Doughnut Don Returns: Vennture Brew Co. and Cranky Al’s Bring Back Milwaukee’s Sweetest Beer Release
Milwaukee’s most indulgent annual craft beer tradition is back. Vennture Brew Co. and Cranky Al’s Doughnuts will release the 2026 Doughnut Don lineup this Saturday, April 5, at Vennture East, 5519 W. North Ave. Taps open at 11 a.m., with cans and bottles going on sale at noon.
Now a fixture on Milwaukee’s craft beer calendar, Doughnut Don has built a devoted following year after year — selling out reliably, drawing lines down North Ave., and earning a reputation as one of the city’s most creative brewery collaborations. The concept is simple and gloriously excessive: Cranky Al’s crullers packed into the mash of an Imperial Pastry Stout alongside Colombian coffee and vanilla, producing something that drinks more like dessert than beer — in the best possible way.
This year’s release features four Doughnut Don variants, the return of a beloved companion release, and an expanded food and drink program to match.
The 2026 Beer Lineup:
Doughnut Don (12oz cans) — Imperial Pastry Stout with Cranky Al’s crullers, Colombian coffee, and vanilla. The one that started it all, now in its sixth year.
Doughnut Don Maple (12oz cans) — The fan-favorite maple variant, back by popular demand.
Barrel Aged Doughnut Don (500ml bottles) — The base stout aged in bourbon barrels. Oak, depth, and complexity — and still somehow all doughnut. Aged in Ray’s Wine and Spirits Green River Wheated Bourbon and Twisted Path Rye Barrels
Barrel Aged Doughnut Don Cinnamon Roll (500ml bottles) — This year’s wildcard. Bourbon barrel-aged with cinnamon and cream cheese. Aggressively dessert-forward and not sorry about it. Aged in Ray’s Wine and Spirits Green River Wheated Bourbon and Twisted Path Rye Barrels
Jeelly Filled (16oz cans) — The annual companion release with a following all its own. A Pastry Sour brewed with blueberries and lemonade — tart, fruity, and dangerously easy to drink.
The 2026 Cocktail & Coffee Program:
This year Vennture is expanding the event experience beyond the beer lineup with a full slate of specialty drinks.
Cinnamon Roll Latte — A browned butter cinnamon syrup latte topped with salted cream cheese sweet cream. A nod to the Barrel Aged Doughnut Don Cinnamon Roll in coffee form.
Doughnut Don Old Fashioned — Barrel Aged Doughnut Don syrup, Green River Wheated Bourbon, and Bittercube Black Strap Bitters. A natural extension of the collaboration into the cocktail program.
Blueberry Lemon Gin Slush — A refreshing counterpoint to the stout-heavy beer lineup, echoing the fruit-forward profile of Jeelly Filled.
On Site: Patty Shack will be on site starting at 11 a.m.
These are small-batch releases. They sell out every year. Get there early.
Event Details: 📍 Vennture East — 5519 W. North Ave., Milwaukee 📅 Saturday, April 11, 2026 🕚 Taps at 11 a.m. | Cans & Bottles at Noon
Vennture Brew Co. operates two Milwaukee-area locations and produces both Vennture Beer and Vennture Coffee. Cranky Al’s Doughnuts has been a North Avenue neighborhood institution since 1938.
For more information, follow Vennture Brew Co. on Instagram and Facebook @vennturebrewco or visit us at 5519 W. North Ave., Milwaukee or 2970 N. Brookfield Rd., Brookfield.
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.
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