Football weekends are an absolutely amazing aspect to this campus. The energy in the air is unmistakable. People are revved up not only for the game, but for all the parties that come with it.
We take our athletics as seriously as we take our desire for fun. This spirit is highly contagious and never fails to draw a crowd. More people is great, but the lines at every bar imaginable leave a Badger fan to ponder, “What is it gonna take for me to get a drink in this town?”
Help is here for such a problem. One bar, for reasons unknown, seems to have a smaller line and smaller crowd. The Church Key Bar, 626 University Ave., is a place where you can get a quality drink in record time — and avoid the overly enthusiastic alumni harassing your friends.
Escape from human pinball, clutching on to your Jack and Coke for dear life, also comes with an added upside — the drinks at Church Key are cheap.
Although only open from Wednesday to Saturday, at 8 p.m. to bartime, the Church Key is a good deal. Captain and Cokes are $3, as are Bacardi and Smirnoff mixers. Seagram’s 7, Miller Lite pints and rail drinks are $2.50. Pabst Blue Ribbon bottles and Dr. shots are $1.50.
These are the bar’s everyday prices — specials are only available Wednesdays and Thursdays. The specials include fresh sangria or the bartender’s pick for $2. Miller Lite is $1.50, and all pints are $1 off. Central Waters, a unique microbrew from Junction City, Wis., is available for $2.
Central Waters is not found at just any bar. Manager Tom Harris elaborates, “They don’t distribute much, and we might be the only bar in town that serves it.”
One of the more interesting drinks is a shot called the “Electric Deitsch,” named after bartender Chris Deitsch. The recipe is somewhat of a mystery, but certainly has some blue curacao, which is responsible for its color. Not too sweet but definitely strong, this is a fun shot to do with friends, and is available for $2.50.
Beyond good drinks, the Church Key has an interesting story, and it starts with its name. Before the era of pull-tabs, beer cans were opened with a nifty device many called a “church key.” Rounded on one end to open bottles, the opposite end was shaped with a point to puncture holes, thus allowing the free-flow of liquid. Although still found today, one is probably met with a look of puzzlement upon requesting that they be tossed a “church key” to knock the cap off a favorite beverage.
Aside from this connection, the building in which the bar is located actually started out as a Lutheran Church from 1914 to 1923. Soon after, the space was used as a mortuary. Although slightly unsettling, this particular function did have its advantages for some.
The basement of the building used to be apartments. Obviously stigmatized by the building’s use, the owners came up with a novel way to attract renters. According to manager Harris, “The rent was free — all they had to do was bring in dead bodies whenever necessary.”
Eventually, the mortuary business gave way to a nightclub. Drawn by the opportunity to party in such an odd-yet-spacious environment, the Church Key quickly became a popular student hangout known for showcasing national live-music acts such as Cheap Trick, George Thurgood and Steppenwolf.
Mismanagement subsequently changed the Church Key’s character and popularity. For a few years in the late 1990s the bar was closed, but reopened six years ago. Still, the Church Key remains something of an unknown on campus.
Bartender and UW student Katie Regan enjoys its hidden quality. “No one really knows about us,” she explains.
Most places shy away from anonymity. But when it comes to good deals and good drinks, the Church Key is a secret simply too hard for this Badger fan to keep.
Bartime will hit the Bier Garten this weekend at Capital Brewery for a sampling of the area’s finest brews. Capital Brewery is located at 7734 Terrace Ave. in Middleton. Cheers!
