Milwaukee's own Lakefront Brewery Inc. started in 1987. The industrious and inventive microbrewery located on the Milwaukee River has become a Milwaukee landmark.

Its rich history includes partnerships with local taverns, preservation of local historical pieces, unique tours, family style dining options and most importantly, great beer.

Beginnings
According to Brewery President Russ Klisch, the whole brewery started with his brother, Jim. Near his birthday, Jim expressed interest in beer making, and Russ humored him by giving him a homebrewing book. To Russ’ surprise, Jim read the book, and brewed a beer. By Russ’ account, Jim was no gourmet cook, but he made a pretty good beer. Impressed, Russ decided he could brew one better. In short, sibling rivalry and common interest lead both brothers to begin entering homebrewing contests and winning awards. It wasn’t long before family and friends encouraged them to turn their hobby into a business. The Klisch family has roots in the beer industry: their grandfather worked for Schlitz, driving a delivery truck and also worked as a chauffeur for the Uihlein’s. Russ remembers his grandfather bringing home short fills to his dad: “it was a cool job if you got to bring beer home at night.” Several family members also owned taverns. With that family history and their common interest in beer making, the brothers started their business. They decided to start small and chose a location within walking distance of their home: an old bakery building in Riverwest, at 818 East Chambers Street. They began brewing with 55 gallon stainless steel drums and used dairy equipment. On December 2, 1987 they sold their first barrel of beer to the Gordon Park Pub. With the brewery up and running, the infamous tour started soon after! As Lakefront’s popularity grew, so did their production: by 1988, sales jumped to 72 barrels; by 1989, 125 barrels; and sales began doubling after that.

In 1990, owner Russ Klisch built his own bottling machine and began bottling their beer. As the brewery expanded, more used equipment was brought in to meet the demand. Once, a food critic who visited the brewery, commented that they had a “Frankenstein operation”, because all their equipment had lived and died in a previous life. In 1998, production had reached nearly 3,000 barrels in the small 3,600 square foot space, and Jim and Russ decided it was time to move.

1872 N. Commerce Street
The search was on for a new location and the City of Milwaukee had a building to sell. In 1908, Lakefront Brewery’s current building housed the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company’s coal-fired power plant. It was later sold to the City to house Milwaukee’s Forestry Department. But in 1998, the City was considering tearing down the old power plant to uphold a contract with a nearby apartment complex unless a local business was interested in the location. At the same time, demand for Lakefront’s innovative beers increased. Jim and Russ concluded they had outgrown the little bakery, and it was time to move on. They looked at several sites, but decided on this location upon the City’s recommendation. The move was completed and additions were made to both the building and brewery. In 2000, Russ replaced the homemade brewing equipment with a real brew house. Production has increased throughout the years, and in 2012 had reached 33,368 barrels.

Historical Preservation
Lakefront Brewery is the proud owner of Bernie Brewer’s Chalet. When the Brewer’s rebuilt their new stadium, the Chalet needed a new home, and the Klisch brothers wanted their brewery to be that home. Russ jumped at the opportunity to buy the item. As a stop on the tour, it offers folks a piece of history in their hometown. Russ has received many compliments for the unique lights that hang outside of the brewery. The lights were originally designed for and hung in the Plankinton Hotel in 1916 for their beer hall. Unfortunately, the hotel broke ground on the same day World War I started. Shortly thereafter, prohibition started, and the room was never used as a beer hall. The lights hung in the hotel restaurant until 1982 when the building was demolished. The city removed the lights and stored them in a warehouse—along with other Milwaukee artifacts—until an online auction was held to sell everything. With the opening bid at $5,000, the brothers bid $5,013, but were quickly out-bid by an antique dealer from Chicago offering $10,000. However, the City wanted the lights kept in Milwaukee, and agreed to sell them to the brothers for their price. Jim and Russ are very proud of the lights’ heritage and beauty, and had spent over $1,000 restoring each light.