When I saw Layman Brewing listed in the Milwaukee Magazine for one of the best burgers in the area, AND its a dive brewery, I had to check it out. This place is definitely a really unique brewery given that its in a dive bar. You can see the beer tanks right from the bar/tables. They have small batch beers to choose from, and if you finish the batch, your name goes on the board on their wall! For the food, the burgers were great and the fries were even better! They're homemade and I would go back just for a basket of those fries. Their cheese curds were also delicious. We ordered a pickled egg because if that's listed on the menu we had to try one. We loved the staff. Very down to earth and fun to talk to. We even got complimentary key lime pie shots, which they make in house, and they were so good we ordered another round. read more

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I've driven past this place many times and was drawn in by the sign that said best french fries in West Allis. Wandering in after the farmers market not far away, on a Saturday afternoon, this place had a few locals at the bar, and a family at a table. While we sat at the bar, a few musicians showed up and began practicing and it was one of the coolest things I've ever witnessed. It felt like being in an Irish pub, with some interesting batched cocktails behind the bar, staff offering samples of their new menu creations, and a fantastic BLT. We ended up staying longer than planned to enjoy the music and take in the vibes. Its dive bar meets family friendly Irish pub, and they even have a night where they sing sea shanties once a month. We are looking forward to going back to explore more! read more

Layman Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

For my 1,000th review, I want to shine a spotlight on Layman Brewing! They are near my house, and I hadn't had a chance to visit. I thought "this is just another of MANY nano- and micro- breweries in Milwaukee. That may be, but I'm a food guy, and this place has a rep for great food, specifically their fries and burgers, and one day I found myself hungry and in my neighborhood at the same time, so I stopped in. I immediately got a "quaint neighborhood corner bar" vibe from it, but not my current neighborhood, the neighborhood I grew up in, Riverwest, and I consider that a good thing because the people make up a neighborhood, and I have very fond memories of the people I interacted with in the Riverwest taverns and other small businesses. The owners were on site, one was providing guests with a tour of the nano brewhouse, and the other was behind the bar, helping the bartender serve the slow wave of customers walking in the door. This place got busy shortly after I walked in, and I was happy to see it! Since it was my first time, I was offered a "pie shot," made by one of the owners, and that month's flavor was Key Lime. I said yes, of course, and it was delicious! Bonus, the bartender did one with me, and he gave me a cool Layman Brewing sticker, too! I looked at the menu and ordered a Double Smashburger, since that was highly recommended, as well as their hand-cut fries ("the best fries in West Allis" per their marquee outside), and their onion rings, which I've also heard great things about. When I saw Poutine on the menu, I texted a couple of friends, who lived nearby and asked them to join me, since one of them is from Canada and the two are serious about poutine. My burger was perfect! It was perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked and perfectly juicy on a perfect bun with perfect toppings. I have zero suggestions for improvement. Bravo! The fresh-cut fries, were also near perfect, if not perfect. The best in West Allis? I won't argue that, but a side-by-side may be in order with my other two favorites, 4th Base (ok, this one is Milwaukee/West Milwaukee, but very close to Layman Brewing) and Camino's West Allis location. The onion rings are definitely the best I've had in West Allis, and in the conversation for best I've had - period. You: "Bold statement, Rick." Me: "I know. lemme tell ya why." The breading is nicely seasoned and lightly applied, so you aren't biting into a chunk of breading and not tasting onion. Also, you ever bite into an onion ring and it falls apart, or the whole onion slides out with you bite, leaving a hollow breaded or battered ring, but no onion? Of course you have, but I did not have that experience at Layman brewing. After my bite. the rest of the ring stayed intact, onion and all. It was like magic! The Poutine was good, too. Not the best I've had, but one of the best and bonus points because they use fresh-cut fries and not some frozen science projects that other places use. A delicious mushroom gravy and fried cheese curds add layers of flavor and texture. You: "Rick shouldn't poutine be made with fresh cheese curds?" Me: "Usually, and they might offer that option in the future, but these fried curds are great, so if it ain't broke...." Seriously, the cheese curds have good seasoning and breading to cheese ratio, although I believe these curds are sourced as is, but with everything else made in house, I'm not mad about it. You want to know about the beer at a brewery? Fine, I ordered the Belgian Blonde, and it hit the notes I expected. I also tasted my friends' (yes, they showed up to help me eat the poutine) beers, and they were also good and delivered on expected tasting notes that I remember from my days when I was a beer snob before I became a bourbon snob. What I'm trying to say is that Layman Brewing lived up to the hype, exceeded my expectations, and will be seeing my face in the place again soon. Your faces should also be in the place soon. Make note of their hours: Wed-Fri 4:00-9:00, and Saturday 1:00-9:00. They also serve brunch the 2nd Sunday of the month. read more

