The Best Breweries in (or around) Milwaukee

Milwaukee is “Brew City” for a reason. Long before the craft beer boom (and the specialty coffee revolution), this was the city that built global brewing empires: Pabst, Schlitz, Blatz, Miller. Those names are etched into history, but the wave of breweries that have survived the craft beer recession will be shaping Milwaukee’s future.

Today, the city is packed with taprooms where experimentation meets tradition, where community is as important as the pour, and where flavor is taken as seriously as culture. Here’s our take on the best breweries in Milwaukee, where history meets hops, and where we’ve paired each with the closest Stone Creek cafe for when you want to swap buzz for brew.

Third Space Brewing

Founded in 2016 by Kevin Wright and Andy Gehl, and headquartered right down the road from the Stone Creek Factory, Third Space has quickly become a cornerstone of Milwaukee’s modern beer identity. The name itself is about community: your first space is home, your second is work, and your third should be a place where you belong. We’ve been incredibly amped to work with the Third Space team on coffee beer collaborations since their inception.

Kevin honed his brewing chops at the famed Hangar 24 Brewery in California before bringing that knowledge back home to Milwaukee. Andy, a Wisconsin native, brought his legal background and leadership expertise. Together, they created a brewery that reflects their mission: approachable but innovative, big enough to grow but grounded in community.

Their flagship “Happy Place” Pale Ale has become a statewide staple, bright, citrusy, and endlessly drinkable. They’ve since expanded into bold seasonal releases, barrel-aged stouts, and even crafted lagers that nod to Milwaukee’s historic roots. The West Milwaukee taproom is always buzzing, a mix of families, hop heads, and casual drinkers who’ve found their “third space.”

Closest caffeine hit: Stone Creek Coffee Factory Cafe (Downtown)

Lakefront Brewery

Before “craft beer” was a national buzzword, Lakefront Brewery was quietly rewriting the rules in Milwaukee. Brothers Russ and Jim Klisch founded Lakefront in 1987, brewing out of a rented bakery building with one used stainless steel tank. From those humble beginnings, they’ve grown into one of the most respected names in American craft.

Lakefront has always been about firsts: the first certified organic beer in the U.S., the first government-approved gluten-free beer, and a pioneering role in barrel-aging and specialty releases. Their Riverwest Stein amber lager is a love letter to the neighborhood and has been keeping locals happy for decades.

But it’s not just the beer. The brewery’s riverfront home is one of Milwaukee’s top destinations, thanks to tours that feel more like comedy shows, legendary Friday night fish fries with polka bands, and a beer hall atmosphere that makes you feel like part of the family. A fellow B Corporation, we’ve been close partners with Lakefront Brewery for well over a decade.

Closest caffeine hit: Stone Creek Coffee Downer Cafe & Kitchen (East Side)

Eagle Park Brewing

If Third Space is community, Eagle Park is chaos, in the best possible way. Founded in 2017 by brothers Max and Jackson Borgardt (with friend Jake Schinker), Eagle Park grew out of a garage and into a Milwaukee phenomenon. Before brewing, the brothers were in a rock band, and that attitude never left. Their branding looks like album art, their taproom playlists crank, and their beers lean into bold, experimental riffs.

Eagle Park built its reputation on hazy IPAs with ridiculous juice levels and pastry stouts so thick they could be dessert. Bouncing off that base, they’ve expanded into hard seltzers, spirits, and even ready-to-drink cocktails. Walk into their Muskego Avenue taproom or their sprawling Lake Country spot in Muskego, and you’ll see what happens when music, art, and beer collide.

Closest caffeine hit: Stone Creek Coffee Delafield Cafe (Lake Country)

Black Husky Brewing

Black Husky’s story starts in Pembine, Wisconsin, where Tim and Toni Eichinger began brewing in the Northwoods with inspiration from their sled dog, Howler. Every beer they brewed was named after a dog in their sled team, a tradition that continues to this day.

In 2016, they relocated to Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, building a rustic taproom that feels part cabin, part clubhouse. Their IPAs, especially the bold, resinous “Sproose,” have built a cult following, but their lagers and dark beers prove they’re no one-trick husky. Black Husky is fiercely independent, fiercely local, and fiercely loyal to their pack.

Closest caffeine hit: Stone Creek Coffee Factory Cafe (Downtown)

How Many Breweries Are in Milwaukee?

Today, there are more than 30 breweries in Milwaukee proper, with new ones still popping up. Each brewery tells its own story, but together they’ve created a beer culture that rivals any city in the country. From legacy players like Lakefront to innovators like Third Space, Milwaukee’s brewing identity is alive and thriving.

Beer and coffee share a lot in common - fermentation, flavor complexity, and a devotion to craft. At Stone Creek, we see ourselves on the same team as these brewers: passionate makers, never satisfied, always experimenting. So hit a brewery, then hit a Stone Creek cafe. That’s how we do Milwaukee.