Miller Brewery Tour in Milwaukee

The Miller Brewing Company tour is the big-brewery counterpart to Milwaukee's craft beer scene, and it is a good way to understand how the city became synonymous with beer. The public brewery tour lasts about 75 minutes and takes in the Miller Valley campus, including the underground caves and the Bavarian-style Miller Inn, before finishing with beer samples and a souvenir for guests aged 21 and over. Non-alcoholic options are available, and children between 3 and 20 pay a reduced fee while those under 3 are free. Miller was founded in 1855 by Frederick Miller, who bought a small brewery on the hills above the Menomonee Valley, and the company grew into one of the largest in the country. The caves, dug into the hillside before refrigeration, were used to keep beer cold, and they are the most atmospheric part of the visit. Two further experiences cost more: a historical tour of about two hours that adds the historic caves, stables and the original Gettelman farmhouse, and a one-hour archives visit that includes a public tour ticket. It is a good first brewery stop for visitors who want the history before they sample the smaller local breweries.

Pair the Miller tour with a visit to the Harley-Davidson Museum, which is nearby in the Menomonee Valley area, and plan a taxi or ride-share if you intend to drink. Children are welcome and can sample non-alcoholic drinks, which makes it a workable family stop.

Is it worth it? If you want to understand the scale of Milwaukee brewing and see something you cannot see at a taproom, the caves and the historic buildings make it a strong choice. The drawbacks are the stairs, the rule against bags and the fact that some tours run only on certain days and book out in advance.

Beer drinkers who prefer small-batch beer may find the Lakefront Brewery more to their taste, but the two complement each other, and doing both gives a fuller picture of how the city makes and thinks about beer.