10 Best Breweries in Waukesha

"Wisconsin is famous for its Friday fish fries, and those visiting Milwaukee will find one of the city’s favorites at Lakefront Brewery. Located in the Brewer’s Hill neighborhood on the Milwaukee River, the brewery was the first in the United States to make its beer from 100 percent in-state grown ingredients. With 80,000 people touring the brewery every year, it’s one of America’s most popular tours among those that include four six-ounce pours of delicious brews."

"After the big boys that made Milwaukee famous and before the craft-beer boom that has seen dozens of third-wave options sprout in just the past few years, Lakefront became the most ubiquitous local beer of area bars and liquor stores. Rent one of its mini riverfront “hop houses” — private dining spaces complete with heating, wood floors, and white tablecloths — to sample the beer-battered cod at a Friday fish fry. Indoor dining, outdoor dining, takeout, delivery."

"Lakefront Brewery is located on the edge of the Milwaukee River and features an array of beers, bar bites and the best brewery tour in Milwaukee, according to OnMilwaukee readers."

"Lower East Side Since opening in summer of 2016, the folks behind Good City have already expanded its taproom and doubled its production capacity, so they must be doing something right. They also just announced that they're going to open a two-story second location on the downtown entertainment block, adjacent to the new Bucks arena, that will focus on brewing sours. They've got a lot on their plate right now, but they're handling it in stride; tours are kept to a maximum of 10 people, and so they tend to be intimate and informative with lots of opportunity for question-asking.Tour info: Saturdays only at 1pm and 2pm for $10."

"Our newest location in the heart of the Bucks' Entertainment District includes a taproom, restaurant, and 350-seat private event space. It houses our pilot brewing system and wile ale program."

"Good City Brewing is an East Side brewery with an industrial-meets-chic taproom offering craft beer, chef-driven internationally-inspired plates and weekly tours. Good City = good times."

"Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery is a tavern, event center, and a gift shop located in the old Historic Pabst Brewery. Owner Jim Haertel has lovingly restored The Best Place, as well as some parts of the old brewery. For a small fee, you can take a guided tour that starts at The Best pub and takes you through the history of Pabst brewery from 1844 when Best & Company started its life right up to today."

"The brewery is no longer brewing, so while technically you’re touring what was once a brewery, it’s really more of a beer history tour. You do get to drink a free Pabst or Schlitz during the tour, and that’s enough to make up for the lack of actual brewing. The buildings and spaces are beautiful -- there’s a ton of weddings held here -- so if you’re into MKE history and architecture this is your tour."

"Best Place, which originally housed The Pabst Brewing Company’s corporate offices and an area for hospitality, includes a beer hall, gift shop, a brewery tour center, two courtyards and a coffee shop. Currently, every area of Best Place is closed except for the coffee shop, which celebrated its reopening July 3."

"Driving into downtown from the west, you’ll notice the City Lights Brewery building overlooking the city. As the name suggests, this historic building once supplied the power to light the city, and today people can tour the building and see the classic design by Alexander Eschweiler, steel exported by Andrew Carnegie and brickwork hand-glazed by Tiffany. That’s just one of the many opportunities to tour and taste breweries in Milwaukee, from up-and-coming craft brewers and classics like Miller Brewing, Milwaukee Brewing Company, Sprecher Brewery and more."

"Menomonee River Valley The two owners of Third Space met at summer camp, and maybe that's why one of their flagship beers is called Happy Place. That may also be why their outdoor beer garden welcomes pets, kids, food trucks, and general al fresco merriment. There are only two tours offered most weeks, but up to 25 people are allowed on each tour -- and if you're lucky, one of the owners will be your tour guide."

"Located in the undeveloped industrial park in Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley (not too far from the Third Ward), Third Space Brewing has an undeniably cool space in an old warehouse building with exposed brick and infrastructure. They have a large taproom as well as an outdoor beer garden to enjoy those coveted Wisconsin summers. It’s an awesome place to hang out & enjoy high quality, delicious beer."

"Milwaukee beer just wouldn’t be what it is without the Milwaukee Brewing Company. Not only is this one of the best Milwaukee breweries to actually tour, but it’s also home to savoury food and an impressive pay-as-you-go tap bar. The award-winning craft beer here uses local ingredients and the brewery is dedicated to sustainable practices, which carry a lot of weight when in the modern-day craft beer world."

