lakefront brewery tour milwaukee wisconsin

Lakefront Brewery

Top ways to experience Lakefront Brewery and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travelers

Lakefront Brewery - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Discover Iconic Milwaukee Tour (From $67.00)
• Sip of Milwaukee Guided Brewery Tour with Snack (From $99.00)
• 2-Hour Bus Tour in Milwaukee City (From $40.00)
• Original Milwaukee Guided Brewery Tour with Lunch or Dinner (From $139.00)
• 2 Hours Private Tour of Milwaukee Marvels (From $245.20)
• (0.06 mi) Best location in Milwaukee! Lower Duplex Unit - long term stays welcome
• (0.17 mi) Best location in Milwaukee! Upper Duplex Unit - long term stays welcome
• (0.21 mi) 4 bedroom house walking distance from Milwaukee Bucks Fiserv Forum
• (0.63 mi) County Clare Irish Inn and Pub
• (0.26 mi) Brady St. Inn and Gallery
• (0.01 mi) Lakefront Brewery Beer Hall
• (0.29 mi) Sanford Restaurant
• (0.31 mi) Glorioso's Italian Market
• (0.15 mi) Up-Down Arcade Bar
• (0.17 mi) Casablanca
• (0.01 mi) Hop Head Tours
• (0.10 mi) The Swing Park
• (0.18 mi) City Tours MKE
• (0.13 mi) Trocadero
• (0.18 mi) Eagle Park Brewing Company

Lakefront Brewery – Everything you need to know before you visit

By: Author Hannah

Posted on Last updated: March 16, 2022

One of the original craft breweries in Milwaukee Lakefront Brewery has been brewing long before it was the cool thing to do. With 18 great beers on tap, a fun brewery tour, and some excellent traditional Milwaukee foods – you need to put this place on your list if you are visiting from out of town.

The History of Lake Front Brewery

This brewery has been around since 1987, it is a Milwaukee landmark with humble beginnings. The brewery was started by brothers Russ and Jim Klisch. They started brewing for family and friends, then were encouraged to set up a location which led to a lot of success. The current building is filled to the brim with Milwaukee history having been a government building that housed the cities coal power plant in the early 1900s.

The Beer and Service

The Lakefront Brewery has a huge selection of beer available every day. They also have fun seasonal options. What is really great are the organic and gluten-free options available. Finally, they offer limited releases of very special beers. Some of their most popular beers on tap include the Lakefront Fuel Cafe, an organic coffee stout. The Lakefront IPA, which is an India pale ale that is delicious.  There are also the Lakefront Pils, a German Pils which is a favorite.

The Famous Lakefront Brewery Tour

The tour at the Lakefront is unique compared to other tours and they come packed with freebies and a great time. The tour currently comes with a free pint glass, and 2 – 16 oz pint pours. In the past, there was more beer, but too many people had too much fun – and they’ve had to scale it back a bit with the beer. However, the jokes and fun are still very much a part of the experience and this tour is still one of the best brewery tours in Milwaukee .

First, this brewery is family-friendly but if you choose to bring anyone under 21 you’ll have to be their legal guardian. This means that brothers and sisters, as well as aunts, uncles, or grandparents, do not count. So plan ahead if you are bringing kids.

For those under 21, they have ways for you to participate too. They have their very own house-made Maple Root Beer and sodas like Coke and Sprite as well.

The tour will last about 45 minutes. This length may not be suitable for smaller children. It is geared to adults even though families are welcome. A great benefit is that kids 12 and younger will not be required to have tickets

Buy Tickets for the tour online

If you are going to go, definitely buy the tickets online. They presell 45 tickets online and will only take 15 people as walk-ups for every tour. If you don’t pre-buy your tickets you’ll risk not being able to go on the tour.

If you do walk up for tickets know that everyone has to do so. They won’t issue tickets unless there is a person for every ticket. Consider your plans when buying tickets because they don’t offer refunds.  You can call early to see if they have tickets available and for when so you’ll only have to take one trip.

The tours from Monday through Thursday are only $11. This would be the best time for kids. That’s because the tour will be briefer due to the production of beers and drinks that happen in the brewery. The price is a bit cheaper as well as the smaller crowds will make it easier to do with a smaller crowd.

Mini Tour (currently not running)

Another option is their 8 dollar mini-tours on Saturdays that happen 5 minutes after every hour. They have the same free items but its brief and does not include a full tour of the brewery, instead, you can look through large windows as your guides explain. These tours aren’t always offered, just when the regular tours are full. However, if you have the chance it can be a great option.

The weekend are $12 and are going to be busier. If you are going on the weekend it is even more important to buy your tickets online. Otherwise, you’ll have to come really early to get those walk-up tickets.

Something really unique to the lakefront tours is that they give full tours in Spanish. They do have to be arranged in advance, but that is a really great option.

Technical Tour (not currently running)

The technical tour is a newer option on Saturdays at 11:00 AM, however since covid this has been suspended indefinitely. This is for the homebrewers or those really enthusiastic beer drinkers wanting to learn more. You will learn the actual process of beer making. This tour has a special tasting that pairs food like especially meats cheeses, fruit, and chocolate with the beers. It is a small tour that has tickets that must be purchased in advance online.

If you are going on this tour make sure to wear closed-toe shoes! If you have a group of 20 or 50 you can arrange a private tour.

Lakefront Brewery Food

The food options at the Lakefront are what most would consider to be upscale bar food. They have pretzels, chicken strips, chili cheese fries, mac and cheese that can come in several ways.

On Fridays, they fry up a lot of fish putting on one of the best fish fries in Milwaukee . For both lunch and dinner, you can grab a basket of freshly fried cod. If you happen to visit on a day other than Friday, you can still get a beer-battered fried fish taco, while not the same – it’s still pretty darn good.

In our humble opinion, Lakefront has some of the best cheese curds in Milwaukee. Fresh, gooey white cheese in a thin crispy batter.

They also have tacos, sandwiches, sausages, and salads of all kinds. Their vegetarian options are great too.  Oh and ice cream sundaes made with beer caramel and candied pecans!

See The Current Menu Here

Lakefront Brewery Hours of Operation

• Monday – Thursday:  4:00-9:00pm
• Friday & Saturday 11:00am-9:00pm.
• Sunday’s 11:00am- 5:00pm.
• 1872 N. Commerce Street

The space inside the brewery is large enough for any big group to feel comfortable. Their beer hall is lively and fun.  Even with the larger crowds, it’s family-friendly.  Lakefront Brewery a perfect place to have a couple of beers with some great snacks. The parking is fairly abundant.

ROBERT W SLACK

Wednesday 18th of October 2023

For many months, I enjoyed your New Grist Gluten Free Beer. When I needed to go Gluten Free it was the only such beer that I found to my liking.

Unfortunately, the canned product that I can now find is not the same.

I will not be buying more of the canned New Grist unless it returns to the very likeable nature of the bottled product.

I live in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada.

• The Original Brew Tour
• The Sip of Milwaukee Tour
• Bachelor Party Brew Tours
• Bachelorette Party Brew Tours
• Special Occasion Brew Tours
• Corporate Outing Brew Tours
• Conventions & Conferences
• Private Tour Inquiry
• Gift Certificates
• Monthly Beer Box
• Broken Bat Brewery
• Dead Bird Brewing
• Gathering Place Brewing
• Hacienda Taproom & Kitchen
• Lakefront Brewery
• Ope! Brewing
• Perspective Brewing
• Brew Tour Transportation
• Our Beer Guides
• Hotel Accommodations
• Become an Affiliate
• Franchise Opportunities
• More Cities

All-inclusive tour of Milwaukee’s best breweries

Best Experience Ever

"It was a birthday gift to remember. Awesome choices, plenty of time to explore and enjoy the other options available. Our guide was very knowledgeable and I have made changes in what we look for in beers as well as how we drink it - always in a glass. Fun and cool"

Excellent Time Had By All

"The tour was great from beginning to end. Mark was an awesome guide. Perfect man for our group. We really enjoyed his knowledge of beer and history. All the brewery stops were good, but Bantam Cider was my favorite. Will definitely be back!"

History Meets Beer

"This tour was a great way to experience the city of Boston and see what various types of beer it has to offer. The tour guide was very informative and made the overall experience fun and enjoyable. Plus, who doesn't like to sample 15-18 beers in under 6 hours? Will definitely recommend this tour to friends!"

Recommended by

Milwaukee craft beer journey.

Welcome to City Brew Tours Milwaukee – your best way to enjoy Milwaukee’s growing craft beer scene. Our tours will visit 3-4 breweries where you will enjoy award-winning craft beer, learn about the history of beer and Milwaukee’s place in that history, and have a great time along the way!

learn about the

Breweries we visit.

We’ve forged relationships with some of the best craft breweries in Milwaukee and the surrounding area in order to give our guests an unforgettable experience. Our breweries have won awards at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup, and are at the forefront of Milwaukee’s craft beer scene.

what you get

With your brew tour.

