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Lakefront Brewery
Categories: Food Breweries Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Restaurants Breweries, Venues & Event Spaces, Restaurants [Edit]
1872 N Commerce StMilwaukee, WI 53212
Neighborhoods: Beerline B, Brewer's Hill
(414) 372-8800
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
211 reviews for Lakefront Brewery
Review Highlights
"The tour was good and and a great personal touch."
(in 178 reviews)
"The place is LOUD on fish fry Fridays."
(in 44 reviews)
"pours from the bar and a souvenir pint glass."
(in 11 reviews)
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211 reviews in English
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Review from Erin D.
2/6/2012 2 Check-ins Here
God I love this place!!!! I've taken this tour a couple of times and Lakefront has the best tour guides! It doesn't matter how many times you go, you learn something different each time. They are funny, interactive and down to earth. Besides, they know you're there to drink beer so they don't mess around.
$7 gets you a good time, couple of beers and a very nice glass to add to your collection.
Keep it up guys...!!!! -
Review from Jim D.
Colgate, WI
2/6/2012
The reviews already in on this place are 100% golden. Love the beer, love the owners and staff, love the tour... The only thing that keeps me from giving this 5 stars is the fish fry. I love fish and good milwaukee fish frys but this one is very hit or miss. I have had everything from OK, to Passable, to downright bad fish here. The place is huge, the kitchen appears small, and the resulting dining experience is much like a wedding reception where you are the 2nd cousins sitting at the back table getting your food last.
With that said, I continue to return for the fish fry because it usually is passable and the vibe on friday when the Brew Haus Polka Kings are playing is absolute Milwaukee Gold. -
Review from Mark S.
2/3/2012 3 photos
I was a bit put off by the $7 price tag for a brewery tour, because I've been on possibly 50+ brewery tours, and this was the first one that charged money for it. But I was assured of a good amount of tasters, plus a free beer to use in Milwaukee before 6PM. So I gave in and handed my money over. And it was a great decision.
Lakefront Brewery teeters between unpretentious and downright not-caring, as they give you a plastic cup to use as a taster, have a giant hall with no furniture as a bar, and bartenders that leave the bar unattended for seemingly no reason at all.
But the tour is great, and the employees are more than generous. Their system is a little convoluted (4 tokens you can exchange for drinks, a free beer ticket for a different bar), but you get used to it and it works. Plus they gave out a few free pours here and there, so you really get more than 4 10oz. pours.
The tour is informative, and the most shocking revelation was that they were using bunghole kegs as late as 3 years ago! They clearly like things old school at Lakefront, and that attitude permeates everyone there. They still want to be that small microbrewery, even though they've just been classified as a regional brewer by the government.
I wasn't able to use my free beer coupon because we were leaving Milwaukee right after I got picked up, but you turn in your plastic cup for a free pint glass, and that was by far the drunkest I've ever gotten for $7! -
Review from Jennifer W.
Milwaukee, WI
2/4/2012
I am not sure how I have managed to live in Milwaukee since 1993 and not go on this tour until yesterday. It's sinful, actually, because I love beer and I love all things Milwaukee. Really, I should just surrender my membership card right now. At any rate, I finally went on this tour and I loved it! Jason was our tour guide and there were two very notable things about him: 1) He is one of the only men I have ever seen who can look good in skinny jeans, and 2) He was highly entertaining. For $7, you get a whole lotta beers, a very funny and mildly informative tour, and a pint glass to take home. Stay for the fish fry on a Friday night, and you will get a true Milwaukee experience with excellent food, shared tables with other drunkards like yourself, and a live polka band to boot. Fun with a capital "F"!
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Review from Kimmy T.
El Segundo, CA
1/8/2012
Lakefront gets 5 stars because of the bang-for-a-buck value!!
The tour is $7 and you get 4 tastings of their awesome beers, a tour, a pint glass to take home, and a coupon for a free beer in MKE. Seriously?!?
The tour is great, but the level of greatness depends on how busy they are at brewing/packing the beers. The first tour we went on was awesome!! We got to see A LOT of the brewery and had an awesome tour guide who led us on a very rousing rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. The second time around, we couldn't see a lot of the brewery and therefore it was a slightly unsatisfying tour. You still get to enjoy the beer though!
The weekends and holidays get pretty packed, so if you can buy tour tickets online early - I highly recommend it. Also, make sure you eat before you get there because there's no food there - except for the Friday Fish Fry - and nothing is really close by either.
