What says “Milwaukee” more than a brewery tour?
Honestly, I can’t think of much. There’s something about the sweet, yeasty smells, the bright stainless steel vats, the friendliness of a brew-master tour guide, and (of course) the promise of a taste of deliciously artful beer that reminds us off all the things that make Milwaukee truly great.
I also didn’t think that there was a tour in town that could beat out the awesome one at Lakefront Brewery… until I took the tour at the Milwaukee Brewing Company.
The Milwaukee Brewing Company is a relative newcomer to the Milwaukee beer scene. Although the brand has been producing microbrews in their Milwaukee Ale House Pub Brewery since 1997, they didn’t start a formal craft brewery and bottling facility until 2007. Although the brewery concept was part of the plan for Milwaukee Ale House from the beginning, plans for the brewing facility were put on fast-forward when the brewpub bill made it illegal to operate a brewpub and production brewery that produces over 10,000 barrels a year. Needless to say, the Milwaukee brewing folks had to act quickly to finish their production facility before the law went into effect, grandfathering them in as an exception to the law. In 2010 the brewery produced nearly 3,000 barrels of craft brews in addition to the beer brewed at its Ale House.
The brew tour at MBC is much like others – a walk 
around the facility, a short lesson in what makes brewing work, and a generous tasting (or two) of the brewery’s product. But, one of the things that makes MBC’s tour impressive is that it’s also a lesson in energy conservation.
Impressively, Milwaukee Brewing Company has shown a true commitment to finding new and innovative ways to reuse and conserve energy, placing it at the forefront of companies working towards Green Energy.
The brewery’s energy initiatives currently include plenty of recycling. They reuse heat from its cooling system to reduce the costs of heating water for the brewing cycle. Their boiler runs on recycled vegetable oil obtained from the Ale House. And their recovery water used to chill their beer is then repurposed for cleaning the brewery itself. Unlike larger breweries, which typically toss their yeast at the end of a brewing cycle, MBC also recycles theirs, using the same strains cycle after cycle until it loses its vitality.
In 2009, the brewery also started releasing their brews in aluminum cans – a green move, since it reduces the weight of the product (saves on shipping), increases the recyclability, and makes for more efficient cooling of the beer. For more on the advantages of using aluminum cans for beer, read this article from Beer Advocate.
When you’re finished oohhhing and aaahhhing over MBC’s obvious dedication to conservation, it’s time to hang with the master brewers and drink a bit of beer – which is exactly what we did.
I’ll admit, I’ve never been a big fan of Milwaukee Brewing Company’s beer. But, rest assured, the tour changed all that. I had the opportunity to sample numerous beers – including their Timed Release Brews (Dunkle-Weiss, Blockhead Brown, and Baltic Porter), as well as an awesome experimental brew called Devil’s Advocate Spiced Mahongany Ale, which became my next beer love. This brew was like nothing I’ve ever tasted. A strong mahogany ale brewed in the Belgian style, Devil’s Advocate is a blend of barley malt, wheat, and oats that come together to create a smooth full bodied beer with a rich caramel and dried fruit flavor. This batch was heavily scented with anise, creating a deliciously licorice-like flavor that would have been perfect paired with Italian sausage or Italian fare.
My friend Rebecca often comments when speaking of the folks who work at brewing companies, “He’s doing God’s work.” And, in this particular case, I’d have to agree.
I made sure to tip my hat to Bert, MBC’s master brewer, on my way out.
Milwaukee Brewing Company
613 S. Second St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204
(414) 276-BEER
www.milwaukeebrewingco.com
Tours ($7) available every Friday at 5 and 6pm, Saturdays at 3, 4, and 5pm
