Celebrate with these classic Middleton businesses

Sure, age is just a state of mind, but birthdays are still worth celebrating sometimes. A few of Middleton’s most famous businesses—including an iconic microbrewery,…

Sure, age is just a state of mind, but birthdays are still worth celebrating sometimes. A few of Middleton’s most famous businesses—including an iconic microbrewery, a family-owned bakery and museum that’s all about mustard—have all reached historic milestones this year. Pay them a visit and let the celebration begin!

Capital Brewery

Raise your glass at this Middleton institution, which was founded in 1984. (True, Capital didn’t actually brew its first batch of beer until 1986, but let’s not get picky.) Since then, Capital Brewery has become an iconic name in Wisconsin’s brewing scene, producing award-winning lagers, ales and more. The outdoor Bier Garten is a great gathering spot in the summer, hosting live music and other public and private events.

Clasen’s European Bakery

Sixty years after brothers Ralph and Ernst Clasen left their home in Germany and settled in Middleton, their namesake bakery is still family-owned and still producing all-natural, European-style breads, cakes, pastries and more. The talented bakers and pastry chefs at Clasen’s European Bakery create more than 40 types of breads and rolls and more than 70 varieties of tasty treats—all from scratch, and all perfect for a celebration.

National Mustard Museum

The world’s only museum dedicated to mustard didn’t get its start in Middleton—it originally opened in Mount Horeb in 1992—but the National Mustard Museum has called downtown Middleton it’s home for the last 10 years. The brainchild of founder and curator Barry Levenson, the National Mustard Museum boasts more than 6,000 jars, bottles and tubes of mustard from all 50 states and more than 70 countries, as well as hundreds of mustards available for purchase. Don’t miss the fun at the annual National Mustard Day celebration every August.

Hubbard Avenue Diner

One of the sweetest businesses in Middleton is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019. Hubbard Avenue Diner opened its doors in downtown Middleton (on Hubbard Avenue, naturally) on May 1, 1999, and has been delighting patrons ever since. And what better way to celebrate a birthday than with pie? Hubbard has long been known for delicious pies and recently introduced its latest version of kryptonite for your sweet tooth—the pie taco. Stop by and treat yourself today!

Modified August 7, 2023