There's a parking lot next to the brewery and plenty of street parking too. -
Review from David H.
Raleigh, NC
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Super Fun Tour. Good history, good stories, and good BEER! Lots of room for seating and a fun atmosphere. Not sure if all the stories were true, but who cares as long as it was entertaining! Go get a beer and see Larry, Moe, and Curly.
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Review from Nick K.
Updated - 1/19/2012
Sorry, Milwaukee Brewing Co. has taken over the top spot. If you guys ever change it up, let me know. I still love you Lakefront, but innovation is key in my book.
Listed in: 2012100
1 Previous Review:
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6/23/2011
Best tour in town. Their beer is ok, but the tour is awesome, cheap and always entertaining.
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Review from Nick B.
Flagstaff, AZ
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
The tour was only $7 and I had a great experience. Our tour guide was the owner's brother and he made it very enjoyable. Unlike other tours, this wasn't information overload. But he best part is that we got to sample 4 free beers and we didn't have to wait til the end of the tour to drink!
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Review from Aurore L.
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you are a prude, please come to this tour with soap in hand to clean the guide's mouth and the gutter into which your mind will take delighted dips during the tour.
Better yet - don't come at all.
And so what if Lakefront Brewery offers you a trip to Bawdyland while talking (and more importantly - TASTING) about suds? Don't they intimately go together? Drinking and being merry walk hand in hand in my book, and believe me, if you are shy and blush easily, you have nothing to do in a Bierstub in Bayern. So get over it, don't bring your children, embrace the moment and just enjoy the 4 different beverages that comes with admission:
$7 is quite the deal - you can even leave with a logoed pint glass and a free beer to one drinking establishment of your choice in the Milky Way.
Tours are offered every day, and are of abundance during the weekend. It might get crowded though, so be prepared to not have an intimate conversation face to face with your beer shepherd. It is a small operation, just as we like them, and it is well worth the trip.
Do it. -
Review from Michael O.
Milwaukee, WI
11/30/2011
Another 2011 wedding, and this last one was at Lakefront Brewery. This is a great wedding venue! It was a nice, big space to fit all the friends and family. The servers and bartenders were all friendly, they had good food, and unlimited craft beer. Who needs anything else.
I have been to a number of tours, and this place never disappoints. The fish fry is also outstanding -
Review from Sara M.
Naperville, IL
1/25/2012
Located in Beerline B section of Downtown Milwaukee, Lakefront Brewery holds its own against its neighboring bossman, Miller Brewing Company. When you initially walk in, you're a bit overwhelmed by the massive waiting area which looks oddly similar to an unfinished banquet hall, or VFW. You'll pay $7 for 4 taster tokens, the promise of a free glass and a free beer on them at select local bars. We went on a very busy Saturday afternoon, but the tour groups are large enough that you won't wait too long. And if you do, hey, you have 4 taster tokens to have fun with. But oh no, tour starts in 2 minutes and you have a full beer! Never fear, they encourage you to get a fresh brew to carry along the tour. We all know tours are more interesting...and pretty much anything is more interesting with a cold craft beer in your hand. If that's not enough to encourage a trip, your tour guide sure will be. Lakefront's staff member are energetic, interesting, and beer filled delights. I asked the bartender how his day was and his response speaks the world of how craft brewing makes you feel. His response: " I'm awesome, I work at a brewery." That feel good, care free feeling is what makes the tour that more enjoyable.
If you're a Brewers fan, a bit of history is in store for you on this tour. The original big beer pint originally located in the Brewers stadium sits comfortably in the middle of the brewery. And while the famous slide still accompanies the big pint, you are unfortunately not allowed to partake. It was encouraged at one point in time but beer + giant slide + cement floor = ...no more using the slide in the middle of a brewery. Half way through the tour, you'll have a chance to fill up again if you've gone dry. Just another little perk that makes this tour a little different from the norm. The tour will end with sing along and mild embarrassment of having to sing the theme song to Laverne and Shirley. Wisconsin state song, I believe.
There's isn't much to do after the tour besides collecting your glass and cashing in the last of your tokens. Regardless, Lakefront is a complete joy with friendly staff and delicious Wisconsin beer. A great one to try for you coffee fanatics is their coffee stout, Fuel Café, it's a little bit of heaven in a bottle. I believe the only thing that would make this place any better would be the addition of a Brewpub (They have a Friday Fish Fry, but no actual brewpub). So purchase those Wheat Monkey 6 packs, Lakefront lovers, maybe together we can make that dream happen. -
Review from Reuben H.
