HopCat

I have had this place book marked since they opened so I stopped by for some craft beer. There is 125 beers on tap at any given time so the beer menu changes in minutes.
Once again I picked another place that is very popular because we got the last open seats at the bar. The place is decent sized with a fresh look to it. It has nice seating with booths, tables and large bar space. The walls are colorful and have a graffiti style look to them. Overall the place has a nice modern look and a grand stair case in the front leading to the upper floor.
The service was slightly lacking and could have been better because they didn’t acknowledge us at first and walked right by us for some reason. After thinking about the whole experience overall I decided I’m going to not take any stars away and over look this because the place was almost completely full.
While the beer menu is really large but I found a couple beers I liked. The menu can change by the minute because at least four taps get changed while I was there. The beer menu has a red stamp with no beer for you when one is gone and an up next section to show you what’s coming on line as beer drops off the list.
Overall it’s a nice hip place that attracts all kinds of people because parents brought way young crying children who have not yet been taught how to behave to annoy the people around them just because they can, you have got to love that. I really wanted to try the food but we had other plans so I can’t comment on the food here but still a cool place to hang out.

Come here for the tater tots. No seriously!

Came in on a Saturday evening around 7:30, and waited about 25 minutes for a table. Not bad. We were able to sit at the bar, but my little sister was with us (who is 18) and the bartender asked her to stand, so that they wouldn’t get in trouble for having someone under age at the bar. Seemed a little excessive, but not a big deal. Ordered the Crack Fries and the Vladamir Poutine, not realizing they were basically the same thing, and the waitress wasn’t really very clear with us. I generally avoid carbs so I ordered a burger without the bun and she didn’t even bat an eye. Overall really positive experience, the beer was great and the food was pretty good.
The worst part of it all was just that it literally took us 35 minutes to find parking. I understand its a crowded area, but if they’re going to expect a good crowd they should probably expand their parking lot.

While I applaud the enthusiasm this place needs less beers and more bartenders. But the upside is you never have to worry about leaving this place too drunk to drive. By the time you finish reading the War&Peace size beer menu and the requisite 20 minute convo with the bartender (who you had to wait 20 mins for while he wraps up his last customer dissertation) there’s no way you’re drinking more than a beer an hour.
Maybe I’m just a bad beer snob, but why not have a couple dozen good beers and a couple of weirdo ones to keep things interesting while not turning beer ordering time into a 45 minute affair? I thought the idea was to drink the beer, not hold lectures on it.

Very impressive beer list, great loaded fries, but the tots and service really set HopCat apart. We enjoyed beer flights and apps, 2 adults and 2 kids, and had a great experience. The server went out of his way to double check allergens, even offering creative, not on the menu replacements.
We will be back!

There’s crack fries. But then there’s crack fries covered in a sour cream gravy with pierogis and onions and goodness and called Vladimir Poutine, you know?
The club sandwich had a cool twist of added egg salad and avocado and was huge and delicious.
Minus a star because our server was frankly awful. It was a Sunday evening and the place wasn’t busy. But the bigger crime was that she was fully clueless about beers and lied about it.
Friend asked for an amber that was not too malty and was served the maltiest amber I’ve ever tasted. She asked questions about the next beer and the waitress admitted to not having had that beer. At this point at least she offered a sample, but it was after our meal had finished. All a little «too little, too late» — we’d have asked for that before if we knew it was an option or if she’s had stopped by our table at any point, really.
The food was great, the beer selection is spectacular — but basically if you’re going to be a beer bar in a city that has folks with a lot of beer knowledge, your servers have to stack up. She needs more training or she needs to be able to go grab someone else who knows more than she does.

Finally made it here on an extremely busy Saturday evening. We had a party of 7 & were seated fairly quick. I really liked how they text my cell when our table was ready so we were able to go walk around State Street instead of stand around in Hopcat.
Our server was great. She made recommendations for food & drinks. Despite being as busy as it was our order didn’t take long to come.
The Cowboy burger was amazing & so was the mac & cheese. My kids loved their cheeseburgers & we all loved the Crack fries!!!
We liked that you can write on the tables with keys or a knife. The atmosphere was awesome. TVs were on & showed various sports.
We look forward to going again.

