In one of the toughest conferences, the Milwaukee Ale House had a tough row to hoe.

As No. 6 seed, it squared off against At Random, Lulu, the Wicked Hop and Palomino. In the Final Four, it narrowly defeated Hooligan's. Then Monday, the brew pub put it all on the line -- and soundly walloped The Village Pub to become the first championship of the OnMilwaukee.com March Bar Madness tournament.

What began on March 16 with 64 bars ended in dramatic fashion, as the Ale House, 233 N. Water St., showed why it's a pub powerhouse. Hundreds voted in each round, and maybe it was the live music or the homemade beer, but the wonderfully quaint Village Pub got pounded by the Third Ward mainstay.

"It's feels great to be voted the best bars out of 64 teams," says John McCabe, general manager. It's something that every bar would desire."

And it's not surprising that the Ale House went all the way. It became the nightlife leader in the Third Ward when it opened in 1997. Known equally for beer and food, the warehouse-style bar is a solid choice for lunch or dinner, especially when the weather's warm enough to enjoy the outdoor seating. Boaters can even pull up to one of the restaurants six public slips.

OnMilwaukee.com readers have apparently been big fans of the Ale House for some time. The bar regularly wins "best brew pub" in the annual "OnMilwaukee Eat and Drink" contest, and it's taken home best live music prize on several occasions, too.

"We educated the staff and the public, and people said they supported us," says McCabe.

Congratulations to the Milwaukee Ale House for winning the OnMilwaukee.com March Bar Madness tournament. You came to the big dance and went home a champion.