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BEER BARON | CRAFT BREWING

Beer Baron: The death of craft brewing has been greatly exaggerated

CHRIS DROSNER For the State Journal
May 13, 2025
May 13, 2025 Updated May 28, 2025

1 of 2

Ope Brewing in West Allis plans to open a second location in Appleton — one of many recent signs that the craft brewing industry in Wisconsin is alive and well.

CHRIS DROSNER, For the State Journal

A label is attached to a bottle of MobCraft beer at the House of Brews, where MobCraft was making its crowdsourced beverages in 2014. The Milwaukee brewery is planning a comeback in 2025.

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CHRIS DROSNER For the State Journal

I closed my 2024 wrap-up column five months ago with a not-that-rosy outlook for the brewing industry. Several breweries had closed at the end of the year, and I wrote that I expected more in January.

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Got a beer you’d like the Beer Baron or Draft Queen to pop the cap on? Contact Chris Drosner at chrisdrosner@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @WIbeerbaron. Contact Katie Herrera at cellaredkatie@gmail.com or on Twitter @CellaredKatie.

Lager & Friends

In just five years, Lager & Friends has become my second-favorite beer festival in Wisconsin. (The Great Taste of the Midwest will never be unseated as No. 1.)

I don’t know if it’s the lagers or the friends, but the vibe here is just chill. This year’s fest is May 31 outside Gathering Place Brewing in Milwaukee. If you make the trip, make sure to say hi to me at the Badger Beer Report table!

For more: lagerandfriends.com

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