Our public tours include 3-4 stops, with up to 16 samples of beer, a snack or meal depending on the tour chosen. In addition, guests will receive transportation to all brewery locations, and a Beer Guide who will take you through the history of the beer making process and give you behind the scenes access to the facilities of our brewery partners.

Miles Traveled

Meals served, beers consumed, join the newsletter.

• MidwestWeekends on Facebook
• Get trip ideas
• Event Calendar

MidwestWeekends.com (mobile)

Because life's too short to stay home …, mad about brew, in the town that worships beer, brewery tours draw legions of fans..

© Beth Gauper

For people who love beer, there's no better place to drink it than in a brewery.

In 1880s, beer-loving Milwaukee had more than 80 of them. Three became national giants, giving Milwaukee the nicknames Beer Town and Suds City, but only one survived.

That's Miller, acquired in 1969 by Philip Morris and now part of Molson Coors. Schlitz closed in 1981, and Pabst in 1997.

Enter the first upstarts.

In 1985, Sprecher became the first brewery to start up in Milwaukee since Prohibition. Against Miller's Lite, it put up beers with so much heft you could have them for lunch: Black Bavarian, Russian imperial stout, Doppelbock.

Lakefront brewed its first beer in 1987, after Russ Klisch bought his brother Jim a home-brewing kit and soon found himself competing to see who could make the best beer.

The brothers brewed fast and furiously-the first fruit beer since Prohibition, the first certified organic beer, the first gluten-free beer, a spicy pumpkin lager. With Sprecher, they put the love back into the beer.

All three breweries offer tours, all different but all popular: You get to drink the beer.

And when you're done with those, visit the new upstarts: the dozens of craft breweries popping up around the city. Many of them offer tours .

Lakefront Brewery

It's safe to say that Lakefront's is the most fun. I got there an hour early, riding my bike from downtown past the old Schlitz brewery and through the rejuvenated Beerline B neighborhood. Already, 15 people were in line for the 1 p.m. tour.

At 12:35 p.m., we showed our IDs and were ushered inside a cavernous hall, where we got a plastic glass, four coupons for beer and a voucher for a free beer that afternoon at one of 13 restaurants.

I could see that some serious drinking lay ahead, so I bought a slice of Meglio's pizza to have with a glass of the Rendezvous Ale, a French country ale that was light but more substantial than New Glarus' popular Spotted Cow, a Wisconsin farmhouse ale.

That went down pretty easily, so I followed it with a glass of Wheat Monkey, which our guide, Joe, said was "flying off the shelves."

Standing in front of three fermentation tanks painted with the images of the Three Stooges, Joe told us the only rule at Lakefront is to have a good time.

"There's always someone who's been here as many times as I have, and the reason is what we have in our hand, it's the beer," he said. "Okay, who's been here 25 times? 35 times? More than 100?"

He told us about the home-brewing kit that started it all and claimed that the city sold the current brewery, an old power plant, to the Klisch brothers in return for "free beer for life."

The brewing process is basically the same everywhere: In the mash tun, grain is steeped in hot water. After the grain is strained out, the resulting wort is boiled and hops are added. It's cooled and sent to fermenting tanks, where yeast is added.

But at Lakefront, Joe explained what the yeast does after it devours the sugars in the wort: "It does what we do when we eat too much. The yeast is going to poop-poop out alcohol and carbon dioxide, which creates carbonation. Then it reproduces with itself and parties."

The used-up grain, he said, is fed to worms, whose waste becomes organic fertilizer. For good measure, he added that the cups from which we were drinking were made from old plastic bags and diapers and also will be composted.

Yum! But no one stopped drinking.

Then Joe showed us the original Bernie Brewer's Chalet from the old County Stadium, which the Klisches bought as a souvenir. He pointed to its famous slide.

"Bernie would only slide down it when the Brewers hit a home run, so of course it's in perfect shape," he cracked.

In the bottling room, Joe made us sing "Making Our Dreams Come True," the theme song from "Laverne and Shirley," the TV sitcom that was based in the fictional Schotz Brewery in Milwaukee and ran from 1975 to 1983: "Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!"

"If you don't sing, we'll send you out that exit door, and that way there's no more beers," he warned.

But I made it onto the sunny riverside patio where tour guests can spend as much time as they want, using up their coupons and watching the Brew City Queen II tour boat chug up and down the river between Lakefront and two brewpubs, the Milwaukee Ale House and Rock Bottom Brewery.

I only had room for one more beer, so I tried the Riverwest Stein amber lager, which Joe said was the brewery's most popular.

"People think it's too dark, but then they taste it," he said. I could see why the brewery is so popular. Its beers are deceptively mild, pleasing to most palates yet packed with flavor.

© Milwaukee Parks

Sprecher Brewery

At Sprecher, the beers are as chewy as a slice of multigrain bread. Started in 1985 by Randal Sprecher, a former Pabst supervisor, it takes the Belgian view that beer is the bread of life.

And sure enough, on the tour, we got up close and personal with the ingredients, smelling hops pellets and tasting barley-malt grains -- yum, just like a bowl of Grape-Nuts.

Brewmasters can tinker with the beer at many points. Corn, rice or wheat can be used as grains along with various barley malts, which, when roasted, give beer color and flavor-of coffee, caramel or chocolate, for example.

The type of hops used gives it aroma, and its bitterness balances the sweetness of the malt. Like Lakefront, one of Sprecher's bestsellers is a Viennese-style lager, the Special Amber.

Its flavors span the globe-in addition to its German-style Black Bavarian and Hefe Weiss, it also produces the Belgian Abbey Triple, Irish Stout and Austrian-style Radlers.

Ironically, for the first Milwaukee brewery to open since Prohibition, Sprecher is just as well known for its delectable sodas, which are ubiquitous in gourmet delis.

On this brewery tour, you're likely to drink just as much of its root beer and cream soda, and it makes seven other soft drinks, including Orange Dream, Grape and Cherry Cola.

MolsonCoors

And then there's the MolsonCoors brewery tour. It's just as popular as the other two, because more people still drink Miller Lite than craft beers.

When I went, it was only 11 a.m. on a chilly Saturday, and already 94 people were gunning for a taste of High Life.

"Now, you all signed the Enthusiasm Clause before going on the tour," shouted a peppy young guide named Ryan. "So I'll be assessing your enthusiasm to see if you get the free samples."

We had gathered in Miller Valley, along the Menomonee River, to hear the story of Frederick Miller, a royal brewmaster in Germany who had New World-size ambitions.

One day, he packed up his yeast and decamped to America, where, in 1855, he bought a small brewery in Milwaukee. Miller not only knew how to make beer, he knew how to make people want to drink beer.

Over the years, he and his sons gave social cachet to a workingman's beverage. They opened a beer garden and used catchy slogans — for High Life, it was "the Champagne of Bottle Beers," winner of a 1903 contest — and symbols, such as the Girl in the Moon, a coy damsel perched on a crescent.

Thus Miller beers became part of the fabric of Milwaukee, and the city's beautiful new ball park bears its name.

The nice family success story grinds to a halt in 1969, when Miller was acquired by tobacco giant Philip Morris. In 2002, South African Brewing bought it, and in 2008, it merged with Coors. In 2016, the Belgian multinational InBev acquired SABMiller, which then sold its stake in MillerCoors to Molson Coors.

Today, it's a little hard to work up much enthusiasm for a global conglomerate that's best known for making Miller Lite and 30 other brands of American-style pilsener.

The tour include a flashy video, but it's as insubstantial as the beer. We looked through a glassed-in balcony at a room full of machinery and got a dizzying 30-second explanation of brewing as we looked at a row of kettles.

However, the Caves Museum and wood-paneled Miller Inn pub, where we drank our samples, were quite atmospheric.

They should be, considering the brewery's age and history. Even if a tour guide's explanation of the brewing process makes your eyes glaze over, the story behind the beer always is interesting.

For more on breweries in southern Wisconsin, see Road trip: Breweries of southern Wisconsin .

For a list of beer festivals, see Best brew fests .

Trip Tips: Milwaukee brewery tours

Be sure to bring photo identification; otherwise, you might end up drinking root beer.

Events: Milwaukee Beer Week , with sampling and other events across town.

Riverwalk Boat Tours : On Saturdays, the Brew City Queen II or Milwaukee Maiden pontoon boats offer a 3 Pub cruise.

Lakefront Brewery : On the Milwaukee River just north of downtown, Lakefront Brewery's daily tour is very popular. Tour hours vary. All Saturday tickets are sold online; for other days, 15 tickets are first-come, first-served.

Cost is $8-$11, including a pint glass, four 6-ounce pours and a free beer at local restaurants, good only until 6 p.m. that day.

Sprecher Brewing Co. : In the suburb of Glendale, Sprecher brews artisan beers and sodas. Tour hours vary, but generally there are at least two tours on weekday afternoons and more from Friday through Sunday; check the schedule.

Cost is $8, $5 for people under 21, and includes a tasting glass and four samples. Reserve online or call 414-964-2739.

