Chris Drosner
@wibeerbaron.bsky.social
Executive editor, Milwaukee Magazine; beer writer for Wisconsin State Journal; Badger Beer Hour. Will not always stick to beer. Occasional cursing. He/him
Pinned
Chris Drosner
@wibeerbaron.bsky.social
· May 21
Beer Baron: The death of craft brewing has been greatly exaggerated
Surprise — there has been a spate of good news so far in 2025.
madison.com
It had been months since my last column for the State Journal, and nearly all the copious WI beer news flew in the face of the prevailing wisdom about craft beer's decline. A roundup of the good news and a clear-eyed look at the headwinds: madison.com/life-enterta...
After years of buildup after it began a partnership with Molson Coors, Yuengling appears to be on the cusp of launching in Wisconsin. Photos from a FB post from Beer Capitol, the MC distributor in Milwaukee.
November 7, 2025 at 5:20 PM
After years of buildup after it began a partnership with Molson Coors, Yuengling appears to be on the cusp of launching in Wisconsin. Photos from a FB post from Beer Capitol, the MC distributor in Milwaukee.
Press release: The New Glarus Brewing expansion is coming along, on time and on budget.
November 6, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Press release: The New Glarus Brewing expansion is coming along, on time and on budget.
Black Friday beer stuff is still definitely a thing in Milwaukee, largely due to @lakefront, which today dropped its Black Friday deets: The always-boss "regular" Black Friday stout aged in @GLDistillery whiskey barrels, a coffee-cacao variant, its OG triple black IPA and a black wheatwine.
November 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Black Friday beer stuff is still definitely a thing in Milwaukee, largely due to @lakefront, which today dropped its Black Friday deets: The always-boss "regular" Black Friday stout aged in @GLDistillery whiskey barrels, a coffee-cacao variant, its OG triple black IPA and a black wheatwine.
I think we're overdue for a new edition of ASK THE BEER BARON! What's your burning question around beer or brewing? Ask and you could become newspaper-famous!
October 28, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I think we're overdue for a new edition of ASK THE BEER BARON! What's your burning question around beer or brewing? Ask and you could become newspaper-famous!
If you’re in Tosa East Towne trick-or-treating with your kids be sure to come by the Sanderson Witch Museum (2400 block of 70th St) for a beery treat.
October 25, 2025 at 11:54 PM
If you’re in Tosa East Towne trick-or-treating with your kids be sure to come by the Sanderson Witch Museum (2400 block of 70th St) for a beery treat.
Breaking: Solemn Oath Brewery will open a taproom in Milwaukee – the former home of 1840 Brewing in Bay View. This is a homecoming for the brewery's founder – and one a long time in the making. My latest: www.milwaukeemag.com/inside-the-l...
Inside the Long Road to Solemn Oath Brewing’s Milwaukee Taproom
The suburban Chicago brewery is taking over the former 1840 Brewing in Bay View, a homecoming for its Wisconsin-raised founder.
www.milwaukeemag.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Breaking: Solemn Oath Brewery will open a taproom in Milwaukee – the former home of 1840 Brewing in Bay View. This is a homecoming for the brewery's founder – and one a long time in the making. My latest: www.milwaukeemag.com/inside-the-l...
DID YOU KNOW? The Famous Racing Polish Sausage lives in Wauwatosa in the offseason.
October 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
DID YOU KNOW? The Famous Racing Polish Sausage lives in Wauwatosa in the offseason.
I've been working on a lot of cool stories lately and this one by @teakrulos.bsky.social is right up top: The true historical weirdness that led Whitewater, WI, to become known as "Second Salem," a den of witchcraft – of legend, at least. www.milwaukeemag.com/second-salem...
Second Salem: The Haunted History of Whitewater’s Spiritualist Past
Whitewater’s reputation as filled with legendary figures, curses and communicating with the dead, has real roots that grow even today – in Wauwatosa, of all places.
www.milwaukeemag.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I've been working on a lot of cool stories lately and this one by @teakrulos.bsky.social is right up top: The true historical weirdness that led Whitewater, WI, to become known as "Second Salem," a den of witchcraft – of legend, at least. www.milwaukeemag.com/second-salem...
These editors just cannot help but step on their own dicks when they talk about literally anything in the Midwest, can they?
October 16, 2025 at 12:23 PM
These editors just cannot help but step on their own dicks when they talk about literally anything in the Midwest, can they?
Any ideas here?
@wibeerbaron.bsky.social just knocked out my third "big" BCBS for victories over the Cubs. Need some LA beers quick for this week (obviously available in local bottle shops). Any suggestions?
October 13, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Any ideas here?
What’s the last beer you took a picture of? Let’s see em, any context. Mine, before last night…
October 11, 2025 at 12:36 PM
What’s the last beer you took a picture of? Let’s see em, any context. Mine, before last night…
3 Sheeps Safe to Shore DIPA: lovely West Coast profile, giving Pliny/Chillwave vibes. 👍👍
October 11, 2025 at 1:19 AM
3 Sheeps Safe to Shore DIPA: lovely West Coast profile, giving Pliny/Chillwave vibes. 👍👍
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
October 8, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I wanted the Cubs. This will be something both franchises will be talking about for 20 years. The #Brewers players, though? They don't care. Eyes on the prize. #ThisIsMyCrew www.milwaukeemag.com/lets-embrace...
Let’s Embrace the Brewers’ Date With Destiny – And Also the Cubs
The Brewers’ opponent in the divisional series adds some juice for the fans. But for the players, the goal is much larger: Win a World Series.
www.milwaukeemag.com
October 3, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I wanted the Cubs. This will be something both franchises will be talking about for 20 years. The #Brewers players, though? They don't care. Eyes on the prize. #ThisIsMyCrew www.milwaukeemag.com/lets-embrace...
