Milwaukee Beer Recommendations

Try this: http://mkebeerexchange.com/whats-on-tap/

 

You can get to most places from that area and if you're heading out to Miller Park you're literally driving back and fourth past downtown and the east side. Just off the top of my head for smaller places downtown>north shore: Rumpus Room, Draft and Vessel, Stubbys, Points East, Ale Asylum, Hollander/Benelux

 

I've heard good things about Company Brewing in Riverwest. Just opened very recently.

 

Agreed. I was just here & if you're . Great vibe, very good beer made in house, some good guest beers. I would also second Draft & Vessel. If you're looking for a pregame spot w/ good beer & great food, check out Story Hill BKC. Usually some good stuff on tap.

 

When I go that way I like to go to Lakefront Brewery. Its a real good brewpub with their own selections with really good food. Its at...

1872 N Commerce St
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(414) 372-8800
http://www.lakefrontbrewery.com/

 

I visited Milwaukee a couple of weeks ago, and Brenner's taproom was a highlight of the trip. The beer itself was only slightly above average (but no worse than that of the larger breweries that the OP mentioned), but the taproom had a far above average atmosphere for my tastes. The many beer bars of the Bay View neighborhood were good too. Discount Liquor on Oklahoma Ave. is a very impressive bottle shop with a bunch of stuff not available in Minnesota. I don't think any of those places is particularly close to where you're staying, however.

 

I actually just made a Milwaukee guide for a friend visiting. Here's what I have for good things in Milwaukee. Being in the glendale area, the closest things would be Sprecher, Draft & Vessel or Company Brewing. But if you're driving to Company you're getting close to some other places too.

Lakefront on Friday nights has their fish-fry. Really good, one of my favorites. But be prepared to wait if you get there after about 5:30-6:00. And unless you've already been on the tour, don't dismiss it. One of the best in the country. But otherwise during the days and weekends, it primarily is a brewery with tours and then they sell their beers too. And Fridays they have a firkin with some variations on their normal beers which is kinda cool.

For brewpubs, your best bet is Milwaukee Ale House. Right on the river with a big patio if it's nice, walking distance to Summerfest and the rest of the Third Ward. Food is standard average bar/gastropub type food. Nothing fancy, but decent burgers and such. Beer is solid with a variety and usually some variations/seasonals on tap.

Now if you're looking for some great craft beer bars, this is where Milwaukee shines.
Sugar Maple in Bayview has a superb selection of beers but no food, but many really good restaurants within walking distance.
Burnhearts in Bayview also is another really good, nationally rated bar that has some awesome taps and I think they are having a street fest this weekend (and they're only a couple blocks from Vanguard and Honey Pie, two great restaurants, Vanguard for Sausages and old school wrestling on TV and Honey Pie for way above average local/american meals, Vanguard probably better for a bachelor party)
Roman's Pub has a great tap selection as well - check out their Facebook for updates. They're consistently rated one of the best in the country
Stubby's Gastrogrub and Beer Bar has great taps and solid food
The Rumpus Room is one of my favorite places. Really good food albeit higher-end, lots of great beers, plus if you want to mix it up, they make amazing cocktails. But this place can get really busy FYI.
The Lowlands Group restaurants (Cafe Hollander, Cafe Centraal, Cafe Benelux, Bavaria) are themed on Belgian/European beers all over town and food and are all really solid places, but less emphasis on local brews than then above places.
Champps in Brookfield (west suburbs) has a pretty awesome taplist usually and food has always been solid

Check Beer-menus for the most up to date lists for the most of the above places.

For bottle shops, it really boils down to a couple places in my opinion:
Discount Liquor (51st and Oklahoma) - probably biggest bottle selection in the city, my preferred choice typically, (FYI only open 10-2 Sundays)
Ray's Wine and Spirits (~90th and North Ave in Wauwatosa) - Another great liquor store with a big selection and a big plus that virtually all their beers are in the cooler. And they added a growler gallery with a decent rotating selection of beers and a couple exclusives (though most of which are just ok in my opinion)
The Malt Shoppe (Hwy 100 and Wisconsin Ave in Wauwatosa) - new place that opened this past year. About 30 beers on tap for pints or growler fills. TONS of singles, wide selection, and a great cooler for old beers if needed
Otto's (Particularly on Oakland) - Nice store with good selection and always seems to have a couple bottles of a vintage beer (especially Central Waters Bourbon Barrel selections)
Woodman's (Oak Creek, Kenosha, Waukesha) - Huge grocery store with big liquor department and selection, good prices

There's not a ton of local breweries. Lakefront is probably the best tour. Milwaukee Brewing Company is just OK as a actual tour, but its become the place to go on a tour and get wasted cause you get like 4 full beers at least. Company Brewing is brand new and getting solid reviews but I haven't been. Brenner Brewing has a good story and makes decent beers. Biloba Brewing is another place getting solid reviews but I haven't been there myself, and they're way out in Brookfield.

Enjoy your time in Milwaukee and let me know if you have any other questions.

 

Definitely hit up Company Brewing- along with Enlightened they make up the two of the best of the new wave of Milwaukee brewers.

Draft & Vessel is a good choice, if you stop in I might be the one pouring your beer.

For bottles you might as well hit up Discount (I often stop in there before a game, but they don't have much in the cooler so bring some ice to chill your beer)!