Landmark 1850 Inn

Landmark 1850 InnLandmark 1850 Inn
Landmark 1850 InnLandmark 1850 Inn
Bar, Eatery

5905 S Howell Ave
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53207-6231
United States

(414) 769-1850 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.33
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
39
pDev:
9.24%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4.29/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
What a cool historical place. The oldest tavern in Milwaukee, and the last remnant of the German farm hamlet of New Coeln, before Milwaukee swallowed it up.

Antique decor, lots of old wood and fixtures, tin ceiling and plank floors, dim warm lighting. Old clocks, beer signs, stained glass, etc. I'd be remiss not to mention the place is chock full of antiques, as Stonecrusher once mentioned: "an isinglass woodburning stove, cigar store Indian, Edison Home Phonograph, antique radio, and vintage cash register". Historical and authentic feel to the place, like you’re warping back in time to Milwaukee in the pre-prohibition era. Antlers hang over the dark antique back bar, and a curious framed picture hangs high in the corner. The 1892 painting "All is Vanity" is by Charles Allan Gilbert. On closer inspection depicts a woman peering at her reflection in a vanity mirror, which from far away gives the illusion of an outlined skull. Pretty cool.

Beer selection is more modern, mostly draft but the bartender mentioned some Belgian bottles like Jacobins Rouge and Lindemans. Spaten Octoberfest, Galaxy Pseudo Sue, Founders Porter, Celebrator, Val Dieu, Black Husky, and more. A dozen plus beers, craft focused.

Laura the bartendress was awesome, very funny and energetic, talking with everyone. The Landmark is a classic haunt that i’ll return to on my next Milwaukee run for sure.
Oct 06, 2019
 
Rated: 5 by MeIquiades from Illinois

Jul 08, 2017
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Reviewed by Dharmelink from Wisconsin

4.16/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
Was a stop on a pre-prohibition MKE food tour. Preserved/decorated really nicely. I was surprised by the selection on tap. Would have wanted to spend more time here.
Mar 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.54 by bowzer4birdie from Illinois

Feb 26, 2016
Photo of AJNIDEK
Rated by AJNIDEK from North Carolina

4.7/5  rDev +8.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4
Diverse tap list at great prices. Tavern oozes character. Food is great. Across from MKE Airport and hotel. Highly advise both for travelers.
Aug 07, 2015
Photo of 03fatboy
Rated by 03fatboy from Wisconsin

3.56/5  rDev -17.8%
vibe: 3.25 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.75
Great Place Close by the Airport Lots of Craft Beers on Tap!!!
Jul 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.29 by Hendrick24 from Wisconsin

Jan 31, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by hansenm72 from Texas

Oct 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Alpar from Wisconsin

Aug 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Bengineer83 from Wisconsin

Jul 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by teamwiggum from Wisconsin

Apr 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Vinithing from Wisconsin

Mar 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Storning from Virginia

Mar 06, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by GregHicks from Wisconsin

Feb 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Nemers from Wisconsin

Nov 27, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by atone315 from Wisconsin

Oct 16, 2013
Photo of Vonerichs
Reviewed by Vonerichs from Colorado

3.43/5  rDev -20.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3
I found this place on BA and it sounded great so I figured what the hell. I should have known better when I checked the website and couldn't tell what the eff was going on. I had to come back and make sure this was the same place I read about, because it's clearly changed over the years.

Disregard any reviews that mention 50+ taps. Ha. I wish. More like 20 taps of decent beer, but nothing special. Of the 20 taps half of them were Octoberfests. I get it, it's that time of year, but how many Octoberfests can one place possibly need? There were some good choices I was able to fall back on but nothing I can't wander into a liquor store and buy on any given day.

Service was at least good. The bartenders were all on top of it, friendly to all the patrons (more on that) and were quick to give recommendations to those that needed it.
Ahhh, the patrons. This is a locals place, to be sure. A Milwaukee cheers. At first I felt extremely out of place with all the 50-60 something males coming in, greeting each other (Don and Pete were especially knowledgable about all the regulars, filling me in on life stories,) telling literal war stories, and talking sports. Amazingly, each one sat down and immediatly ordered two chilled shots of Jager.