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I really enjoyed my visit! Their brewed beers were different in a good way -- unique flavors that stood out. The onion rings were also a highlight: crispy, beer battered, and absolutely delicious. Definitely worth a stop if you're looking for something a little different! Will be back for their fish fry! read more

Layman Brewing - Flight of their beers - Brewpubs Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

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Excellent neighborhood gem! We were on the West Allis area staying for a baseball tourney in Greenfield. We had the afternoon off and went exploring! Went to Camino first, this was way better! Great burgers! Outstanding service! Fun customers! We were welcomed with kindness and curiosity as the out of towners, it was very fun! Play the dice game, ask for Kyle's wife's specialty sipper of the day and enjoy the ambiance. When in the burbs of Milwaukee, you should try this authentic experience. read more

Such fun Great people, delicious brews, amazing burgers! Love the gaming atmosphere! read more

Layman Brewing is a couple minutes from where I work and I just found out about them, so that means I had to try the Friday fish fry to see if they're a good, close by option. I ordered the four piece beer battered cod with homemade chips, cheese curds, and the apple pie rangoon for dessert. The cheese curds are the cornmeal breaded kind that I hate. They weren't crispy and the bottom of the container was a little greasy. Yuck. The homemade chips were ok. Maybe a tad too salty and some of them weren't completely crispy cause they stuck together while being fried. Two of the four pieces of cod had no beer flavor in the batter that I could taste while the other two only had a mild beer flavor. The pieces were as long as cod at most other restaurants, but they were skinnier than most others. Unless they add more discernible beer flavor to the batter, I wouldn't get their fish fry again. The apple pie rangoon were good. There's a heavy amount of cinnamon sugar coating, which wasn't necessarily a problem. If I come back for something else I might get these again, but I'd likely try the raspberry cheesecake chimichangas first. read more

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Great bar/restaurant. We went there looking for Poutine. And we found it! We were just hoping for a nice place to have a drink and get a snack. We had the poutine and it was wonderful. We also ordered onion rings, jalapeno poppers, and breaded green beans. The breading is seasoned very well. All were great. It was served with their homemade ranch. I am not a big ranch fan, but this stuff was delicious. We only planned on the apps, but my wife saw one of their smash burgers and got that to share. The burger was just as good as the appetizers. Juicy and flavorful. They have a couple jigs behind the bar. They are the infused vodka for bloody's and their mix for old fashions. The bloody is not all gussied up with toppings. But it is made with love. They have a dry mix and a wet mix to go with the infused vodka. It's the best Bloody Mary I have ever had. And I have tried all the hot spots in Milwaukee. So, the food and drinks were amazing, and the service was just as good. Definitely recommend this place. read more

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If you are looking for a literal cozy corner bar for a good Friday night fish fry this is your place. When our group of 4 arrived the place was full but a couple invited us to grab another chair and sit with them at a tall table across from the bar. You place your drink and food orders at the bar. We eventually moved to a small table before our food arrived. Before our food arrived, the bartender came around and offered our group and apple cinnamon shot that his wife makes. I am not not drinking but my husband and friends loved it! They said it was like drinking a slice of apple pie! We started with an appetizer of fried pickles served with ranch dressing. The pickles came out hot and delicious! They were cut thick so you actually tasted pickle not breading!! I had the 2 piece fried cod fish fry with taters tots, my husband had 3 pieces of fish with fries, one friend had 2 pieces of fish with huge onion rings and our other friend opted for something completely different, an open faced sandwich called The Millenial's Downfall, which was 2 pieces of toasted bread, topped with a whole smashed avocado, sliced tomato, raw onions, Sriracha aioli, and salt and pepper with a side of onion rings. The battered cod was so crispy and delicious and the tater sauce was so tasty and I am a tarter sauce snob. Loved my tater tots, especially since I have not seen those on a menu as an option before and haven't had them in years. The meal also came with a piece of white bread with butter and a basic coleslaw. I would definitely come back for this fish fry! read more

