America's Beer Capital

Milwaukee Breweries Guide

From the German immigrants who built Schlitz, Pabst, and Miller to today's innovative craft brewers, Milwaukee's brewing heritage runs deep. Explore 30+ breweries in America's original beer city.

Milwaukee isn't just a city with breweries—it's a city built by breweries. In the late 1800s, German immigrants transformed this lakeside city into America's undisputed beer capital. Names like Schlitz, Pabst, Miller, and Blatz didn't just brew beer; they shaped Milwaukee's skyline, culture, and identity.

Today, Milwaukee's craft beer renaissance honors that legacy while pushing boundaries. From the polka-filled tours at Lakefront Brewery to barrel-aged sours at 1840 Brewing, there's a brewery for every palate. Whether you're planning a Walker's Point brewery crawl or seeking the perfect brewery patio, this guide has you covered.

Iconic & Historic Breweries

These Milwaukee institutions carry on the city's legendary brewing tradition

ICONIC

Lakefront Brewery

Beerline B

Iconic Milwaukee experience with entertaining tours, polka music, and fish fry Fridays along the Milwaukee River

Known for: German-style lagers and creative ales

Must try: Riverwest Stein Amber Lager

ICONIC

Milwaukee Brewing Company

Walker's Point

Historic former railway building with exposed brick, spacious taproom, and rotating food trucks

Known for: Bold American ales and experimental brews

Must try: Louie's Demise Amber Ale

ICONIC

Sprecher Brewing Company

Glendale

Family-friendly brewery famous for craft sodas, European-style beers, and engaging tours

Known for: Bavarian-inspired craft beers and legendary root beer

Must try: Black Bavarian Schwarzbier

Milwaukee Craft Breweries

The new generation pushing Milwaukee's brewing boundaries with innovation and creativity

MobCraft Beer

Walker's Point

Eclectic taproom where fans vote on what gets brewed next—expect the unexpected

Style: Crowdsourced creative and wild ales

Try: Batshit Crazy Coffee Brown Ale

Enlightened Brewing Company

Bay View

Cozy neighborhood taproom in a converted warehouse with rotating art installations

Style: Belgian-inspired and hop-forward ales

Try: Cream City Brix IPA

Good City Brewing

East Side / Downtown

Modern industrial chic with multiple locations including a downtown taproom near Fiserv Forum

Style: West Coast-style IPAs and clean lagers

Try: Good City Pils

Third Space Brewing

Menomonee Valley

Spacious family-friendly brewery with games, food trucks, and a welcoming community atmosphere

Style: Balanced American ales and lagers

Try: Happy Place Midwest Pale Ale

Urban Harvest Brewing

Walker's Point

Intimate nano-brewery focused on sustainability and neighborhood connections

Style: Sessionable ales and locally-sourced ingredients

Try: Urban Harvest Cream Ale

Indeed Brewing Company

Walker's Point

Minnesota transplant with a vibrant taproom, murals, and strong community programming

Style: Creative ales and seasonal specialties

Try: Day Tripper Pale Ale

Gathering Place Brewing Company

Riverwest

Community-focused brewery hosting events, live music, and neighborhood gatherings

Style: Hop-driven ales and experimental small batches

Try: Hop Yard IPA

1840 Brewing Company

Walker's Point

Intimate speakeasy-style taproom for serious sour beer enthusiasts

Style: Barrel-aged sours and mixed fermentation

Try: Their rotating barrel-aged sour series

Component Brewing Company

Bay View

Tiny nano-brewery with a neighborhood feel and constantly changing tap list

Style: Small-batch experimental ales

Try: Rotating seasonal series

Broken Bat Brewing Company

Walker's Point

Baseball memorabilia-filled taproom perfect for sports fans and beer lovers alike

Style: Baseball-themed American ales

Try: Corkball Cream Ale

Black Husky Brewing

Riverwest

Dog-friendly taproom with a cozy cabin feel, strong IPAs, and a passionate local following