Food was high school lunchroom cafeteria quality. At least it was cheap. The menu is a few variations of hamburgers, a chicken sandwich, a fish sandwich, and pizza. There you have it.

This was a nice little locals place with an historic feel (again, much like a Cheers.) I enjoyed my stay, but taper your expectations. This is not a beer geek hang out.
Sep 18, 2013
Photo of beerwolf77
Reviewed by beerwolf77 from Wisconsin

4.46/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
So after a near 3 year hiatus the Landmark has reopened. Talk about a great bit of news for me. Seeing as it's about five minutes from my house.

The building is a true historic landmark. Hence the name. Tin ceilings, hard wood floors, classic lighting, even old time cash registers you have to hand crank. The seating is comprised of some tables and chairs as you walk in and a full wood bar that runs the length of the building. You honestly feel like you are sitting at a hundred year old saloon.

The tap list has been halved from the previous tenure. However they are making up for quantity with quality. Plenty of beer geek specialties for all tastes. Sours, big stouts, barley wines.

The service was friendly and fairly knowledgeable. The owner was popping in and out while I was there and he stopped to ask how my beer was tasting. Never a bad thing in my book.

I didn't get any food but the menu consists of typical pub grub. Deep fried treats and the like.

The prices were actually a bit on the lower end for a craft bar. Very happy about that.

If you are in Milwaukee near the airport you owe it to yourself to stop by. Check out a true Milwaukee institution.
Sep 23, 2011
Photo of timmlimestone
Reviewed by timmlimestone from Wisconsin

4.66/5  rDev +7.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Hey what can you say? This is the place to go to get the best beers in the BrewTown. Countless taps, proper serving glasses for each,a nd a wonderful atmosphere. Granted the fact that there is a strip club next door could never hurt. The place of many bachelor party stops due to the location and the fact that it is not swill out of a dirty line that will knock your whole night out of line. I loved this place. Everyone in my party loved this place each time I have been there. The one and only negative is the location in relationship to the rest of the city. This many great beers this far out, make sure you have a Designated Driver with you, because it is hard to stop.
Mar 09, 2008
Photo of whatsleftofyou
Reviewed by whatsleftofyou from Michigan

4.44/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Stopped in here while visiting some friends in the MKE area. It was a bit dark for my taste but with all of the dark wood in the bar I can understand why they keep it that way - adds to the atmosphere. Out of the 48 taps the ones that stood out to me were Chimay Triple, Bell's 8000 (nice), Three Floyd's Alpha King, Delirium Tremens, DFH 90-minute, and Rogue Dead Guy. All appeared to be served in the appropriate glassware, often bearing the brewer's logo. Prices were reasonable with most being $4/beer. Bartenders were friendly, knowledgeable, and quick to serve upon a return trip to the bar. It was a bit noisy but according to my friend it was quite busier than usual that night. All in all a great experience, I can't wait to return!
Sep 08, 2007
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +11.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
First off, this is Hoffman’s favorite place in MKE and by a fortuitous twist of fate, he was in town from Omaha, NE at the same time that I was visiting my dear friends, John and Laura Burke. We arranged to meet as a huge group one evening for beer and pizza and it was a highlight of the trip. I really enjoyed company the longer that I continued my nomadic journey and this evening was very satisfying. In fact, Laura and John are regulars and thanks to their status, I was able to borrow one of their “Beer Binders” – a three-ring notebook filled with menus, beer lists, photographs, history and anything else that a person might want to know about this place.

