Visiting Milwaukee

With a car, your best bottle shop option is Discount Liquor, a a ways outside of Downtown. Once you’re in that area, you won’t be far from the Drunk Uncle - which should be reopened by that point and will likely be one of the better beer bars in the area. They also run some pretty crazy specials.

As the others have stated, Eagle Park, Third Space, and 1840 are your best brewery options. Good City is also a cool place with some solid beer. Black Husky is mediocre. Avoid Mob Craft and City Lights, neither is worth your time.

 

I think they area is Bayview? But I know there's some really good bars and places to eat off some street caled Kinnectinik (i totally butchered the spelling, but it has a lot of K's in the name). Honeypie was a good place. And I know I will be killed for saying this, but I always like having a beer outside on the river at the downtown Rock Bottom. Rock Bottom was my first "go to" spot 20 yrs ago, so it will always have a spot in my heart. Haha.

 

I really enjoyed Vanguard when I was there a few summers back. Great sausage and solid beer list. Also in Bay View IIRC.

 

Forgot Vanguard, great spot too super casual! Love odd duck as a little nicer place to eat, lazy Susan too. And the street (and river) is Kinnickinnic but everyone just says "KK"

 

I was there last in the Fall, and disappointed by the fact most downtown bars and breweries (Wolski's the exception) close pretty early (9ish) on weekdays. Milwaukee Brewing Company was the better spot of the two visited before heading to a Brewers game. They had decent bar food and the beer was OK. Water Street was close by, had neat memorabilia, beer was mediocre (and service less than). Will check out Lakefront Brewery and make sure Pabst is also open for tours next visit, Wolski's worth checking out as well.

I don't have bottle store info beyond stating if you are near a Woodman's, they offer beer at great prices (6% over cost) and have a very good selection of New Glarus and 3 Sheeps, my two favorite Wisconsin breweries.

Enjoy your visit!

 

Agree completely with this. I'd also throw Vennture into the best brewery options. It's a little west of the city, but well worth a visit. You can also get your fix of coffee while there.

 

+1 for Lakefront Brewery and take the tour. It is a lot of fun. If going on a weekend you should reserve in advance on their website. I am also a big fan of Milwaukee Brewing, their IPA is one of my favorites and a great value at the bottle shop too. The 3rd ward has many good bars and restaurants and the Public Market is worth visiting.

 

Both Discount Liquor and Woodman are solid choices. Since you are coming in a few months, there are 5 Milwaukee beer gardens open from April through October in the county parks and an additional traveling beer garden, all are well worth visiting!
https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/Beer-Gardens

 

+1 on both Discount Liquor and Woodman's. If I had to pick only one, it would be hard to say. Discount has more hard-to-find and limited release stuff. Woodman's has a great supply and selection of the more widely distributed stuff. FYI, Woodman's doesn't take credit cards - cash, debit cards, and checks only. Out-of-state checks are OK.