Ale Asylum

Ale Asylum Fermented in sanity. Now brewed and distributed by Karben4 Brewing. We brew traditional, bold beers for those who demand quality and consistency.
(4043)

To those people we say: raise a pint, because you believe how we believe. Born and raised in Madison, WI.

If you're scouring the shelves for your favorite amber this summer, make sure to adjust your visual expectations because...
05/27/2026

If you're scouring the shelves for your favorite amber this summer, make sure to adjust your visual expectations because somebody got a menacing makeover

ICYMI we've reinvented the steam beer style with our brand new Desert Island Dissident. laid it out better than we coul...
05/20/2026

ICYMI we've reinvented the steam beer style with our brand new Desert Island Dissident. laid it out better than we could. Check out the article through the link in our bio, and the beer wherever fine beverages are sold.

🚨 Deal Alert 🚨Double the IPA, double your savings. SatJax lovers, we need to clear room on these shelves, so six-packs a...
05/12/2026

🚨 Deal Alert 🚨

Double the IPA, double your savings. SatJax lovers, we need to clear room on these shelves, so six-packs are BOGO while supplies last. If you're doing the math, that's $24/case!

Come and get it in the taproom

When are your favs coming back? This handy dandy calendar has everything you need to know.
05/08/2026

When are your favs coming back? This handy dandy calendar has everything you need to know.

Time to pour.Come and get it at
05/02/2026

Time to pour.

Come and get it at

Staff tested...Dean approved. Ready for public consumption tomorrow in the Karben4 Brewing taproom.Open at noon. We're e...
05/02/2026

Staff tested...Dean approved. Ready for public consumption tomorrow in the Karben4 Brewing taproom.

Open at noon. We're excited for you to try it!

Alright, nerds. Wondering what to expect from Desert Island Dissident? Like we said, we're still playing by our own rule...
04/29/2026

Alright, nerds. Wondering what to expect from Desert Island Dissident? Like we said, we're still playing by our own rules.

The steam beer style that has been synonymous with Anchor Steam for decades had also been in the back of Dean's mind for just as long. We took that traditional idea of fermenting lager yeast at a higher ale temperature, but added the Ale Asylum signature of a heavy dose of hops. We also thought it best to lighten up the color a degree or two in order to better showcase all of those hops.

The result is something with a softer mouthfeel than you'd find in a West Coast IPA but too much fruity hop character to categorize as a pilsner, even for us. But boy, is it delicious. Lightly hazy in the glass. Crisp and balanced on the palate. Let's split the difference and call it a Steam IPA.

We're very happy with how our first new recipe in four years turned out, and you will be too. Come have a pint on release day THIS SATURDAY during Great Taste Ticket Sales weekend at Karben4 Brewing

To understand the inspiration behind Desert Island Dissident, you must first understand the story of Hiroo Onoda.In 1944...
04/28/2026

To understand the inspiration behind Desert Island Dissident, you must first understand the story of Hiroo Onoda.

In 1944, Onoda was sent to Lubang Island in the Japanese-occupied Philippines. His mission was to destroy the island's airstrip and the pier at its harbor ahead of the Allied invasion as well as to destroy any enemy planes or boats that attempted to land. His orders explicitly stated that under no circumstances was he to surrender.

For the next 30 years, Onoda led guerrilla warfare operations on the island, unaware or unbelieving that WWII had ended and the rest of the world had moved on.

Fast forward another three decades and half a world away to find two intrepid rebels making names for themselves in the brewing community out of a strip mall location on Madison's northeast side. Dean Coffey and Otto Dilba conjured up as many hoppy ales as they could to meet the city's demand. All the while, staff members jokingly compared Dean to Onoda as he refused to chase industry trends or succumb to whatever fresh new style was currently en vogue.

Thus, when we decided that it was time, after four long years, with some of the exact same equipment, and some of those same beloved staff members, in that same strip mall location, to inject some new life into our beer lineup while maintaining the backbone of the Ale Asylum brand, we knew the first person we had to call was Dean himself.

A steam beer was born.

This style, around since the 19th century, has never before emerged from the Ale Asylum tanks. But if you've ever had a steam beer elsewhere, just know that we're still playing by our own rules.

Want more details on the beer itself? You'll just have to stay tuned...

04/22/2026

The time has come ⏰

May 2nd.The four-year wait is over.You aren't gonna want to miss it.
04/14/2026

May 2nd.

The four-year wait is over.

You aren't gonna want to miss it.

Address

3698 Kinsman Boulevard
Madison, WI
53704

Telephone

+16082414812

Website

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