The Milwaukee-area Beer Garden Guide is brought to you by Third Ward Beer Garden at Catalano Square. Open Wednesday through Sunday afternoons, with live music almost every day!
Beer garden season has arrived in Milwaukee! Here's the dish – or should I say, the pour – including when they're open and more.
Bookmark this page as we'll keep updating beer garden information as it becomes available.
414, let's have one more!
Partner Pick
Brewfinity Beer Gardens
Various locations in Pewaukee, Lisbon, Sussex
brewfinitybrewing.com
Brewfinity will serve beer at the Pints in the Park Traveling Beer Garden in Sussex, 5-8 p.m. Thursdays:
- June 26 – Vista Run Park, N66W25600 Alpine Dr.
- July 17 – Sussex Civic Center, N64W23760 Main St.
- Sept. 11 – Armory Park, W239N5664 Maple Ave.
And the Sussex Block Party, Sunday, Aug. 18, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Sussex Civic Center, N64W23760 Main St., along with the Lisbon Community Festival, Saturday, June 14, noon-4 p.m., Lisbon Community Park, N78W26970 Bartlett Pkwy., Hartland.
Pewaukee:
- Beer Garden Bags League, Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m., May 20-Sept. 23, Wagner Park, N31W23320 Green Rd.
- Pewaukee Lake Water Ski Shows, Thursdays, 5-9 p.m., Memorial Day-Labor Day, Lakefront Park, 222 W. Wisconsin Ave.
- Second Fridays, 6-9 p.m., June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12, Kiwanis Village Park, 325 Capitol Dr.
- Third Fridays, 6-9 p.m., June 20, July 18, Sept. 19, Springdale Park, W226N2400 Oakwood Ln.
- Fourth Fridays, 6-9 p.m., June 27, July 25, Aug. 22, Sept. 26, Nettesheim Park, N26W27495 Prospect Ave.
- Pewaukee Summer Sundown Movie & Concert, Aug. 15, 6-9 p.m., Wagner Park.
- Pewaukee Parktoberfest, Oct. 3, 5:30-9 p.m., Oct. 4, 3-8 p.m.
Elm Grove Beer Garden
Elm Grove Village Park, 13600 Juneau Blvd.
thirdspacebrewing.com/elmgrovebeergarden
The Elm Grove Beer Garden, featuring Third Space beers, has added Wednesdays, keeping it up and running from Wednesday through Sunday for most of the season.
In addition to beer, there is wine and canned cocktails, too, along with food trucks, live music and other events.
This year, there is also be more dedicated beer garden seating.
Brown Deer Beer Garden
8725 N. Deerwood Dr., Brown Deer
facebook.com/BrownDeerBeerGarden
This beer garden is open all year 'round, transforming into a heated winter garden with an ice rink in the cold months.
Find beer, wine, canned cocktails, giant pretzels, Usinger's sausages, schnitzel tenders and Wing Wednesday. In summer enjoy the Community Square green space.
Estabrook Beer Garden
4600 Estabrook Pkwy., (414) 219-9065
estabrookbeergarden.com
The first big Milwaukee beer garden offers plenty of shaded seating and a river view.
There's imported beer from the Munich Hofbrauhaus, along with brats, hot dogs, freshly baked soft pretzels, a Friday fish fry and schnitzel on Saturdays and Sundays.
There's a playground nearby for the kids, too.
Fox Point Beer Garden
Longacre Pavilion, 7343 N. Longacre Rd.
newbaronsbrewing.com/events
Opening May 23.
Food trucks, New Barons Brewing beer and live music on the North Shore. Open 5-9 p.m. Fridays May 23, June 13 & 27, July 11 & 25, Aug. 1, 8 & 22 and Saturdays Sept. 20 & 22 and Oct. 11.
Find details on performers and more at the website.
Franklin Beer Garden at Croatian Park
9100 S. 76th St., (414) 710-0357
franklinbeergarden.com
Open Thursdays, 5-10 p.m. with a happy hour from 5 until 6 featuring BOGO tap beers. Full service bar; import, domestic and local Lakefront beer; live music, professional bocce court, TV screens showing live sports, a children's playground and more.
European cuisine and local food trucks mean there's plenty to eat, and there are hundreds of tables, many covered.
Private party, event and meeting space available for rent, and phase one of a new pavilion project is nearing completion with an expected opening date in mid-June.