Milwaukee Brewing Co. : Now with two breweries, one in the Walker's Point neighborhood and one in part of the old Pabst Brewery complex, it supplies the beer for the Milwaukee Ale House in the Third Ward.

Both breweries offer tours, Saturdays at the original 2nd Street Brewery in Walker's Point and Fridays through Sundays at the 9th Street Brewery near Fiserv Forum. Cost of $12 includes a pint glass, samples and a token for a beer at a later time.

Miller Brewery (MolsonCoors): One-hour tours are given daily in summer and Monday through Saturday the rest of the year. It's no longer free; cost is $10, $5 for Wisconsin residents with state-issued ID.

Walk in or reserve in advance, 414-931-2337 or 800-944-5483. Saturday is busiest, though visitors won't see production that day. The plant is along the Menomonee River, west of downtown and just south of Washington Park.

Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery : This event center offers Beer History Tours that include a 16-ounce Pabst or Schlitz, $10.

For more about sightseeing, festivals and lodgings, see Milwaukee stories .

Where to drink beer

Great bars and brewpubs are legion. But one of the most popular places to drink in the summer is Estabrook Beer Garden in Estabrook Park, on the Milwaukee River and Oak Leaf Trail north of downtown.

Modeled on beer gardens in modern-day Munich, it features German beer served in half- and full-liter glass mugs, shared tables, polka music and fresh-baked German pretzels and wurst.

People also can bring their own food, and dogs are allowed. In the park, there's a dog park, disc golf and a riverfront boardwalk.

There are also beer gardens in Humboldt, Hoyt and South Shore parks. Others parks are served by a traveling beer truck from Sprecher Brewing. There's live music at each of the stops from Wednesday through Saturday.

In Glendale, the Bavarian Bier Haus has a large beer garden. On the four weekends after Labor Day, it hosts the annual Oktoberfest in adjoining Old Heidelberg Park.

Where to stay

The 90-suite Brewhouse Inn & Suites now occupies parts of the 1877 Pabst Brewery. It's built of Cream City brick and is the centerpiece of the new Brewery neighborhood around the 20-acre complex.

Getting around

It's easiest by bike. Not far from Schlitz Park, the paved, 3.7-mile Beerline Trail heads north on the west side of the Milwaukee River, passing Lakefront Brewery. The trail is lined with murals and public art.

• Plan A Trip
• Privacy Policy
• Events Policy
• Advertising

© Beth Gauper, 2007 - all rights reserved

Your browser does not support our events calendar page. Please consider an update.

Best Milwaukee Brewery Tours – Local Favorites for Visitors

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I (The Winding Road Tripper) earn from qualifying purchases.  Read more . 

Featured Image Courtesy of Lakefront Brewing .

Welcome to Milwaukee, also known as “Brew City,” – where the beer flows like the Milwaukee River (only drinkable 🙂)

With Milwaukee’s rich brewing history that includes big names like Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz, it’s no wonder Milwaukee has earned its reputation as a beer lover’s paradise. 

But it’s not just the big names that make Milwaukee special. Over 25 craft breweries call Milwaukee home, each with a unique style and flavor.

And what better way to experience all this deliciousness than with a brewery tour? Whether you’re a beer connoisseur or simply like to enjoy a cold one a brewery tour is one of the best things to do in Milwaukee .

Over the years, we’ve been on quite a few brewery tours. Sometimes just for fun. And sometimes to show visiting friends and family how amazing the city of Milwaukee is. 

Unfortunately, since Covid, the number of brewery tours available has decreased. But don’t worry, the best ones are still around. 

So, here is a list of our favorite brewery tours in Milwaukee for you to explore. We’ll also include a list of available brewery tours, a few beer history tours, and tours where you’ll be guided through the city, stopping at multiple breweries.

Let’s grab a pint or two and dive in!

Related Post: Best Milwaukee Tours: Top Picks for Visitors

List of Brewery Tours in Milwaukee

Best brewery tours in milwaukee, lakefront brewery.

Length: 45 min

# of Tastings: 4 – 8oz pours

If you can take only one brewery tour while in Milwaukee, Lakefront Brewery is what you are looking for. 

Lakefront Brewery has been a Milwaukee staple since 1987. Founded by two beer-loving brothers, Russ and Jim Klisch, Lakefront Brewery has been bringing joy to Milwaukee with their delicious brews and fun atmosphere.

Not only do they have something for everyone (even those avoiding gluten), but their flagship beer, Riverwest Stein , is so popular it’s in almost every bar in Milwaukee. 

But let’s be real. The best part of Lakefront Brewery is the tour. It’s like a 45-minute party, complete with fun facts, jokes, and of course, beer. You’ll get to sample four- 8oz pours of their finest brews and even take home a souvenir pint glass.

And if you ask most beer-loving Milwaukeans, they’ll tell you they’ve been on the Lakefront Brewery tour several times. It’s perfect for entertaining visitors. And even without visitors, the tour is simply a good old time shared with beer-loving friends. 

Before or after the tour, don’t forget to hit up their beer hall for some delicious grub. And if you are lucky enough to be there on a Friday, their fish fry is one of the best in town. 

If you aren’t hungry, take some time to bask in the beauty of their outdoor patio along the Milwaukee Riverfront. 

The Lakefront Brewery Tour is a must-do for any Milwaukee resident or visitor. 

Related Post: Best Craft Breweries in Milwaukee: As Rated by a Local Beer-lover

Miller Brewing

Length: 1 hour

# of Tastings: 3 tastings

Touring a small craft brewery is fun, but seeing the enormous scale of a major brewery like Miller Brewing is an experience you won’t want to miss. 

Walking through Miller Valley is like taking a stroll through beer heaven. From the old-school charm of the Miller Inn to the high-tech brewing facilities, you’ll see it all on this guided walking tour.

And of course, it’s not a Milwaukee tour without a beer in hand, so you’ll start with a cold one. Hey, it’s Wisconsin, what did you expect?

But the real highlight of the tour is the underground Miller caves. These things are so cool they’ll give you chills (literally). Plus, you’ll get to see the historic Bavarian-style Miller Inn and the ginormous modern operations of the Brew House, Packaging, and Distribution Centers.

All in all, the Miller Brewery Tour is a must-do for any beer lover visiting Milwaukee. It’ll leave you with a newfound appreciation for Milwaukee’s rich beer history. 

One-day in Milwaukee: Itinerary Suggestions From a Local

Beer History Tours

Best place beer history tour.

Length: 1 – 1.5 hours

# of Tastings: 1 pint

If you’re a history buff who loves a good brew, the Best Place Beer History Tour is the bee’s knees . Trust us, it’s not your typical snooze-fest.

To kick things off, you’ll get a refreshing beer or soda. Then, get ready for a quick video on the history of Best Brewery, which later became the iconic Pabst Brewery.

The tour takes you through some of the remaining buildings that once made up the Pabst Brewery complex, and let me tell you, the folks at Best Place have done an amazing job restoring them. It’s like stepping back in time, but with better beer.

And don’t miss your chance to sit at Captain Pabst’s desk in the main wedding hall. You might just feel like a captain yourself (no judgment here).

But let’s be real, the show’s real stars are the tour guides. They’re witty, funny, and know their stuff when it comes to the story of Pabst beer. You’ll learn all about how it rose to fame, fell from grace, and then made a triumphant comeback to become the beloved brand it is today.

So, come for the beer, stay for the history, and soak up the friendly Gemütlichkeit. This tour is a must-do for anyone looking for an entertaining and educational experience. Prost!

Where to Stay in Milwaukee – A Locally Curated Guide

Pabst Mansion Length: 1 hour

If you’re looking for a true taste of German Milwaukee , look no further than the Pabst Mansion. It’s the real deal, y’all.

This preserved 1890s Gilded Age Mansion is a must-visit for anyone who loves history and beer (which, let’s be honest, is basically everyone in Milwaukee).

Once home to Captain Pabst, his wife, and a whopping 10 children (though only 5 made it to adulthood), this place is steeped in history. And we’re not talking about the boring kind of history you snoozed through in school. We’re talking juicy details that will make you feel like you’re part of the Pabst family.

Now, you can do a self-guided tour, but we highly recommend the guided tour. Why? Because the tour guides are passionate about the history, and they’ll give you all the deets you wouldn’t get on a self-guided tour.

The guided tour takes you through the first through third floors of the mansion and shares everything you could want to know about the Pabst Mansion, the Pabst family, and the incredible architecture and furnishings of the home. Trust us, you won’t want to miss this.

So, come get your history and beer fix all in one place at the Pabst Mansion. It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in the German Milwaukee experience.

Multiple Brewery Tours

Fun beer tours.

Length of Tour: 2.5 – 3 hours

Alright, beer-loving friends, I’ve got the inside scoop on one of Milwaukee’s best-kept secrets : Fun Beer Tours. These tours are truly a one-of-a-kind experience. 

Fun Beer Tours keeps its prices low by letting you choose your own drinks and snacks. That way, you can customize your experience and try all the beers your heart desires. And for all the non-drinkers out there, you won’t have to pay for someone else’s suds.

