*This is the one-hundred and fifty-fourth post in an on-going chronicle dubbed the Great Wisconsin Brewery Tour. Follow the journey here.*
Fifth Ward Brewing Company
1009 S Main St
Oshkosh, WI 54902
Visit date: 05/26/2019
Quick Hits:
1) How many different beers?
20(!) of their own on tap.
2) How long operational?
Since 2017.
3) Why? (here, this, etc)
Two friends started homebrewing while they attended UW-Oshkosh.
4) Distribution?
They have growlers and 6-packs to go, and are on tap in WI bars and breweries.
5) What sets you apart?
Huge beer selection. One block away from the Menominee Nation Arena: home of the Bucks’ G-League team The Herd.
6) How did you get your name?
Named in honor of the original Fifth Ward Brewing that operated in Oshkosh in the mid-1800s.
7) Do they have free popcorn?
Yes 🙂
Fifth Ward Brewing Company in Oshkosh, WI. All photos by Joe Powell for The Squeaky Curd.
My wife (with the help of Hulu) got me hooked on the show “Fixer Upper”, and I have to believe that if Chip and Joanna Gaines opened a microbrewery it would look something like Oshkosh’s Fifth Ward Brewing Company. And I mean that as a sincere compliment.
The attractive exterior (with plenty of parking) welcomed a steady stream of thirsty folks, even on a Sunday, to a part of south Oshkosh just starting to teem with activity. The taproom itself is sleek: retro brewery gear, industrial decor, and custom artwork dots the crisp white walls. The wood bar is warm and long, seating a crowd of people before overflowing to the high-tops beside it. We, however, took our flights (and pizza) outside.
Comb & Crocus Wheat Ale
Grainy, like a fresh harvest. Bountiful flavor, staying with you long after.
Razz Hands Cream Ale
Oh, yum. Juicy, almost like a raspberry creamsicle.
Vaters Alt Bier
A beer for beer drinkers. No frills, all classic balance.
Buffalo Plaid Scotch Ale
The long-lasting flavor alternates deftly between scotch and fresh caramel, keeping you guessing until the next sip.
Burl Brown
A unique take. Berry jam & a slight nuttiness make me want to pair this light-bodied beer with some good pork.
Hootenanny Kettle Soured Blonde Ale
A gateway sour. Light, tangy, with enough esters to keep seasoned sippers intrigued.
The length of the taproom opens up through a garage door into the spacious and bright back beer garden. With a spot to park your bike, a spot for tossing bags, and a spot for your dog to frolic, it’s a neighborly sort of atmosphere.
A second, covered bar sits against the back of the building, with a wood patio that extends out to accommodate a few picnic tables. We were thankful for the added umbrellas as we sipped our samplers and waited for the large trees next door to stretch their shade over to us.
I found myself feeling more relaxed and laid-back than I’d been most of the weekend. Fifth Ward Brewing Company has put an undeniable amount of effort (and money) into brightening up their industrial corner of Oshkosh, but in doing so provided a welcoming space for local beer drinkers to get comfortable, and a little lazy.
