Russ Klisch

Lakefront Brewery Adding Riverside Amenities

Will make riverside more pedestrian friendly, more fun for customers.

Lakefront Introduces THC Drinks

Milwaukee brewer entering market as new state and federal regulations loom.

Heat Waves Prompt Menu Change at Lakefront Brewery

As summer temps spike, local restaurant kitchens can see dangerous conditions.

Tammy Baldwin Talks Tariffs With Local Business Owners

Senator spoke with brewers, farmers, chefs and others lamenting tariffs at roundtable.

Lakefront Partnering With Famed German Brewery On New Beer

Bräu Buddies, a German-style lager, will be available throughout April and May.

Will Lakefront Brewery Go Union?

Narrow vote favored a union but six ballots challenged. Issue now in the hands of NLRB.

Is Craft Beer Dying in Milwaukee?

Industry experts weigh in, following a wave of brewery closures in town.

Lakefront Brewery Service Workers Organizing Union

Union for workers says it has majority support. Lakefront wants NLRB election.

Lakefront Brewery Reveals Black Friday Releases

Plus: New tavern opens, The Daily Bird flip-flops and a 'digital food hall' for Bay View.

New Glarus Brewing Company Expanding

Family-run company known for Spotted Cow ale will grow production by 46%.

Gluten-Free Festival Returns to Lakefront Brewery

Gluten-free cheese curds, beers and more on tap for third annual Maifest.

Notables Attend City Birthday Party

The city's 178th birthday party offered fun, food and political chatter.

Lakefront Brewery Hosting Hot Wing Trivia Event

Plus: a special Valentine's Day event and new gluten-free offerings at the brewery.

Lakefront Brewery’s New Riverwalk Patio

Lovely new covered patio offers great views of the river, city and Holton Street Viaduct.

How Falcon Bowl Was Saved

And how the nationally historic Riverwest bar and bowling alley is being transformed.

Lakefront Brewery Begins Switch to Cans

Shift away from glass bottles to cans only is both economic and eco-friendly.

Lakefront Brewery Installing Vintage Copper Lauter Tun

Originally used in a German brewery, the kettle will be displayed at beer hall.

We Took the Free Riverwest Brewery Shuttle Bus. Here’s How it Went.

Shuttle is a welcome amenity, encourages locals and tourists alike to explore beyond Downtown.

Two Big Riverwalk Beer Gardens Planned

The Tap Yard finds new home and Lakefront Brewery plans to rebuild its outdoor space.

Scardina Deli Plans Return To Riverwest

Scardina Specialties, closed in 2021 when its building condemned, would reopen in bigger space on Locust St.

New Video Captures Sound, History of City Hall Bell

E-flat giant weighs 20,505 pounds, making it the third largest bell ever cast in U.S.

Local Brewery Production Dips due to Virus

Tavern closures kill kegs; demand soars for canned beer.

Bars, Restaurants and COVID-19

How restaurants and taverns in Milwaukee are reacting to the Coronavirus.

There’s Only One Liquid Johnny’s

Classic Milwaukee. Same name since 1981. Wear your cat shirt and get free draft beer.

Group Rescues City’s Church Bells

Bells of Milwaukee researches, documents and refurbishes bells in historic churches.

Meeting Addresses Swing Park Homicides

Mayor, police, city officials, residents have a solution-oriented meeting short on anger.

Milwaukee Brewing’s Building For Sale

But can any small brewer afford to buy a $3 million facility?

Unique New Place for Craft Beers

Eagle Park Brewing Co. is now in the century-old former space of The Hamilton. It is solid.

Sprecher Moves to Walker’s Point

Returning to its roots, Sprecher taproom will be in old facility of failed Brenner Brewing.

Top 10 Bar Exams of 2017

Most popular stories: old bars. Corner bars. And some surprises.

Lakefront Brewery Embraces the Can

Along with some new logos. The canning is done by Stevens Point Brewery.

Landmark Celebrates 90 Years

Celebration by classic bowling alley includes special Lakefront beers.

Could Pabst Brewery Transform Industry?

CEO sees new Milwaukee brewery as place for innovative creations.