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We had heard that Layman had one of the best Fishfry's around so we decided to check them out on the first Friday of Lent.The staff is very friendly and welcomed us with Apple Pie shots!Unfortunately there aren't many tables to sit and eat at,but we made the best of it.They are a Mini Micro-Brewery too,as you can see in the pics.They had an unusual selection of beers available, in addition to their own brews,which we decided to try.The Belgian Raw Ale was a dark beer that didn't taste like most dark beers,of which I am not a fan of actually.It was pretty darn good if I do say so.our group ordered an appetizer of fried pickles and they were hot and tasty,then we had fish fries, one with tater tots and one with traditional fries.The fish was crispy and had a light batter and moist tasty cod inside,so non of that fishy taste you sometimes find.It also came with homemade slaw and bread and butter like most.The menu is pretty extensive for this kind of place,which was a surprise. To sum it up,it's definitely worth seeking our for the fish fry,but be ready,the space is cornbread size with a couple tables and a little long on the waittime,but the food quality and friendliness make up for this. read more

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I stopped here to have the smash burger and house made frys after a recommendation from the bartender. The place is a brewery and dive like but fine for me. I ordered the healthy one smash burger single which is lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and Mayo. The owner was nice and gave out homemade pie shots which was delicious. The smash Burger beef has good flavor on a fresh/soft bun. The toppings were fresh and cold vs the hot beef which I liked. The house made frys were hot cooked to order, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside seasoned nicely. Overall I liked the burger and frys but I'm not a smash burger guy because I like rare burgers but it was all good. read more

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Food was delicious. Service was so on top of it and courteous. Atmosphere is chill. Drinks were great. Highly recommended.

Hands down best smashburger I've ever had. Meat was perfectly cooked. Staff was beyond friendly and welcoming- we can't wait to come back! read more

Layman Brewing - Double smash burger with onion rings - Brewpubs Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

Always a delicious and welcoming stop here. The thoughtful care they take with their food and drinks is outstanding. read more

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Creative and different profile beers - we did a flight - they make small batches of creative traditional style beer - owners and staff all thumbs up. chill and friendly place - beer geeks / classic home town bar vibes / what it says it is it is - basically it's good, ( fries have an award, not sure about that) ...burger was great / bun could be better / smash style ( yum) / ranch was real - and real good) ( veggies as a side option are grilled and great taste. ) for new places to give a try I'd say GO. We went for dinner on a Saturday night not too crowded. Sarah and Kyle are very friendly - Ian and others staff were great too. Thanks y'all. read more

This was a great hole-in-the-wall find! The people were really nice, great atmosphere, super friendly bartender (Ian), and the food was fantastic. We will be back! read more

10/10!!! I am still dreaming about those cauliflower wings... You walk in here and instantly feel at home. The bar is nearly full, mostly with regulars that the bartender and owner know by name. The bartender gives you a few beer samples to help you narrow down your selection (yes, they brew their own beer! And it's fabulous. I had a hefeweizen and my husband had an amber). And we even got a free shot of their delicious homemade apple pie whiskey, since we mentioned it was our first time coming but we had been wanting to stop by for a while. Not only are staff welcoming, but the regulars don't make you feel like an outsider- we struck up a conversation with people sitting on either side of us at the bar and felt like we had known them for years. I wanted a more vegetable-forward meal and I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of vegetable options on this menu! Green beans, cauliflower , mushrooms.. Yes, many are fried, but you can ask for them not fried, and there are salad options, and even a lentil burger that sounded delightful. My husband ordered fish fry, and usually I'm not a huge fan, but I could not stop eating this fish fry. I daresay it's my new favorite in Milwaukee. The coleslaw was good, my only note is that it was really heavy on the onion, but some people like that! I liked that it was clearly homemade. Fries were excellent, as well. A few other fyis: once per year (they said middle/end of October) they do a fish boil! Keep an eye out for that. Also, we were told they are known for their burgers but didn't try them, will have to come back for that next time! Don't keep driving by, pop in, have a beer, come for the fish fry, stay for the corner bar atmosphere. read more

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Was there a few weeks ago with friends. Awesome place, great service, food, and yes the beer! So inviting of a place, and the bartenders and owners are exceptional! Louise read more

Great food, strong drinks, and a good atmosphere. Would definitely come back to enjoy again.

