Milwaukee breweries I recommend

Upon moving to MKE, Chad and I set off to sip and sample our way through the city’s many watering holes. Our visits to Milwaukee breweries have become one of our all-time favorite dates, and we feel fortunate to live in a place with such a robust beer scene.

Here’s an ongoing list of my favorite Milwaukee breweries that I recommend—I’ll update regularly as I go.

Cheers to delicious brews in the Cream City!

Broken Bat Brewing Company

Say it with me: wiffle ball; dogs; baseball memorabilia. Broken Bat is one of the most iconic of the Milwaukee breweries, recognizable immediately by the building’s exterior red baseball stitches (and proximity to a Colectivo coffee shop). I’m a fan of their fun events, ordering a pitcher of their on-tap sour, catching the eye of a guest pup, and all of the baseball-themed memorabilia and art work on the walls. And as a casual baseball enthusiast, I feel right at home here.

135 E Pittsburgh Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204
brokenbatbrewery.com

Central Waters Brewing Co.

Central Waters is near the top of our list of Milwaukee Breweries that I recommend (it’s Chad’s favorite Milwaukee brewery, in fact). Located in a converted church in MKE’s Brewery District neighborhood, Central Waters offers a very cool space with a solid rotation of beer. We’ve enjoyed every single visit, and especially loved the private patio in the summertime.

1037 W Juneau Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233
centralwaters.com

Company Brewing

On Monday nights, you may or may not find us at Company Brewing for “Wisconsin’s Hardest Trivia,” which nearly always involves a pitcher of their delicious Alphabet Order sour and an order of cheese curds (though the rest of their food is worth trying, too). The community-oriented vibes and great-tasting libations make this Riverwest spot an easy favorite. We love Company.

735 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
companybrewing.com

Component Brewing Company

Located in a very super cool large warehouse in Bay View, Component is a spot that’s a little hard to find but worth the search. We’ve enjoyed several of their beers, plus a warm-weather patio that’s perfect for sunny days. They’re also dog-friendly and have a fun “scientifically-made” theme behind their brews.

2018 S 1st St #169, Milwaukee, WI 53207
componentbrewing.com

The Copper Turtle Brewery & Taverne

I love any excuse to hang out in the Third Ward, and Copper Turtle is a good one. The beer pours are large and frothy, the bartender is always friendly, and the cocktail menu always has delicious options. In the summer, the patio is fantastic, outside food is allowed, and there are wine options on the menu. It’s an upscale space with gorgeous touches, and I always enjoy bringing guests here for a drink.

330 E Menomonee St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
thecopperturtle.com

Eagle Park Brewing Company

A fruited flight was a delightful order at this brewery close just off Water Street, on Milwaukee’s East Side. The vibe was fun and casual and the food looked delicious as other people ordered it. We really enjoyed the beer from start to finish and have plans to return, especially to sample some curds.

823 E Hamilton St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
eagleparkbrewing.com

Enlightened Brewing Company

Enlightened Brewing has a lot going for it: tasty beer, a cool space (there are church pews, a skee ball machine, a live music area, and a historic building backdrop). I’m a huge fan of this Bay View / Harbor View institution.

2020 S Allis St, Milwaukee, WI 53207
instagram.com/englightenedbeer

Hacienda Brewing Company

Hacienda Brewing Company (HBC, as the sign above the door reads) is in Milwaukee’s East Side—one of my favorite areas in the city. It’s right on the corner of a wild intersection, the energy is bustling, and inside, the space is immaculate.

The vibes are “trendy design dreams of the hipster elite,” and the food and beer are just as entertaining. I went with the delicious tacos and a guest sour, while Chad enjoyed one of their IPAs—their specialty—and a green chile burger.

2018 E North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
haciendabeerco.com

Good City Brewing (East Side)

With two locations, Good City Brewing is a Milwaukee staple. We went to the East Side location, which I especially love because of their free parking lot in the back (a steal!). I loved their group-friendly space, “seek the good” motto, and haven’t gone wrong with one of their sour beers on tap. Good City also has a food menu, which has been a consistent hit with each visit (curry fries come highly recommended).

2108 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
goodcitybrewing.com

Indeed Brewing Company

If there’s ever a brewery that impresses with branding as much as beer, it’s Indeed Brewery. I’m not sure if I love their bright orange logo or their pistachio cream ale more—it’s a tie, probably. Indeed has quickly become one of my favorite spots. Originally based out of Minnesota, Indeed has a range of experimental and delicious flavors, and their Walker’s Point location is a super cool place to be. In the summer, their UpTop Rooftop bar across the street has one of the best views of the city, and their streetside patio is a great place to meet up with friends.

530 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
indeedbrewing.com

Lakefront Brewery

Lakefront has been our neighborhood haunt and the place we’ve gone the most since moving to MKE—not only is it conveniently close to us, but it’s also an incredible place to be. The beer is fantastic (I ordered the La Gosa Rita once, and I can’t bring myself to divert to anything else), the vibes are cool (a large beer hall with long tables and rotating events, like drag queen bingo and trivia, plus outdoor riverside seating), the tour comes highly recommended, and the cheese curds are some of the best I’ve ever had. It tops the list of Milwaukee breweries, and I can see why.