And can we talk about the options? Fun Beer Tours has tours that cater to every interest. Whether you’re all about the beer or want to learn some Milwaukee history too, they’ve got you covered.

Choose from the “Beer is Famous Tour” or the “Beer + Everything Else Tour” and prepare to have a blast. You can even ask them to create a specialized tour for a group outing like a bachelor or bachelorette party. 

But the real star of the show is your guide, Paul. He’s not just a beer history buff, he’s a craft brewery co-founder, collector of historic brewery artifacts, and a 30-year history teacher. Let’s just say he knows his stuff.

So, if you’re looking for a fun and unique way to experience Milwaukee’s beer culture, Fun Beer Tours is the way to go. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Milwaukee Food and City Tours: Craft Brewery and Distillery Tour

Length of Tour: 3.5-4 hours

The Craft Brewery and Distillery Tour is all about discovering new craft brews and spirits before they hit the mainstream. So if you want to hit multiple establishments in the comfort of a bus, this tour is for you.

The tour lasts between 3.5 to 4 hours, with 4-5 stops at some of Milwaukee’s finest breweries and distilleries. It’s the perfect way to explore the local scene and support our city’s up-and-coming stars. While learning a bit along the way.

So, if you’re looking for a fun and authentic way to experience Milwaukee’s craft brewery and distillery scene, Milwaukee Food and City Tours is another way to go.

More Milwaukee Content Cool Hotels in Milwaukee for a Memorable Visit Best Things to Do in Milwaukee Best Cheap Eats in Milwaukee Best Hotels in Milwaukee with Hot Tubs in the Room

More Milwaukee Content: Best Things to Do in Milwaukee Best Cheap Eats in Milwaukee Cool Hotels In Milwaukee

Lost In Milwaukee

Brewing Excellence on Milwaukee’s Waterfront: A Dive into the World of Lakefront Brewery

Laura Williams

Updated on: December 23, 2023

Welcome to the vibrant world of Lakefront Brewery, an iconic establishment gracing the picturesque waterfront of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Steeped in rich history and founded in 1987 by brothers Russ and Jim Klisch, Lakefront Brewery has evolved into a beacon of craft beer excellence. From its humble origins, nestled in the remnants of a coal yard, the brewery has flourished into a must-visit destination for locals and beer enthusiasts alike.

At the heart of Lakefront Brewery’s allure lies a commitment to brewing that transcends the ordinary. As we embark on this exploration, we’ll uncover the brewery’s fascinating journey, navigating the challenges faced by its founders and witnessing the passion that propelled them forward. The story unfolds against the backdrop of Milwaukee’s brewing landscape, showcasing how Lakefront Brewery has become a dynamic force within Wisconsin’s rich beer culture.

What sets Lakefront Brewery apart is not just its compelling history but the distinctive range of beers that beckon visitors to indulge in a sensory experience. From classic lagers to daring experimental ales, each brew is a testament to the brewery’s dedication to quality ingredients and innovative brewing techniques. Join us as we delve into the artistry behind these carefully crafted beverages, understanding what makes Lakefront Brewery a beacon of creativity and taste in the craft beer scene.

Beyond the brews, Lakefront Brewery invites patrons to embark on immersive brewery tours, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the beer-making process. These tours are more than just informative; they are a lively blend of humor, history, and of course, plenty of beer tasting. As we navigate the brewery’s riverside location, we’ll explore the unique atmosphere that defines Lakefront Brewery and sets it apart as a destination where beer enthusiasts can savor the essence of Milwaukee’s brewing heritage.

To learn about previous visitors experience check TripAdvisor here (Affiliate Link) If you are looking for a tour, check Viator’s Sip of Milwaukee Guided Brewery Tour with Snack (Affiliate Link)

Table of Contents

History and roots.

Lakefront Brewery’s compelling narrative is deeply rooted in the history and entrepreneurial spirit of its founders, Russ and Jim Klisch. In 1987, these visionary brothers transformed a dilapidated Milwaukee coal yard into the foundation of what would become a craft beer empire. Fueled by a passion for brewing and a desire to contribute to the city’s brewing legacy, the Klisch brothers embarked on a journey that would redefine Milwaukee’s beer landscape.

The brewery’s early days were not without challenges. From navigating the intricacies of brewing to transforming an industrial space into a haven for beer enthusiasts, the Klisch brothers faced numerous hurdles. However, their determination and commitment to quality paved the way for success. Today, Lakefront Brewery stands as a testament to the Klisch brothers’ audacious endeavor, a triumph that has left an indelible mark on the city’s brewing culture.

As we delve into Lakefront Brewery’s history, it becomes evident that its roots are intertwined with the broader narrative of Milwaukee’s brewing heritage. The brewery pays homage to tradition while embracing innovation, creating a dynamic fusion that resonates with both seasoned beer aficionados and newcomers to the craft beer scene. The story of Lakefront Brewery is not merely a tale of beer; it’s a testament to the resilience of visionaries who, against the odds, transformed a forgotten space into a cornerstone of Milwaukee’s cultural and culinary identity.

Distinctive Brews

Lakefront Brewery stands as a bastion of brewing excellence, and its allure is undeniably anchored in its diverse and distinctive range of brews. The brewery’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of flavor and style is palpable in every sip, making it a haven for those seeking an unparalleled beer experience.

At the heart of Lakefront Brewery’s offerings are its meticulously crafted beers, ranging from timeless classics to avant-garde creations. The brewery’s flagship and seasonal selections showcase a masterful blend of tradition and innovation. Whether you’re a fan of crisp and refreshing lagers or inclined towards bold and experimental ales, Lakefront Brewery has something to tantalize every palate.

The brewmasters at Lakefront Brewery are artisans, weaving a tapestry of flavors using only the finest ingredients. Each beer is a labor of love, a testament to the brewery’s dedication to quality and its relentless pursuit of perfection. Dive into the world of Lakefront Brewery, and you’ll encounter a symphony of tastes – from the balanced notes of their traditional brews to the bold and unexpected flavors found in their limited-edition releases.

The brewery’s commitment to diversity goes beyond the confines of conventional brewing. It’s an invitation to explore, to savor, and to appreciate the nuanced artistry that defines Lakefront Brewery. As you embark on a tasting journey, you’ll discover that Lakefront Brewery isn’t just a place to enjoy a beer; it’s a destination where each glass tells a story, a story of craftsmanship, creativity, and an unyielding passion for the art of brewing.

Brewery Tours and Experiences

Lakefront Brewery doesn’t just offer beer; it provides an immersive experience that goes beyond the pint glass. One of the brewery’s standout features is its captivating brewery tours, inviting visitors to step behind the scenes and witness the magic of beer-making in action.

These tours are not your typical brewery walkthroughs; they are lively, entertaining journeys filled with humor, history, and, of course, ample opportunities for beer tasting. Led by passionate guides, the tours at Lakefront Brewery offer a unique blend of education and entertainment, making them accessible and enjoyable for both seasoned beer enthusiasts and casual visitors.

Participants get a firsthand look at the brewing process, from the selection of quality ingredients to the intricate steps of crafting each batch. The tour seamlessly weaves in the brewery’s rich history, providing context to the evolving beer culture in Milwaukee. Engaging anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories add a personal touch, making the experience not just informative but also entertaining.

The brewery’s riverside location further enhances the tour experience. The scenic backdrop contributes to the overall ambiance, creating an atmosphere that resonates with the essence of the city. Visitors can soak in the views as they sample a variety of Lakefront’s finest brews, creating memories that extend beyond the tasting room.

For those seeking a deeper connection to the brewing process, Lakefront Brewery offers VIP experiences and private tours. These personalized encounters provide a more intimate exploration of the brewery, allowing participants to interact with the brewmasters, ask questions, and gain a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship behind each brew.

In essence, Lakefront Brewery’s tours and experiences embody the brewery’s commitment to not just sharing their beer but creating lasting memories for all who venture through their doors. It’s an invitation to savor the story behind the brews, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow beer enthusiasts, and immerse oneself in the vibrant world of craft beer on Milwaukee’s waterfront.

Community Engagement

Beyond the artistry of brewing, Lakefront Brewery stands as a steadfast pillar in Milwaukee’s community, actively engaging with and contributing to the city’s social fabric. At the core of the brewery’s philosophy is a commitment to fostering meaningful connections, not just within the craft beer scene but also within the broader community.

Lakefront Brewery’s dedication to community engagement is evident through its involvement in local initiatives and partnerships with neighboring businesses. The brewery serves as a catalyst for collaboration, working hand-in-hand with the community to support and uplift the city that has been integral to its own story. Whether it’s participating in neighborhood events, supporting local charities, or collaborating with nearby artisans, Lakefront Brewery takes pride in being an active contributor to the vibrancy of Milwaukee.

Sustainability is a key focus of Lakefront Brewery’s community-driven initiatives. The brewery strives to minimize its environmental impact, implementing eco-friendly practices and championing responsible brewing. This commitment extends beyond the brewing process to various aspects of the business, showcasing a holistic approach to sustainability that resonates with environmentally conscious consumers.