It was located right in the shadow of Bradley International Airport and it was an original building with a tin ceiling; steam radiators; a long, dark-wood bar; vintage advertising; and a lot of brass. The back bar, like the bar itself, ran almost the entire length of the building. They even used old crank-operated cash registers. The owner’s son copped to the fact that the floor was the only original piece with everything else having been purchased elsewhere and installed. That philosophy reminded me of Broad Ripple Brew Pub in Indianapolis, IN, where they managed to create a rustic feel in a former auto parts store. From the binder: It was originally called the New Cohen House, and served as “the village’s central gathering place” and now has the distinction of being “Milwaukee’s oldest bar”. The Landmark was one of the first taverns in MKE to serve Leinie’s on-tap. Owner Joe Halser restored it in 1984 and while he has turned the operation over to his three sons, he still lives on the second floor. They also boasted of a “[o]ne-of-a-kind, in-house line cleaning system”. Very cool.

Entering from the parking lot, the washrooms were off to the left in a short passageway with pressed-tin walls. The pressed tin continued on the left wall inside with a slightly raised dining area to the right. To the left and past the archway was the Stairway to Nowhere, as well as a pot-belly stove and the kitchen, all of the way aft. There was also an electronic dartboard, and a Golden Tee machine. In the front of the building, outside and surrounded by a wrought-iron fence, was an outdoor biergarten.

The big draw was their draft beer. They had fifty-two lines for forty-eight different taps and every beer was fresh and clean. The obvious pride that the sons took in running the place really came out in their beer. I highly recommend this as a stop in the MKE area.
Jan 07, 2007
Photo of Ktown67
Reviewed by Ktown67 from Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev -11.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
I always make it a point to stop here when I 'm on my way to the Milwaukee airport to either pick someone up or drop them off. The bar is literaly 5 minutes from the airport.

They have 50 beers on tap and rotate them regularly. They have the Wisconsin Micro statples like Lakefront, Capital, Sprecher, New Glarus, etc. They also have a great selection of Belgium Ales.

They have a limited food menu with appetizers and homemade pizzas. I recommend the pizzas, they are very good!

The place can get very croweded and noisy after 10PM.
Dec 24, 2006
Photo of BeerBelcher
Reviewed by BeerBelcher from Ohio

4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 5
I stopped by this place after work on a Tuesday evening. The sign on the door proclaims this is "Milwaukee's Oldest Tavern," and the interior decor looks it. Wood everywhere with old-time cash registers. The crowd was what you'd expect for a weekday evening...folks unwinding after the workday. Surprisingly, most of this crowd wasn't partaking in the 48 beers on draft and were drinking Bud Light bottles and cosmos. Mind boggling.

So, as you've no doubt noticed from other reviews of this place, the 48 tap handles are the highlight. They rotate frequently and they give you a stein after you drink all 48 (verified with a punch-card). Prices were reasonable ($4) and the selection was great. I had a He'brew Lenny's Bittersweet RIPA (Rye beer) and a Bell's Hop Slam.

I didn't ask too many questions of the bartendress and server we had, but they seemed to have at least some familiarity with their beers and were friendly and quick.

This place doesn't have the "total beer immersion" feeling that Roman's Pub has, but the place is a lot friendlier and easier to get to (convenient to I94), so that counts for something.

I got my punch card, and I will be back!
Dec 20, 2006
Photo of p86fan
Reviewed by p86fan from Wisconsin

3.64/5  rDev -15.9%
vibe: 2 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4
I think this bar is confused when it comes to identity. On the sign it is proclaimed as "Milwaukee's oldest tavern"! I expect this place to be something special. It really is not. The atmosphere is slighlty drab, very loud, and it's difficult getting a hold of one of the bartenders. I do, however, like the idea of 48 ever changing beers on tap. The punchcard is a very nice idea if a patron is willing to sit through a Miller or Berry Weise. (I'm not even sure why it's on the tap list.)

Overall, a nice bar to try once or twice, but the atmosphere will make you not want to return.
Nov 23, 2006
Photo of dhchatfield
Reviewed by dhchatfield from Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I stopped here last night on the return leg of my monthly cross border pilgrimage to Murray's Wine in Whitefish Bay. My time was limited as I work Saturday mornings and didn't get there until about 9:00PM with an hour+ left to drive. Boy am I glad I did!