HopCat is one of those places that I was highly anticipating it’s arrival, but was not as impressed as I had hoped to be upon several visits. If you intend to visit for drinks only, you should have no problem finding something you *think* you might like from the beer menu. With so many options, you have to be okay with trying a new beer that doesn’t quite taste as great as you imagined. Servers can help adjust expectations on beers that are particularly pungent. For example, the «Bacon Bomb» sounds like an awesome beer to order, right? When my friend asked for this beer, our server explained that the beer was overwhelmingly smoky (if that’s your thing), and not as bacon-​y as it would seem. This kind of menu knowledge from the service staff is very appreciated with such a lengthy and changing menu.
The food. I’m just not a fan. On one visit, I encountered a group leaving who warned us not to eat there, yet I did not heed this advice. After several visits that involved food orders, I can barely tell you what I’ve tried it was so unimpressive. The Muffin Top (black bean patty + english muffin + fixings) seemed to be a frozen MorningStar patty which did not offer much flavor for the price. The best menu item I’ve tried is the Turkey burger which was flavorful and nicely put together.
TL;DR: Excellent service, fun atmosphere. Go for the beer, but find food elsewhere.

Decent burger, okay waiter and pricy beer. I tried the Cowboy burger and it is apparently too much food for a lady. A good gathering place, but also quieter than I expected. I’d say it’s a restaurant with a great beer selection rather than a bar.
AND there is a crack on my friend’s water glass and none of us noticed until half way through dinner.

Go for happy hour!
Happy hour is M-​Th 2−6pm and the deals are great! $ 3 local WI brews (there’s like 30 to chose from) and ½ off burgers! Now that’s a cheap meal!
The burgers are super thick and come with a generous side of their «crack fries». Now these are said to be in the top 10 best fries in America, and while they are pretty tasty, I’m not sure I can say top 10. I asked for my burger to be medium and it was more like medium-​well, but it was still a pretty decent burger.
Between my burger and pint of beer, I only spent $ 8! Can’t do much better than that!

I didn’t expect to like this place so much! I was originally turned off by the huge, collegey chain on State Street. However, the food is spectacular, the service is fabulous and the place is roomy and attractive.
Everything I’ve tried tastes great. The crack fries are obviously great. The buffalo rolls are AMAZING. If you think Hopcat only serves good unhealthy food, think again. The southwest salad is delicious and fills you up.
Servers are always friendly and helpful. When it took more than a few minutes to get us our appetizers, they asked what they could comp because they felt so bad. We didn’t even think we’d been waiting that long!

Stopped in for my first time with my fiancé on a Friday night the Badger basketball team was playing at home. Very busy and required a 10 – 15 minute wait, but luckily one of the best things about HopCat is there large beer selection. Bar tenders were helpful to pick something out me and my fiancé would like while we waited for our table.
After getting a text and being seated in their upstairs bar area, we were in a slight rush to get to the game and the waiter was very quick and attentive. Ordered another beer but we were seated on the 2^nd floor and they don’t have their whole selection upstairs.
In regards to the food, this is where I thought they lacked. We both ordered the Cowboy burger which was good. In regards to the «crack» fries, the seasoning was good but the fries themselves were overly crispy and in my opinion average.
Overall, I would definitely go back. They have a good atmosphere and obviously lots of beer to choose from which is always great.

HopCat you are up there in my books. We came during their Happy Hour prior to seeing a show at The Overture. Half priced burgers = awesome and $ 3 for local tap beers = amazing.
The restaurant itself has a lot of seating, especially at the bar which is huge. There’s something for everyone with so many beers on tap to choose from. Service was great.
A great casual place to meet friends or come after work for Happy Hour. Also, the crack fries are delicious. Try them and I promise you won’t be disappointed!
There are similar other establishments like HopCat popping up around the area. But, after trying other similar places, I have to say that I prefer HopCat over the rest.
And the location can’t be beat. As it is right off of State Street, it is close to anything downtown and easily accessible if your in the area.
I will definitely be back again.