Pourman’s Used To Be Sausage Factory

Yet it's been a tavern for more than a century. This is truly old Milwaukee.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Was a Winner

Peanut butter beer? Bubblegum flavored? Wild variety offered by 100 brewers.

Fresh Thyme Opens Downtown

See inside Milwaukee's newest grocery store, with the "spirit of a farmer's market."

Riverwest Tavern Is Very Dog-Friendly

There's been a neighborhood bar here for 100 years. The dogs are more recent.

Roman Coin a Pub For Pooches

Pets are welcome at the historic, 1890 tavern. It's a classic hangout.

Live From Milwaukee, It’s MSNBC!

Chris Matthews and company are broadcasting to the world from Lakefront Brewery.

City Birthday Party All About Dining

Politicians and candidate hopefuls mix with winners of dining awards.

Lakefront Brewery

This popular attraction is not just for tours anymore.

The Rise and Fall and Rise of Dino’s

Riverwest bar, revived once again, was among the first in the nation to serve Lakefront beer. The food is good, too.

Mystery of the Curve’s Urinal

Russ Klisch and I set out to rescue a massive old urinal from a tavern about to be torn down. Then things got complicated.

MIAD Apartments Changes Irk Bauman, Who Demands Fix

A planned community gathering space instead becomes an underwhelming staircase.

Barrett’s Birthday Party

The mayor's celebration is 11 days late. And Lakefront Brewery shatters its record for annual barrels manufactured.

The Governor as Grinch

Walker's crass campaign pitch, a weird art thief and the Santa Rampage.

Brewing as a Conceptual Art

Brenner Brewing has a ways to go before it functions as a working brewery. Plus: a fundraiser for the anti-Clarke candidate.

Grand Opening of Marsupial Bridge Connector

Hurrah! Newly-opened Trestle Stair connects Marsupial Bridge to Commerce Street and better knits neighborhoods.

A Very Pleasant Opening

Photos and gossip from the ceremonial opening of the Pleasant Street Bridge.

Daglas Does Dallas

After a brief stay as Milwaukee Magazine editor, Cristina Daglas is off to become editor of D Magazine!

Local Artist’s Gift to Obama Gets Complicated

Tim Meyerring's present to the president gets caught up in the law on gifts and consultations with the White House assessor.

Brew Pub Legislation

Milwaukee Ale House Viewed From the Milwaukee River Originally uploaded by purpleslog A anti-capitalism, pro-lobbying law was snuck into the state budget. It had been protested already this summer by Milwaukee Ale House owner Jim McCabe when the idea was floated originally. I’ll let you form your own opinion, but I can’t figure out a reason why this law should exist. Under current law, a Wisconsin brew pub can operate only two locations if it produces more than 4,000 barrels of beer a year. The budget proposal lifts that production ceiling to 10,000 barrels and allows up to six locations. That change was sought by Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co., a Madison-area brew pub operator that opened its third location earlier this year. Meanwhile, McCabe’s new brewery, at 613 S. 2nd St., is designed to ramp up production of the Louie’s Demise brand for sale in packaged form at liquor stores and other retail outlets. Other regional craft brewers, including Chicago-based Goose Island Beer Co. and Cleveland’s Great Lakes Brewing Co., started as brew pubs, and McCabe wants to follow that same path. However, the new law “caps our overall growth,” he said. Also, the new law bans a licensed brew pub operator from also owning a brewery that produces beer for packaged sales, said McCabe and Russ Klisch, president of Lakefront Brewery Inc. McCabe said that might force him to convert the 2nd St. brewery into a brew pub – a move that would require a large investment. Klisch said he fears the production limit might require him to close Lakefront Palm Garden restaurant, which operates at his brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St. Lakefront Brewery this year will produce around 9,600 barrels and is expected to exceed 10,000 barrels in 2008, he said. The new provision could be changed by Gov. Jim Doyle through the line-item veto process, McCabe said. Another possibility is filing a lawsuit to challenge the law, he said. The proposed limits initially surfaced this summer and are supported by some of the state’s craft brewers and brew pub operators. The changes also are supported by the Wisconsin Beer Distributors Association Inc., whose members buy beer from breweries and then sell it to retailers. The law could help fend off possible lawsuits challenging the lack of a state brew pub license, association officials say. The wholesalers group also said the 10,000-barrel limit allows plenty of room for brew pubs to grow. The only places I can imagine that are in favor of it are Great Dane and Water Street Brewery because they don’t appear to be interested in selling their beer off-site via production at a brewery. I can’t figure out why this law exists. It seems anti-business and anti-logic to not allow Milwaukee’s (and Wisconsin’s) only locally-owned breweries from expanding their operations in ways that increase employment and generate tax revenue. They produce a quality product and are assets to both the restaurant and brewing community. Urban Milwaukee supports the repeal of this ridiculous […]

