August 1 is International Beer Day, a time to raise a glass in honor of friends, beer lovers and the brewers whose craft brings people together all over the world. Milwaukee may be known as Brew City, but its beer scene goes far beyond lagers and pilsners, showcasing global flavors with Belgian-style saisons, German hefeweizens and so many more brews to choose from.
Join us on a flavorful journey through Milwaukee’s international beer offerings, crafted right here at home, but brewed with world-class inspiration. One city, many countries and endless ways to say “cheers.”
A Taste of Europe
Milwaukee’s brewing roots are steeped in European tradition, and local brewers continue to honor that legacy with old-world styles done right. Sip a crisp German-style Helles lager, a velvety English porter or a classic Belgian tripel, all brewed just blocks from Lake Michigan. These European-inspired beers show off the craftsmanship and attention to detail that make Milwaukee’s beer scene stand out. It’s like taking a pub crawl through Europe without ever leaving the city.
Belgium
Wind in the Willows
Belgian Blonde with Wildflower Honey & White Tea (9.1% ABV)
A nod to the Grateful Dead’s “Scarlet Begonias” and the ninth anniversary gift of willow, this brew dances to its own beat. Wind in the Willows is a Belgian-style blonde ale kissed with wildflower honey and white tea, floral, slightly spicy and breezy as a summer afternoon. It’s light, golden and just a little wild, like the best kind of adventure. Raise a glass to nine years of good friends, great beer and going wherever the wind takes you.
Abbey Triple
Inspired by Belgian monk brewing tradition, Sprecher’s Abbey Tripel is a deep golden 8.4% ABV ale that quietly packs a punch. Brewed with Trappist yeast, imported pale barley, aromatic Belgian malt and a whisper of oats, it pours with a frothy crown and releases juicy stone-fruit and white grape aromas. Sip it like a toast to Belgian heritage and flavor, right here in Brew City.
Chalet Chalet
This Belgian-style golden sour by Supermoon Brewing Company is the perfect summer surprise. Chalet Chalet pours a warm gold with bright clarity, fizzing like champagne and bursting with tart pear and citrus zest. Featuring delicate floral notes that dance alongside subtle oak, a crisp, wine-like acidity, each sip of this brew is refreshing. It's the kind of beer that says, “Cool off, savor life and enjoy patio season in the Good Land.”
Belgian Beer Bonus Round
Ahead of the Pack
Belgian Golden Strong Ale (15% ABV)
Blues Breaker
Belgian Table Beer - Test Batch
Czech Republic
Czech Pilsner
Czech Style Pilsners (5.5% ABV)
Indeed Brewing Company (Milwaukee)
Inspired by the crisp clarity of its Bohemian roots, Indeed’s Czech Pilsner pours a bright golden hue with a sparkle. At 5.5% ABV, this beer will hit your taste buds with a crisp and tasty dose of Saaz hops, showing you its textbook Czech flavor. Think of it as your summer go-to: light on the palate, big on the happy.
Old Ozaukee Czech Amber Lager
Polotmavé (Czech Amber) (5% ABV)
Back in 1839, two German brewers dug into a bluff and tapped into Mequon’s beer scene in style. Today, Foxtown Brewing keeps the party going with Old Ozaukee, a crisp, malty Czech-style lager that tips its cap to those lager-cave legends. It’s history that you can drink, no shovel required.
Czech Beer Bonus Round
Czech Pilsner
Ovesné Tmavé Pivo
England
Abracadabra
Step right up and say the magic word (Abracadabra) with Wizard Works’ English IPA that makes the mundane disappear and conjures flavor instead! With a light amber glow and a medium body, this brew balances classic malt sweetness and British-hop bitterness, as bewitching as a stage trick gone right. Pull up a stool, prepare for the reveal, and let Abracadabra cast a flavor spell on your taste buds.
Where is Squirrel?!
Where is Squirrel?! Find the answer with Dead Bird Brewing’s flavorful English brown ale that’s nutty, adventurous and worth tracking down. This brew pours a cozy mahogany and delivers warm toffee and roasted-nut goodness with each sip, all wrapped up in a playful wink of exploration. It’s the perfect pint for beer lovers who enjoy a tasty mystery in every glass.
English Beer Bonus Round
Kings Road
Pub Ale (English Brown) (4.5% ABV)
Barrel Aged Full Send Barleywine-Blend 2
Germany
Dan’s Trash
Rotbier (German Style Red Lager) (5% ABV)
Don’t let the name fool you, Dan’s Trash Rotbier is anything but. This medium-bodied amber pour features a bready backbone with hints of cookie, toffee and caramel. Balanced with an aromatic bouquet of fresh fruit, floral and sweet hay hops, this one invites you in, making it easy to say, “One more, please!” Call it a “trash beer”, but it’s pure liquid treasure for your inner raccoon.
Unkel Dunkel
Step into the heart of Bavaria with Unkel Dunkel, Bavarian Bierhaus’ Munich-style dark lager that pours as smooth as velvet. At 5.6% ABV with just 25 IBU, it's balanced with rich bready aromas, toasty malt flavors and a subtle caramel sweetness that glides across your palate. Plus, tasting it in the beerhall, surrounded by polka, pretzels and Gemütlichkeit? Now that’s the full Deutschland experience.