Emphatically yes I recommend this business. If I lived closer I would want to keep it all to myself but since we're not I will share. In short, when you're there, you're family. There is a young, energetic and wildly creative vibe there. The decor is shabby chic. The food is delightful, tasty and simple. The beer is the star of the show. They love giving you a tour of the brewery area...if they don't offer you should still ask. You will learn so much about the science and art of creating delicious beer. read more

This is the kind of place that doesn't get a lot of online ratings. The outside is standard corner "dive" bar. But it's not really not a dive at all. It's definitely a local bar. Good cheap food, booze, and people. If you want a clean local spot then you could do a whole lot worse. We also appreciated The lite Samus theme. read more

Tried this quirky Stallis bar/restaurant/brewery for a Friday night Fish fry, Yummm, Yummm! Great batter, fries and homade beer! Super friendly service, chill, atmosphere, highly recommended. read more

Food is amazing. Bartenders are cool. Ian is great at pouring beers. I recommend the chicken tenders and the smash burger. A+++ No notes Kyle is alright read more

We've tried this place 2-3 times now and have enjoyed it for carryout. We haven't had an opportunity to do a sit-down visit here yet. My first thought when I approached the door this latest time was that the business emits empathy. Right on their door is a sign that says their staff have all been vaccinated but, if you're still nervous, let them know and they will mask up when serving and interacting with you. The food has been very consistent. We've done the Friday fish fry each time. The fish has a good flavor and, despite being takeout, holds up well for the ten or so minute ride home. The fish isn't greasy nor is it dry. The tater tots are tater tots. They taste fine and were fried well. The cole slaw is more on the savory side but also has a light sweetness to it. The tartar sauce is chunky, obviously homemade, and a great companion to the fish. The bread that comes with it is okay - fresh but nothing to write home about. The staff are very polite and attentive. Even though my food had just gotten packed and was ready to go, I was offered a sample of one of their liquid crafts. When I politely refused, but said I need to come and sit down in the future, I was given a token so the first drink is on them. Overall, a great experience! read more

Layman Brewing - 3-Piece Fish Fry. I played at home and took the picture. - Fried fish fillets, tater tots, and a slice of bread are served on a white plate with two containers of dipping sauces. - Brewpubs Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

Layman Brewing is the place to be if you like the craftiest of craft brews, great conversation and one of the best damn cheeseburgers in the Milwaukee metro. The owners and their staff are welcoming to any new face that comes in (usually with a shot of pie sipper!) and they are attentive to your every need. Your glass will never go empty. They have great apps and entrees (including curds and friday fish fry - Milwaukee staples!) Their beer selection changes often thanks to their small batches, meaning they always have a couple brews on tap that are perfectly paired to the season you're in. I can't recommend this place enough. read more

Layman Brewing is a nice little gem in West Allis. My friend and I went there on a Saturday, right when they opened at 1:00. The bartenders name was Brianna and she was super welcoming to us both. She had a lot of great recommendations for their beers and the one that I selected was really good and refreshing. I ordered the double smash burger and I really could have gotten a single, because their burgers are pretty big. The burger was tasty and the fries and tater tots were well seasoned, which I really liked because sometimes there isn't any seasoning on the sides. The place is pretty small and cozy with a bar and a couple of tables to sit at. The place had a lot of regulars come in, so it must be an enjoyable experience for the community. I would definitely return there again to try their homemade soups and other menu items, including their other beers. Also, it's a fun place to get in a game of bar dice. read more

The wife and I stopped in last weekend and had a pleasant experience. The beer was definitely creative and not your average microbrews. I enjoyed the Rhy-ders on the Storm beer the best. Owners were both friendly and very informative about their operation. I'm a bit chatty and they were happy to answer my inquisitions. We both received a shot of apple pie as well. Quite tasty!! We tried every beer variety, plus the apple pie. Let's say we were feeling fine when we walked out the door. Check it out for sure and have some fun!! read more