This will have a bar, covered seating for more than 300, which can accommodate 600 for concerts; a dedicated stage; and dance floor.
Hubbard Park Beer Garden
3565 N. Morris Blvd., Shorewood, (414) 332-4207
hubbardparkbeergarden.com
This Old World Beer Garden in Shorewood is located along the Oak Leaf Trail just south of Capitol Drive.
The garden features locally brewed beers, non-alcoholic drinks and a menu featuring sausages, hot dogs, German-style pretzels and Wisconsin cheese. There's also a great fish fry on Fridays and a Sunday brunch buffet.
Summer cabana rentals available.
The beer garden's availability is weather-dependent, but on days that are sunny and above around 60 degrees, Hubbard Park will serve starting at 3 p.m. on weekdays and noon on weekends.
New Berlin Beer Garden
Malone Park,16400 W. Al Stigler Pkwy., New Berlin Public Library, 15105 N. Library Ln., & Historic Park, 19885 W. National Ave., New Berlin, (414) 988-0100
componentbrewing.com
Originally for one Saturday a month from May-October in Malone Park, this pop-up beer garden featuring Component Brewing beer will – due to construction – move one of those events (Aug. 16) to the New Berlin Public Library. There will also be four Sunday events at New Berlin Historical Park in June, July, September, and October.
The beer garden is open noon-6 on Saturdays, May 24, June 14, July 12, Aug. 16, Sept. 6 and Oct. 11, and Sundays, June 15, July 13, Sept. 7 and Oct. 12.
Food available from food trucks like Pina's Mexican Eats, K&L BBBQ and Big O's Texas BBQ from noon until 6 or whenever it sells out. Live music 2-5 p.m. Check the Component website and social media for additional vendors and activities and the live music and food truck schedule.
The Vine at Humboldt Park
3000 S. Howell Ave.
thevinehumboldt.com
Reopens for the season at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 30 with a short ceremony starting just before 4, followed by free beer and root beer for 20 minutes.
This Bay View beer garden has both indoor and outdoor seating with a playground nearby. Also a great stop before or after Chill on the Hill on Tuesday evenings! (Beverages purchased at The Vine Humboldt can be carried throughout the park.)
The menu includes craft beer, wine, hard cider, N/A beverages and more.
Proceeds from the beer garden help to fund park projects.
Juneau Beer Garden
900 N. Prospect Ave.
juneaubeergarden.com
This Downtown beer garden was added after Juneau Park became a popular stop on the Traveling Beer Garden circuit. Located at the east end of Kilbourn Avenue.
There are 18 tap lines; brats/hot dogs, soft pretzels and other food; food trucks on Friday nights and all-day Saturdays; live music, 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; and seating for more than 300.
Last year, during its second season, the Juneau Park Beer Garden served more than 30,000 pints of beer and more than 1,000 1-liter steins of beer. It also sold 2,700 Klement's sausages and 1,500 Milwaukee Pretzel Company soft pretzels.
Kegel’s Inn Beer Garden
5901 W. National Ave., West Allis (414) 257-9999
exploretock.com/kegelsinn
Kegel's Inn Beer Garden is an easy walk to the ballpark and there’s incredible food plus live music, 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 6-9 Friday and noon-3 Saturday.
Austrian/German classical music on Wednesdays, classical and jazz on Thursdays, authentic/traditional music on Fridays and singer-songwriters on Saturdays.
The Landing at Hoyt Park
1800 N. Swan Blvd., Wauwatosa, (414) 302-9160
friendsofhoytpark.org/the-landing
The Landing – with seating both outdoors and inside this amazing great hall – features a changing list of local craft and imported beer, along with red, white and sparkling wines and a food menu including Cranky Al’s pizza, giant pretzels, obatzda, beer brats, hot dogs, popcorn and fountain drinks.
A schedule of live music is also posted on its website.
There's a playground nearby and one of the best pools in the area is on the other side of the fence.
Oak Creek Beer Garden
Drexel Town Square
361 W. Town Square Way, (414) 766-7000
oakcreekwi.gov/visitor/events/beer-gardens
Held Thursday-Saturday, June 19-21, July 24-26 and Aug. 21-23. Live music, craft beer from The Explorium Brewpub and food from Drexel Town Square restaurants and food trucks.