I snagged the first spot in the lot, right in front of the door and passed by the bouncer into beer heaven. It was Friday night, and the place was hopping.

Easily 30+ craft beers on tap. After much thought, I opted for an Abt 12 (which I have never had on tap). My server, who later introduced himself as Jeff, knew the beer well and let me know they also had the 8 and 10 available. The beer arrived in the appropriate glassware, and was fantastic.

I then ordered the 9" Basil Pesto Pizza. It arrived very quickly and hot, and was very good as well. I paired this with a 90 Minute IPA that again, I have never had on tap. AWESOME.

The best part? These two fine beers, the pizza, and a $4.00 tip totaled $20.00!

Jeff also provided me with a taster of Shakespeare Stout, and promised to let me know what was up and coming among "special" kegs in the future. He asked for, and I left, my business card, e-mail address and BA user name.

All in all a great stop. I will make an effort to hit this place every time I'm in the area.

ps: Stonecrusher, where were you?
Sep 23, 2006
Photo of mynie
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

4.18/5  rDev -3.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
After midnight on a Tuesday and the crowd was fairly thick, fairly loud, and fairly drunk. Not all that bad for a Bar-y bar. No one was shaking their booty or puking the corner.

Bartender was a cool guy, knew enough to get by and was very friendly in spite of being clearly overwhelmed.

The selection was good, about forty taps. Mostly domestic, with a few typical Belgians and Germans and a focus on midwestern beers. A few beers you couldn't find anywhere else in the area, including Rogue's alt.

The food is where this place really excels. It's just regular pub fair--fish, fried foods, burgers, sandwiches, and pizza. But mmm mmm mmm do they make a good pizza. The crust was a like a butter cookie and the vegetables were as fresh and could be. Really great.

Well worth stopping by.
Aug 11, 2006
Photo of orbitalr0x
Reviewed by orbitalr0x from Illinois

4.33/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I visited the Landmark recently with autumnaldave and met up with DaPeculiarDane. Pulling up I notice the large old house which is the Landmark, not something you normally expect to see when you're going to a bar. It's located right off the street near the airport and fairly easy to miss if you're not keeping an eye out. Inside there's a wonderful ambiance with lots of dark wood and a huge long wooden bar. There's a certain warmth here with a wonderful antique upscale charm. Plenty of tables around if you'd like to sit down for a meal or just away from the bar. A nice open layout.

There's a huge tap list here consisting of nearly 50 beers. You're bascially certain to find something you have never tried before. Me and Dave started out with the Rogue Frosty Frog, which turned out to be a tasty brew. A good mix of beers including Belgian, German, a few macros and plenty of more local micros. The service at the bar was good even as it got to be more crowded as the night progressed. Bartenders were friendly. We moved onto some Belgian Red on tap...so damn good, and then ordered some cheese bread which was also quite tasty and hit the spot.

Beers ran around $5 a pint which is pretty standard. Food was well priced as well. This is definetly a place to hit if you're in the Milwaukee area. Really laid back with possibly the most taps in the midwest. Keep an eye out for stonecrusher's posts alerting to special treats on tap as well, seems like something good is always around the corner here. I will have to make a stop back up here again soon!!
Jun 01, 2006
Photo of DaPeculierDane
Reviewed by DaPeculierDane from Wisconsin