I’m gonna go ahead and claim it as my favorite brewery, hands down.

1872 N Commerce St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
lakefrontbrewery.com

Mobcraft Beer Brewery and Taproom

If you, like me, love a good sour beer, I have one top Milwaukee brewery recommendation: Mobcraft. I love, love, love Mobcraft, because they do sour beer right. Their blends are funky and leave the ideal amount of pucker—often with variations of the same base, with creative flavor add-ons. Additionally, the space is cool, the patio is great in the summertime, they serve food, and there’s a collective, member-based crowd sourcing element. Overall, I’m a huge fan.

505 S 5th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
mobcraftbeer.com

New Barons Brewing Cooperative

With only six beers on tap, my favorite thing about this brewery is the aesthetic. I enjoy the vibe and the building and the atmosphere (there were board games and exposed brick, a killer combination), though I hope to see a wider selection come summertime. If you like IPAs and stouts, New Barons might just be up your alley.

2018 S 1st St #170, Milwaukee, WI 53207
newbaronsbrewing.com

Pilot Project

Formerly MKE Brewing, Pilot Project has taken over an iconic Milwaukee spot and brought its own flair and flavors from its Chicago-based flagship. The interior is modern and dreamy, the beer ain’t bad, and the food is good enough to grab a menu. In the summer, the patio is elite (we haven’t been able to check out the rooftop yet, but it’s on the list). Pilot Project is a must-visit within Milwaukee’s Brewery District neighborhood.

1128 N 9th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233
pilotprojectbrewing.com

Sprecher Brewing Company

Lauded as Milwaukee’s oldest craft brewery, Sprecher Brewing Co. is located in Glendale (west of the city). Not only do they have a tap room serving several German-style beers, they also serve house-made sodas of varying flavors. The pop, along with bites of food, makes Sprecher a hit for families.

Note: we bought a four-pack of Sprecher soda from their store and brought them home to drink. I loved them even more than the beer—the raspberry is my favorite.

701 W Glendale Ave, Glendale, WI 53209
sprecherbrewery.com

Supermoon Beer Company

Back on Black Friday in 2022, Chad and I ventured to a new-to-us spot in Bay View: Supermoon Beer Company. It was a delightful date for us—the brewery was small, intimate, and extremely charming, set up in what seemed to be a historic house converted into a brewery. The decor was eclectic, the space was cozy, and the beer was good. It feels like we stumbled upon a gem in a dream; it was a fun and funky place to be, and I’m looking forward to our return.

3145 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
supermoonbeer.com

Third Space Brewing

Third Space does a lot right. Their patio, especially in the summertime, is divine and spacious. Their indoor space? Also very cool, and industrial. They have food trucks on site. They host so many cool events (this is where Chad and I have gone square dancing! Not once, but twice! I buy a ticket every time they have it! Please: do it again!). Their Beer School is informative and entertaining. My one and only gripe with Third Space is that their Lavender Lemonade beer is seasonal—a summertime brew only. Otherwise, this place might just be a perfect spot in Milwaukee.

1505 W St Paul Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233
thirdspacebrewing.com

Torzala Brewing Co.

Nestled in the Lincoln Warehouse—the same building you can find Component and New Barons, Torzala is a cozy and intimate spot. It’s women-owned, minority-owned, and a “fun-focused nanobrewery.” It felt like we stumbled upon a well-kept secret, and I’m looking forward to my next visit.

2018 S 1st St #207, Milwaukee, WI 53207
torzalabrewing.com

Urban Harvest Brewing Company

Walker’s Point is a neighborhood with industrial buildings and eclectic shops, something of a hipster’s hangout. Urban Harvest is right in the thick of it (and a contributing factor), with a variety of pretty classic and German-influenced beers on the menu.

1024 S 5th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
urbanharvestbrewing.com

1840 Brewing Company

While it used to feel like a rarity to find sour beers on tap, it’s now something of a mainstream wonderland. Such was the case at Bay View’s 1840 Brewing Company, which had several different fruited options available. We’ve had a success with each visit, and have been impressed by the lowkey vibes, friendly bartenders, and the coziness of the space. Additionally, 1840 has a variety of pop-ups and events, which I really appreciate as a community-oriented space.

342 E Ward St, Milwaukee, WI 53207
1840brewing.com

Other Milwaukee breweries to consider

Looking for more? Here are a few more local breweries that didn’t make the list.

• Amorphic
• Black Husky
• City Lights
• Dead Bird Brewing Company
• Explorium
• Faulklandia
• Gathering Place
• Lion’s Tail
• Ope
• Perspective Brewery
• Water Street Brewery
• Wizard Works
• Vennture

Bonus: beer gardens

Tap Yard. This Schlitz Park beer garden (though they have several locations) is amazing: a trailer on the river, serving up delicious beer. Dogs, brews, river views…you just can’t lose. It’s even better for Chad and I, who can easily walk from our home.

Hubbard Park Beer Garden. Imagine a beautifully green park with hills and a gorgeous view of the river. Now, add a beer garden. Hubbard Park’s beer garden is wooded and gorgeous, and they serve beer in giant steins if you’re interested.

Missing any?

What are your favorite Milwaukee breweries? Let me know if there’s any that should be on this list!