Moreover, Lakefront Brewery serves as a gathering place, a hub where locals and visitors converge to share stories, laughter, and, of course, great beer. The brewery’s riverside location adds an extra layer to its community appeal, providing a scenic backdrop for events and creating a welcoming atmosphere for patrons to connect and build lasting memories.

In essence, Lakefront Brewery’s community engagement efforts go beyond the transactional nature of business. It’s a demonstration of the brewery’s belief in the power of community, emphasizing that the joy of craft beer is not only found in the brews themselves but also in the shared experiences and connections forged within the vibrant tapestry of Milwaukee’s diverse and dynamic community.

Nearby Attractions

Nestled along the scenic waterfront of Milwaukee, Lakefront Brewery not only offers a captivating beer experience but also provides visitors with convenient access to a plethora of nearby attractions. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of this dynamic city by exploring the diverse range of activities and landmarks that await just a stone’s throw away from the brewery.

• Milwaukee Art Museum: Just a short stroll from Lakefront Brewery, the iconic Milwaukee Art Museum beckons art enthusiasts with its striking architecture and impressive collection, featuring works that span centuries and continents.
• Discovery World: Dive into the wonders of science, technology, and freshwater ecosystems at Discovery World, an interactive science museum located nearby. Perfect for families and curious minds, this attraction promises a day of educational fun.
• Historic Third Ward: Experience the charm of the Historic Third Ward, a bustling neighborhood filled with boutique shops, art galleries, and a vibrant culinary scene. Stroll along cobbled streets and discover the unique character of this revitalized historic district.
• Milwaukee Public Market: Indulge your taste buds at the Milwaukee Public Market, a culinary haven featuring local vendors offering an array of fresh produce, artisanal goods, and international cuisine. A feast for the senses awaits just a short drive from the brewery.
• Pabst Theater: For those with a penchant for the performing arts, the historic Pabst Theater is a cultural gem hosting a variety of live performances, including concerts, plays, and comedy shows. Check the schedule for an enriching evening of entertainment.
• Harley-Davidson Museum: Motorcycle enthusiasts will find paradise at the Harley-Davidson Museum , a short drive from Lakefront Brewery. Immerse yourself in the history of this iconic American brand through exhibits, interactive displays, and a collection of legendary motorcycles.
• Milwaukee Riverwalk: Take a leisurely stroll along the Milwaukee Riverwalk, offering picturesque views, charming bridges, and a plethora of cafes and shops. This scenic urban trail provides a delightful way to explore the city’s waterfront and unwind after a brewery visit.

As we draw the curtains on our exploration of Lakefront Brewery, it becomes evident that this Milwaukee gem is more than just a place to savor exceptional craft beer. It’s a testament to the resilience of visionaries, the artistry of brewing, and the vibrant spirit of community. The brewery’s roots, firmly embedded in the city’s history, have grown into a dynamic establishment that not only brews outstanding beers but also fosters connections and memories that linger far beyond the last sip.

Lakefront Brewery invites visitors to embark on a journey – one that spans from the riveting tales of its founders to the distinctive brews that beckon adventurous palates. The immersive brewery tours, filled with humor and history, provide a deeper understanding of the craft, while the brewery’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement cements its role as a cornerstone of Milwaukee’s cultural identity. Whether you’re a seasoned beer enthusiast, a curious traveler, or a local looking for a vibrant escape, Lakefront Brewery stands as a testament to the art, passion, and camaraderie that define the world of craft brewing. So, come raise a glass along the waterfront, where each sip tells a story and every visit leaves an indelible mark on the tapestry of Milwaukee’s brewing heritage.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

most recent

Discovering natural wonders: a journey through schlitz audubon nature center, home run at miller park: exploring the heart of milwaukee’s baseball fervor, things to do, timeless elegance: exploring the rich heritage of villa terrace decorative arts museum, harmony in the heartland: unveiling the cultural tapestry of milwaukee’s marcus performing arts center, unveiling wonders: exploring the marvels of discovery world, exploring wonder: unveiling the magic of learning at betty brinn children’s museum.

Cubiclefreed LLC

30 N Gould St, Ste R Sheridan, WY 82801

© 2024 INFO

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. You can learn more about our editorial policies  here .

Hop Head Tours

Beer & Brewery Tours

Milwaukee Bus Brewery Tours

Start your BEERCATION off right by joining us for our Milwaukee bus tours! Every small group tour includes “Beer Capital of the World” history narration while enjoying a driving tour of Pabst, Blatz and Schlitz breweries on our comfortable 14 passenger bus. Each tour itinerary includes three stops that include history, tours, tastings and/or samplings at local craft or historic breweries, distilleries and related attractions. Our well trained, passionate and friendly Tour Ambassadors will curate your experience throughout the day making sure you feel like you’ve really gotten to know the “Beer Capital of the World!”

Come on out and join us for our new Milwaukee bus tours! We’re launching our Milwaukee expansion with two new and unique tour offerings. We’ll show you around the beer sights with our comfortable 14 passenger bus with three stops on each including tours, tastings, and samplings. Our friendly and knowledgeable Tour Ambassadors will usher you through the tour with commentary on beer history and Milwaukee’s German brewing heritage.

Milwaukee Beer Experience Tour

$65.00 DETAILS, DATES and TO MAKE RESERVATIONS

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays

12:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Departs Lakefront Brewery at 1872 Commerce Street, Milwaukee WI.

Get the full experience of the “Beer Capital of the World” on this special tour! Enjoy history narration on the bus as we visit the sites of the old Beer Barons including a stop for a tour at the Best Place at Pabst Brewery. You’ll be led on a history tour of one of the former largest breweries in the world with a pint of beer in hand. Back on the bus and we’ll head to Good City Brewing or Milwaukee Ale House where our Tour Ambassador will lead you on a guided beer tasting exploring the origins of historic beer styles that they brew. From there, we’ll take you to Lakefront Brewery for their famous, and hilarious, brewery tour with sampling throughout and a souvenir pint glass to take home. You’ll finish the tour just in time for their Friday Night Fish Fry!

Beer Titans History Bus Tour

$55.00 DETAILS, DATES and TO MAKE RESERVATIONS

Discover the German brewing heritage Milwaukee has deep in it’s veins. Lakefront Brewery, at the foot of Brewer’s Hill, is the departure point every Friday. We’ll visit some historic beer sights before arriving at the Best Place at Pabst Brewery for their history tour. When you’ve finished your pint and the tour is over, we’ll head to our next tour at Miller Brewing Co. which covers the brewing process, Miller’s history and a beer tasting. We’ll depart Miller for a visit to a few more sights before finishing off the tour at the Brown Bottle Bar and Restaurant at the Schlitz Brewing complex for a pint, appetizers and history discussion. You’ll be dropped off at Lakefront Brewery after getting your fill of history so you can get with the times and try some local craft beer!

Suds and Spirits Bus Tour

Hop on the bus to experience Milwaukee’s blossoming craft beer and spirits scene! We’ll pick you up at Lakefront Brewery, at the foot of Brewer’s Hill, and start off the tour with a few history sights. Our first stop, Milwaukee Ale House, features our knowledgeable Tour Ambassador leading you through a guided beer tasting and a tour of their brewing facility. We’ll depart the 3rd Ward for a short drive to the 5th Ward, which is blowing up with beer and spirits! Next, you’ll get a cocktail, tour and tasting at Great Lakes Distillery. From there, we’ll head down the road to Brenner Brewing Co. for your choice of a pint of beer or 3 sample flight. After you’ve had your fill of local beer and spirits, we’ll drop you off at Lakefront Brewery where you can enjoy the rest of your afternoon sippin’ on their wonderful beer and who knows, maybe even order their famous cheese curds!

Lakefront Brewery

Well-loved Lakefront Brewery, across the river from Brady St, has afternoon tours, but the swellest time to visit is on Friday night when there's a fish fry, 16 beers to try and a polka band letting loose. Tour times vary throughout the week, but there's usually at least a 2pm and 3pm walk-through (and often many more).

1872 N Commerce St

Get In Touch

414-372-8800

https://www.lakefrontbrewery.com

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Harley-Davidson Museum

Hundreds of motorcycles show the styles through the decades, including the flashy rides of Elvis and Evel Knievel. You can sit in the saddle of various…

Milwaukee Art Museum

You have to see this lakeside institution, which features a stunning winglike addition by Santiago Calatrava. It soars open and closed every day at 10am,…

SC Johnson Administration Building & Research Tower

24.21 MILES

Frank Lloyd Wright designed several buildings at the company's headquarters. Free 90-minute tours take in the 1939 Admin Building, a magnificent space…

19.85 MILES

Wingspread is the house Frank Lloyd Wright designed for HF Johnson Jr, one of the SC Johnson company's leaders. It is the last and largest of Wright's…

Harley-Davidson Plant

13.21 MILES

Hog-heads can get a fix at the plant where engines are built, in suburban Menomonee Falls. The factory offers several options for tours, including a…

Miller Brewing Company

Founded in 1855, the historic Miller facility preserves Milwaukee's beer legacy. Join the legions lined up for the free, hour-long tours. Though the mass…

American Black Holocaust Museum

This museum aims to tell the story of what it calls the 'Black Holocaust' – which includes the slave trade from Africa, slavery in the American South, the…

Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin

The city's lakefront science and technology museum is primarily a kid-pleaser, with freshwater and saltwater aquariums (where you can touch sharks and…

Nearby Milwaukee attractions

1 . American Black Holocaust Museum

2 . Bronze Fonz

Rumor has it the Bronze Fonz, just south of Wells St downtown, is the most photographed sight in Milwaukee. The Fonz, aka Arthur Fonzarelli, was a…

3 . Milwaukee Art Museum

4 . Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin

5 . Lakefront Park

The parkland edging Lake Michigan is prime for walking, cycling and inline skating. Also here is Bradford Beach, which is good for swimming and lounging.