11/13/2011
Dual Review Time!!!
#1 - The Brewery Tour
You raunchy bastards! I realize that you are pretty much catering towards college kids who look to kick off an afternoon of drinking for $7 (which gets you 4, 8 oz. pours, and a free pint at a local establishment before 6:00 PM), but the constant sex and toilet humor probably even hit the limits for those college kids. I appreciate the fact that you allow drinking before, during and after the tour- and in the end, I did get to learn a lot more about your establishment, your history and your beer.
#2 - The Beer
The wife and I found three beers that we happened to like quite a lot. The Cream City Pale Ale was excellent! Really nice aroma from the hops, good amount of body and slight bitterness, but well-rounded with the malts. Good work, fellas!
We also liked the East Side Dark, though labeled a lager, was quite rich from the nice roast you give to the malt and smooth as butter.
Your pumpkin lager (which we sampled at Nomad after the tour) was also really solid. Not too spicy, and not too sweet.
Special consideration given to your Fixed Gear Red Ale, which was a nice balance between a good amount of alcohol, "rich" red body and flavor, and a surprising amount of hoppiness that finished well.
I'd also like to show my appreciation for putting out a really good gluten-free beer (New Grist). I have some friends who need that kind of thing- and from what I can tell, you make the best one out there. -
Review from Mat M.
Helena, MT
1/31/2012
Good beer and great atmosphere in a really cool building. Definitely worth a stop to sample whats on tap when visiting town.Touring breweries? If so, enjoying the tour to sample the brews is a must. No one beer stands out, but all are pretty solid. Fish fry Friday is a great time with friends and your bound to make new ones if your group doesn't fill the table.
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Review from Catie F.
Morrisville, NC
1/9/2012
Lakefront is an awesome stop during brewery tours in Milwaukee. We did a day of tours and this was by far my favorite place. First of it's a great deal, we paid $7 and got 4 tokens for free drinks. This tour was our last of the day so we probably didn't need 4 more drinks but hey it's Milwaukee! We went on the "enviro" tour which was hosted by the president of the company. He was a really funny guy and you could tell he thoroughly enjoyed the laughs he garnered from his practiced jokes. He had a lot of interesting stories about the history of the company and Milwaukee but kept it light and entertaining. If you are in Milwaukee you should definitely check this place out! I wasn't a huge fan of a few of their beers but I loved their root beer and the other people I was with enjoyed the brews enough for all of us.
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Review from Patrick B.
Milwaukee, WI
1/8/2012
First of all, I love their beers. Have been numerous times for the Friday Fish Fry. Great stuff. Be prepared for a loud and potentially rowdy evening. Table set ups are large, you are seated with other groups and there is live polka. Have also attended a wedding here. Great time, and the open bar for beer was fantastic!
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Review from Cassie D.
The tour guides are so much fun and you can really feel their love for beer and for Lakefront. It's got such a down to earth flavor that you can't help but love. It gets insane on weekends, you can order tickets online and then head towards the shorter line on the left versus the long line on the right when you arrive.
7$ gets you a pint glass and four beer tokens. They have a great outdoor space on the river which is perfect for sipping your post-tour beers.
See Bernie Brewer's original club house from County Stadium! Doesn't get more Brew Town nostalgic than that!
This is one of those things that those of us who've lived here all our lives forget about. Sad but true.Listed in: M'waukee's Finest
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Review from William L.
Chicago, IL
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Other breweries should take this tour and model after these folks, I've never had that much fun on a brewery tour! Our guide was absolutely hilarious and not over-rehearsed. He was super knowledgeable and was able to answer even the nerdiest of questions from the home-brewers in the audience.
For the most part, the beers were top notch with the Fixed Gear being my favorite. For the price, you get some great history, some hysterical stories, and some outstanding brews. Their take-away bombers and sixers in the gift shop are pretty affordable too (a bomber and sixer were less than $11 I believe). Get there early and stay a little after to try some of the beers that your 4 tokens didn't get you. Just make sure you have someone sober enough to drive you home! -
Review from Kathryn G.
Plainfield, IL
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome beer but it does get a bit crazy for the tour especially on the weekends.