4.14/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Met up with Autumnal and Orbitalrox for a few pints on a recent Saturday evening. The building is quite a shock. Beautiful 19th century stage house with a back drop of an airport, highway, and male strip club. It’s very out of place but I’m glad they kept the little historical gem along with the church across the street up and running. The interior is pretty solidly restored and maintains an old roadhouse/inn sort of feel. A long bar lines one wall boasting fifty taps behind it. Of these, about 5 are swill, 5 are III Dachsunds (a brewery down the road), roughly 30 are craft, mostly from Wisconsin, another 5 are Belgian, and the remaining 5 or so are other imports. The day I was there, the Belgian selection was pretty pitiful. They seemed to be out of everything but Delirium, Piraat (nail polish remover) and Grimbergen (Abby brewed bud). I helped myself to a pint of Belgian Red (Yes they serve this in a pint glass and don’t even charge extra for it!!!). I also downed a glass of Rogue Frosty Frog and a couple of III Dachsund beers that I was pleasantly surprised by. Personally, I found a majority of the beers on their list to be kind of dull selections but since they apparently change them frequently it’s not a big deal. Service was first rate. No complaints there. Didn’t try the food but it looked pretty appetizing. No bottle selection to speak of.
Apr 24, 2006
Photo of PuckLSHS
Reviewed by PuckLSHS from Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
I visited the Landmark 1850 while on the way back from a beer drinking tour of East Wisconsin. My beer buddy and I stopped here before I got dropped off at the airport. Neither of us knew it existed, as we had made Roman's our main Beer-traction in Milwaukee. Landmark was quite the find. The bartender was fantastic. I told him of my trek to try many of the beers instead of ordering a full pint and he gladly helped me out with tastes. I ended up getting through half the menu by the time I left. After the tastings, my buddy and I both settled on the last of the Barleywine's that were present and enjoyed the beer conversation and tips about Wisconsin Hot Spots.

If you are looking for a place with a great selection of seasonals and some people who actually know their beer, Landmark is a great stop.
Apr 16, 2006
Photo of hoffman
Reviewed by hoffman from Nebraska

4.75/5  rDev +9.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3
This place is a gem. Right accross from MKE this is the perfect destination when waiting for a flight home...for say six hours. The building is a beautiful old two story inn. The interior is decked out with plenty of tradtional old timey oak wood work. There is a bar about 100' long that houses two sets of 10 or so taps near each end with another larger set of 30 or so taps in a bank of two rows behind the bar. All in all 50 beers were on tap here only macros were miller light and miller high life...and I would not have know that had I not sat right in front of the tap bank housing them. Of the 50 beers I would say that 30 are legitimate 4+ rankings here on BA. I had a hoegaarden belgian white, a DFH 90 minute IPA, Rouges Frosty Frog, Alpha King, a killer barleywine I cannot remember the name of and the houses own III Dauchsunds ankle biter ale which was ok. The beers were all phonomenal and served in correct glassware. The service was right on par as well very freindly but not overbearing. The food...who the hell cares with beer like that...but it was typical bar food...buffalo poppers and pizza....not bad, but the money here is devoted to the beer. Having said this place is affordable.

I am looking foreward to going back to MKE so I can stop here again.
Apr 14, 2006
Photo of granger10
Reviewed by granger10 from Wisconsin

4.6/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3
Came here on a weeknight, fairly early in the night too but it was still reasonably busy. Seemed to be a good amount of regulars. This seemed to be a real chill place, somewhere to drink some good beers and relax, maybe play some darts.

The bartenders were really nice and knowledgable from what I gathered.

Obviously the selection is awesome. 50 taps and only about 3-5 macros. Unreal! I had about 5 beers and all were quite good and seemed quite fresh and seemed to be in good condition which amazed me considering how many taps there were.

I also had a pizza which was rather subpar as well as some buffalo bites which were quite good and not too greasy. I'm going to try the cod next time if I'm hungry.

But with that kind of selection who really needs food? If you're anywhere around Milwaukee you must go to the Landmark.
Apr 09, 2006
Photo of BillC
Reviewed by BillC from Indiana

4.47/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
After reading the previous posts, I just had to visit this old place, and was not disappointed. I grew up in Racine (50's & 60's), and return to visit there monthly, yet had never heard of this 'oldest bar in Milwaukee'. With great tap selections to boot! Absolutely the best variety I've seen in Wisconsin, and very close to Chicago's Map Room in selection.

My first visit was last Friday night, and the place was full of 20 & 30-somethings, likely kicking off their evening out. After 3 pints, I signed up for the 'Suds Club', where you earn a commemorative stein by drinking one each of the fifty beers offered. They track your progress with punches in a laminated card; very cool and won't get dog-eared.