6 . Harley-Davidson Museum

7 . Miller Brewing Company

8 . Harley-Davidson Plant

OceansAfoot

We Take Tours For You

• Canary Islands
• Itineraries
• Massachusetts
• Netherlands
• Panama Canal
• United States

Lakefront Brewery Tour

Lakefront Brewery

Origins of lakefront brewery, from a homebrew to an established brewery, expansions and milestones, inside the brewing process, a nod to sports culture, transitioning to modern times, community engagement, legacy of lakefront brewery.

1 hour guided tour Lakefront Brewery, 1872 N Commerce St, Milwaukee, WI 53212

Our evening kicked off at 7 pm, with a tour of Lakefront Brewery, a Milwaukee landmark that is as famous for its beers as it is for its rich history. Leading us through this exploration was Justin, an engaging guide whose knowledge and passion for brewing were as clear as a well-poured pint.

The story of Lakefront Brewery dates back to the early 1980s, with two brothers at the heart of it – Russell J. Klisch and Jim Klisch, the latter who now serves as the CEO. The seeds of this brewing empire were sown in 1981 when Jim bought Russ a homebrewing kit as a birthday gift. Little did they know at the time, this modest gift would evolve into one of Milwaukee’s most beloved breweries.

After years of home brewing and perfecting their craft, the Klisch brothers officially founded Lakefront Brewery on December 2, 1987. The location they selected for their enterprise was an old bakery, a quirky choice that would soon become a core part of the brewery’s identity.

The brewery’s growth over the years has been nothing short of impressive. In 1996, they purchased a second building, an old coal-fired plant, for a mere $10,000. This unexpected bargain would prove instrumental in the expansion of the brewery’s operations and its capacity to produce more of its iconic beers.

Today, Lakefront Brewery produces an impressive 45,000 barrels of beer each year. From traditional lagers to innovative craft brews, the brewery continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in a pint glass.

As part of the tour, we had a brief look at the equipment that forms the backbone of the brewing process, offering a glimpse into the world of craft brewing. This peek behind the scenes was complemented by a mid-tour beer-pouring demonstration.

A distinctive element of Lakefront Brewery is the authentic Bernie Brewer’s Chalet, which integrates seamlessly into the brewery’s layout and can be prominently seen during the tour. Presently, it acts as a delightful symbol of the brewery’s ties to the local sports scene.

As we transitioned to the packaging area, our curiosity about the brewery’s operations deepened. We were introduced to the art of tapping a keg, and although the machinery lay dormant during our visit, the shift from bottles to cans was unmistakable.

Lakefront Brewery is embracing a new chapter with the installation of a modern canning line. Throughout our journey, we encountered cans featuring whimsical labels, showcasing the brewery’s playful spirit through humorous pokes at rivals and various personalities. This blend of tradition and innovation encapsulates the brewery’s unique charm, weaving the past with the present in a narrative that’s as engaging as it is refreshing.

Our exploration was shared with over 30 enthusiastic visitors, each drawn by the allure of Lakefront Brewery’s storied history and its acclaimed beers. The tour, lasting 45 minutes, offered a deep dive into the heart of this brewing titan, enriching our understanding of both the brewing process and Lakefront Brewery’s rich heritage.

From a simple home brewing kit to a renowned brewery, the journey of Lakefront Brewery is one of resilience, creativity, and a strong passion for brewing. The careful restoration of the bakery and the old coal-fired plant are testament to the Klisch brothers’ commitment to preserving the past while building a future. Their efforts have resulted in a brewery that is not just a production facility, but a living testament to Milwaukee’s brewing heritage.

Keep in mind, this isn’t your conventional factory tour focused on the detailed workings of equipment and the manufacturing process. Rather, it’s a lively, celebratory experience crafted to set the tone for festive beer enjoyment. If you’re searching for an in-depth technical overview, this might not be the tour for you.

Cruise Port:  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Tour Name:  Lakefront Brewery Tour

Tour Operator:  Lakefront Brewery

© OceansAfoot

Related Stories

North Point Lighthouse and Museum

Harley Davidson Museum and Beyond the Gate Tour

The East Troy Electric Railroad Museum

Directors Hidden Spaces Tour of Yerkes Observatory

Black Point Estate Tour on Lake Geneva

From Miller to Lakefront, here are 5 brewery tours to check out in Milwaukee

Milwaukee is known as Brew City for a reason. Once home to some of the country’s largest breweries — Pabst, Miller, Schlitz and Blatz — today the city builds on that legacy with a burgeoning craft beer scene.

Many breweries in the city offer a chance to get a closer look at their history and brewing process through brewery tours.

We set out to go on some of Milwaukee’s best known tours and see what makes them great.

For this list we considered breweries that hold weekly public tours. Many smaller breweries in Milwaukee host tours a few times a year, or allow groups to set up private tours.

From the best brewery tours for families (yes, families, because this is Wisconsin) to where you can learn the most about beer, here are five brewery tours to check out in Milwaukee.

Best for comedy: Lakefront Brewery

Our tour guide Sergio "Serg" Sepulveda provided brewery information and well-delivered jokes on our Lakefront Brewery tour, as is the norm for this spot. Every Lakefront Brewery tour I've been on has a guide who easily pulls laughs from the crowd and keeps everyone engaged.

The tour started in a private taproom where attendees grabbed a beer, one of four 6-ounce pours that were included on the tour, delivered via beer token. Serg gave a history lesson on brewing from its origins in Mesopotamia to when Lakefront's co-owner, Jim Klisch, made his first batch of Riverwest Stein. Serg followed that with the history of Lakefront, one of Milwaukee’s largest craft breweries.

Weekend tours go through the production facility and lead to the historic Bernie Brewer's chalet that was in the Brewers' old home, Milwaukee County Stadium. Since we were on a weekday tour, it skipped that portion and went straight to the brewery's new canning area.

While canning was a worthwhile shift from bottling for the brewery — cans are infinitely recyclable and are helping the brewery boost shipping efficiency by 50%, cutting down on carbon emissions — it did take away a cherished "Laverne and Shirley" bit from the tour. Previously, tour guides turned on the bottling line and would pick an attendee who would put a glove on a bottle as it moved down the line, like in the show's opening credits.

While the guide still played the show's theme song and got our group to sing and dance along, the bit no longer includes the glove part because the canning line does not turn on as fast. Sometimes the tour attendee who most enthusiastically sings and dances along gets an extra beer token.

The tour did still include the bung hole bit. Go on one yourself to find out what that is all about.

• Cost: $12 on weekdays, $15 on weekends; advance online purchase required; age 21 and older only unless supervised by a parent or legal guardian
• Hours: Starts on the hour noon to 3 p.m. Sunday and 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and on the half hour noon to 7 p.m. Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday
• What you get: Four 6-ounce pours, Lakefront pint glass or key chain, and a coupon for a free Lakefront beer to be used at nearby bars within three days
• Accessibility: The tour includes stairs, but there are ramps into the tour room and to the lower level for accessibility.
• Location: 1872 N. Commerce St.
• More information : lakefrontbrewery.com

Best mix of past and present: Miller Brewery Tour

I got to the Miller Brewery tour a little before 10:30 a.m., with the next available tour at 11 a.m. They are offered first-come, first-served on every half hour from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

While waiting, I checked out the connected gift shop and grabbed a complimentary bag of pretzels. I also learned about the history of the brewery from 1855 to today from a timeline that spans two full walls in the waiting area.

The tour started with the guides handing out a taster of Miller Lite while sharing information about the brewery in a theater room. It then moved outside for a three-block walk through the W. State St. campus to the brewing facility.

The only optional part of the tour was to climb 56 steps to view the tanks in the brewing facility where Molson Coors, Miller's parent company, makes beer for a 10-state region. The modern facility is across the street from the original brewhouse, visible from outside the brewing facility or after climbing the steps. The building was not part of the tour.

To cool off after walking in the brewing facility, which was hot in the upper level, the tour went underground to the historic caves that were created in the 1800s and sealed off in 1906. Frederick C. Miller, grandson of Miller founder Frederick J. Miller, reopened the caves in 1953, and they have been part of the tour ever since.