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Review from Katie R.
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
a great place to take your dad. the tour guide was very knowledgable, bearded and suspendered. they have a token system - you get 4 when you come in, which are each good for a 6-oz beer. at the end of the tour, you can trade in your cup for a free pint glass. not a bad deal.
i also ran into my high school english teacher and two separate groups of friends, none of whom live in wisconsin. it was silly. apparently they also do weddings and events. -
Review from Brian C.
10/10/2011
I've gone on a decent number of brewery tours, probably about 20. This was the best one of them all.
The strange thing about Milwaukee is that despite what made it famous, it isn't known for craft brewing. Lakefront Brewery got to work on changing that in the mid 1980s, setting up shop in the shadows of old microbreweries like Pabst and Schlitz. It was a small operation in the early days, when Lakefront allegedly delivered their kegs via taxicab in their northside Milwaukee neighborhood.
Our tour guide kept things interesting with plenty of innuendo, a peak at Bernie Brewer's former home, and a recreation Laverne and Shirley. He also acted as a Milwaukee history-of-brewing teacher, which kept us attentive. The samples, of course, were excellent too. -
Review from Katie L.
Milwaukee, WI
11/23/2011
For under $10 (last time I went cash only) you get a collectable glass with one of a number of designs inspired by their beer labels, four drink tokens, the funniest and most informative brewery tour you will ever encounter, a chance to fill your collectable glass and coupons for two lakefront beers at anyone of several local bars many within walking distance. On Fridays, I believe all year, they have an excellent fish fry in their big hall with a live band. It has something between a church basement and german beer garden feel. Lately, the tours have been sold out during popular hours as more and more people buy their tickets online in advance. Eastside Dark and the seasonal pumpkin ale are my favorites. Go on your birthday to have a chance at the bung! Have a DD.
Listed in: Milwaukee's Best
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Review from Steve S.
Seven years living in Milwaukee and I just took the brewery tour? I'M SOOOO SORRY, LAKEFRONT!
The Lakefront Brewery tour is the ultimate "can't miss" thing to do in Milwaukee for locals and visitors. I was looking for a fun & local outing to take my dealers. We did a Brewers game but the Lakefront tour was the highlight of the week. My dealers from all across the country absolutely loved the tour and the plentiful beer. Our guide, a blonde guy, was hilarious. He needs to be on stage at Second City but I'm very glad he's currently at Lakefront because he's phenomenal. Funny, informative and just entertaining. As for the tour, don't expect fancy videos or walks across catwalks over copper kettles. This is a true brewery. You'll stand next to bags of barely and dodge forklifts. The history of the brewery and process is explained very well and they explain why Lakefront's brews are TRUE beers.
If you're a Milwaukee resident and haven't visited Lakefront, get down there now! If you're visiting, this has to be on your list of things to do. Screw the Miller tour! Lakefront is the real brewery of Milwaukee. I'm so proud Lakefront is here! -
Review from Angela K.
8/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
As far as I'm concerned, Lakefront boasts the best brewery tour in town. Fairly priced, extremely entertaining, lots of beer samples and a souvenir pint glass. Not only that, but as other reviews mentioned, it's a great thing to do with out-of-towners. They always get a kick out of it.
Only caveat: if you don't order your tickets online, get there early!!! The tours are incredibly popular and always sell out, so show up about a half hour early at least. -
Review from Ashley J.
9/10/2011
Best brewery tour ever.. I've been on this tour about 3 times, and it's been a little different with each visit..
MAKE A RESERVATION- especially on the weekends. Went once on a Friday night..got their early, and were given tokens for free beer samples. They gave so many generous samples that we had to donate some of our tokens to those on the next tour. I've never been on a brewery tour that was as generous about their samples.. Lakefront Brewery is seriously great beer.
The tour- each tour guide that I've had has been amazing. They are VERY knowledgable about their products, the history of the brewery, and the distilary process itself. They address all questions, and don't make you feel annoying for asking in the first place ..They make the tour SO fun, not just get you in-and-out like some tours make you feel. Also, the amount of people in the tour is perfect- it's not HUGE so you don't feel like you're herded cattle. Lastly, very well priced.. for a whopping $7 you REALLY get your moneys worth..
