Best Places To Buy Beer In Wisconsin

Wisconsin is known for its beer, with a rich history of brewing that dates back to before the state was established. By the late 1890s, nearly every community in Wisconsin had at least one operating brewery, and the state has continued to be a leader in the industry, with Milwaukee earning the nickname The Beer Capital of the World by 1900. Today, there are numerous places to buy beer in Wisconsin, including breweries, craft beer festivals, and wholesale distributors. Some popular Wisconsin beers include those from MillerCoors, Leinenkugel, and Pabst, as well as local favourites like Spotted Cow from New Glarus Brewery.

Beer distributors in WI

Beer enthusiasts in Wisconsin are spoilt for choice when it comes to distributors. The state is home to a variety of beer distributors, each offering a diverse range of domestic, craft, and imported beers, as well as craft sodas, waters, and energy drinks.

One notable distributor is Wisconsin Distributors, serving 30 counties in Southern Wisconsin with warehouses in Sun Prairie and Appleton. The McCormick Family, who have been in the industry since 1986, established a majority interest in the company in 2000. Wisconsin Distributors expanded its reach over the years, acquiring Tri-County Distributors in 2006 and River City Distributing in 2017, adding renowned craft and import breweries to their portfolio. Their popular beer brands include Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois, New Belgium, Goose Island, and One Barrel Brewing Company.

Another prominent distributor in the state is the Frank Beverage Group, which is part of the Wisconsin Beverage Network. This network spans all 72 counties in Wisconsin and comprises six members who provide sales, marketing, and merchandising services. The group primarily consists of MillerCoors distributors but also represents various craft, import, and FMB brands. They are committed to promoting their suppliers' brands and growing their customers' businesses.

Beer lovers in Wisconsin can also turn to distributors like CJW Inc, Lee Beverage of WI, Kay Beer Distributing, Dean Distributing, and Bernicks, all of whom are part of the Wisconsin Beverage Network. Each of these distributors likely has its own unique portfolio of beer brands, ensuring that residents and businesses across the state have a diverse selection of beers to choose from.

With a rich history of beer-making and a strong culture of craft brewing, Wisconsin's beer distributors play a vital role in promoting local and global beer brands, connecting brewers with consumers, and contributing to the state's vibrant beer culture.

Beer retailers in WI

Wholesale Distributors

General Beverage is one of the largest wholesale distributors of beer in Wisconsin, operating in all of the state's 72 counties. The company has been family-owned since its establishment in 1933 and works with over 12,000 licensed retail business customers.

Online Retailers

Total Wine & More is an online retailer that offers a wide selection of Wisconsin beers, including mass-produced and craft beers.

Local Breweries

Wisconsin is also home to numerous local breweries, many of which offer their beers for sale on-site or through local retailers. Some notable examples include:

• Door County Brewing Company: Located in Baileys Harbor, this brewery creates beers that reflect the community and friends. They offer a range of unique beers, such as the Polka King Porter, Little Sister Witbier, and Silurian Stout.
• Wisconsin Brewing Company: Founded by brothers Carl and Mark Nolen and brewmaster Kirby Nelson, this brewery aims to honour the people, places, and brewing heritage of Wisconsin. Their beers, such as the Big Sweet Life and Bleeding Heart, can be purchased at Koepsel's Farm Market in Door County.
• Stone Cellar Brewpub: Based in Appleton, this brewery expanded in 2012 and now distributes its beers to over 100 bars and restaurants, including Koepsel's Farm Market. Their offerings include the Vanishing Vanilla Stout, Houdini Honey Wheat, and Stone Arch Stout.
• Sprecher Brewery: Located in Glendale, Sprecher Brewery is known for its Black Bavarian dark beer and other malt beverages and sodas. They also produce a range of beers under their Chameleon Brewing Company label.
• Gray's Brewing Co.: This brewery, founded in 1856, offers a variety of beers, including the Gray's Oatmeal Stout, Gray's Bully Porter, and Gray's Honey Ale, made with locally harvested honey.
• Hinterland: A small artisanal brewery in Green Bay, Hinterland was founded in 1995 and is known for its award-winning beers, such as the Luna Stout, India Pale Ale, and Pale Ale. Their beers can be found in Wisconsin's finest restaurants, taverns, and grocery stores.
• New Glarus Brewing: This brewery creates unique beers like the Spotted Cow, Two Women (a collaboration with Weyermann Malting), and the Wisconsin Belgian Red, made with Door County cherries.
• Stillmank Brewing Co.: An independently owned craft beer company in Green Bay, known for beers like Wisco Disco, a deep amber beer with rich malt and hop flavours, and the Perky Porter, a milk chocolate coffee porter.

These options showcase the diverse range of beer retailers in Wisconsin, from large distributors to small-brewery operations, ensuring that beer lovers in the state have a wide variety of choices to suit their tastes.