The caves were a unique view into how brewing was possible before electrical refrigeration, with tools that would have been used by brewers in the past.

The tour then went to a historical inn on campus that once sold Miller beer and had rooms for overnight guests; today it's used mostly for events. Fredrick C. Miller imported stained glass windows from Germany along with antique steins for the inn that are still there. It's also home to letters written by Fredrick J. Miller and a diorama of the current campus.

The tour wrapped up with stops at the bottling facility where 600,000 items are bottled daily and the warehouse where about 1 million cans and bottles of product are stored.

The tour ended at an outdoor beer garden where visitors could try various Molson Coors products for free.

• Cost: $10; free for ages 20 and under (no beer samples)
• Hours: Walk-ins only with limited space, running on the half hour from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday
• What you get: Four 4-ounce pours and a Miller glass
• Accessibility: The tour includes stairs, but accessible tours are available by calling (414) 931-3552 at least 24 hours in advance.
• Location: 4251 W. State St.
• More information : millerbrewerytour.com

5 breweries that made Milwaukee famous: Miller, Schlitz, Pabst, Gettelman and Blatz

Best for history: The Best Place at Pabst Brewing

This historic brewery doesn't actually brew in Milwaukee anymore, but the site where Pabst Brewery was founded is still worth checking out. Beer enthusiasts who take multiple tours on this list will also see Pabst’s influence in almost every one.

The tour stared in the historic brewing complex's Blue Ribbon Hall with a presentation on the history of the brewery and the option to enjoy a pint of Pabst or Schlitz, which is included in the ticket price.

The tour guide talked about how Pabst started as Jacob Best Brewery in 1844. Their original building on a historic plank road, today’s State Street, was sold to Fredrick J. Miller who started Miller Brewing.

The history lesson continued with a tour guide explaining how the brewery moved to the current campus, and how Captain Fredrick Pabst took over and grew the brewery to be the largest lager brewery in the world at one time.

From the main floor of the hall the tour moved to the balcony, while passing a section of the building that is being refurbished. Paystubs and letters on the wall on the way up showed the brewery's more recent history before it left Milwaukee in 1996.

The tour was peppered with interesting facts about the nearly 170-year-old brewery, like how Pabst did not want his name on the beer, and that the employee's union successfully bargained to get a free pint of beer per shift.

Next the tour moved to the Great Hall, which is not often open to the public but is popular as a wedding and event space.

It has stained glass, ornate wood finishes and Fredrick Pabst's original office. Below that is a speakeasy with a jail cell. According to our tour guide, it was for Pabst employees who may have had more than their single free beer during their shift and became drunk and unruly.

The tour then passed the courtyard which has a statue of King Gambrinus, the patron saint of beer, and ended in the guest center that has German saying along its walls.

• Cost: $14 for adults, $12 for students, military and seniors (age 60 and older); free for kids 13 and under
• Hours: On the hour at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Sunday; noon through 4 p.m. Friday; 12, 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday
• What is included: A pint of Pabst or Schlitz beer or soda, with $4 refills
• Accessibility : The tour includes stairs with elevators available for those who need assistance.
• Location: 917 W. Juneau Ave.
• More information : bestplacemilwaukee.com/tours

Best for learning about brewing: Pilot Project

This new Milwaukee brewery tour might not be on many people's radars yet. My co-worker and I went on a Friday at 6 p.m. and were the only ones on the tour. Regardless, our guide gave an informative and entertaining tour.

Chicago-based Pilot Project is new to Milwaukee after they moved into the former Milwaukee Brewing Company space in late 2022 . They are a brewery incubator, meaning they help start-up breweries get to market, assisting them with supplies, marketing, canning and more.  

I'm not sure if it was because there were only two of us, or because they don’t push a singular brand, but I learned the most about brewing on this tour.

The tour started at the back bar where we could sample one of the five breweries that are currently their partners. We then moved to the balcony of the back space for a slideshow of their current partners and more insight into their diverse lineup.

Next, the tour moved to the tanks where we got an up-close view of the hot water tanks used to make beer, including a peek into the mash tuns where ingredients are brewed.

From there we moved to the fermenting tanks where we got a better view of the warehouse and brewing equipment.

One interesting artifact hanging there is a large neon Pabst Brewery sign that was found in the building. Pilot Project's space was the last building Pabst Brewery constructed before they left in 1996. The large sign was once used at the Pabst-sponsored stage at Summerfest.

The tour then went through the canning facility and ended in cold storage where beer is stored along with a variety of supplies. There the tour guide spoke more about those supplies and the different varieties of yeast, hops and malts that go into making beers.

• Cost: $18, for ages 21 and up only
• Hours: 6 and 7:30 p.m. Friday; 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m. Saturday
• What's included: Five 5-ounce pours and tasting glass
• Accessibility : The tour includes stairs, with elevators available for those who need assistance.
• Location: 1128 N. Ninth St.
• More information : pilotprojectbrewing.com/milwaukee

Best for families: Sprecher Brewing

Sprecher Brewing is popular not only for its local brews, but also its non-alcoholic root beer and cream ale. While there are limits on the beers included in the tour, there is unlimited soda for all. Children on our tour excitedly cycled through the new sodas on tap at the bar. They even had flights of soda, like ones that are usually used for beer.

The beers and sodas were poured in the main hall where tour-goers waited.

The tour started with the guide giving a history of the brewery as it moved into a hallway with photos and trophies from the brewery's various awards. Randy Sprecher opened the brewery in 1985 after being a brewing operator at Pabst.

The guide explained how Sprecher was hesitant to get into soda production, which began with root beer in 1989. It was a good business move as root beer alone makes up 75% of their sales and beer only 10%.

The tour then went through the production facility. Our tour was on Thursday, which is the only day the tour goes through the facility while it is operating. Because of the loud machinery, it was sometimes hard to hear the tour guide. It was interesting, though, to see brewing in production and people moving ingredients from trucks to tanks.

The tour then returned to the main hall where people could resume drinking while learning about the bottling process. There was also the option to walk single-file into the canning facility to get a more up-close view, before returning the main hall to enjoy the rest of the free beer and soda.

• Cost: $12 for adults, $5 for ages 20 and under, free for ages 5 and under
• Hours: 2, 3 and 5 p.m. Thursday; 2, 3, 5 and 6 p.m. Friday; noon, 1 p.m. and on the hour 3 through 6 p.m. Saturday; on the hour noon through 4 p.m. Sunday
• What you get: Four 8-ounce pours, Sprecher pint glass, unlimited soda
• Accessibility : The tour does not include stairs and has space for wheelchair accessibility.
• Location: 701 W. Glendale Ave.
• More information : sprecherbrewery.com

Beer Near A guide to Wisconsin breweries

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

E-news Sign up

Stay up-to-date and in-the-know with everything MKE

Partner Portal

Login to manage your partnership account

Visitors Guide

Read great stories and find insider tips about Milwaukee

• Select language

• Search site Search for:

Main Office

Lakefront brewery, inc. 1872 n. commerce st. milwaukee, wi 53212.

(414) 372-8800

Restaurant/Fish Fry – Press 1 Brewery Tours – Press 2 Warehouse/Logistics – Press 3 Real Person – Press 4 Company Directory – Press 5

Press & Media

Looking for photos, logos, and other assets? View Media Kit

Distributors

Log into your distributor portal here. Visit Distributor Portal

Shipping & Returns

Curious about shipping? Need to return an item to us? View Store Policies

Sell Sheets

Get the details on all of our in-production beers. View Sell Sheets

Offer Us Some Feedback

Do you have a question you’d like to ask or comments you’d like to share with us? Send away! We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Russ Klisch

Brand Manager

Michael Stodola

Email Michael

Outside Sales Manager

Sales & marketing support.

Matt Krajnak

On-site Business Development

Dylan Mazurkiewicz

Email Dylan

Mike Walker

Chris Larson

Email Chris

Merchandise / Gift Shop / Donations

Liz Mauritz

Executive Chef

Kristin Hueneke

Email Kristin

Tour Manager

Sam Szymborski

Events Manager

Frequently asked questions.

Please note our hours for both the Beer Hall and the brewery in general are subject to change. It’s always a good idea to double-check we’re open before heading over on a whim.

Our busiest times are Friday nights (especially during Lent) and Saturdays all day.

Typical Brewery Hours: Monday–Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Typical Kitchen Hours: Monday–Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. + 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Yes, in general we do take reservations, but we do not accept reservations on Fridays after 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays at all, or after 5 p.m. during Lent.

Yes, we offer daily tours throughout the day as well as  technical  and  private tours .

And we like to think it’s pretty great! (As do  TripAdvisor,   Yelp,  and many satisfied customers!)

Minors are allowed on Lakefront premises only if their legal guardians accompany them at all times. Siblings, aunts/uncles, grandparents, older friends, etc. are not legal guardians. Not sure if you are someone’s legal guardian? You probably are not.

Lots—find a local watering hole or grocery store that peddles Lakefront products in the  Beer Finder.  We distribute all over Wisconsin and beyond.