At the end of the tour, you're given even MORE tokens and a free pint glass (the classes are so nice that I went to the gift shop to purchase more!) Speaking of their gift shop .. they have a ton of Lake Front apparel, bumper stickers, growlers (Which they will generously fill for you!), etc. If you're into beer and its brewing process..the gift shop is definitely worth checking out for some cool stuff..
Facility- the brewery is one of the coolest buildings i've been in in MKE. They have a huge hall where you gather before the tour (unless it's summer, and they have a tent outside). Also, on Friday nights they have a fish fry at the hall. If I was ever looking for a unique place to hold a big event, I would most definitely consider looking in to Lakefront Brewery..
Conclusion: Scrap your plans to visit Miller..and head to Lakefront instead.Listed in: Best Happy Hour
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Review from Marcus W.
Germantown, WI
9/14/2011
It's always a great time at Lakefront Brewery. I have been here multiple times, most notably for my 21st Birthday and St. Paddy's day. As others have mentioned be sure to make reservations if you can or be prepared to wait. The tour itself is informative on both the brewing process and Lakefront's position within Milwaukee. It gives you a true local feel and is sure to make you laugh.
Lakefront's beer is great if they have Fixed Gear on tap make sure to try it. The tokens they provide you will be plenty to have a good time and the pint glass at the end if great. Only complaint is last time I went they didn't have as many special/exclusive beers on tap, but perhaps that was due to the timing of the visit as all of the previous tours I was able to try something new. -
Review from Victor M.
7/19/2011
I really enjoy tours. I learned many things. Here's a list of what I learned.
-I'm a FIB (according to our tour guide: Fellow Illinois Brethren's; according to the other's taking the tour: F*ing Illinois B*'s)
-Important Ingredients to Beer
-How they make Beer
-Funny things that happen over time at Lakefront Brewery
-How they ship Beer
-How many Beer they ship
-Bung and a Bunghole
We didn't reserve any tickets but showed up early to get tickets. If you booked your tickets in advance. Then you had the privilege of receiving a orange plastic cup. The orange plastic cup receives 4 nickels for 6oz drinks, an exchange for a pint glass in the end, and the boat tour after the tour of the brewery.
Since we did not book in advance, we received the clear plastic cup with 4 nickels, tour of the brewery, and no boat tour all for the same price of $7.
Although we didn't receive the boat tour, the other amenities was very worth it. And get this... FREE PARKING!! I guess they have some good reasoning to call us FIB's.. haha! -
Review from Patrick O.
Carol Stream, IL
10/26/2011
Best tour in Milwaukee, fantastic beer, and it's great spending an afternoon on the patio out back when the weather is nice. Bring a group of friends, a deck of cards, have a couple extra handcrafted beers, and enjoy your day. Also a great Friday Fish Fry.
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Review from Allison D.
San Francisco, CA
7/14/2011
Our tour guide seemed a little nutty, but she was entertaining. You get to drink while on the tour, and the four "6 oz pours" were probably closer to 8 oz. You also get a pint glass, and a coupon for a free Lakefront beer at a selection of local bars (if you do an afternoon tour) - all for $7.
To steal a bit from Louis Black, even with the plane ticket it's cheaper than drinking in California...
If you take the bus, show your transfer slip when you check in, and they'll subtract $2 from your tour ticket. Don't drink and drive! -
Review from Dan M.
6/29/2011
By far the best brew tour I went on while I was in the great city of Milwaukee.
Lakefront Brewery is a small but truly amazing brewery that offers up a wonderful tour. The guide is knowledgeable and funny and gives you the right amount of tideous facts while constantly letting you sample their brews.
What I liked most about this brew tour was the balance they had between how the beer was made and then just letting everyone drink!
The beer was great, the snacks were tasty and they even give you a free glass.
Having never been to Milwaukee and only having a day in the city, I was very happy I paid Lakefront a visit. -
Review from Kimberly C.
Houston, TX
10/4/2011
We had some time to kill before having to get ready for a wedding, so we decided to take a quick trip to the brewery for a tour. We didn't have reservations, but we showed up a little before noon for the 12:30 tour on a Saturday and were able to get in. For $7, you get 4 tokens and a plastic cup to trade in for a pint glass at the end of the tour.
Our guide was Chuck, and we were laughing pretty much the whole time. It doesn't hurt that you get to sample beers throughout the tour. Even my friend who claimed she didn't like beer found a couple that she enjoyed.
I would definitely go again if I am ever back up that way! I'm just sad that their beers aren't available in Texas. -
Review from Kara S.
