If you love craft beer, Wisconsin is definitely a great place to be. There are over 200 breweries throughout the state, and each one offers a little something different in terms of beer styles, food offerings, and atmosphere. Many of these places welcome kids and dogs, and some even have fun events that get you involved in the local community.
As you travel around the state, here is a sampling of the many top-rated breweries in Wisconsin. Of course, there are many more amazing brew spots to check out in Wisconsin, but this list is a good place to start!
Wisconsin Brewing Co., Verona
A Wisconsin brewery to add to your must-visit list is the Wisconsin Brewing Company, which is a kid- and dog-friendly spot with a taproom and backyard bar. You’ll love the location of this brewery in Verona. Its brewing operations started in 2013, and it joined forces with Lake Louie Brewing in 2019. The brewery is closed on Mondays but open from 4-9pm on the other weekdays, noon to 9pm on Saturdays, and noon to 5pm on Sundays. There are many events scheduled on the brewery’s calendar, including trivia, yoga, dog classes, live music, and dueling piano shows.
Badger State Brewing, Green Bay
Badger State Brewing is a popular Wisconsin brewery that started out as a homebrew operation and now has a taproom, beer garden, and event hall. It is located in the Stadium District of Green Bay. You can find a current list of beers on tap by visiting the brewery’s website. There are always many beers being offered here, including year-around favorites, seasonal offerings, and specialty and pilot series beers. The brewery taproom is closed on Mondays but open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3-10pm, Thursdays from 2-10pm, Fridays and Saturdays from noon to midnight, and Sundays from noon to 8pm. Events hosted here include a summer bags league, Food Truck Fridays, and concerts.
Tribute Brewing Company, Eagle River
The Tribute Brewing Company in Eagle River, Wisconsin has a taproom with limited seating and also an outdoor patio that welcomes children and pets. The beers here are named after local legends, trains, landmarks, and other significant things that make the beers unique and a tribute to the region. People love stopping by Tribute Brewing’s metal warehouse-style taproom because of its friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Located on 1106 Bluebird Road in Eagle River, it is open on Wednesdays through Fridays from 3-9pm and on Saturdays from 1-9pm.
New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus
New Glarus Brewing Co. is a favorite Wisconsin brewery in one of the best small towns in the Midwest, New Glarus, Wisconsin. It’s quaint and produces beers that are available year-round as well as a few seasonal brews. Daniel and Deb Carey created this brewery that specializes in using natural ingredients to produce handcrafted beers. You can take a free, self-guided tour of the brewery on weekdays from 10am to 5pm. Tasting room samples that come with a commemorative tasting glass are also available. Many craft beer fans throughout the Midwest know this brewery well for its famous Spotted Cow beer.
Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee
Lakefront Brewery is one of the most well-established beer destinations in Milwaukee and has been operating since 1987. This is a popular place to book a brewery tour, which lasts about 45 minutes, costs $12 to $13, and includes two pints of beer in a souvenir pint glass. There’s a patio here with beer service available and the CurdWagon for patio dining. The brewery hosts trivia events on Wednesdays and fish fry events on Fridays. Lakefront Brewery strives to be an eco-friendly craft beer producer and has won many awards over the years.
Sand Creek Brewing Company, Black River Falls
One of the largest microbreweries in Wisconsin is the Sand Creek Brewing Company, which carries on the proud tradition of brewing ales and lagers in the state. The brewery began as a homebrewing operation on a dairy farm and combined forces with two other breweries in 2004. Popular beers here include the Bugler Brown Ale, Badger Porter, and Wild Ride IPA. Hard lemonades are also brewed here. You can join a tour here on Fridays starting at 3:30pm. The tap room hours at Sand Creek run from 5-10pm on Thursdays, 3-10pm on Fridays, and noon to 10pm on Saturdays. Check out the brewery’s Facebook page to see if any events will be going on during your visit.
3 Sheeps Brewing Company, Sheboygan
Located in Sheboygan, 3 Sheeps Brewing is a brewery that likes to do things differently and be creative. It has a great taproom with repurposed bleachers from a historic armory building that are now used for tables and chairs. You’ll find over 20 beers on tap, plus a golf simulator with its own TV that you can reserve by the hour. The taproom is generally open on Mondays through Thursdays from noon to 9pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 10pm, and Sundays from 11am to 6pm. Live music performances are occasionally scheduled as brewery events here.
