Milwaukee Nov 8-10

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https://twitter.com/MKEbeerradar

 

The Lakefront tour is the best in town. Beer is decent, and good food too.

Skip MobCraft, hit Eagle Park and Third Space. Also check out 1840 Brewing if you don’t mind a short drive.

 

Now that MKE is in their new location, the tour's not very good. The whole place is a big echo chamber and it's really hard to hear. It reminds me somewhat of a BMC facility tour. You're no longer amidst the brewing equipment. You're on an upper-level, sterile, platform. Having said that, it's worth going for the 2-hour window of almost limitless beer. The 2-hour window starts 1/2 hour before your tour time, so check in early. You can always sign up for the tour, but just not go on it. Instead, just grab some beer, sit down, and relax. In addition to the beer on the tour, you get a token good for a free pint at about 8 other locations, to be used later. So, from a beer enjoyment level, the tour is well worth it.

FYI #1, they usually have some beers on the upper level that aren't poured on the main level. So during your tour time, mosey on up there and see what they're pouring.

FYI #2. Your first pour is a full pint. All pours after that are a half-pint. Pours of beers 8% ABV and above are always a half-pint. So make your first pour a beer that's below 8%.

+1 for the Lakefront tour and for Mobcraft. If your schedule permits, Lakefront's TechnicalTour is well worth it. Yeah, it's $40. But you get plenty of food, to the point that there's no way you need to buy lunch.

Check out WestallionBrewing. They haven't jumped on the hazy/NE/West Coast IPA fad bandwagon. Instead, they make really enjoyable, easy-drinking, tasty beers. They're Peanut Butter Porter is a must-have!

 

Good City, Third Space, Eagle Park, Gathering Place, 1840, Enlightened, Component, City Lights, Vennture, Broken Bat, Lakefront,....but I am not sure why anyone would waste their time with the regular tour, not familiar with the technical tour. Explorium has a lot of beers to try if you are willing to drive...but as it is in a mall hardly a good touristic spot.

I am shocked that someone would recommend Westallion as they pretty much miss all the way around.

 

Any good bottle shops in Milwaukee proper or on the way back to Chicago? I'm going on Saturday for a day trip.

 

Eat wings at Points East

Eagle Park, 1840 both are solid options.

 

Discount Liquor 5031 W Oklahoma

 

Since you're staying at Iron Horse, several places are within walking distance. You already mentioned MobCraft on S 5th St, which is practically across the street from your hotel.
A good Mexican joint is a few more blocks south on S 5th St, Botanos Mexican Restaurant. Roberto is a top-notch waiter if you're lucky enough to get him. The owner is often times on hand, checking in with his customers.
And a couple more blocks south on S 5th St is the rarely mentioned Urban Harvest Brewery.

About 5 blocks away from your hotel on S 2nd St is Indeed Brewing's (Minneapolis) new Milwaukee taproom. Nice space, good beer.

I'll also second some previous suggestions: Eagle Park, 1840, perhaps Component.

Hacienda out of Door County also has a fairly new taproom in the city on E North Ave. There is also a small food hall across the street (Crossroads Collective), if that's your thing.

 

Discount Liquor and Woodmans are your best bets as far as stores go.

 

There's a liquor store at 240 W. Wells, atthe northeast corner of Wells and Old World Third St. According to Google Maps, it's called "Tourist Convenience: Liquor Store". They've got a pretty decent selection of Wisconsin beers.

 

+1 for Woodmans. The Kenosha location is right off the freeway and easy to get to on the way back to Chicago. If you go to Brat Stop or Mars Cheese Castle, do not buy beer there.....

 

It's out of your way to the south but if you can make it down to Avenue on Howell they have a decent selection including limited stuff and aren't as out of the way as Woodmans or Discount. Maybe a 10-15 minute ride?

 

Lots of good information here, but I think also a few misses, but hey everyone's opinion is different.

If you've never done a brewery tour, or only 1 or 2, Lakefront is the best. If you've done a lot of tours, skip it - they all kinda run together after awhile. But YES Lakefront is the best tour. their fish fry is great too Friday nights but it gets crowded (get the cheese curds)

I think that Eagle Park is the number one must hit brewery these days, especially if you're into hops and/or fruit.

After that 1840 is very unique, and Third Space is a good spot. Hacienda on North Ave makes good IPAs, saisons and flavored stouts. All of those are fun places to visit for good beer.

The other places mentioned are fine. Good City, City Lights, Vennture, Indeed Taproom, Gathering Place, etc all have their merits. ..with my personal exceptions below:

In my mind there's rarely if ever a brewery that wouldn't be worth a single visit, just so you can form your own opinion. That said, if your're on limited time, I can't recommend Mobcraft, Broken Bat, or Westallion. Sorry. The difference here is Mobcraft is like across the street, so it's convenient. It's just not very good.

Other thoughts - if/when you hit Eagle Park it's short walk to Up/Down Arcade which usually has a good tap list and is a fun spot to kill an hour or two. Vanguard Sausages in Bayview is a good beer spot for lunch or dinner. If you want a break from craft beer for an old fashioned, 5 Oclock Club is one of the best steak dinners you can get, it's pricey but better value than anywhere else in the same league.