10 Wisconsin breweries that make a difference

Many breweries serve more than tasty ales—they also dish out goodwill. From grant programs to sustainability efforts, Wisconsin breweries make a big difference.

If there is one institution that’s beloved throughout the state of Wisconsin, it’s the state’s many, many breweries. The state is well-known for its craft brews—Milwaukee’s Major League Baseball team, the Milwaukee Brewers, is even named for the craftspeople who create the delicious beverages.

That’s why they’re such popular places to grab a drink, attend an event, or order a meal. But Wisconsin breweries are also great places to give back to local communities.

Between places that have started their own grant programs, to those that host fundraising events, to some that are placing a real emphasis on sustainability and reducing their carbon footprints, there are plenty of Wisconsin breweries that are making a difference in both their local communities and statewide.

1. New Glarus Brewing

218 Hoesly Drive, New Glarus

New Glarus Brewing has been producing some of the state’s best-loved brews since 1993, like Spotted Cow, but beer isn’t the only thing that the New Glarus-based brewery provides for the community. The brewing company also runs the Only in Wisconsin Giving charitable foundation, which operates a grant program, partnering with organizations in the New Glarus community as well as nonprofits throughout Wisconsin.

The grant program focuses on providing grants to organizations that focus on solving issues, including food insecurity, housing, healthcare, education, and conservation. The foundation has previously given grants to organizations including Friends of New Glarus Woods, the New Glarus School District, and the Hunger Task Force.

2. Badger State Brewing

990 Tony Canadeo Run, Green Bay

After successful expansions into the Eau Claire and Hudson markets, Badger State Brewing, a brewery based in Green Bay, is expanding even further. Now, 12 years after its founding, the brewery’s beers will be available at grocery stores statewide.

The brewery’s beverages aren’t the only thing that’s spread statewide—it also provides grants to organizations throughout the state through the Badger State Brewing Foundation. Since its founding, the brewery has donated more than $100,000 to nonprofits in Wisconsin. Specifically, the Badger State Brewing Foundation supports educational, environmental, scientific, and humane organizations, health and human service providers, cultural and artistic institutions, and membership groups and business associations.

3. Raised Grain Brewing Company

1725 Dolphin Drive, Suite B, Waukesha

With dozens of craft brews to choose from, Raised Grain Brewing Company, in Waukesha, has been supported by its surrounding community, who keep returning to the brewery to sample its multitude of beers and wine on tap. The brewery makes a point to give back to the community through supporting charitable organizations.

The brewery has also donated products to silent auctions, as well as other charitable organizations, and has provided beer to events in Waukesha. Organizations within Waukesha County can request donations on the brewery’s website.

4. Tyranena Brewing Company

1025 Owen St., Lake Mills

For more than 25 years, Tyranena Brewing Company has been crafting countless flagship and seasonal beers in Lake Mills. The brewery, which acknowledges Wisconsin’s native history through its name—Tyranena is the indigenous name for Lake Mills’ Rock Lake—has received tremendous community support, and funnels that support back into the community with charitable donations. Throughout its 26 years, Tyranena Brewing Company has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local organizations, as well as merchandise and consumables.

In addition to supplying donations, the Lake Mills-based brewery also regularly hosts charity events, Brew with a View, at Korth County Park, also located in the city. The events serve as fundraisers for the Jefferson County Parks Department. The events, which are held monthly from May through August, feature live music, food vendors, and beverages provided by Tyranena Brewing Company, and the funds are raised through drink purchases.

5. Potosi Brewing Company

209 South Main St., Potosi

The Potosi Brewing Company has been reopened since 2008, but it dates all the way back to 1852. After more than 120 years in business, the Potosi-based brewery closed down in 1972, but was reopened as a new brewpub by the Potosi Brewery Foundation after a $7.5 million restoration, which functions alongside the National Brewery Museum, also owned and operated by the brewery’s foundation.

The foundation, established in 2001, is the sole owner of the storied brewery. They have not only brought back the brewery, but also have helped to create economic opportunities throughout Potosi. All of the proceeds from the brewery go toward the Potosi Foundation, which then donates them to numerous organizations, including the UW-Platteville Foundation, the Childhood Cancer Foundation, and local high schools, libraries, and fire departments, among many other foundations and local organizations.