Tyranena Brewing Company, Lake Mills
Located between Milwaukee and Madison, you’ll find Tyranena, a Wisconsin beer destination that gets its name from local indigenous history in Lake Mills. There is no restaurant at the brewery, but there is a tasting room that seats around 35 people. You’ll find board games and puzzles here to play, and live music is offered on the weekends in the tasting room or beer garden. Children and dogs are allowed here as long as you follow the brewery’s rules. This brewery has been operating since 1999 and often has food trucks that serve food nearby on the patio.
District 1 Brewing Company, Stevens Point
District 1 is a microbrewery with a community-focused taproom in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It offers a selection of lighter beers, hard seltzers, sours, browns, reds, IPAs, porters, stouts, gluten-free beers, and non-alcoholic drinks. This brew spot is located at 200 North Division Street in Stevens Point and open from 11am to 10pm on Mondays through Thursdays, 11am to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11am to 8pm on Sundays.
Oliphant Brewing, Somerset
At Oliphant Brewing, you can enjoy on-tap brews, mini-kegs to go, growlers to go, and four- and six-packs of beer to take home with you. Dogs cannot come into the taproom at Oliphant, but they are welcome outside on the patio. There are some light snacks available onsite, but you can also have food delivered here from another local business. If you want to host an event at the brewery, such as a birthday party, the space can host up to 100 people indoors or up to 200 people outdoors with the combination of the taproom and patio space.
Plymouth Brewing Company, Plymouth
At the Plymouth Brewing Company, you can visit the dog-friendly taproom and bring in your own food to enjoy with your selected brews. Some of the beers offered here include the Stafford Stout, Nutt Hill Nutbrown, Mighty Mullet IPA, and Dairyland Dark. This brewery has an interesting history to learn about, and the current taproom opened to the public in 2013. It is open from 5-10pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 2-11pm on Fridays, noon to 11pm on Saturdays, and noon to 6pm on Sundays. Brewery events hosted by Plymouth include tap takeovers, collaborations with other brewers, and participation in beer festivals.
Rush River Brewing Company, River Falls
Situated just about 30 minutes from the Twin Cities metro area, Rush River Brewing Company is a family-friendly and pet-friendly brewery with a great taproom. It offers a rotating selection of 16 taps and also to-go beer in a relaxed setting. The brewery has an indoor seating capacity of about 100 people and also a large lawn and outdoor pavilion to enjoy when the weather is nice. This brewery was founded in 2004, and the River Falls facility opened in 2007. The current taproom at the brewery opened in 2015 and is surrounded by wooded trails for hiking and mountain biking. You’ll often find food trucks parked outside the brewery, so bring your appetite when you arrive and sample the local brews alongside some great food.
Central Waters Brewing Co., Amherst
Central Waters Brewing Co. has locations in both Amherst and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In Amherst, there is food truck service available, free tours on Saturday afternoons, and custom fire rings to enjoy while sitting outside. The brewery’s second location is in Milwaukee and each location is open every day of the week. Central Waters is known as one of the most environmentally sustainable breweries in the entire nation, and it has taken many steps to make the brewing process more eco-friendly in recent years.
Lazy Monk Brewing, Eau Claire
To experience European-style beers right here in Wisconsin, check out Lazy Monk Brewing. The brewers specialize in traditional Bohemian and German lagers, but make other types of beer as well. This is a family-friendly and dog-friendly brewery destination with a beer hall and beer garden. Because of its German roots, this is an ideal place to attend an Oktoberfest celebration or Christmas market event. Brewery tours are offered for $15 per person. There is an event room available to rent here as well if you are planning something special.
Duesterbeck's Brewing Company, Elkhorn
Here’s a farmhouse microbrewery that is located on a 150-year-old farm in Wisconsin. Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company does not allow outside food to be brought in or any dogs on the property. However, there is an onsite kitchen that serves pizza, snacks, cheese, and meats. A list of the brewery’s current beers available can be found on the Duesterbeck website. Stop by on Tuesdays for a game of trivia, Wednesday nights to play bingo, or Thursdays for Pub Poll and happy hour from 4-6pm. It’s free to play these games and there are prizes given to winning teams. Make sure to check out the gift shop on your way out for brewery swag and fun home décor.
Rocky Reef Brewing Company, Woodruff
Located in Woodruff, Wisconsin, Rocky Reef Brewing Company is open to the public from 3-9pm on weekdays, noon to 9pm on Saturdays, and noon to 6pm on Sundays. This brewery has been operating since 2015 and likes to keep its brews always unique and fresh. Whenever you stop by, you’ll have quite a few light beers, dark ales, IPAs, and sours to choose from.
