Tuesday, April 28
For the past three months, Broken Bat Brewing founder Tim Pauly and Gathering Place Brewing founder Joe Yeado have been teaching a class on brewing technology and entrepreneurship at Marquette University. Students were able to brew their own beer, and now you get to try it. Broken Bat (135 E. Pittsburgh Ave.) is tapping the four different beers brewed by students in the class.
Thursday, April 30
The Estabrook Park Beer Garden (4600 Estabrook Pkwy.) celebrates its grand opening with a tapping of keg of Hofbräu Maibock and free beer from 6 to 7 p.m. There will be music and a stein holding contest at 7 p.m. It’s also the kickoff to a weekend-long Maifest celebration at the beer garden, which includes a tapping of Lakefront Maibock at 6 p.m. Friday.
Friday, May 1
The Third Ward Beer Garden in Catalano Square opens for the 2026 season with free beer at 3 p.m., and one keg of free beer will begin flowing at 5 p.m. Singer-songwriter Ben Harold will perform from 5-8:30 p.m.
Discount Liquor Waukesha (919 N. Barstow St.) is pouring samples from Duesterbeck Brewing from 3 to 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 2
Big Head Brewing (6204 W. State St., Wauwatosa) celebrates the Kentucky Derby with music from the Jackson Park Jazz Orchestra, food and a chance to win Big Head swag if you pick a winning horse.
Ska-Sauge Fest is happening at Amorphic Beer (3700 N. Fratney St.) from 2 to 7 p.m. Expect a release of a citrus-infused maibock, Czech sausages and a live ska music from Peppers and Pineapples.
Ten finalists from the Cream City Homebrew Competition will be pouring their beers at Gathering Place Brewing (811 E. Vienna Ave.) from 12:30 to 4 p.m. This list of the 10 finalists includes a variety of styles. Gathering Place will commercially brew the winning beer.
Foxtown Brewing’s event venue, Foxtown Station, (6209 W. Mequon Rd., Mequon) is throwing a combo party for both the Kentucky Derby and Maifest from noon to 10:30 p.m. It will be pouring the appropriate seasonal beers, hosting live music and having a Dachshund Derby from 3 to 5 p.m.
Perspective Brewing (7508 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis) marks Derby Day with the release of a mint julep seltzer, a food truck and drink specials.
Try Mexican beer samples from Pacifico, Victoria and Modelo Negra at Discount Liquor Milwaukee (5031 W. Oklahoma Ave., West Allis) and Discount Liquor Waukesha from noon to 3 p.m.
Coming Soon
Wednesday, May 13: The Fermentorium (7481 State Rd. 60, Cedarburg) marks 10 years in the brewery business with several days of festivities that start on Wednesday and culminate with a big party on Saturday.
Sunday, May 17: Maifest returns to Lakefront Brewery. The gluten-free festival features food and craft beverages and several cask beers made for the occasion.
Saturday, May 30: The eighth year of Lager & Friends is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. The beer fest out on Vienna Street in front of Gathering Place Brewing highlights lagers from several standout breweries.
Saturday, May 30: Sheboygan’s 3 Sheeps Brewing celebrates its 14th anniversary with live music, food vendors, a sale of vintage barrel-aged bottles and more.
Saturday, June 13: Sip and Savor Wisconsin (formerly the Wisconsin Beer Lovers Fest) comes to The Bavarian Bierhaus (700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale) and the pavilion in its Old Heidelberg Park beer garden. Sample beer, wine, spirits and food from some of Wisconsin’s best artisan makers. Tickets start at $70.
