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The Great Milwaukee Beer Guide

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With dozens of breweries in the Greater Milwaukee area, there’s a perfect pour for every visitor to the Brew City. That’s not all. Make your beer experience even better by downloading the FREE Brew City Beer Pass, which offers BOGO beer deals at 20+ local breweries. 
 

1840 Brewing Company

An urban farmhouse brewery using rustic brewing techniques to craft barrel-aged beers. Their “1840 Presents The Traveling Beer Garden Show” is popular during warmer months. (342 E. Ward St.)


The Bavarian Bierhaus

Located at the former site of the Bavarian Inn, this area staple includes a Bavarian-style beer hall and indoor and outdoor event space for dining and entertainment. (700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale.)


Black Husky Brewing

Co-founders Tim and Toni Eichinger moved their brewing operations from Wisconsin’s Northwoods to Milwaukee in 2016. Each delicious beer is dedicated to the 23 dogs that have lived with the couple. (909 E. Locust St.)


Broken Bat Brewery

This baseball-themed brewery pours more than a dozen craft beers in a taproom that features plenty of seating and televisions, as well as an indoor whiffle ball field.
(135 E. Pittsburgh Ave.)


City Lights Brewing

Located in a nearly 120-year-old building where coal gas was once produced, this brewery’s staple beers include a hazy IPA, coconut porter, Mexican lager, amber ale, pilsner, and traditional IPA. (2200 W. Mount Vernon Ave.)


Component Brewing

Founded by three cousins who use only essential ingredients to craft beers poured from 10 tap lines in an inviting beer hall. They offer hard seltzers, too. (2018 S. 1st St. #169.)


Dead Bird Brewing

Milwaukee’s first vegan brewery specializes in beers with high alcohol content. In addition to its vegan food and beer focus, Dead Bird emphasizes participation in charity and community outreach. (1726 N. 5th St.)


The Explorium Brewpub

Located in Greendale and Milwaukee’s Third Ward, this brewpub produces more than 20 small-batch, hand-crafted beers that pair well with its diverse food offerings. Pro tip: Order the nachos! (exploriumbrew.com)


The Fermentorium

The original location in Cedarburg has more than 2,500 square feet of space and 24 beers on tap. The second location is in Wauwatosa, where you can find its most popular brew, a double IPA called Juice Packets. (thefermentorium.com)


Foxtown Brewing

Explore a beer cave tour to learn about this unique 1857 property. While many additions have been made, the caves are relatively unchanged. (6411 W. Mequon Rd., Mequon)


Gathering Place Brewing

Offers a taproom where friends and family can gather to try a dozen tap beers. Be sure to admire its bar, which is made from an old basketball court. (811 E. Vienna Ave.)


Good City Brewing

Boasting an original operation on Milwaukee’s East Side, a new taproom and event space in Wauwatosa, and a taproom, eatery and event space in Deer District. Award-winning IPAs and locally beloved curry fries can be found at all locations. (goodcitybrewing.com)


Indeed Brewing Company

Originally from Minneapolis, Indeed moved east and expanded to Milwaukee’s vibrant Walker’s Point neighborhood. The brewery is known for supporting the local community through charity. (530 S. 2nd St.)


Lakefront Brewery

This Milwaukee staple is known for its entertaining brewery tours and a spacious beer hall where it serves up acclaimed fish fry and cheese curds to go along with plenty of beer.
(1872 N. Commerce St.)


Layman Brewing

A new member to the Milwaukee-area beer scene delivering straightforward, house-made beer and classic pub food at a location that feels like your favorite corner bar. (6001 W. Madison St., West Allis)


Milwaukee Brewing Company

Milwaukee Brewing Company has been serving craft beer lovers since 1997. Increased demand eventually led to the opening of the massive 9th St. Brewery in a former Pabst shipping facility. (1128 N. 9th St.)


MobCraft

Co-founders Henry Schwartz and Andrew Gierczak created MobCraft to support their vision for crowdsourced beer ideas. People from all over the U.S. submit suggestions for new beers and Mobcraft brews the recipes with the most votes. A trip to Mobcraft isn’t complete without one of its fantastic sours. (505 S. 5th St.)


New Barons Brewing Cooperative

Welcome to Wisconsin’s first co-op brewery! These co-op owners have a say in the more than 20 beers that New Barons produces. (2018 S. 1st St. #170.)


Sprecher Milwaukee

The first microbrewery in the Milwaukee area, Sprecher Brewery is loved for its fire-brewed craft beer and soda. Located just 5 miles north of downtown in Glendale. (701 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale)


Third Space Brewing

Milwaukee natives Kevin Wright and Andy Gehl met while attending a summer camp. Luckily for beer enthusiasts, this friendship led to dozens of creative, award-winning beers and one epic patio featuring fire pits.
(1505 W. St. Paul Ave.)


Urban Harvest Brewing Company

This neighborhood brewery and taproom makes handcrafted ales in small batches several times a week. The result is a diverse selection of ultra-fresh core beers, seasonal brews, and limited releases. (1024 S. 5th St.)


Water Street Brewing Company

This longtime brewpub has four locations throughout the Milwaukee area, each with an amazing collection of brewing memorabilia unlike anything else in the United States. (waterstreetbrewery.com)


Wizard Works Brewing Company

Wizard Works was started by Jenny Higgins and Chris Ragaisis, who have been brewing and performing magic for decades. Delicious alchemy awaits! (231 E. Buffalo St.)

Article originally published on 1/29/2022