Beer Protest Spill a Spash!

The Spirit of ’07 Milwaukee Beer Party Protest and Demonstration was a good old-fashioned publicity stunt that brought cameras and crowds to the Milwaukee Ale House on Tuesday, July 10th, 2007.

Brewpub Owners to Protest “Brewpub Tourism Development” Act

Who could oppose a bill with the apparently forthright name of “Brewpub Tourism Development Act”?

Buffett Tour on Hold

“Spirit – The Seventh Fire” has been put on hiatus.

“Groundbreaking” for Bridge

The Inaugural

Marvin Pratt did not stand up with the crowd when Tom Barrett was inaugurated mayor, and the press has made a good deal of the slight. However, just after Judge Louis Butler administered the oath of office to the new mayor, Barrett’s first comments were to commend Pratt, and the former acting mayor did stand up and take a bow. The ceremonies were held April 20th outside of City Hall in some perfectly dreadful Milwaukee spring weather. So, who was the idiot who came up with that idea? “I’m the idiot who thought to hold it outside,” fessed up Kris Martinsek. After all, the president is inaugurated outdoors in January. However, January in Washington is not nearly as unpleasant as Milwaukee in April. The stage was set up on Wells Street, facing east. Upon the stage sat Milwaukee’s new leaders, including the mayor, the common council, the comptroller, treasurer, city attorney, city clerk and a municipal judge. Their families sat out in the street and in the adjacent park next to the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building. Frank P. Zeidler was there himself, sandwiched between Marvin Pratt and Senator Herb Kohl. Kohl was dressed as he always is around here. He wore a shirt, a tie, a Milwaukee Bucks cap and a windbreaker. Except for the tie, he pretty much looked like the guy who harvests aluminum cans from my recycling bin. If he tried to walk on to the floor of the United States Senate in that getup, the sergeant-at-arms would toss him out. But this is Milwaukee, the “come as you are” capital of America, and he fit right in. Barrett has made a list of 18 things he wants to accomplish in his first hundred days in office. I don’t know if reducing the police overtime budget is one of them, but the men in blue were certainly racking up the hours during the interminable ceremony. The aldermen were sworn in sequentially according to district. Each alderman then gave a little speech. The last district, the 15th, is occupied by Willie Hines, who is now the Common Council president. He then gave a big speech. He began by saying, “my ascent to the Council Presidency is not a compromise or consolation prize for the African-American community.” This was an effective way to defuse speculation that his election was a compromise or consolation prize, and was a rather sharp thing to do. Hines also insisted that corruption will not taint his council. (We’ll check back on that in four years.) His delivery was generally quite good, and had a hint of religious fervor to it. Moments earlier, he did have a slip up. When Valarie Hill was about to be sworn in as municipal judge, Hines said, “The City Clerk will now come to the altar – er, the podium – to take the oath.” Also, when Hines introduced the new mayor he called him “Mayor Marvin Pratt – er, Mayor Barrett.” These things happen. The Common Council […]

Pratt’s “Reimbursement” Mystery Money

Acting Mayor Pockets $7,500 with no explanation

No Challenge to Hill Papers

But Halbrooks says Election Commission’s Extended Hours Helped Opponent

Bobot Calls for Term Limit

Vince Bobot plans to request a change in the City Charter to limit the term of Milwaukee Mayor to two consecutive terms.