Food offerings are somewhat minimal; 'hot-air' (not deep-fat) fried bar food and pizza. The fish fry was very tasty, and I did notice a lack of greasy taste/feel. Perfect for not covering up the beers.

I returned Saturday planning to watch NCAA games on TV, but had failed to notice the previous night that there are only two TV's, one at each end of a long bar. Naturally, the seats closest to the screens were taken. Anyway, I added a few more notches to my punch card, and enjoyed a pizza. Made from scratch toppings on prefab dough, but quite tasty.

The crowd was more subdued and fewer in number than the night before, but it was earlier too. A quite large parking lot seems to indicate they fill up often. It was interesting that every stool, both at the bar and at tables, was stationary. Easier to clean up and keep aisles open I suppose. Plenty of floor space and 'waitress' stations at the bar for standing with a pint while waiting for a seat to open up.

I will be back, and you won't go wrong checking this place out!
Apr 03, 2006
Photo of beveragecaptain
Reviewed by beveragecaptain from New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
I stopped by the Landmark 1850 Inn with my girlfriend after a day of wandering around Milwaukee. Conveniently located next to the airport. First thing I noticed when entering this bar is that it is dark. Very dark. I'm still not sure if I saw the full beer listing on the menu, because I could hardly read it. Nevermind that, a glass of La Binchoise will work just fine. 50 taps in all. Some are permanent, some rotating. Most are quality beers. Along with the La Binchoise, I had a Rogue Mogul Madness. Both were quite tasty. The tap selection seemed well thought out: Belgian beers, German beers, west coast US beers, regional beers, local beers, and the obligatory macros. There's definitely something for everyone here.

Food selection seemed to be limited to pizza and appetizers. My basil and pesto pizza did the trick just fine. Service was good. Our waitress was helpful with my beer questions. I hope to make it back to the Landmark 1850 Inn soon. It's the best bar I've seen in Wisconsin.
Jan 30, 2006
Photo of ClearDog
Reviewed by ClearDog from Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
The Landmark 1850 Inn is hands down one of my favorite taverns in the Milwaukee area.

The atmosphere is great. Kind of old time tavern feeling (i.e. tin ceiling, old hard wood floor and bar, antique light fixtures and cash registers, etc.).

The selection is just wonderful with fifty very unique tap beers. From American micro beers to imports, the Landmark has a beer for every taste. Their selection of hard to find seasonal and limited edition beers is very impressive.

Service is always prompt and friendly. Prices are pretty reasonable overall and even better during 4PM to 7PM Happy Hour. The nightly specials are also nice.

Food selection is limited but the pizzas and fish frys are great and are very reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

My only complaint is that when it gets busy it can get a little too smoky. When it gets like this it's real hard to thoroughly enjoy a beer.
Nov 03, 2005
Photo of battlekow
Reviewed by battlekow from Wisconsin

4.7/5  rDev +8.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 5
The name says it all. The Landmark 1850, the oldest bar in Milwaukee, has an "authentic" atmosphere, very cozy and comfortable, along with an impressive selection of beer and very tasty food. The bar is dark, woody, and smoky and the two-tiered tap line is a beauty to behold. With fifty beers on tap, ranging from Hacker-Pschorr Hefeweizen to New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red to Dogfish Head 90 Min IPA--not to mention the "in-house" beers by III Dachshund--there's something for everyone, even a few macros. The bartenders are friendly and helpful but keep their distance. The food is awesome; try the fried mashed potato balls and the white pizza (garlic butter sauce in lieu of tomato) with chicken. Lots of specials, including growlers of the III Dachshund stuff. Really great place.
Oct 04, 2005
Photo of brewQ
Reviewed by brewQ from Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
It's great to fly home to Milwaukee knowing that two minutes out of the
airport you can be comfortably seated on a stool at this historic Inn.

Edit 9/10/05 visit-
I spent several hours on a Friday night- excellent.
Quality became more apparent than before.

