Ah, the World Cup. An uninterrupted month of the beautiful game on the big stage, where once every four years, the eyes of the world watch with bated breath as underdogs turn into champions, powerhouses wow with world-class talent, and every match is a traveling festival.

Milwaukee isn’t a part of this year’s World Cup; in fact, the nearest host city is over 500 miles away, but as the Midwest’s Watch Party Headquarters, seeing the lineups crawl across our screens game by game got us thinking. What’s Milwaukee’s starting XI? After diagram after diagram of 11 sausages, 11 custard cones, 11 cheese curd baskets and 11 fish fry plates, we found our answer that’s as global as the World Cup itself: Beer.

Drawing inspiration from every corner of the world, Milwaukee’s brewing tradition is unlike any other in the country, and our definitive starting XI has everything it takes to take home the title of the one true Brew City. Here we go.

Goalkeeper (GK)

Stout and sturdy, an elite keeper makes miraculous saves and distributes the ball to the team around them. When your squad has a good keeper, great performances can go under the radar, and it’s only when they’re absent that you realize the difference they make.

MKE Recombobulation

Black Ale

MKE Brewing (Eagle Park Brewing & Distilling)

This black ale from Eagle Park’s MKE Brewing Co. is just the teammate you want in goal. At 13% ABV, a little bit goes a long way, but absolutely nothing is getting past this brew. Like the best keeper, as the title MKE Recombobulation would suggest, this beer gives you a chance to breathe, reassess, then go on the attack again with the peace of mind that it's got you covered. And the best part? You only need one!

Defense

The back line is where this lineup gets sturdy. These brews may not always be the flashiest names on the team sheet, but they bring depth, body and enough stopping power to keep any opponent in check.

Left Back (LB)

Lumberman Red

Red Ale

Torzala Brewing Co.

Versatility is the name of the game for this brew. The red ale is by no means a heavy beer, but its malty, caramely, slightly bitter blend gives it the ability to get up and down the wing. This brew can overlap on an offensive run and get back to cover even the best offensive player. Like a lumberjack, the Lumberman Red can go all day, and it’s that energy and flexibility that make it everyone’s favorite teammate.

Center Back (CB)

Mud Puppy Porter

Porter

Central Waters Brewing Company

At 5.6% ABV, you could underestimate this beer’s ability to slow down the offense. You’d be wrong. With its hallmark rocky head and chocolatey notes, it’s got plenty of stopping power. The Mud Puppy Porter won’t be rushed, though; it’s best sipped and savored, really relishing every aspect of this dark brew.

Center Back (CB)

Swiss Mystic

Spiced Cocoa Stout

Wizard Works Brewing

Thick, heavy, rich and decadent, this beer is one of the tastiest ways to slow down any offense. As the name would imply, it’s a dessert beer with an ABV of 7.2%, and like the best center backs, it’s really when you slow down and savor every element of this beer’s game that you appreciate the complexity and subtleties that make it one of the best there is. Add in a little bit of magic (literally), and no one’s scoring on this team.

Right Back (RB)

Schwarzbier

Schwarzbier (Black Lager)

Indeed Brewing Company

The Schwarzbier is a curious beer. It looks heavy, like a stout or a porter, threatening an overpowering profile and an ABV that’s so high that it can knock you clean off your bar stool. But in reality, it pairs a rich, chocolate or coffee flavor with the easy-drinking nature of a lager. This one’s sneaky. It has more creativity than it gets credit for, and can ping a pass to a forward on a dime before you order another round.

Midfield

The engine room of any lineup, beers included. Trusted to distribute the ball with great skill, technical ability and a spark of creativity, these are some of the hardest-working beers you’re likely to find, and they’re as central to the team’s build-up play and attack as they are to the defense.

Center Defensive Midfielder (CDM)

Miller High Life

Lager

Molson Coors Beverage Company

Yeah, it’s a little safe, but that’s exactly what makes this the perfect beer for the perfect occasion. You know exactly what you’re getting: no flash, no frills, no fuss. It’s as good from the tap at your corner bar as it is in a six-pack at the tailgate as it is in a bottle at the picnic. And it’s everywhere. Like the best defensive midfielder, you can find Miller High Life all over the field and all over the city.

Left Midfielder (LM)

True Story Bro

Belgian Strong Golden Ale

Ope! Brewing Co.

Turning defense into offense is this beer’s strength, and it does it remarkably well. Weighing in at a surprising 7.2% ABV, it puts the strong in strong golden ale, but a sip tells the tale of this complex beverage. It’s a little bit fruity, and the yeast adds a little spice that gives it a little more character than meets the eye. Just one taste, and you can see it starting a one-man counterattacking break or smashing home a goal from 30-plus yards out.

Right Midfielder (RM)

K-Rice

Korean Rice Lager / Dokkaebier

Pilot Project Brewing

K-Rice is the kind of midfielder every good lineup needs. It’s simple but sophisticated, with notes of both malt and wheat. K-Rice has range and can hold its own wherever it goes. Light and drinkable, it’s not always going to be the first name on the team sheet, but real beer drinkers know that it’s earned its place in the starting XI.

Attackers

Full of personality, creativity and poise under pressure, these are the ones that get the big headlines for their ability to finish. When you’re looking for a pint that knows how to close out a game and is sure to go for goal every time, these are the brews you should choose.

Left Winger (LW)

Happy Place

Midwest IPA

Third Space Brewing

Down the left side, let us introduce a long-time staple, a fan favorite that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves: Third Space Brewing’s Happy Place. The American IPA has been on tap for a decade now, and its tangy, not overly hoppy profile has made it a go-to for craft beer drinkers. It’s not the splashiest forward option, but it knows how to create a chance, beat its defender and send the ball into the box for a teammate to hammer home.

Right Winger (RW)

Low pHunk (Coming soon)

Sour

MobCraft Beer

Low pHunk, high on personality, this incoming transfer to MobCraft is your right winger. It’s a sour ale conditioned with lactobacillus, creating a tasty, tart brew with hints of lemon and Belgian esters. It’s won awards at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup, and that makes it the more direct companion off the right wing. Unlike the defense, Low pHunk is flashy. It’ll beat its defender, then do it again just because it can.

Striker (ST)

Riverwest Stein

Amber

Lakefront Brewery

It’s the player whose name is on almost every fan’s jersey, and the beer that’s in most of Milwaukee’s glasses at corner bars, house parties and World Cup watch parties everywhere. It is the marquee player, the one you came to see. It’s going to score, and it’s going to look good doing it. Riverwest Stein is inevitable. Crushable with a malty, caramel flavor profile that gives it enough complexity to keep things interesting, Riverwest Stein is an out-and-out striker. Haaland, Mbappe, Messi, Riverwest Stein. It’s as simple as that.

Build Your Starting XI

You can try them all, make your own Beer Starting XI or just savor summer with a cold pint in hand by visiting our Beer and Brewing page.