Style: Bold hop-forward ales and stouts

Try: Sproose Double IPA

Westallion Brewing Company

West Allis

Neighborhood brewery celebrating West Allis heritage with approachable, well-crafted beers

Style: Traditional lagers and American ales

Try: Westallion Lager

Raised Grain Brewing Company

Waukesha

Award-winning suburban brewery known for hop-forward ales and extensive barrel program

Style: IPAs and barrel-aged specialties

Try: Paradocs Double IPA

Company Brewing

Riverwest

Restaurant-brewery hybrid with excellent food menu, live music, and a neighborhood bar atmosphere

Style: Creative American ales and lagers

Try: Company Lager

Eagle Park Brewing Company

Muskego / Downtown

Trendy brewery with multiple locations, Instagram-worthy hazy IPAs, and a loyal following

Style: Hazy IPAs and fruited sours

Try: Loop Station Hazy IPA

Vennture Brew Co.

Walker's Point

Coffee roaster turned brewery specializing in unique coffee-beer hybrids and collaborations

Style: Coffee-infused beers and creative collaborations

Try: Neon Basement Coffee Blonde

Biloba Brewing

Brookfield

Cozy Belgian-focused brewery with exceptional farmhouse ales and a relaxed suburban setting

Style: Belgian-style ales and farmhouse beers

Try: Belgian Golden Strong

Big Head Brewing Company

Wauwatosa

Tosa Village brewery with a welcoming taproom, diverse beer selection, and local character

Style: American ales and lagers

Try: Big Head IPA

Stock House Brewing Co.

Downtown

Downtown microbrewery in the Historic Third Ward with a focus on traditional German styles

Style: German-style lagers and ales

Try: Stock House Pilsner

Dead Bird Brewing Company

Walker's Point

Small-batch brewery specializing in Belgian and farmhouse styles with natural fermentation

Style: Farmhouse ales and wild fermentation

Try: Seasonal farmhouse releases

Explorium Brewpub

Greendale / Southridge

Family-friendly brewpub with a full restaurant, diverse tap list, and welcoming atmosphere

Style: Diverse American craft styles

Try: Explorium IPA

Inventors Brewpub

Port Washington

Port Washington gem with creative beers, excellent food, and Lake Michigan proximity

Style: American craft ales

Try: Rotating seasonal ales

Titletown Brewing Company

Downtown

Historic downtown brewpub in a renovated train depot with riverside dining

Style: American ales and lagers

Try: 400 Honey Ale

Fermentorium Brewery & Tasting Room

Cedarburg

Charming Cedarburg brewery known for Belgian styles, a cozy tasting room, and specialty releases

Style: Belgian-inspired and barrel-aged

Try: Belgian Tripel

Delafield Brewhaus

Delafield

Lake Country brewpub with a full restaurant, scenic setting, and decades of brewing history

Style: German lagers and American ales

Try: Delafield Amber

Water Street Brewery

Downtown / Multiple

Milwaukee's original brewpub chain with multiple locations and a wide variety of house beers

Style: Traditional American styles

Try: Honey Lager

Milwaukee Ale House

Third Ward

Riverwalk brewpub with a prime patio, extensive menu, and beers from Milwaukee Brewing Co.

Style: American ales and seasonal brews

Try: Louie's Demise Amber

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

Downtown

Downtown brewpub near Fiserv Forum with a full menu and rotating seasonal beers

Style: American craft styles

Try: White Ale

Milwaukee Brewery Tours

Go behind the scenes and learn the craft from Milwaukee's master brewers

Lakefront Brewery Tour

Milwaukee's most entertaining brewery tour featuring unlimited samples, comedy, and polka

$15-20

45 minutes

Sprecher Brewery Tour

Family-friendly tour showcasing Bavarian brewing traditions and craft soda production

$10-15

1 hour

Milwaukee Brewing Company Tour

Behind-the-scenes look at craft brewing in a historic Walker's Point building

$12-15

45 minutes

Brewery Walking Tours

Guided neighborhood brewery crawls through Walker's Point or Bay View

$45-65

3-4 hours

Pro tip: Book Lakefront Brewery's Friday night tour for fish fry and live polka!

