When Broken Bat Brewing Company owners Tim Pauly and Dan McElwee hatched the plan for their brewery and tap room at 231 E. Buffalo St., their hope was for an Opening Day launch.
And they were pretty much on the ball, only a few days late. The baseball-themed brewery and tap room – the first of its kind in the Third Ward – will open its doors to the public on Friday, April 7 at noon.
A garden level brewery
The brewery isn't difficult to find. But, you will have to head down the stairs just to the left of the entrance to get there.
Unbroken bats
Right off the bat, you'll see the brewery's theme come into view. Even the door handles play along.
The playing field
The tap room itself seats about 40. You can belly up to the molded cement bar or perch on a seat at one of a variety of high-top tables.
Take a seat
If you prefer, you can sit back and relax in one of the man cave-esque green chairs. They may seem out of left field, but they've become an integral part of the space.
"Those chairs were the only things here when we moved in," notes McElwee. "People seem to love them, so we can't seem to get rid of them."
The beer
Signs on the back wall introduce the brewery's first beers, including Climb the Wall farmhouse ale, Straight Ahead Chedd apricot pale ale, Mint Condition porter infused with mint and Double Play IPA.
On tap
The tap handles behind the bar were designed by Mark Martio, an artist friend from La Crosse during one of the friends' early conversations about starting a brewery. The original drawing was sketched out on a Post-it note.
Homage
A framed photo and Braves jersey pay homage to one of the greats: Milwaukee Braves and Brewers outfielder Hank Aaron.
Nice aim
A dart board welcomes players to while away an afternoon with friends.
Baseball card wall
Even the men's room is a testament to baseball. It features a wall covered solidly in baseball cards collected since childhood by Pauly and McElwee.
A home run
The brewery is cozy. But, it's vibrant and functional. And that's a home run for Pauly and McElwee, who've made their baseball and beer loving dreams come true.
Once open, the Broken Bat tap room will be open Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to midnight, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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