Explorium Brewpub hosts a Launch Summer Bash
Explorium Brewpub, 5300 S. 76th St., Greendale, ushers in the upcoming season with a Summer Launch Bash — part beer festival, part music festival on May 20.
Sample beers from Explorium, Enlightened, Sprecher,City Lights,Third Space,Eagle Park and two more breweries to be named.
Doors open at 3 p.m. for those with VIP tickets; 4 p.m. for general admission. The first band, Kids of Rock, takes the stage at 6 p.m. followed by Eagle Trace at 7 p.m.; The Delta Routine at 8 p.m; and Hero Jr. at 9 p.m.
Ticket prices include beer samples from the breweries and one full pour. Tickets are $20 in advance for VIP tickets; $15 in advance for general admission; and $20 for general admission at the gate. Designated drivers get in for $10. Those 16 to 20 get in for $10. children 15 and under get in free with ticketed adults. Advance tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets.
To help mark the days until actual summer, here are few more beer events:
Friday: Lakefront Brewery commands the taps at the Humboldt Beer Garden, 3000 S. Howell Ave., from 6 to 9 p.m.
Saturday: The Pabst Milwaukee Brewery, 1037 W. Juneau Ave., hosts a grand opening street party. The brewery and taproom in a former church takes over the surrounding block with an open-air art gallery and outdoor stage with Arrested Development, IshDARR, Hugh Masterson and more Milwaukee artists scheduled to perform. The party runs from 1 to 7 p.m. It’s free.
Sunday: Northern Brewer, 1306 S. 108th St., kicks off Homerpalooza at 2 p.m. We were curious, too. The tribute to the fictional Homer Simpson diet pairs doughnuts from Cranky Al’s with homebrews until 4 p.m. It’s free. Seats are limited. Register at Eventbrite.com.
Sunday: City Lights holds a “blessing of the beer” for the release of its Coconut Porter. The blessing by Rabbi Levi Brook begins at noon at the brewery, 2200 W. Mount Vernon Ave.
May 17: Landmark Lanes kickoffs off a celebration of 90 years in business at 7 p.m. with a limited batch cask ale from Lakefront Brewery and complimentary Ian’s pizza along with live music from Joe 2.0.
May 17: So begins the beer garden season at The Landing at Hoyt Park. The Landing opens at 3 p.m. with music from Ethan Keller, according to the event page on Facebook.
May 20: At The Brass Tap, winning a contest between Deschutes Brewing The Abyss and Three Floyds Zombie Dust means more of the winner — at least for one night. Fifteen tap lines will be devoted to Deschutes beers for the night. The Brass Tap is at 7808 W. Layton Ave., in Greenfield.
May 20: Estabrook Park gets Dick Leinenkugel to tap the Anniversary Keg with his name on it. The celebration of 150 years of Leinie begins at noon at the beer garden, 4610 N. Estabrook Parkway. Leinenkugel’s 150th Anniversary Lager was brewed in Germany at the Hofbräu Munich brewery. Brewmasters from both breweries collaborated on crafting 900 kegs of the Märzen-style lager beer with all-German malts and all-American hops. See the event page on Facebook.
May 20: North 48, a craft beer bar at W62-N599 Washington Ave. in Cedarburg plans to kick off summer and make some money for Autism Speaks with a rare beer event from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The party includes a beer tent with barrel-aged beers from breweries including Evil Twin, Karben4, Milwaukee Brewing and more, according to the event page on Facebook.
Aug. 5: They don’t have a bricks and mortar brewery just yet but the New Barons Brewing Cooperative will host a Homebrew Competition from 3 to 7 p.m. at The Backyard, 2155 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Entry fees are $10 for coop members; $15 for non-members and $5 less if purchased before May 29.