*This is the ninth post in an on-going chronicle dubbed the Great Wisconsin Brewery Tour. Follow the journey here.*
All photos by Joe Powell.
Horny Goat Brewing Co.
(location of Horny Goat Hideaway Brew Pub)
2011 S First St
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 482-4628
Visit date: 03/17/15
Quick Hits (courtesy of brewing-assistant Laura):
1) How many different beers?
10-15 on tap, 29 in their main series. Only rotationals/seasonals brewed in-house.
2) How long open?
Brewing Co. = 2002; Hideaway = 2009
3) Why? (here, this, etc)
Owner/creator from Burlington was not a beer-drinker, wanted to create “stepping-stone” beers.
4) Distribution?
City Brewing & Stevens Point Brewery contract for brewing and bottling. Distributed in 26 states, but concentrated regionally.
5) What sets you apart?
“We embody fun & light-hearted.” Not a place for “beer snobs;” open to everybody.
Hiding in an industrial alcove along the KK River is the simultaneously sophomoric- and appropriately-named Horny Goat Hideaway. The old brick main building has the appearance of a pump-house, but houses a bar and seating areas on the first floor and second-level balcony.
The capacity just about quadruples when you take into account the year-round patio fronting Milwaukee’s surprisingly-scenic southern river. We sat on the patio to enjoy some sports on the tube and beers on the bar. Even on a cool March evening, they kept it comfortably heated.
For $10 I was able to get 6 of their tap beers in a sampler, and my wife helped get the other 2 they had out in the patio that day (I found out later they had an even larger selection inside). In addition, they have a full menu and word on the street says their fish fry gets pretty packed.
Hometown Wheat
Coriander overload, bitter aftertaste.
Horny Blonde
Tasty & light.
Hopped Up ‘N Horny
Nutty, bitter.
Dock of the Bay Double IPA
Double bitter. Think bitter, then double your thought.
Brownie Breakfast
Tastes like a Christmas store. Easy to drink.
WisconZin IPA
Maltier with a bitter aftertaste, though oddly delicious.
Coconut Porter
Malty, coffee-ish. An easy to drink dark beer.
Whoa Nelly Scotch Ale
Very easy to drink, though obviously a scotch heavy.
I see Horny Goat’s beers as more of a complement to their fantastic hangout spot than a draw in themselves, and I got the impression they felt the same way. In addition to the lush patio space Horny Goat Hideaway features a giant heated sand volleyball tent that hosts year-round leagues and parties, and they regularly use their parking lot for food-truck events and festivals.
I have to commend Horny Goat for packing beer, food, sports, and a great hang-out space into a undeveloped waterfront area. It’s almost enough to forgive their website-block-inducing name. Almost.