German Beer Bonus Round
Oktoberfest
Ireland
Lady Elgin
Raise a glass to history with Lady Elgin. This golden-blonde ale is named for the steamship that met its end in Lake Michigan in 1860. Smooth and steady with a touch of malted sweetness, it reflects on Milwaukee’s connection to the water and the stories it holds. Light on bitterness but full of character, this easy-drinking brew pays quiet tribute to resilience, memory and the depth of local history.
MFD Irish Red Ale
MFD Irish Red Ale is here to help squelch the summer heat! Crafted in collaboration with the Milwaukee Fire Department, this brew is a bold nod to service and tradition. With a rich maltiness, smooth caramel notes and a crisp, dry finish, it’s balanced and flavorful in the best way. Inspired by brewer Nick Guthrey’s great-grandfather, a firefighter and minor-league pitcher, this red ale carries a legacy in every sip.
Irish Beer Bonus Round
Oirish Stout
Italy
Arrivederci Roma
Gathering Place Brewing Company
Say “Arrivederci Roma” and Bellissimo, welcome to Cream City’s flavorful Italian pilsner with a twist! At 5.2% ABV, this soft, pillowy lager delivers a lively aroma of spice and lemon zest that evokes sunshine straight from Roma to Milwaukee. A moderate bitterness and cracker-y malt lend balanced richness, making it crisp but flavorful. It’s elegant, approachable and full of European flair, perfect for raising a toast in any language.
Vennture Bip Bop
The Bip Bop Italian pilsner is a crisp, floral, flavor-packed number that’s got more bounce than a Vespa on cobblestone. Brewed with a trio of hops (Saaz, Galena and Experimental 16660), it’s light on its feet with a subtle bitterness, zest and just the right hint of malt to keep things balanced. One sip and you’ll be saying “Salute!” No passport required.
Poland
Jones Island
This Polish pale ale puts a cheeky twist on the classic pale ale. Think lighter than an IPA but still with some serious bite, thanks to Polish-grown hops that give it extra character. Jones Island is crisp, punchy and hop-forward, with a clean malt base and enough bite to keep hop lovers grinning with every sip. Enjoy a pint that will restore your faith in pale ales and celebrate Polish pride all in one glass.
Scotland
Willy Scotch Ale
As smooth as a kilted crooner and twice as bold, Willy Scotch Ale is Urban Harvest’s malty masterpiece. Expect warming caramel and roasted-malt notes, layered with an edge of rye. East Kent Golding hops add earthy, floral bouquets just enough to intrigue the senses. With one sip, it’s easy to see why this brew keeps coming back around.
Spain
I’ve Been to Spain
This Spanish lager is Lion’s Tail’s sun-kissed invitation to a Mediterranean getaway and perfect for when you need coastal escape from Brew City. Brewed with imported Mediterranean pilsner malt and hopped with Aurora hops, it delivers subtle spice, bright floral notes and a light citrusy touch that feels like a sea breeze right off the Spanish shoreline.
Beyond Biergartens: Beers Without Borders
Now that we’ve strolled through the beer halls of Europe, it’s time to hop across a few more continents. Milwaukee’s brewers have embraced global inspiration from every corner of the map. The world’s beer scene has everything from crushable Mexican lagers and delicate Japanese rice lagers to an effervescent Aussie sparkling ale. Brew City’s got your boarding pass.
Australia
Aussie Sparkling Ale
Australian Sparkling Ale (6% ABV)
This golden summer stunner bubbles with bright citrus, subtle tropical hops and just the right amount of sparkle to make every sip feel like a backyard bash in the outback. Light, crisp and smooth, it’s a recipe brewed for sunshine and good vibes. One sip and you’ll be saying g’day to your new favorite crusher, guaranteed to have you boomeranging back to Explorium in no time.
Japan
Fortune Fox Japanese Rice Lager With Cherry Blossom
Japanese Rice Lager (4.3% ABV)
A delicate Japanese rice lager that feels like a springtime wander in a cherry blossom grove, this beer is brewed with jasmine rice plus brown and white rice. It’s a golden beauty that pours crystal-clear with a hint of floral charm and a dry, refreshing finish. Fortune Fox isn’t just a pour, it’s a spring festival in a glass that invites you to escape into a flowery paradise.
Mexico
Corré Corré
Corré Corré is a fast, fresh and crushable Mexican lager brewed with a squeeze of lime and a nod to Sandlot legend Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez. Crisp, golden and drinkable, it’s the perfect pick for sunny days or cheering from the bleachers. Light on its feet at 6.0% ABV, this brew is built for speed and flavor. Catch it while you can!
Russia
Nightcap!
Russian Imperial Stout (10.5% ABV)
Nightcap! is Ope! Brewing’s bold and boozy sendoff to your day. This 10.5% Russian imperial stout pours pitch black with a creamy tan head, unleashing waves of rich chocolate, roasted coffee and a toasty oak finish that’s as smooth as they come. Aged in American white oak and kissed with vanilla, it’s basically dessert in a glass and the perfect nightcap to your night out (or in).
We're just getting started! There are so many more brews for you to choose from. Find what you're looking for as you explore the Brew City's brewing history and our Beer and Brewing pages as you map your stay and plan your getaway!
