Scooter's Bar Journal » Bay View

1840 Brewing Company

scooterj — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 17:14:00 +0000

(Bay View, Milwaukee, WI)

Scooter’s 1330th bar, first visited in 2019.

I had never heard of this place, but it came recommended by an Internet Stranger who had been here before. We were all back at the AirBNB and the gang was working on a huge dinner. But it was a small kitchen, and I reasoned “They don’t really need six people crammed in here,” so I hopped in an uber and headed out in the intermittent monsoons to check it out.

If you were just driving by, you’d probably never notice the place. It’s a nondescript storefront in a nondescript building in a very vibrant neighborhood.

I just got myself two half-pours, because my plan was to just have a quick visit here and then check out one or two of the other bars nearby. But OH MY GOD this beer was so good that I got two more. And then another one after that. I ended up using up all of my available time here.

I had their Sea Foam (pineapple / passion fruit / blue spirulina sour), Vanilla Drinking Chocolate (imperial stout), Caramel Rainbow (milk stout), Orbital Motion (IPA), and Cheap Cologne (Brut IPA).

342 E Ward St
Milwaukee, WI 53207
US
[launch map]
(414) 236-4056
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At Random

scooterj — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:18:00 +0000

(Bay View, Milwaukee, WI)

Scooter’s 1325th bar, first visited in 2019.

This was another recommendation from a bartender earlier in the day. And we almost missed it, because what looked like the main entrance actually isn’t so for a moment we thought it was closed. The actual entrance turns out to be in the back.

This place looks like any other neighborhood dive bar from the outside. But step inside and it’s anything but. Mid-20th-century tiki/club decor, all lit in red, and a drink menu that is entirely cocktails (no beer or wine) with a specialty in ice cream cocktails.

The name, according to the bartender who told us about the place, comes from fact that it would open and close at the whim of the previous owners, so it would be entirely random whether you’d happen to find it open. But at the time of our visit it has recently been taken over by new owners (the previous owners retired) and their one big change was to make the hours consistent.

Because this was such a treat, we all went with ice cream cocktails. I forget the specific one I had, but it was the one our server said would be the most chocolaty.

We had such a good time here we almost forgot we were on a mission to get to Wolski’s and nearly messed that up!

The photos below have been enhanced to try to show some of the colors other than just the red. In reality, it’s ALL red when you’re inside.

2501 S Delaware Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
US
[launch map]
(414) 481-8030
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The Bubbler

scooterj — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:17:00 +0000

(Bay View, Milwaukee, WI)

Scooter’s 1324th bar, first visited in 2019.

The other neighborhood bar near our AirBNB, this was just a few minutes walk east from Sam’s Tap and located across the street from a barber shop and a bait shop.

Based on the decor this seems to be a big-time basefall/Brewers bar. There were a few bar games, I didn’t go all the way to the far back bit I didn’t notice any pool tables or outdoor seating.

I just had Guinness here.

3158 S Howell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
US
[launch map]
(414) 482-4941
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Sam’s Tap

scooterj — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:16:00 +0000

(Bay View, Milwaukee, WI)

Scooter’s 1323rd bar, first visited in 2019.

After resting at the AirBNB for a few hours, it was time to head back out on out mission to close Wolski’s.

We started out with Sam’s Tap because it was our neighborhood bar. As in, right down a short alley across the street from the house.

It’s a very small space but holds a decent number of people. There’s a few picnic tables in the parking lot. Only Wisconsin beers are served.

I had an IPA by Lakefront Brewery, and a Snow Pilot (brown ale) by Stevens Point Brewery.

We had a good time here. Friendly staff and patrons.

3118 S Chase Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
US
[launch map]
(414) 763-5817
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