6. 3 Sheeps Brewing

1837 North Ave., Sheboygan

In 2012, Grant Pauley decided to utilize his brewing knowledge by founding 3 Sheeps Brewing in Sheboygan. Five years later, the brewery moved to a former Coca-Cola facility, which features a 10,000-square-foot taproom, and a 30,000-square-foot brewery that has produced more than 100 different types of beer, as well as hard seltzers and craft sodas. 3 Sheeps Brewing doesn’t just put all of its efforts into making beverages, though. The brewery partners with local organizations, which rotate monthly, and donates $1 to the organization for every pint of pilsner that is purchased at the brewery.

On Sundays, the brewery hosts fundraising events for local groups. Organizations that want to host a fundraiser can utilize the brewery space for free. Even if fundraisers aren’t held at the brewery, they offer to donate products to fundraisers throughout the Sheboygan area. Nonprofits and other organizations that are interested in holding a fundraiser at 3 Sheeps Brewing can find a request form on the brewery’s website.

7. Karben4 Brewing

3698 Kinsman Blvd., Madison

Karben4 Brewing, a Madison-based brewery owned by brothers Ryan and Zak Koga, believes that a rising tide raises all ships. So, if they’re doing well, they want to share that with their local community. The brewery does that through giving back and donating funds to local organizations, including Dane County Parks and the River Food Pantry.

Additionally, the brewery has also created the K4 project—a line of beers that Karben4 Brewing makes alongside local businesses, charities, and nonprofits. A portion of the proceeds of all of the K4 project beers sold goes toward the organizations. In the past, the brewery has partnered with organizations including Fetch Rescue and Camp Createability.

8. Gathering Place Brewery

811 East Vienna Ave., Milwaukee

Located in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, Gathering Place Brewery makes it a mission to become a cornerstone of the community by partnering with local organizations. The brewery, which opened in 2017, made it part of its mission statement to donate at least one percent of its revenue to local nonprofits.

Gathering Place Brewery’s giving doesn’t end there. Each month, the Milwaukee brewery partners with a nonprofit in an effort to raise awareness and support the respective nonprofit’s mission. They also donate $1 from each pint sold in their taprooms on Thursdays throughout the month to the nonprofit. Since its founding in 2019, the $1 for Milwaukee program has supported organizations, such as Best Buddies, the Wisconsin Humane Society, and the River Revitalization Foundation. Gathering Place Brewery has a second location in Wauwatosa.

9. Great Dane Pub & Brewing

123 East Doty St., Madison

Named after a beloved dog breed, it makes sense that the staff of Great Dane Pub & Brewing are animal lovers, and they do much more for animals than just naming their pub and brewery after one. The Madison-based brewery donates funds to nonprofits that help abandoned pets, as well as animal sanctuaries throughout the state.

It’s not just animals that the brewery focuses on with their service to the local community. The pub and brewery also places an emphasis on supporting the local art scene, through helping to fund programs that give kids access to the arts, and donating to Madison-based theaters. They also host an annual Adopt-A-Family fundraiser, which gives gifts and supplies to families in need around the holiday season. Local organizations can request donations on Great Dane Pub & Brewing’s website. Great Dane Pub & Brewing has four locations in Madison and neighboring Fitchburg.

10. Angry Minnow Brewing Co.

10551 Main St., Hayward

Angry Minnow Brewing Company is aware of all the energy and ingredients that go into brewing a batch of beer. That’s why the Hayward-based brewery focuses a lot of its efforts on being as sustainable as possible. The brewery touts itself as an environmentally friendly restaurant and brewpub, and focuses much of its efforts on reusing ingredients.

The spent grain from the wheat that’s used to craft Angry Minnow Brewing Company’s beers is also used to make the brewpub’s pretzels and beer bread. A main goal of the brewery is to reuse as many ingredients as possible, including its heavily used wheat. They also place a major emphasis on recycling throughout the Hayward brewery.