I have this thing about overhyped places… I lose interest. So even though I initially was looking forward to HopCat… HypeCat… opening, I decided to wait until the masses were on to the next new thing. When I found myself downtown today, I popped in to check it out.
What the heck??? Ok. So this place does everything right. Ambiance? Clean, well decorated and the perfect lighting and music levels (and every single song played was a favorite, during my entire visit). A singing waiter, who sang the whole time I was there (and thankfully in a good voice) is a clue that the staff enjoys being there. That sounds like it could be annoying, but it really wasn’t.
The downstairs bar is a huge U-​shaped affair, and there was only one bartender working when I stopped in, but he handled everything well on his own. Calm, friendly, knowledgeable, and just attentive enough. Adam is a pro. I inquired about half pours of beers, and that indeed was an option. I tried two beers that were new to me, one of which Adam recommended, and it was much better than the one I picked on my own. Both were very good, though.
I had intended to only grab an order of the much-​lauded crack fries for lunch, but then Adam informed me that all the tempting-​sounding burgers were half price. I’m not sure what the hours or days of that special are, but I was there around 3:30 pm on a Thursday. I rarely ever order burgers, but I’d been in the mood for an old favorite, a blue cheese and mushroom burger. When I saw that was one of their special burgers, I couldn’t resist.
I’m gonna tell you guys, it was fantastic. It came with lettuce, tomato, swiss, and shoestring fried onions in addition to the mushrooms and blue cheese mayo. It was cooked exactly medium, just as ordered. It was a bit of a mess to eat, but they bring you plenty of napkins when it’s delivered to your table. Or the bar, as it were. As I were… sitting at the bar. Crack fries are all they are hyped to be. Addictive. Everything was all I could want it to be. Corporate entity, yes, but you kind of forget all that once you fall under their spell of perfectly executed everything.
Two half pour-​beers and a huge platter of delicious food came to twelve dollars and change. Amazing. I am a fan for life.

We stopped in on a rainy Halloween Saturday after the Badger’s game. Understandably, the restaurant was slammed but we were able to secure a few barstools at the ginormous bar. We were at the bar for about an hour before deciding to order food and then waiting almost that long to finally receive it. Service was painfully slow and there is no excuse. A Halloween Saturday and a Badger game necessitates extra staffing, this wasn’t the case here. A big thumbs down to the female bartender (dressed as a TMNT) who looked at me (as I was trying to flag her down) and then simply walk away. Yeah, it probably sucks that you are getting slammed but a simple acknowledgement is all that was needed.
Already on the fence on whether this would be a place to visit more, this tipped me to the «no» side. Besides almost the overwhelming selection of beer, poor service and a-​ok food won’t cut it for me.

Hopcat has added exactly what was needed to the State Street area. It’s a little more upscale than the younger crowd bars, which is a big plus for me. The beer list is always changing and never disappoints. The food has been delicious — don’t skimp on the crack fries! The servers and bartenders have always been attentive and knowledgeable when I’ve been. Late night menu is offered, as well.
If you get stuck in the outside line, it’s never taken me more than ten minutes to get in (prior to 10:00). It gets crowded and seating might not be available right away, but with so much room in the bar areas both upstairs and down, I’ve never minded much.

Ah! Madison needed a place like this! A beer lovers paradise! This may be my new haunt. SO. MANY. TAPPERS! They are also great at repping the local microbreweries! The variety is also great and they of course have mini glasses… so it’s basically an endless, build your own flight if you wish.
Crack fries were yummy but I’m not sure i was a ga ga for them as everyone else. Don’t get me wrong, they are mighty tasty, peppery with a hint of sweetness and a delish cheese sauce for dipping; but with a reputation like that, i expected them to blow my mind.
My mussles however… the best I have ever had! You get a ton! Seriously, they are not shy about the portion. the sauce is made of spicy chorizo, a light tomato broth, onions and a sprinkle of heaven. Served with buttery bread. MMMM! My husband got their fish and chips. He was underwhelmed claiming there was more breading than fish. I tried a small piece of fish and found it to be light, fluffy, and flakey. I enjoyed it and question his taste buds.
Décor is seriously cool. People are encouraged to carve into the tables. I worry when beer is involved and people are encouraged to vandalize property; however, Madison is keeping it pretty classy. I did attempt to turn every hashtag into a game of tic tac toe.
Service was great and friendly. Not sure how knowledgeable the staff is regarding the beer selection as I didn’t ask any questions. She did praise my choice of the mussels so I think they are pretty competent.
We will absolutely be back!

Stopped here on game day for lunch. Wasn’t too crowded & plenty of room! They have 130 different tap beers!
I ordered their burger with the hot dog/​cheese/​onion rings & it was delicious (I think it was called the monster burger). The burger included their famous Crack Fries. The Crack Fries were actually really good, I was afraid they might be super salty but they weren’t.