"Milwaukee Brewing Company started as a brewpub at the Milwaukee Ale House in 1997 and 20 years later, it's still going strong. So strong, in fact, that the brewery opened a larger facility on North 9th Street this past year."

"What’s on tap: Brewer Mark Mahoney’s takes on small batches of traditional styles like saisons, stouts, pilsners and an IPA or two. Reason to go: There are local breweries in town that have much bigger spaces, but the cozy storefront space lends to Stock House’s neighborhood feel. The brewery embraces Wauwatosa and that love is returned by the neighborhood."

"Craft beers and coffee brews – what’s not to love about a delicious combination of two of the most popular drink trends in America right now?. At Vennture Brew, you can order from some ten different beers on tap or energise at the full-service coffee bar. Despite focusing on coffee and craft brew, the quality of the brews here never suffer."

"Vennture Brew, a brewery that offers craft beers, coffee brews and more in Washington Heights, is another much-loved go-to, with five stars out of 29 Yelp reviews. Head over to 5519 W. North Ave. to see for yourself."

"Gathering Place Brewing Co. takes community involvement seriously and donates a portion of sales each quarter to local nonprofits. The ever-changing beer list has options such as Murdered by Crows (a Kickapoo coffee stout) and Arrivederci Roma (an Italian pils). Gather your friends and stop by for some sips that will make both your heart and stomach feel like they’ve done some good."

"The Riverwest-based company creates vibrant and unique ales and lagers that reflect the brewery’s vibrant and unique community and beyond."

"Also in the neighborhood are two craft breweries: MobCraft and Milwaukee Brewing Co. Both offer tours and tastings. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a cone of Purple Door Ice Cream (its unique flavors include Whiskey) at its lone retail space or pick up Indulgence Chocolatier’s bars of chocolate as souvenirs."

"Miller Brewing Tour – Alternatively Lakefront or MKE Brewing Tour Milwaukee is the city that beer built. At one point in time, Milwaukee produced more beer than any other city in the world. Dubbed ‘Brew City’, Milwaukee was once home to several of the major beer brands in the United States."

"There’s a reason why Milwaukee is called the City of Festivals. With family-friendly fests throughout the summer, there’s always something fun to do in Milwaukee. Many people may flock to Milwaukee for the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest, but families should make it a point to visit the wide variety of family-friendly fests."

"Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum is an awesome mansion on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. When the person died who built it, he dedicated the mansion to the city. Since then, it has served as a decorative arts museum with fantastic gardens leading down toward the lake, in addition to being a popular spot for weddings."

"Overlooking Lake Michigan, the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum is a popular Milwaukee arts destination housed in an Italian Renaissance-style villa. Designed and built by architect David Adler in 1923, the villa originally served as the residence of Lloyd Smith of the A.O. Smith Corporation and his family."

"The Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum creates opportunities for residents and visitors to experience history, culture and the arts, by offering vibrant exhibitions and performances in the grand yet intimate setting of the Lloyd Smith family’s lakefront Renaissance villa and garden."

"Topping the list is the Lower East Side's Invivo Wellness, situated at 2060 N. Humboldt Ave., Suite 300. With 4.5 stars out of 44 reviews on Yelp, the massage, physical therapist and yoga spot has proven to be a local favorite."

"They stock all the usual favorite varieties fresh throughout the day, and at the 24/7 locations, all night long, too. They've been neighborhood staples for decades, so the decor walks that precarious line between dingy and retro, but the donuts always satisfy that sweet tooth and that's really all that matters."

"Maybe not the fanciest donut joint in town, but Honeydip makes up for it with around-the-clock hours. Dubbing themselves master of the apple fritter, Honeydip has been serving up delicious fried dough for decades. They ask guests to “expect to be treated like family” when stopping into the donut shop."

"Honeydip is the king of warm and fresh donuts, and on a college budget, we’re sure you’ll appreicate the price. One donut is less than a dollar!"

"This place is -- you guessed it -- a drive through, and a drive through only. Mini donuts are all that's offered, but you get to choose whether you want them shaken in powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar or both. These little guys are addictive so buy them by the dozen, or else you might not have any for yourself once your coworkers get a whiff."

"Located near Cambridge, Riverview and Kenilworth on North Avenue, this donut shop is sure to leave your mouth watering!. We recommend the cinnamon mini donuts."