Great corner bar that is really a brewery. Drinking their Subtletea Red and enjoying very much. Also good food so stop in and eat and drink. Friendly owners and staff. Definitely recommend. read more

Layman Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

This place blew me away with their food! The people who own the place and work there are so fantastic. I couldn't wait to come back before I even left! read more

Layman Brewing - Smash Burger! - Brewpubs Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

We're from the northern part of the state and make several trips to Milwaukee each year. Thought we'd been to all the breweries here until we stumbled upon this gem. Food is among the best we've had in Milwaukee, the smash burger is hands down the best burger we've found here. Great conversation and beer, too. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

Layman Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - West Allis, Wisconsin

Fantastic craft beer in an unpretentious setting. I don't think that I've had better beer, especially at the dive bar prices charged at Layman. Had a nice chat with the owners, who have big plans for the place. I have heard that their Friday Fish is excellent. We just had some cheese curds, which were tasty. Give this place a try if you like interesting, flavorful beer made in house. read more

Great smash burger, cheese curds, and sweet potato fries. Great service from the bar tender (lady). Love the atmosphere in there. The cook came over and deliver the food. Delicious. read more

Friendly service. Great beer selection and wonderful food. We had a smash burger and a grilled cheese sandwich- both with tater tots. Perfect! Try the Apple Pie sipper/shot!! This cute local tavern is walkable from the Home 2 Suites West Allis. read more

I stopped here 2 weeks ago with some friends, as it's our new neighborhood dive I wanted to check it out, I like that they make their own brews in house. Their menu is simple yet sufficient. The new owners seemed friendly enough and gave out free shots of apple pie to our table. There was one major red flag which will prompt me to never return. They removed almost all POC musical artists from their jukebox. When bars make moves like that, it tells people like me, a POC member of the neighborhood that "my type" isn't welcomed there. I won't settle for the excuse that the owners "don't like rap" because I was unable to find music made by brown people as well (reggaeton). I found it highly offensive and counter productive in 2021. If you don't like black and brown people, limiting music played to only white artists is one fine way to show your true colors. Unfortunately I can't recommend this dive to anyone black/brown or lgbt+. read more

First time visiting Layman Brewing did not disappoint! The owners are so welcoming and it's obvious they have passion for their product and their business. The beer was excellent and food was also delicious . We will be back for more of both. read more

Excellent beers and probably the best cheeseburgers in the city. If you are a fan of either of these two things you probably already know this is the place to go or now know this is a must stop place. read more

I've been thinking of how to write this since we have become good friends with the owners and don't want to sound biased. But that is when I decided it was the perfect time to write the review. Husband and I are big fans of beer and enjoy all beer outings and always look forward to trying the new breweries in Wisconsin. Layman's did not disappoint. The beer is SOLIDLY great beer. It's extremely drinkable and never claims to be anything less than that. It's not hipster beer that is just riding the newest wave of whatever beer is popular at the moment. My favorite is their Opasbeir that is the recipe of Kyle's grandfather. It is German inspired and easy to really enjoy. Their taps do revolve, but that only makes them even better. Okay ou get to try new beers! The burgers, in my opinion, are the BEST in Milwaukee. I literally do not want to go anywhere else for a burger. The fries are homemade and tasty as well. Sarah is magical in the kitchen. Sarah and Kyle are amazing owners. They welcome everyone with open arms and a tour of their brewery. The clientele that frequent the place are pretty awesome too. There has never been a time when we didn't have a great time. I strongly suggest you get down here and enjoy their awesome beer and have a burger too! And get a chance to chat with Kyle and Sarah. You won't be disappointed :) read more

Great food, friendly owners, and good beer. This is definitely a place for everyone to check out. I am very happy to see this new business in the neighborhood. Myself and friends will definitely be back. read more

Great neighborhood corner bar! Loved the variety and selection of beers. Owners were very friendly and knowledgeable. Loved the fried cheese curds and green beans. Also, one of the best fish fries in the area! Great food, great selection of beer, chill atmosphere- we will definitely be back! read more

Best food ever love the house made ranch! Great staff too very attentive. Also they made great accommodations for me being able to enter the building with my wheelchair. My new favorite place! read more