Oconomowoc Downtown Beer Garden
Village Green Park, 104 E. Wisconsin Ave.
oconomowoc.org/events/oacc-signature-events/summer-beer-gardens
Downtown Oconomowoc is a great summer destination, with a beautiful beach, shopping, dining and more. The beer garden sits right in the heart of it all.
Held June 19-21, July 17-19 and Aug. 14-15, each weekend will have an area brewery – Gathering Place and Wisconsin Brewing Co. (June); Karben4, Ale Asylum and Brewfinity (July); Hop Haus and Steel Tank (August) – live music, trivia on Thursday and nonprofits bartending.
Complete music lineups and more at the website.
Roundhouse Beer Garden
McKinley Marina, 1750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., (414) 395-4910
roundhousemke.com
Another lakefront beer garden, this one sits near the McKinley Marina and the public boat launch. It offers great views over the lake and sells food and beverages that can be enjoyed on the lakeside lawn.
Open seven days per week, including holidays, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Beginning on Friday, May 23, the roundhouse will host live music on Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m.
South Shore Terrace
2900 S. Shore Dr., (414) 617-1147
southshoreterrace.com
This beach-side concessions area in South Shore Park features the Miller 1855 Bar, with its nearly 30-foot concrete and cedar counter complete with 20 tap handles.
The gathering space, open spring through fall, also includes a cedar pergola, two stamped-concrete stages, gas fire pits to keep everyone cozy during cooler weather, seating and a glorious view of Lake Michigan and the Downtown skyline.
And to help soak in the sights and the suds, there's also a menu of farm-to-table snacks including pretzels, cheese boards, fries, sandwiches, Friday fish fry and more.
Open Wednesdays-Fridays, 4-9 p.m., Saturdays-Sundays and holidays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. It can be rented for private events on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Tap Yards
Fox Brook Park, Brookfield
Menomonee Park, Menomonee Falls
Schlitz Park, Milwaukee
Minooka Park, Waukesha
Ackerman's Grove, West Bend
thetapyards.com
The Tap Yard group of dog- and family-friendly beer gardens – with beer, food, lots of events (including yoga classes!).
Check the website for complete schedules, details and more.
Third Ward Beer Garden at Catalano Square
East Menomonee & North Broadway Streets
thirdwardbeergarden.com
Located in Catalano Square in the heart of one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the sity, this beer garden is nestled near the RiverWalk, great shopping, dining, art galleries and more.
In addition to live music Thursday-Saturday each week, The Third Ward Beer Garden will host Music Bingo on Wednesdays and Barks & Brews on Sundays all season long.
Traveling Beer Gardens
travelingbeergardens.com
The County Parks Traveling Beer Gardens, in partnership with Sprecher Brewery, again visits eight parks this season:
- May 21 to June 8 – Greenfield Park
- June 11-22 – Cooper Park
- June 25 to July 6 – Grant Park
- July 9-20 – McCarty Park
- July 23 to Aug. 3 – Lake Park
- Aug. 6-17 – Doctors Park
- Aug. 20 to Sept. 1 – Sheridan Park
More information can be found here.
War Memorial Beer Garden
750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., (414) 534-7289
warmemorialbeergarden.com
This beer garden, which supports the Milwaukee War Memorial, has one of the best views of any beer garden, sitting alongside both the lakefront and Eero Saarinen's striking War Memorial Center building.
Great German beers and food from Kegel's Inn. What more could you want?
Live music Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Full events schedule at the website.
Open Tuesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Whitnall Beer Garden
8831 N. Root River Pkwy., Greendale
whitnallbeergarden.com
This beer garden is extremely fun, and popular, having done 39 percent more business in 2023 over the previous year. Last year, Whitnall sold 8,400 non-alcoholic beverages, 3,300 hard seltzers, 2,800 one-liter steins of beer and 72,000 pints of beer. Gift of Wings, the food vendor, dished up 2,800 soft pretzels, 3,800 burgers, 2,900 servings of cheese curds, 2,400 brats, 2,200 hot dogs, 2,500 fish fry dinners, 550 pig roast dinners and 3,520 hand-dipped ice cream cones.
There are 24 tap lines; live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday; plus food from Gift of Wings Grill, including taco Tuesdays, fish fry Wednesdays and Fridays, pig roast on select Sundays (June 1 and 15, July 6 and Aug. 17); and more! Proceeds benefit Milwaukee County Parks.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
