When you see 6,000 freshmen moving in, and then the same youngsters in large packs trying to sneak into Mifflin house parties, you know it’s welcome week.
As this year’s annual partying extravaganza commences, something else new is here. The Double U — owned and operated by the Rudy family, owners of Chasers Bar and Grille — is in the old location of the classic underage haven Johnny O’s.
For many students who were around for the Johnny O’s reign, it was sad to see the place close, but hearing the Double U’s details was enticing.
Remembering an old friend: An ode to Johnny O’s and freshman year
Completely renovated and looking sleek and modern, the Double U could turn into one of the best spots on campus. But, opening night did not seem to go as smoothly as they probably would have liked.
Upon showing up to the bar around 10 p.m., there was an initial line of around 25 to 30 people, which wasn’t too bad. But once I got into the bar, it was another story.
The entrance to their upstairs patio is located immediately left of the main entrance, and it was next to impossible to enter. There was no formal line, and people were pushing past each other to move up.
Instead of fighting to get upstairs, I decided to chill out in a booth with several friends after ordering a few drinks. The Double U does a great job maximizing space, with a mix of high-standing tables and booths, in addition to standing room.
Another issue facing the bar opening night was the music. It was loud enough to make you shout to someone no more than five feet away, especially when Skrillex repeatedly boomed for what seemed like an eternity. You could see people around the bar shouting, “WHAT?” every few minutes to friends, which got annoying very quickly.
The biggest problem was the credit card machine failure. Patrons were unable to order any more drinks or close out tabs without paying in cash. It was quite a hassle, and took much longer than anticipated.
But, it was just opening night, right? Everything great in this world takes time to reach its potential, and The Double U has lots of time.
I thought it would be unfair to judge the bar on just its opening night, so I decided to go back a week later and was highly impressed. The outdoor patio upstairs is massive and has a great view overlooking University Avenue, and when not packed wall to wall, The Double U is a very nice sports bar.
It’s hard to say what will become of The Double U. It could deteriorate like its predecessor, or it could become as popular as Chaser’s.
But despite any trials or tribulations faced by Madison’s latest drinking hole, welcome week continued in its familiar fashion. This week I attended a Red, White and Blue party, so filled with good old ‘MERICA pride, I decided I would try out the Capital Brewery US Pale Ale.
Style
American IPA, 4.9 percent
Aroma
Relatively weak, with slight caramel hints from the malts and an earthy, hoppy hint
Appearance
Pour is a deep golden orange, settling slightly copper
Taste
Strong earthy and citrus taste, with a strong hoppy flavor with slight bitterness
Room Temperature Taste
Hoppiness overtakes the citrus flavor initially, but citrus sits in your mouth after consumption
Consensus
As an American IPA, this is a solid beer. While not the best American IPA I’ve ever tried, it’s a solid one that is a great tasting brew. It invokes a good ol’ Merica pride.
