Brewing Culture

Local craft breweries and beer gardens are popping up all over the United States. Those in the Kenosha Area offer extra flare with Midwestern Charm and Cheese Curds, though, making them far superior, obviously.

Kenosha is located less than 40 miles south of “Brew City” and has its own brewery scene going on. Craft breweries! Kenosha has long had a reputation for having many bars. Back when auto manufacturing was the big industry in town, there was a built-in customer base of factory workers for nearby bars to thrive. In recent years, microbreweries and outdoor beer gardens have been serving incredible flavors and fun to local Kenoshans and visitors alike.

Rustic Road Brewing Company has a highly visible brewery space, tap room, and full-service bar. Additionally, a full lunch and dinner menu including slider sandwiches, vegan wings, and more, making it a great place to eat, drink, and have fun. Rustic Road Brewing Company opened in 2012 in Downtown Kenosha. The name of the business was inspired by Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads program.

Public Brewing Company was recently acquired by Lakefront Brewing, out of Milwaukee. Under the mission of serving “Beer for the People”, you’ll find games, brewery tours, and a special event space making it a truly unique brewery experience here. The business opened in 2012 and moved into a larger location in 2020.

Kenosha Brewing Co. occupies a space that has long been dedicated to beer service. Formerly Brewmasters, KBC offers beers, ciders, and incredible calzones. This is the same location where the first brew pub in the Midwest was after Prohibition. Over 90 years ago, local Monks from the area perfected their craft of making great beer at this location.

Breweries aren’t the only place to enjoy craft beers and specialty brews, though.

In 2017, the Petrifying Springs Biergarten opened at Kenosha’s oldest county park. Open Spring through Fall, this is a venue that offers German & local craft beer, wine, giant Bavarian pretzels, and locally made sausages. Picnic tables, a campfire, live music, and family entertainment are all part of the atmosphere.

The concept has been so well-received, that a second location is opening at Hansen Park in Kenosha County in 2025.

Simmons Island is home to a beer garden, too. When you spend a day at the beach, you can enjoy the beer garden adjacent to the Beach House and Lake Michigan. Here you’ll find cold brews and select wines. And that’s not all! The Kenosha Beach House on Simmons Island also offers delicious concession foods, a gift shop and convenience store for beachgoers, on-site rentals (including bikes and beach games), and family entertainment such as volleyball, bags games, exercise classes, live music, and beach bonfire nights.

Regardless of where you choose to enjoy a cold one — at one of our many local restaurants or pubs, at a beer garden, or right where the beer is made at a brewery — it is strongly encouraged that you raise a glass to beer culture in the Kenosha Area! Cheers!