Milwaukee, WI
7/14/2011
I loved this brewery tour. The opportunity to drink on the tour is awesome and I love how you can try different beers throughout the entire tour. You also get a pint glass at the end which puts the cherry on top of a wonderful experience.
How you can not love Bernie's old slide?
If you go, try to go on a Friday. The fish fry and music are great. The one thing I would advise people to do is buy your tix online. You are definitely guaranteed a spot on that tour then as opposed to me and 3 of my friends who went down foolishly and had to wait for about an hour. -
Review from John S.
Chicago, IL
6/7/2011
The tour was one of the best deals I've had. Only 7 bucks and in addition to the tour I get 24 ounces of various beers and a pint glass? Fantastic.
The tour itself was pretty amusing. The brewery is small and the guy who gives the tour is one of the founders (although he sold his share to his brother years ago and now is just, in his own words, "tour guide"). He's a funny guy and clearly enjoys his job and his beer.
At the beginning of the tour, they give you a plastic cup and 4 wood nickels. Each of the wood nickels is good for 6 ounces of beer on tap (or for 2 nickels you can get a 12 oz bottle from the cooler). They also have root beer if you just want a pop (actually, the root beer was delicious too).
So really, the whole tour is like 20 minutes, but if you use your wood nickels you'll leave with a nice buzz and get to drink some fantastic beers. Oh, and turn your plastic cup in at the end and they give you a free pint glass. How awesome is that? -
Review from Victoria R.
Arlington Heights, IL
9/10/2011
PROS: Wide selection of award-winning beers, gorgeous riverfront location (ironic, given the name)
CONS: Crowded -- make reservations or get there a couple of hours early, tour given by a volunteer instead of an employee
Our tour guide was informative and very interactive -- we had two group sing-alongs! The beer, of course, was excellent. There was a stop mid-tour for more beer. There was a great patio along the river.
We tried to go on Friday afternoon and the whole day was sold out. We went back before they opened on Saturday and made it on the first tour of the day. The only disappointing part was that a Lakefront employee didn't give the tour -- it was a volunteer. I would've expected a more authentic tour experience.
Overall, I'd recommend the tour. -
Review from Katy F.
Houston, TX
8/9/2011
Taking this tour is like MAKING money!
4 beers, pint glass, tour, plus free beer after you leave at a neighboring bar? All for 7 dollars!
I honestly dont care what they say on the tour if I get all that.
In addition to the above awesomeness....the tour was actually informative and the staff is super cool. Great gift shop and KILLER craft beer. I tried them all.
GO. NOW. -
Review from Unyime E.
10/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is one of those places you always recommend to people who are visiting from out of town. For me, this is the quintessential institution for beer in Milwaukee. Sure you can go to the Miller, Pabst, and Sprecher tours, but I feel that you really get a true feeling for Milwaukee beer culture at the Lakefront Brewery.
The tours are great and can vary greatly depending on the tour guide you get. They range from the fun-loving, joke-cracking, Lavern and Shirley theme song playing to the somewhat dry, but very informative with an encyclopedic knowledge of brewing. Either way, you learn about their brewing process. I respect the fact that they understand the toll that the brewing process can take on the environment, and that they make a strong effort to be as eco-friendly as possible. During the tour, you get several opportunities to sample their beer. A lot has changed since I first started going on the tour. In the past you received a full-sized drinking glass before the tour started, making it very easy to get tanked during the tour. Unfortunately, due to amateur drinkers and the damage they can do with glass, you now receive a small-to-medium sized plastic cup and you have to use tokens (I believe you receive four). The resulting change? Same great experience, but still sober at the conclusion of the tour. Make sure to try the Riverwest Stein and the IPA
Let's not overlook the fish fry. Don't bother with the pricier fried perch or bluegills, the cod is where it's at. One of my favorite places for fish fries in town. You can't go wrong with either the potato pancakes or French fries. And the coup de grâce, a huge dance floor with a live polka band. I'm not one for dancing to polka music, but it's very fun to watch little children and older folks having a blast.
Five stars all the way. A tip for those who plan to go on the tour - make reservations or purchase tour tickets beforehand online.Listed in: Primo Milwaukee, Dranks
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Review from Dude B.
