Recommendations for Milwaukee Bars

Sugar Maple. 60 on tap
441 E. Lincoln Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53224

 

I have often wondered if Milwaukee was worth visiting, I'll be watching this thread.

 

@cabelgabel -- Taking into account beer selection and low key preference if you continue south down Kinnickinnic Avenue from Sugar Maple you'll run into Palm Tavern and then Romans just a bit further south from Palm.

Burnhearts (near Sugar Maple) is one of the best in the city but it may not fit your "low-key" preference depending on how low that key is.

@WillQC4Beer -- Milwaukee is a great city to visit with fantastic beer history and engaging current beer nerds. Did my University there and still visit two or three times a year. For obvious reasons, I much prefer my warmer weather visits.

 

The OP should know that Sugar Maple and Burnhearts, in keeping with much of the rest of the Bay View neighborhood in which they're located, are, for lack of a better term, "hipster" bars. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that, but, at the risk of stereotyping, I'm going to guess that they don't have what an Iowan means by a "low-key atmosphere" (unless he hails from a hipster pocket of Des Moines). Sugar Maple definitely has the better selection, but I preferred the admittedly even less low-key Burnhearts. I think I visited Palm Tavern briefly on a trip last month and don't remember getting as much of a hipster vibe (but I may have it confused with another bar), but I don't think I made it to Romans'.

Since the OP is on a brewery tour, I'll deviate from his stated preference a bit and recommend Brenner Brewing Company's taproom. The beer is mediocre (although I would say on par with that of Lakefront), but the space is great (one of my favorite among the several dozen taprooms I've visited), and, in my opinion, the atmosphere is indeed low-key. It was my favorite beer-oriented stop during my visit to Milwaukee last month. It's open until 11 p.m. on days that Lakefront is open until 9 p.m.

Among actual bars, The Rumpus Room may provide a more accessible atmosphere than anywhere in Bay View, and it's only a mile from Lakefront (v. 4 miles for Sugar Maple). I don't know, however, what it's like on a Saturday night.

@WillQC4Beer, Milwaukee in general is a fun and great bar town with a rich industrial brewing heritage but not a particularly strong craft beer town, in my outsider's opinion. I know it's improving in that arena, but so is almost every other major city. Madison's the better option for a craft beer vacation in Wisconsin.

 

Here's a great reference

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

but def go to the following

Sugar Maple
Burnhearts
Blackbird
Benelux
Palm Tavern
Stubbys
Nomad

 

What exactly is a "hipster bar"? Burnhearts seemed like your run of the mill bar. Bunch of old beer signs inside, some decent music playing, and people in there early 30's hanging out. Handful of decent taps, and a good selection of bottles. I enjoyed it.

 

hipster bars...as my dad would say, these people aren't hipsters, they are just dirty

 

Great thread! I'll be in Milwaukee for the Northwestern Mutual annual meeting sunday through wedneday! Always looking for the best beer spots. Love the selection the city has to offer compared to my Indiana distro. Lot of great beers to be acquired and brought back!

 

Only other question is: where is best place to load up on Toppling Goliath? And is Discount Liquor the best bottle shop overall? Any possibility of finding a strawberry rhubarb still?

 

I dont think theres any chance you'll find strawberry rhubarb anywhere. Discount is ok, rays is also good spot. Best place for TG in Milwaukee is probably Three Cellars which is just southwest of town and also a good bottleshop.

 

Actually, Discount probably has the widest availability for bottles, but doesn't have much cold. Rays has a lot cold, as does the Malt Shoppe in Tosa. And pretty much everywhere is getting Toppling Goliath. Discount has it (probably largest quantity as they still have PseudoSue from a couple weeks ago), as does Rays, The Malt Shoppe, B&B Beverage, Three Cellars, and more. No knock on Three Cellars as I like their selection and taps a lot, but they are quite the drive for the casual visitor.

This topic of where to go in Milwaukee comes up quite a bit. There's a few threads previously which have a bunch of great discussions. I've been asked by friends where to go and started to compile a good list of places

Great craft beer bars is an area 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.

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 chain with big liquor department and selection, good prices, few locations around town (Oak Creek, Waukesha, Menomonee Falls)

Hope that helps some of you visiting and enjoy Milwaukee. It's a great town!

 

Watch out for those wild and crazy hipsters, always causin' trouble in bars!

 

Thanks! I love going every year! Missed it last year and wasn't a part of this great BA Community the year before that when I went to get the great breakdown provided here! Cheers!

 

For TG beers, I stopped in Timers in Racine yesterday and they had PsuedoSue, Dorothy, Golden Nugget, and Rover Truck.

 

Thank you sir! Cheers!

 

OP, I will add one more place that has not been mentioned, Draft & Vessel. http://draftandvessel.com/ Check the site to see what is on tap. If you venture up to Otto's on Oakland Ave. then D&V is just a little further. There is actually a nice little bottle shop on the corner Kensington Liquor. Good chance to load up on CW offerings. Worth asking if Keith is there because he knows his business.

Romans has the best selection as far as bars. Stubby's is a close second and closer to Lakefront. Check out Malone's on Brady too. Hit or miss but Zombie Dust makes frequent appearances on tap.

Discount Liquor has the largest quantity and variety. Tip of the cap to the BA that mentioned B&B. That place is legit.

 

Draft and Vessel is a great place, but it's tiny. Like, literally maybe 20 seats in the entire place if you don't count the few patio tables, but it really is a great place with friendly bartenders. If you want a great selection and low key and I had to pick one spot, I'd pick Palm Tavern. Always dark and there isn't much riff raft either. Also really enjoy the bartenders who work there.

 

All of the good places have been mentioned IMO. On a side note, I would recommend skipping the Capital tour and instead do Wisconsin Brewing. They have some decent stuff, it's a clean brewery and good atmosphere. They also usually have 2-3 one off single batch beers that are usually really good. Also if you are willing to make the trek, Central Waters is great.