So it goes, sadly. In addition to producing seasonal beers and limited release beers, we like to keep things fresh in the brewery, so sometimes we try out new beers, play with experimental ingredients, and retire others. Check out the Beer Graveyard to reminisce over a past beer love or see which brews have come and gone over the years.

Sometimes! Go to  Jobs  to find open positions in the Beer Hall.

Head over to our off-site distributor resources to access our media kit to get more information. Or, scroll back up to the top of this page to find Lakefront employees’ email addresses. For further assistance, call our general line at (414) 372-8800.

Check out all our shipping and store policies  here.

Yes, we offer a “donation pack” to organizations seeking donations.  Learn more here  or submit a request for a donation.

Lakefront Brewery

Let's see some id..

Are you at least 21 years old?

Before Luke Combs plays in front of the 'best fans' for his Milwaukee concerts this week, he tours Miller Brewery and even shotguns a beer

B efore Luke Combs kicks off his "Growin' Up and Gettin' Old" tour in Milwaukee this week, he went on another kind of tour. One that is quintessentially Brew City.

Combs, one of country music's biggest stars, is playing two shows at American Family Field : One Friday and another Saturday. But ahead of that, he took a tour of the Miller Brewery . And, we got to tag along.

Yes, he was every bit as kindhearted, down-to-earth and genuine as he seems. And yes, he shotgunned a beer just like he does on stage. Except this time, he was hanging out on a brewhouse rooftop with the iconic giant red Miller sign and the Milwaukee Brewers' ballpark as his backdrop.

Get daily updates on the Packers during the season.

Not only did Combs — a longtime Miller Lite fan and years-long partner — see where the magic happens, he also checked out the specialty packaging on cases and cans that's coming out in honor of his blockbuster tour.

"It's just surreal, you know?" Combs told the Journal Sentinel. "I feel like I get to live so many amazing, surreal moments. And, I'm really thankful for that for sure. It's crazy. It's crazy."

Here's what we learned about Combs' tour and what he got into on the Miller tour. And, how about his eight Academy of Country Music Awards nominations that were announced earlier this week? We asked him about those, too.

Luke Combs talks about his 'Growin' Up and Gettin' Old' tour and why he's kicking it off in the Midwest

A or A+ shows don't cut it for Combs. He's shooting for A++.

"I try to do everything I can do to take care of my voice, take care of myself, make sure that we're doing everything we can," Combs said. "People that come are the only reason we get to do what we do. Putting on an A++ show is really important to me."

About to embark on his 25-date stadium tour, he's excited — and "a little nervous."

"You feel like you're standing at the bottom of a mountain and you're looking at the top a little bit," he said.

But after last year's "Luke Combs World Tour," he said he feels more prepared for what's ahead of him.

"We've played everywhere all over the world," Combs said. "But, the Midwest, it feels like home to me. So, good place to start it."

HOW TO AVOID TRAFFIC: Luke Combs concerts could cause delays on I-94 this weekend

Combs, who grew up in North Carolina, hadn't been anywhere close to Milwaukee when he started his music career — his first plane ride came at age 25. But, he remembers his earlier stops up here fondly.

He opened for Blake Shelton at Summerfest in 2018 and made an appearance at Farm Aid at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in 2019.

"The Midwest is like the best fans in the world," Combs said. "I mean, honestly. People probably say that all the time."

But, that doesn't mean pulling out of the driveway Tuesday night wasn't hard after the "amazing" time he spent with his "awesome" wife Nicole and their two sons — Tex and Beau — these past few months. Fortunately, he won't have to miss his other half too long. She'll be headed up this way this weekend.

What will always make it onto Combs' setlist this time around? "The songs that people would expect," Combs shared.

"Playing all the hits," he said. "That's why people are there, and I want to give them what they want."

But, each night of the tour will have a different vibe.

Combs' opening acts Friday — in the order they'll hit the stage — are the Wilder Blue, Charles Wesley Godwin and Cody Jinks.

"Friday's more in the Americana, singer-songwriter world," Combs said. "So, our set reflects that a little bit. But, obviously, still playing all the hits."

Saturday's openers will be Colby Acuff, Drew Parker, Mitchell Tenpenny and Jordan Davis.

"Saturday night is more mainstream, Top 40 country stuff, which is what I do, really," Combs said.

Combs loves watching Jinks and Davis perform — they keep him honest, he said — and he knows they're going to kick some you know what.

The first opener will start at 5:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with gates opening at 5 p.m.

The parking lots will open at 3 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Tailgating will be permitted. Give yourself plenty of time to drive in and get through security.

There also will be a "Bootleggers Tailgate Party" at 3 p.m. Saturday with two up-and-comers picked by Combs and Nashville-based concert series Whiskey Jam: Ryan Larkins and Graham Barham. It'll take place at Am Fam Field's Third Base Plaza, and will be free to attend for Combs concert ticketholders, with food and drinks available to purchase.

Luke Combs' love for Miller Lite and his visit to Miller Brewery

After getting into Milwaukee Wednesday morning, Combs hung out at the Brewers stadium for a couple of hours, worked out, then was off to the Miller Brewery.

How long has Combs been a fan of Miller Lite? "Forever, probably."

"My dad's been drinking it for a long time," Combs said. "It was always around the house."

If his music career never worked out, he said, he would still be sporting a Columbia fishing shirt and drinking a Miller Lite somewhere in the world.

"That's what I would be doing anyways," he said. "So, I really wanted to go after things that I was already passionate about that felt natural and authentic to me. So, I'm very thankful for (Molson Coors) being receptive to have me on board. I feel super lucky."

Sporting a Brewers Barrelman hat, Combs and his team walked into a conference room on the brewery's complex Wednesday. He was met by a small group of longtime brewery employees and other Molson Coors staffers. The beer cases and cans with his new specialty packaging were displayed on tables.

The design features a ribbon that says "Beer Never Broke My Heart" wrapped in between the tuning pegs of a guitar. Combs' name is at the top of the headstock.

LUKE COMBS IN MILWAUKEE: Country superstar introduces heartbreaking new baseball-tinged song at American Family Field

After everyone went around the room introducing themselves, they were instructed to suit up in PPE — yellow safety vests, glasses, hard hats, toe caps and headsets.

On Combs' VIP tour of the brewery, he got a first-hand — and at times, hands-on — look at the operations with facts and history lessons along the way.

The first stop was a packaging plant, where Combs met machinist Jeff Malecki who has "But they ain't seen us together" from Combs' song "Forever After All" tattooed across his arm.

The two shook hands and got a picture together. That would become a reoccurring scene throughout Combs' visit.

It seemed like every employee who crossed paths with Combs received a handshake. And, if they wanted a photo or autograph, they got those, too, without any hesitation.

In the warehouse, Combs saw cases with the specialty packaging sliding out of a machine — he pulled his phone out to document that — and stacks of those cases getting carried off on a pallet via forklift.

At one point, Combs stood in front of what looked like a mountain of the cases. "Get this one," he said to a photographer as he hugged the cases as far as his arms would stretch.

Later, he'd get to snag one of the cans right off of a quick-moving line.

He got a taste of that and a few different brewery roles, including one that involved flipping a cardboard box filled with unconstructed cases into place. A few cases snuck out the back, but not too shabby for a first-timer.

"Thanks for letting me do that," Combs said to the workers as he shook their hands. "Thanks for letting me be in the way."

Combs also tried his hand at adding hops, one of which was liquid. "Have y'all seen 'Superbad'?" Combs asked with a bucket of hops in hand.

It reminded him of the scene when McLovin was trying to buy booze at a liquor store and said to the cashier: "You know, I heard they recently decided to add more hops to it."

Toward the conclusion of the tour, Combs said he had a "truly amazing" time. But, his favorite part had to be the grand finale.

He got to go up on a brewhouse rooftop with striking views of the city, the home of the Brewers and that big red Miller sign.

Up there is where he shotgunned a beer in under 5 seconds, and had the honor of sampling an exclusive maturation stock that not many get to try.

"To be standing up here is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Combs said.

How about those eight ACM Awards nominations

The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards nominations were announced earlier this week. Combs leads the nominations with eight , including entertainer of the year, male artist of the year, album of the year, song of the year, single of the year and music event of the year.

"It's really awesome," he said. "Always surprising, I think ... In a lot of ways, it feels like I've been doing this a lifetime. And, in a lot of ways, I feel like I've been doing it for six months. So, I feel like sometimes I'm so conflicted with knowing what to feel or think ... It's an honor. It's my wildest dreams coming true. So, I'm a very lucky guy every day."

A 2024 win via Combs nomination for entertainer of the year would clinch the coveted triple crown award, which consists of an entertainer of the year win plus wins in an act's respective new artist (male, female, duo, or group) and artist (male, female, duo or group) categories, a USA TODAY report said.

The event will air on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on May 16.

Piet Levy of the Journal Sentinel staff and USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Before Luke Combs plays in front of the 'best fans' for his Milwaukee concerts this week, he tours Miller Brewery and even shotguns a beer