Milwaukee, WI
5/31/2011
Fortunately for my parents and I, the tour was quick, humorous, and involved beer. Having stumbled around town in a zig zag on the sidewalk all day hitting the local watering holes, we found ourselves at Lakefront Brewery on Friday evening. Our tour guide was a fast talker, Bruins fan, and just about on our sobriety level.
If you like big noisy halls with polka music, beer, and fried fish then the Lakefront will check everything on your list. Fish was very fresh and deep fried in three 3" x 1" to 4" x 2" pieces. It was a good old time.
*nom*erific
*book your tour tickets in advance. -
Review from April B.
Davenport, IA
6/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic! What an amazing tour. We did show up at 11:30 hoping to get on the 12:30 tour, but had to wait until 1:30 because it was so full already. The beers are great, the tour guides all were a blast! We ended up with a girl, which at first I was like, uh.......bummer. We got screwed! But seriously, she was super funny and the tour was wonderful. Any tour where your guides are buzzed and you get to drink on as well is A-OK with me. Plus you get to refill halfway through the tour.
My only downside is that we weren't given much instructions, so I had no idea that you needed to save a nickel for the refill halfway through. I ended up distracting the server so I could get the refill, but I felt bad...SAVE A NICKEL FOR THE TOUR! And don't forget to have a full cup before you head out. -
Review from Kelly F.
Madison, WI
8/29/2011
BEST BREWERY TOUR I HAVE EVER BEEN ON!!! For $7, you get 4 beers (They give you "tokens" to use before/during/after the tour), a coupon for a free Lakefront beer which can be used at a number of nearby bars in Milwaukee, and you get a souvenir pint glass.
Our tour guide "Kurtsie" was absolutely hilarious. He kept the whole group laughing throughout the tour, but we also learned a lot. For those of you that remember the old County Stadium and the infamous mug of beer that Bernie Brewer used to slide into for every home run...you will see this beloved mug on the Lakefront Brewery tour.
Just another reason to love Lakefront Brewery...they are environmentally friendly and donate their waste to Growing Power (an amazing organization in Milwaukee) to be used for composting.
I would highly recommend this tour...it's totally worth it. -
Review from David N.
11/1/2011 3 photos
The Lakefront Brewery is definitely good times. Just wish it stayed open later last Saturday!
You really can't beat the brewery tour, four pours (6 oz each), a Lakefront Brewery pint glass, and a coupon for a free drink at one of the local bars, for $7.00. Get there early because there will be a line. Looks like they have quite a following, and for good reason. Got there around 2:10pm with a group of 9, and were issued wristbands for the 2:30pm tour. Learn from my mistake and grab some beer before the tour. The tour itself ran about 30 minutes. Our guide was interesting, down to earth and wise-cracking along the way. The brewery beer was pretty solid, especially the IBA (India Black Ale). Afterwards, although crowded, we hung out and continued our enjoyment of the fine libations. Sucks that last call was hollered while the sun was still up, but it is what it is. Drank plenty of good beer, the crowd was big, but really friendly and having a good time. Definitely recommend this place to the out-of-towners and/or beer enthusiasts. Good times had by all! -
Review from James Z.
Chicago, IL
4/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
In the land of beer, the Lakefront Brewery stands head and shoulders above it's much larger competitors. The brewery tour is one of the best experiences Milwaukee has to offer. And chances are, if you've taken the tour before, you've taken it several times. That's exactly how most of the tour guides claim they got their jobs, haha.
Once the tour gets started you'll notice there's a few things a little different than most brewery tours. The biggest being Lakefront lets you drink DURING the hour long tour instead of making you wait until after. You also get to go down to the actual brewery floor where the beer is made and walk among all the different machines. It has a personality the others don't because of the tour guides. They aren't just historians, they're entertainers and most importantly, beer drinkers!
My favorite part of the tour is the kegging station. Not only do you get to yell "BUNGHOLE" at the top of your lungs, some unfortunate person gets publicly humiliated for doing something stupid at some point during the tour and is deemed "Bung Queen". As someone who's earned this dishonorable title for having a phone out (I was checking in on YELP), i can say it's not all bad because you get a free beer for your pain and suffering.
Two bits of advice though, if you plan on taking the tour, buy your tickets in advance, either online or just stop by in the morning. If you gamble and show up expecting to get tickets right before the tour starts, you'll probably be disappointed because they sell out quickly. Also, don't forget to redeem your plastic cup for your souvenir pint glass at the gift shop!