If you've taken a photo of the iconic "I Closed Wolski's" bumper sticker in some far-flung corner of the globe, you have Mike Bondar to thank. RIP Mike. www.milwaukeemag.com/mike-bondar-...
Mike Bondar, Who Created Iconic ‘I Closed Wolski’s’ Sticker, Has Died
The great-grandson of the founders of the 117-year-old East Side tavern came up with the idea in the ’70s.
www.milwaukeemag.com
October 2, 2025 at 9:47 PM
If you've taken a photo of the iconic "I Closed Wolski's" bumper sticker in some far-flung corner of the globe, you have Mike Bondar to thank. RIP Mike. www.milwaukeemag.com/mike-bondar-...
What kind of sports fan am I? The kind that pauses to smell the flowers before gritting my teeth through every postseason game. So as the wild card series begin, let's do just that. Great #Brewers piece by my friend Howie Magner: www.milwaukeemag.com/lets-take-a-...
Let’s Take a Beat to Savor the Brewers’ Historic Regular Season
While we wait to see if baseball’s best team can beat the odds for a World Series, don’t forget how remarkable this 2025 season was.
www.milwaukeemag.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:22 PM
What kind of sports fan am I? The kind that pauses to smell the flowers before gritting my teeth through every postseason game. So as the wild card series begin, let's do just that. Great #Brewers piece by my friend Howie Magner: www.milwaukeemag.com/lets-take-a-...
Miller Lite is a beer I don’t particularly like, but its history is fascinating. One could argue, as I do, that Miller might not be a going concern today without it. My latest goes deep on “Tastes Great, Less Filling” on its golden anniversary. madison.com/life-enterta...
Beer Baron: How one brand's breakout changed the industry forever
Miller Brewing threaded the needle, turning a dud into a smash hit and changing the beer industry.
madison.com
September 28, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Miller Lite is a beer I don’t particularly like, but its history is fascinating. One could argue, as I do, that Miller might not be a going concern today without it. My latest goes deep on “Tastes Great, Less Filling” on its golden anniversary. madison.com/life-enterta...
You will never understand dissonance until you have a good hazy ipa from this package
September 27, 2025 at 2:49 AM
You will never understand dissonance until you have a good hazy ipa from this package
Our beer events calendar has 20 - TWENNNNTYYYYY - entries this week, including the debut of Explorium Distilled on Thursday and the @thirdspacebrews and New Barons birthday parties Saturday. www.milwaukeemag.com/20-beer-even...
20 Beer Events Brewing in Milwaukee This Week: Sept. 24-27
Explorium rolls out its Deer District location, Third Space turns 9, New Barons toasts five years and Oktoberfest season reaches a crescendo.
www.milwaukeemag.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Our beer events calendar has 20 - TWENNNNTYYYYY - entries this week, including the debut of Explorium Distilled on Thursday and the @thirdspacebrews and New Barons birthday parties Saturday. www.milwaukeemag.com/20-beer-even...
Lots of tried-and-true New Glarus beers returning for fall and one new one in the Thumbprint series: Framboise! (No word on how that is different from Raspberry Tart.)
September 22, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Lots of tried-and-true New Glarus beers returning for fall and one new one in the Thumbprint series: Framboise! (No word on how that is different from Raspberry Tart.)
Folks, this week TWO Milwaukee breweries reopened.
MobCraft beer has been up and running since Monday (though they aren't brewing yet) and today Lombardi Beer is opening in the former City Lights brewery in the Menomonee Valley. #letsgo
MobCraft beer has been up and running since Monday (though they aren't brewing yet) and today Lombardi Beer is opening in the former City Lights brewery in the Menomonee Valley. #letsgo
September 19, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Folks, this week TWO Milwaukee breweries reopened.
MobCraft beer has been up and running since Monday (though they aren't brewing yet) and today Lombardi Beer is opening in the former City Lights brewery in the Menomonee Valley. #letsgo
MobCraft beer has been up and running since Monday (though they aren't brewing yet) and today Lombardi Beer is opening in the former City Lights brewery in the Menomonee Valley. #letsgo
I love blind tasting, and for our Best of Milwaukee package, I picked some good, widely available Milwaukee-brewed IPAs and set up a blind taste test with them. Gotta be honest - the results surprised me! www.milwaukeemag.com/we-taste-tes...
We Taste-Tested Five of Milwaukee’s Best IPAs
Our beer expert put aside his biases for a blind test of locally brewed IPAs. Which one won?
www.milwaukeemag.com
September 19, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I love blind tasting, and for our Best of Milwaukee package, I picked some good, widely available Milwaukee-brewed IPAs and set up a blind taste test with them. Gotta be honest - the results surprised me! www.milwaukeemag.com/we-taste-tes...
Folks, @mobcraftbeer has reopened. New owners Sarah and Ryan Halstead had a soft opening over the weekend and will be firing up the brewery's social media later today for the first time since the brewery closed in November. (Pic from closing weekend.)
September 15, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Folks, @mobcraftbeer has reopened. New owners Sarah and Ryan Halstead had a soft opening over the weekend and will be firing up the brewery's social media later today for the first time since the brewery closed in November. (Pic from closing weekend.)
The Great Dane is closing its Hilldale location, last day of service Nov. 8. It's the second closure this year for Madison's original brewpub; Wausau location closed in April.
September 15, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The Great Dane is closing its Hilldale location, last day of service Nov. 8. It's the second closure this year for Madison's original brewpub; Wausau location closed in April.