Beer has been a major part of our state’s history for more than a century. Most people in the world hear “Wisconsin” and think of beer and cheese. Beer is pretty central to our identity here in Wisconsin. There are literally hundreds of breweries across the state and everyone has their favorite. But one Wisconsin brewery was recently voted the second-best new brewery in the country. This fabulous brewery makes small batches of unique beers that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. With an interesting “member” model that gives advanced access to all their releases and a near cult-level local following, it’s easy to see why Eagle Park Brewing is considered one of the best.
When USA Today asked their readers what the best new breweries in the country were, Milwaukee's Eagle Park Brewing was near the top of the list. This small brewery started in Bayview and had to contract out to Octopi Brewery in Waunakee to even put out a few hundred barrels a year.
Now in a converted warehouse on Milwaukee's East Side, they have expanded their capacity to about 1,500 barrels a year. It's still an incredibly small brewery, but Eagle Park is at least starting to meet the demand people have for their unique and incredibly delicious beers.
Constantly innovating and collaborating, these are folks who clearly truly love beer. They say their story in the beer industry started with their first sip. They used their years of enjoying the product to inform how and why they started brewing. Like many craft brewers, this brewery started in the garage and eventually grew into the tiny capacity they had in Bayview.
But the beer here is spectacular. It's interesting and unlike anything else. These folks aren't afraid to think outside the box. The beers are big and bold, full of flavor and in your face. They're weird and wonderful and the public noticed.
Eagle Park grew by word of mouth as folks couldn't stop talking about these amazing beers. The demand was there and they eventually found their home in this cool, industrial space with the kind of tasting room that makes you want to move in and stay forever. The beer is the draw, but the food here is also an underappreciated star.
You never know what you might find when you head to Eagle Park. They make beer slushies. They put so much flavor in a glass, you're shocked by how potent it is. They mix up weird and wonderful recipes that challenge your idea of beer and delight your tastebuds.
In addition to what they brew up, Eagle Park also has a program where for $50 or $75 a year, you can become a member of the brewery and that gets you access to new releases, both in the taproom and in cans. It's not something you see often in breweries, but it's an affordable way for everyday people to continue to access the brews.
In a time when tons of breweries open up every year, Eagle Park manages to stand out from the crowd with a totally unusual take on things. The beer is fantastic, the location is welcoming and you can imagine that only amazing things will continue to come from Eagle Park.
Eagle Park Brewing is located at 823 E Hamilton St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. You can find out more about this fantastic brewery, including what’s currently on tap, at their website or by checking out their Facebook page.
