is also famous for its burgers, and the place was already packed inside and out during our 11:30 AM drop-by on a Friday. Owner Dave Sobleman said that even on a slow day, they make over 300 Bloody Marys. The embrace of booze in the AM makes sense for this town, which is awash in drinking culture. Milwaukee has one of the highest bars per capita ratio in the country, along countless breweries and a beer-centric baseball team. Molly did her best to down The Beast. “It’s like going through an obstacle course to get a sip, but well worth it once you find the straw,” she said. “As gimmicky as The Beast is, it’s actually a really good Bloody Mary — just the right amount of spicy.”

And no, she wasn’t able to finish The Beast on her own, but she had plenty of friendly company at the bar in this drinking town to help work their way through the leftovers.

Click here to see how “The Beast” is made and here for more stops on Zagat and The Huffington Post’s #FoodTripping tour.