Also- a little history. The town here was originally named New Coeln-
that is New Cologne .... where's the Kolsch fest?
Although it is probably fifteen miles from the brewery, back in the 1850's Fred Miller delivered beer here by horse drawn wagon, according to material in the bar.

Thanks to Stonecrusher for the tip on St. Bernardus Abt 12 on tap.


Stonecrusher has given the flavor of the place in the preceding review- this a a genuine gem. I will only tweak one thing that hit me by daylight. The stained glass windows have a cheap Pabst fake glass drop in piece near the main bar. (Okay- I did not touch them but they look bad).

Otherwise- about 50 taps and lots of promotions make this a must stop. Their house brews- Dachsunds, are made by Appleton Brewing I am told. Sampled several- not bad.

Other standout taps were DFH 90 minute and Allagash offerings.

I will certainly be back when I have more time to kill.
Aug 01, 2005
Photo of bnuttz
Reviewed by bnuttz from Wisconsin

4.04/5  rDev -6.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
This bar has a large selection of beer, the biggest tap selection of beer that I have seen in milwaukee. 50 taps, with a nice variety. The have a few taps dedicated to macros, several taps of their house beer that is contract brewed by grays, 3 daschunds, which i did not try, and many other various beers. Including some tasty belgians. They had la chouffe, piraat, and a couple other belgians on tap. Some other standouts I tried were the rogue i2pa, and new holland dragons milk. The atmosphere here is very nice. The build was built over 150 years ago and served as a stop between milwaukee and racine. The bar maintains the old world feel. I will definitely be stopping back, I only wish I lived closer
Jan 15, 2005
Photo of grynder33
Reviewed by grynder33 from Wisconsin

4.9/5  rDev +13.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
If you come to this web site for any reason, and your in the Mid-west this place is worth the effort to find. A well maintained and charming old city atmosphere, you think you died and went to heaven when you see their selection list. 50 beers on tap at least45 of them micros or imports and always three or four from BA's top 20 list. Knowledgable people behind the bar, especially Jeff who can sit and talk craft beer with until someone wants another beer. Specials every day, the food is mostly appetizers variety, but all among the best I've tasted.They make a point of bragging about how well they maintain the keg lines, and it shows ,the beer always tastes fresh and served at the right temperature. Did I mention 50 beers on tap. A huge martinti list is available for your snooty friends that come along. Bring your friends and spend all night tasting different wonderful brews
Jul 02, 2004
Photo of Winter
Reviewed by Winter from Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
Located right across from the airport on Milwaukee's South side, Landmark 1850 Inn has one of the city's best selection of beers on tap. Originally it served as a halfway point for coaches traveling between Milwaukee and Racine in the 1800s. It's a two-story brick building (although only the first floor is accessible) with black iron fencing surrounding the front beer garden. The dimly lit interior provides for adequate seating along the walls and a raised floor seating area on the east end of the building. The long dark wood bar has a copper top and provides for plenty of seating on slower nights. At the end of the bar a glass case houses a wide variety of cigars for sale.

Located along the back wall behind the center of the bar are the majority of the 48 taps that the bar features. It's a rotating selection with some offerings based on seasonal availability and popularity. Everything from Wisconsin micros, Belgian Ales, imports and domestic favorites can be found. The list is written above the bar on a chalkboard with the corresponding tap number. Patrons can receive a Mug Club card and receive a punch for each of the 48 beers you purchase. After the card is filled you are entitled to your own mug (currently a ceramic German-styled mug with lid) to take home and bring back for weekday specials.

The service is generally pretty good and the place does get pretty busy on weekends, so it can get crowded at times. During the summer it's nice to step outside to avoid the smoky atmosphere and grab a seat, if you can find one, in the small beer garden area. They also do a good job of serving you your beer in the proper beer glass. A lot of times the Landmark will feature a pint glass purchase and giveaway. That's how I started my collection. Definitely a recommended stop if you're looking for a place with a good beer selection.
Oct 25, 2003
Landmark 1850 Inn in Milwaukee, WI
Place rating: 4.33 out of 5 with 39 ratings