Beer festivals in WI

Wisconsin is known for its beer festivals, and with good reason. There are many to choose from, and they are a great way to spend time with friends and family, sampling craft beers, ciders, and hard seltzers.

The Thirsty Troll Brew Fest in Mount Horeb features Jorgen the Troll, Mount Horeb's mascot, along with over 100 craft microbrews and ciders. The festival also includes live music, food, and a Steinholding contest, where competitors hold a full one-liter beer stein for as long as possible.

The Great Lakes Brew Fest, held on the shores of Lake Michigan in Kenosha, offers a vast selection of nearly 75 brewers and over 300 craft beverages to sample. The ticket price includes all the beer samples you can drink and a souvenir pint glass. Local restaurants provide food, and there is live music to enjoy.

For a festival with a view, the Door County Beer Festival takes place on the beautiful grounds of About Thyme Farm in Baileys Harbor. This festival features beers from over 45 Midwestern craft breweries, with live music and local food.

Craftoberfest in Green Bay is another excellent option, offering a wide range of craft beers, as well as wine and spirits. This festival also includes live polka music, axe-throwing, a best beard competition, and a photobooth for memorable pictures.

Lastly, Craft Beer Night at Oktoberfest USA in La Crosse is a must-attend event. This 4-day celebration of Wisconsin's German heritage includes music, food, fireworks, and parades. Craft Beer Night showcases samples from over 40 breweries, providing an excellent opportunity to meet the brewers and learn about their craft.

Beer breweries in WI

Wisconsin is known for its rich beer-brewing history and culture, with a wide variety of breweries located across the state. These breweries produce many different styles of beer, from mass-produced lagers to craft beers and artisan brews. The state's brewing industry has been influenced by its German heritage, with talented and ambitious German-American brewers playing a significant role in its development.

One of the oldest breweries in Wisconsin is the Minhas Craft Brewery, founded in 1845 as the Monroe Brewing Company. It has changed hands several times over the years and became the Minhas Craft Brewery in 2006. Another well-known brewery is the Miller Brewing Company, which operates breweries in multiple locations and is now a subsidiary of Molson Coors Brewing Company.

There are also many other notable breweries in Wisconsin, including the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, an offshoot of a coffee, beer, wine, and liquor specialty store. The brewery expanded its tap room in 2013 and moved to a new location in 2016, with a capacity of producing 500 barrels of beer per year.

In addition to these established names, Wisconsin is also home to a thriving craft beer scene. Sprecher Brewery, for example, is Milwaukee's first craft beer brewery since Prohibition and is known for its Black Bavarian dark beer and root beer. The state also boasts a significant number of gluten-free and diabetic-friendly breweries, such as 3 Sheeps Brewing Company and Big Head Brewing Co., respectively.

Whether it's a mass-produced lager or a small-batch craft brew, Wisconsin's breweries offer a diverse range of options for beer enthusiasts to explore and enjoy.

Beer types in WI

Wisconsin is known for its beer, with a rich history of brewing that has influenced many countries both economically and culturally. The state's brewing industry is known for its consistency, whether the beer is poured from a tap or a bottle. Wisconsin is also known for its American-style light beer and more recent artisan craft brewing, as well as a resurgence of German-style beer-making.

Some of the popular beer types in Wisconsin include:

• American Imperial Stouts – This style is popular among Wisconsin's craft brewers, with examples including Central Waters Brewing Co.'s Black Gold, Toppling Waters, and Twenty Five, as well as 3 Sheeps Brewing's The Wolf and Über Joe.
• Fruit and Field Beers – New Glarus Brewing Company specialises in this style, with offerings such as Wisconsin Belgian Red, Raspberry Tart, and Serendipity.
• Bourbon Barrel-Aged Beers – Central Waters Brewing Co. offers a range of beers aged in bourbon barrels, including their Brewer's Reserve series featuring an Imperial Stout, Barleywine, Scotch Ale, and Double Barrel Stout.
• IPAs – While IPAs are popular across the United States, Wisconsin has its own take on this style. Examples include New Glarus Brewing Company's Thumbprint Scream IIPA and 3 Sheeps Brewing Company's Chaos Pattern.
• Pale Ales – Moon Man by New Glarus Brewing Company is a popular example of this style in Wisconsin.
• Shandies – Summer Shandy by Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company is a well-known example of this refreshing style, perfect for a hot Wisconsin summer day.
• American Amber/Red Lager – Riverwest Stein by Lakefront Brewery is an example of this style, offering a balance of malt and hop flavours.

Wisconsin is also home to a variety of breweries, from large-scale operations like Miller Brewing Company and Leinenkugel to smaller craft breweries like Central Waters Brewing Company and New Glarus Brewing Company. These breweries offer a range of beer styles, so there is something to suit every taste.

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