The newest hottest joint in Madison. It is where all the cool kids are going. A few things to remember before you step into the vortex of beer and crack fries.
* No one under 21 unless accompanied by a guardian.
* No one under 21 after 10:00 PM.
* Come hungry and thirsty.
Now lets get rolling.
You walk through the door to be greeted by an array of friendly staff, have your I.D. ready. Once you get your table prepare to read. The beer list is extensive.
* 30 beers on tap from Wisconsin that don’t change
* 100 rotating beers on tap
The food. I just cant get past the crack fries.
~ Vladimir Poutine: Crack fries with potato and cheese pierogi, cheese curds, stout caramelized onions and cherry smoked bacon smothered in sour crème gravy.
~ Buffalo Rolls: Simple and delicious. Tender chicken coated in house made buffalo sauce wrapped in wantons. It was crunchy on the outside yet the inside layer of the wanton had a nice chewy texture to it
~ Wings: I am an avid supporter of wings. I just feel like it is one appetizer that does not get enough credit. These wings were tossed with an apple BBQ sauce. Not a lot of spice but some darn good flavor. The meat lulled right off the bone with little resistance. Definitely a must try app.
The rest of the food looks amazing so I guess more trips and more pictures are in order.
The atmosphere is laid back and fun. Get to know your server and you will have a great time. Too many times a place opens and they have to weed out the bad staff. This establishment seems to have done that before opening their doors as I received a smile and hello from every employee that walked by.
One last note. Ask for Allen as your server. He’s one of the great ones.

Okay, HopCat, color me impressed. HopCat you can be my best Madison beer friend with extra benefits. You promised so much, and I was left skeptical. Your offerings were written like a profile on eHarmony. Everyone lies on those a little bit so I assumed not everything you said could be true!
HopCat lives up to the hype that has been blasting throughout Madison social media. If you love beer, this bar is THE place in Madison for you to check out.
I didn’t even on plan on stepping in on your grand opening, but it just happened to work out. I had a friend from out of town visiting, and we were hanging out at the Capitol. We decided 3:00 would be a good time for a brew so we stopped by HopCat to give the new place a shot.
When we walked it, it was completely packed. I was quite interested in trying out the new beer house in town so I was willing to wait the 30 minutes that was apparently needed for a table because they were so slammed. Well, the table only took about 5 minutes so I’m not going to complain there!
When you first walk in, you are going to notice the massive floor plan and giant bar on the ground floor, as well as, the giant staircase that leads up to more of this giant beer house. The second floor is about half the size of the first, maybe a little smaller. The bar is significantly smaller than the one downstairs. The main bar has 130 beers on tap from around the country and many more in bottles from around the world. The upstairs bar has 30 local beers on tap. My tip, if you’re impatient is to order local beers if you’re seated upstairs. If you like trying new things like me, you won’t mind the slightly longer wait for a beer to be transported from downstairs.
Did I mention that there are 130 beers on tap? Well, there are, and I am truly impressed by the diverse, well organized beer list that has been assembled. The list even includes a key that educates the customer about glass type and size. I truly did not feel overwhelmed, despite the number of beers, because the list was well curated. MEGA props for pulling this off. I have felt overwhelmed with much smaller lists. The tap list was also dated so it appears that the list will be rotating frequently. I am happy to see this, although I doubt I will wear the current list out any time soon.
We were served two orders of «crack» fries with our beers. They were both free for the grand opening, but I’m glad that we got to try them because I’m not sure if I would have randomly ordered these. They were very good WITH the cheese sauce that the fries came with. The fries alone were slightly overpowering on the seasoning. There was A LOT of pepper and salt on them, but the cheese balanced out the seasoning. I would have liked to see a little more garlic and less pepper/​salt to mellow the spices out a tad.
Our server was quite attentive. I jumped the gun a little bit by asking another server for waters because we hadn’t received any. Our server came back with a 2^nd set of waters as soon as he returned (oops). I am just assuming that they were so slammed this afternoon that he had a lot to juggle.
The atmosphere feels very trendy, and I appreciate the classic rock images plastered all over the walls. It’s a little loud but not unbearably so for this type of establishment. I could still hear my friend at the table. The awesome classic rock mix playing over the sound system was greatly appreciated.
The management encourage that you carve into the table with whatever knife or other sharp object you brought with you. Do not assume the people before you are rude. Table carving is HopCat’s trendy thing. Add a note!
HopCat, you’re a CoolCat, and I would like to bring more of my friends over to try out what you’re offering. I can see myself staking out a table for many hours to poke around your beer list some more. As a beer & wine drinker, I truly appreciate what the well curated list that you are offering this community. There is beer and mediocre tap selections everywhere in Madison, but I think I finally found a place that the proud beer lovers of Madison can call their home.
Keep up the good work. I’m honestly unsure how you made such a beer behemoth run smoothly. You are the Mussolini of beer (he made the trains run on time). Let’s hang out again sometime soon!