While craft and microbreweries are popping up all over the country, Milwaukee continues to set itself apart from the masses and hold fast to the title of “Brew City.” The home of the four greats (Pabst, Miller, Schlitz and Blatz), the city has a rich history in brewing, so it’s no wonder microbreweries are choosing to open their doors in Milwaukee. Everyone wants to be in the city where it all started. To drink like a Milwaukeean, you have to both pay homage to our trailblazers and be on top of the newest brews hitting the market.
10. Schlitz
Although the brewery was born in 1849, it was in the wake of the Great Chicago Fire that Schlitz got its nickname “the beer that made Milwaukee famous.” The fire wiped out five of Chicago’s breweries, along with its water infrastructure, leaving no water or supplies to brew beer. It was Schlitz to the rescue, sending thousands of barrels of their beer south to wet the whistles of the beer-deprived Chicagoans who were so thankful to Schlitz that they became brand loyalists. Schlitz is still available today, brewing their “classic ‘60s formula” that resonates with past and present generations alike.
9. Pabst Brewery – Andeker
While Pabst Blue Ribbon (or PBR to hipster-nation) might be the “award winning” beer, it’s Andeker that has beer enthusiasts buzzing. A European-style lager that was introduced in 1939, taken off the market in the 1960s, and briefly reappeared between 1972 and 1986, is one of the old formulas getting a resurrection at the new Pabst Milwaukee Brewery.
8. Miller Brewing Company – High Life
Sure, craft beer is king these days, but without these big guys paving the way in the 1800s, the beer industry wouldn’t be what it is today. Miller High Life was first released in 1903, making it the oldest Miller beer to date. The high carbonation levels in this pilsner-style beer, paired with the clear glass bottles distinctive of the beer’s packaging, earned it the nickname “The Champagne of Beers.” So while your friends are drinking their imperial black double IPAs, you can take solace knowing that your Miller High Life is just as classy as a glass of champagne.
7. Blatz Beer
The fourth of the Milwaukee Beer Barons, Valentin Blatz, opened his brewery next door to City Brewery, owned by John Braun. When Braun died, Blatz married his widow and merged the two breweries. By 1884, Blatz Brewery was the third-largest beer producer in Milwaukee. Today, the American-style lager Blatz is brewed and distributed by the Pabst Brewing Co., proving that even the Milwaukee beer barons can play nice.
6. Sprecher Brewery – Black Bavarian
First brewed in 1985 alongside the opening of the brewery, the Black Bavarian is one of the flagship beers at Sprecher Brewery, Milwaukee’s first modern craft brewery. This Bavarian-style black lager (or Kulmbacher-style schwarzbier) brings smooth, complex malt flavors with hints of coffee, caramel and chocolate, but isn’t as creamy or sweet as a porter or stout – truly a unique (and award-winning) beer.
5. Lakefront Brewery – Klisch
You only name one of your beers after your founders if it’s one of your greats. Klisch, named after Russ and Jim Klisch, is a full-bodied, smooth and slightly hoppy Czech pilsner that perfectly complements any of your favorite Milwaukee dishes from a Friday night fish fry to a slice of Milwaukee-style pizza – and that’s the mark of a great Milwaukee beer.
4. Milwaukee Brewing Co. – Weekend @ Louie’s
Louie’s Demise is the beer that started it all for Milwaukee Brewing Company. Owner Jim McCabe brewed this beer for the first time in his basement in Cedarburg, back when the dream of owning his own microbrewery was just that – a dream. Weekend @ Louie’s, however, takes this beer to the next level with a collaboration with local Milwaukee tea makers, Rishi Tea. Adding Rishi’s Organic Blueberry Rooibos and Hibiscus Tea blends turns this amber ale into a unique, light, fruity, herbal summer beer. And what’s cooler than a Milwaukee collaboration?
3. Third Space Brewing – Happy Place
Third Space Brewingbelieves that everyone has three spaces that they exist in: the space where they work, the space where they sleep and the space where they play (and drink!). We think that the third space is our happy place, and this brewery agreed. Happy Place is a Midwest pale ale full of citrus, passion fruit and berry flavors which balance out the hop aromas, making this a full-bodied but very drinkable beer.
2. Black Husky Brewing – Sproose
IPAs have been the big trend in the brewing industry for the past few years, and everyone seems to think the hoppier, the better! But Black Husky Brewingtries something different with their double IPA, adding in locally harvested spruce tips during the brewing process to give this beer a not-so-subtle pine and juniper taste and scent.
1. Good City Brewing – Reward
Good City Brewingmopened their doors in June of 2016 and won their first national award less than a year later: Brewing News’ National Imperial IPA Championship for their Double IPA “Reward.” One sip of this hoppy, yet deceptively smooth brew and you’ll know why this is the beer that is putting Good City Brewing on the map.
Ready to be the judge of the Milwaukee beer scene. Catch all these brews and many many more at #BBC17.