Best Brewery Patios

Sip your craft beer in the fresh Milwaukee air. See our complete Milwaukee patio guide for more outdoor drinking spots.

Lakefront Brewery

Riverside deck with stunning views of the Milwaukee River and downtown skyline

Third Space Brewing

Spacious outdoor area with yard games, fire pits, and food truck parking

Good City Brewing (East Side)

Rooftop patio with city views and a lively summer atmosphere

Indeed Brewing Company

Colorful patio with murals, string lights, and a dog-friendly vibe

Gathering Place Brewing

Intimate courtyard perfect for neighborhood hangs and live music

Milwaukee Beer Gardens

Honoring the German tradition with outdoor drinking in Milwaukee's beautiful parks

Estabrook Park Beer Garden

Milwaukee's first park-based beer garden with German imports and local craft beers

South Shore Terrace Beer Garden

Lakefront views at South Shore Park with a family-friendly atmosphere

The Landing at Hoyt Park

Scenic beer garden in Wauwatosa's beautiful Hoyt Park

Hubbard Park Beer Garden

Historic lodge setting along the Milwaukee River in Shorewood

Pro tip: Milwaukee's beer gardens typically operate from May through October. Check individual hours as they vary by weather and season. Most allow you to bring your own food!

Breweries by Neighborhood

Walker's Point

MobCraft, Indeed, Milwaukee Brewing Co., 1840, Urban Harvest, Broken Bat

Explore Walker's Point →

Bay View

Enlightened Brewing, Component Brewing

East Side / Downtown

Good City Brewing (multiple locations)

Riverwest

Gathering Place Brewing Company

Milwaukee Breweries FAQ

Why is Milwaukee called the beer capital?+

Milwaukee earned its title as America's beer capital in the 19th century when German immigrants established major breweries including Schlitz, Pabst, Miller, and Blatz. At its peak, Milwaukee had more than 80 breweries. Today, the craft beer renaissance continues this proud tradition with over 30 local breweries.

What is the best brewery tour in Milwaukee?+

Lakefront Brewery offers Milwaukee's most entertaining tour, featuring unlimited beer samples, comedy, and even polka music. Tours run Friday evenings and throughout the weekend. Sprecher Brewery is ideal for families thanks to their famous craft sodas alongside beer.

Which Milwaukee neighborhood has the most breweries?+

Walker's Point has the highest concentration of breweries including MobCraft, Indeed, Milwaukee Brewing Company, 1840, Urban Harvest, and Broken Bat—all within walking distance of each other, making it perfect for a self-guided brewery crawl.

Are Milwaukee breweries family-friendly?+

Many Milwaukee breweries welcome families, especially during daytime hours. Third Space Brewing, Sprecher, and Good City Brewing are particularly kid-friendly with games, non-alcoholic options, and spacious layouts. Most breweries allow minors accompanied by adults until evening.

When is the best time to visit Milwaukee breweries?+

Summer offers the best patio and beer garden experiences, while fall brings Oktoberfest celebrations and seasonal brews. Winter features cozy taprooms and holiday releases. Weekend afternoons are ideal for tours, while weekday evenings offer a more relaxed local atmosphere.

What is the Milwaukee beer style?+

Milwaukee's brewing heritage centers on German-style lagers—crisp pilsners, amber lagers, and dark Schwarzbiers. Today's craft scene embraces everything from hazy IPAs and barrel-aged sours to cream ales and Belgian-inspired brews, while honoring traditional lager craftsmanship.

Plan Your Milwaukee Brewery Adventure

Ready to explore more of Milwaukee? Check out our guides to the city's best neighborhoods, patios, and activities.

Things to Do in Milwaukee Best Milwaukee Patios Walker's Point Guide