Third Space Brewing Celebrates 10 Happy Years With Anniversary Party and Month-Long Celebration
Milwaukee brewery marks a decade in the Menomonee Valley with live music, special beer releases, food trucks, and a fundraiser supporting Camp Minikani.
Milwaukee, Wisc. – September 9, 2026 – Ten years after opening its doors in Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley, Third Space Brewing is celebrating a decade of brewing beer, building community and bringing people together, with a month-long celebration culminating in its 10th Anniversary Party on Saturday, September 26, from noon to 10 p.m.
The anniversary party will take place at Third Space Brewing’s brewery and taproom at 1505 W. St. Paul Ave. in Milwaukee and will feature live music, local food trucks, plenty of Third Space beer and an opportunity to support YMCA Camp Minikani, the summer camp where Third Space co-founders Andy Gehl and Kevin Wright first met more than 25 years ago. The event is free and open to the public.
“We can hardly believe it’s been 10 years,” said Third Space Brewing Co-Founder and President Andy Gehl. “When Kevin and I started Third Space, we had a simple idea: make great beer and create a ‘third space’ where people could come together, relax and enjoy themselves. We never imagined what this community would become over the past decade. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has made Third Space Brewing their go-to Wisconsin craft beer, stopped by one of our tap rooms or beer gardens, or otherwise supported our business these past ten years. We would not be where we are today without the incredible customers and Third Space team members who have been a part of this journey.”
A Decade of Third Space
Third Space Brewing opened its Milwaukee brewery and taproom in September 2016, founded by longtime friends Gehl and Wright. The pair first met as counselors at Camp Minikani, which they often refer to as one of the first “third spaces.”
The name Third Space comes from the idea that everyone has a home and a workplace, but also needs a “third space” – a welcoming place outside of home and work where people can gather, connect and enjoy time together.
That idea has remained at the center of Third Space Brewing for the past 10 years. Since opening, Third Space has grown from a small Milwaukee brewery into a statewide craft beer brand. The company has also expanded its retail footprint with the Third Space Innovation Brewhouse, a tap room and restaurant in Menomonee Falls and additional community-focused beer garden locations.
“In the early days the brewery team was just Andy and me with a handful of part-time tap room bartenders,” added Wright, Co-Founder and Brewmaster. “I brewed the beer and Andy sold it, bar by bar and keg by keg, until we had grown demand enough to start hiring a bigger team. Now we have over 60 employees across several locations and are one of the top five selling craft breweries in the state. We are very proud of what we have accomplished with the help of an amazing team and customer base.”
In its first calendar year, Third Space self-distributed over 2,300 barrels of craft beer, making it one of the top 25 breweries in the state, selling only in southeastern Wisconsin. From there, the brewery continued to expand its sales volume, distribution footprint, team, and product mix. Today, Third Space Brewing sells nearly 13,000 barrels annually of beer and other beverages like Hop Water and Head Space, a hemp-derived THC drink.
Its top selling beers include Wisconsin staples like Happy Place Midwest Pale Ale, Heavenly Haze Hazy IPA, Frog Weiss Fruited Sour and Pretty Good Amber. They also include newer innovations like 2026 releases: Central Time IPA and its newest beer, 3.0 Pilsner, a 3% alcohol beer that is still full-flavored.
Community Involvement
The brewery has also made community involvement a core part of its business, supporting local nonprofits and community organizations through fundraising events and programs throughout the year, including its annual Anniversary Party. For the past several years, Third Space has raised funds at the Anniversary Party for camper scholarships to send kids to Camp Minikani who otherwise could not afford the impactful experience that Wright and Gehl experienced in their own youth.
While the 10th Anniversary party is free to attend, Third Space encourages a minimum donation of $10 to enjoy the festivities. Those who donate more will earn thank you gifts from Third Space or Camp Minikani that range from Third Space or Minikani merchandise to things like Beer for a Year, a Free Barrel-Party at Third Space, Priority Registration for Minikani, or even a week of Day-Camp.
10th Anniversary Party
The Party on Saturday, September 26 will be the centerpiece of Third Space’s anniversary celebration.
The all-day event will feature special beer releases, free beer opportunities, kids’ activities from Minikani, live music from local artists, beer-related activities to win prizes, food trucks, and more.
The two 10th Anniversary beer releases include the temporary return of the much-loved and heavily decorated Unite the Clans Scottish-Style Ale, winner of 3 Great American Beer Festival medals and Super Happy, a brand-new brewery-only limited release that is an amped-up version of the brewery’s flagship beer, Happy Place. Both beers will be available on draft and in cans at the party, September 26th.
Anniversary Party Activity Schedule:
- 12:00 – Special Beer Releases
- 12:00 – 2:00 – Free Beer Opportunity for My Third Space Club Members, former Third Space employees, and anyone wearing an item of Third Space merchandise.
- 1:00 – 4:00 – Kids Activities hosted by Camp Minikani
- 3:00 – Happy Place Hoisting Contest
- 5:00 – Split the Shield Contest
- 7:30 – 50/50 Raffle and Thank Yous from our Founders
Anniversary Party Live Music Lineup
- 2:00-3:00 – Dead Air Vandals
- 4:00-5:00 – Litmus Vinyl
- 6:00-7:00 – Derek Pritzl
- 8:00-9:00 – Steph Lippert Project
Celebrating All Month Long
Third Space is also marking its 10th anniversary with special events throughout September leading up to the big celebration.
The anniversary calendar includes:
- Every Friday in September – Brewmaster’s Toast: At 5:45 p.m. each Friday, Third Space will raise a glass to 10 years with a Brewmaster’s Toast and $1 pints of a selected beer until the keg blows (a former weekly tradition from Third Space Brewing’s early days).
- Thursday, September 10 – Brewmaster’s Tour: Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the brewery led by Co-Founder and Brewmaster Kevin Wright. The tour is free, with limited spaces available.
- Wednesday, September 16 – Third Space Trivia: Co-Founder and President Andy will host a specialty Third Space-themed trivia night featuring questions about the brewery’s beers, history, staff and more. Test your Third Space knowledge to win prizes.
“Ten years is a big milestone, but for us it’s really about the people,” added Gehl. “Third Space wouldn’t be Third Space without the people who walk through our doors. We want this anniversary to be a celebration of our customers, our employees, our friends, our families and this community that has supported us for the past 10 years. We hope everyone comes out on September 26 and to our other events to celebrate with us.”
For more information about Third Space Brewing’s 10th Anniversary celebration and the full September event schedule or to sign up for the free Brewmaster tour, visit shopthirdspace.com/tenth-anniversary.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
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