Sugar Maple has an aura of cool, what with the ambiguous name and blacked out windows, but the reality is not so intimidating. The cavernous interior is reminiscent of a bowling alley--albeit one with Eames-style chairs--which does not make it an ideal summer hangout. The beer selection is first rate, but they tend to have just run out of everything I order. No matter, I will return to Sugar Maple for their popcorn-topped potato soup; it's a gift from the gods and not at all what you'd expect. read more

Amazing beers, friendly knowledgable bartenders, great atmosphere. A real beer lover's destination.

They were not accommodating what-so-ever. We tried to move chairs to sit as a group of 8 because the other tables were taken and they literally took the chair out from under us. When asked, they said it was important to keep a group of chairs for a group that may come in. However, they didn't care about the 8 of us that were already there. If you're looking for hipsters on a power trip that run a bar and think the twelve people that show up regularly/don't depend on customer service will keep you in business, then you're in luck. If you want service reflective of the $7 a beer you're paying then go next door to Cafe Centraal. read more

I took some new people there, and unfortunately had the worst experience in any dining/drinking establishment EVER. NOTE TO THE BARTENDERS: if you don't like the silliness of people when they drink and you think we are all idiots (your words not mine) then don't work in a bar, where people potentially act silly. On TWO seperate occassions my guests were mistreated (one time asking for water.) We were having fun with some coasters, which we apologized for and were STILL told that we should all f**king grow up. Upon pointing this out to another bartender, he told us basically we deserved it, and that he was sick of the way people acted in a bar, which actually made me laugh out loud. We didn't finish our drinks and went across the street to a sports bar, and was treated nicely while drinking our $2 beers. DON'T GO HERE unless you are okay with being mistreated while trying their vast selection. read more

I visited Sugar Maple many times being a big craft beer fan. They have a very large craft beer selection that has anything from a light lager for people just getting into craft or non craft drinkers all the way to bourbon barrel aged stouts for the hardcore aficionado. Prices are average for the beer for the area. The vibe is a pretty chill one. Lots of big benches and spacious area especially compared to other Bay View bars. My only complaints are the lighting which is obnoxiously dark which makes it difficult to read the beer menu. Also, I think with such a large long bar they do themselves a disservice, because when it gets really busy they have a hard time serving people in an appropriate order because people are getting to an opening any where they can and the bar tenders have no idea who they should serve next. It's not their fault, it's just the reality of having an extremely long bar. read more

Decent beer selection but far from impressive. The seating layout is a bit awkward: the benches (visually attractive but not comfortable) start right at the door, creating a bottleneck. Can be good for large groups as the benches form a U around a long, narrow table, but when someone wants to get another drink there's a lot of shuffling to let them out of the U. read more

Awesome place, great atmosphere, fantastic service and unbelievable beer selection. The bartender Andy is a great guy and knows his stuff. Stop in for a few tasty brews if you have the chance! read more

They have a great selection of beers, the interior is modern, the seating is communal and it can be difficult to obtain service.

I really enjoyed the beer list at the Sugar Maple. Located in an up and coming area, I was really impressed. I loved the cinder block mini concert venue in back. read more

Great beer selection and neat environment. I liked the art on the walls and the open space. However, I was really disappointed with the staff. The bartenders were extremely rude. It too made me feel bad on the inside. I have no desire to go back. read more

Great "BEER BAR!" They have a wide range of things on tap.

Just cant handle any group above 4... We tried to pull a chair to complete our table and they just would not allowed it... Thanks but we are not comming back read more

Great beer selection....even better bartenders, however, the owners/managers were beyond RUDE!! It's a shame we will NEVER be back. There are other places with equally impressive beer selections where the owner/manager actually appreciates their patrons. All we were trying to do is pay a compliment about the awesome bartenders and we were met with rudeness beyond belief. I hope to run into these bartenders at another place once they decide that they deserve better. read more

I ordered a vodka gimlet last night and was charged $12 dollars! When I asked why, I was told it was a "double pour." The drink was not shaken and was made with rail vodka. Basically, I paid more than a whole bottle of cheap vodka for a really mediocre drink. I've gone to upscale places and paid only $9 for a really well made gimlet. Plus, the bartenders seem to be oblivious to people they don't know. The new wooden seating is really uncomfortable too. I won't be returning anytime soon. read more

Yelled at for moving a chair! I have never experienced anything so unprofessional and rude in my life. After being yelled at for trying to move a chair over to a table, there was no way in hell we were going to give them any of our money. This place used to be awesome but sucks after their refurbishment. read more

Douche-free zone, do not come here if you're looking for "jaegy-bombs" or sexual themed shots. It is an awesome place for beer lovers with hilarious bartenders. read more

I love the concept but the service was terrible! Bartender told me when ordering a High Life that "We don't serve that cheap domestic crap." Really?! Shocking to hear a person say that in MKE. Bartender then proceeded to act like I had no idea about craft beers and then told me what I should drink. My friends also got the same attitude when they ordered a "domestic crap" beer. I get the concept and realize what they're known for, and can appreciate the art of craft brews. But to get an attitude from the start and be condescending will never win anyone over. I work in the same industry and could never imagine treating a guest like the way my friends and I were treated in there. I hope that bartender figures this out or I'm sure she'll be a part of the rising unemployed community. As for Sugar Maple I wish the bar well and hope that it can find more pleasurable bar staff to keep people coming in. read more

the beer selection is pretty amazing, probably the best taps in the city. great atmosphere, good times, what more can i say.

I felt the bartender was not attentive and a little rude ( He had a long black beard and Large black rimmed glasses) My friend ordered a beer sampler and hated one of the beers, when we asked if we could exchange that beer for another (we would have paid extra) He said "that's why it's called a sampler" OK "just asking" . Hey how about saying sure "that would be $2.00 more". ( at other bars we are offered a different sample, some charge extra some don't) You might make another sale, instead she just drank water. And you lost a good tip (I'm a good tipper, not this time). I was never asked if I needed another drink, each drink I HAD to stop a bartender and ASK if I could get another. Overall I would not return, better service and better attitude 2 doors down.Oh and they can't make a Mojito (in the summer) "we don't have mint" It grows like weeds in my back yard!! Customer service is definitely lacking. read more

one of the best beer selections i've ever encountered, and i'm tough to please. the bartenders are very cool and know their stuff. get there early and get elbow room at the bar! read more

Our first visit will be our last. While there was one bar tender who seemed fine, the bar back was pathetic. He literally yelled in people's faces if they neared the end of the bar (where staff could get through.) It was ridiculous! Asking someone to please step back is fine- a lot of people aren't aware that it's apparently "sacred ground"- but aggressively yelling at someone and calling them very rude names? Not okay in my book. We also witnessed the bouncer and other staff very aggressively remove a guy (who looked like he would have left on his own had he been given the choice.) As soon as they were outside the bar, those staff members proceeded to punch and beat on the guy. Sad to see. There were quite a few people that left after that. Their aggressive and absolutely rude behavior is not something we'll pay to go see again. There are too many other great bars in the area. AND it looks like there have been numerous complaints about the staff with no changes? Sounds like the owner should maybe get a clue. read more

Well Friday night I went to Sugar Maple in Bayview for the first time, asked a bar back numerous times for a napkin ( assumed he didn't hear ) so I finally gently (seriously a baby finger tap) tapped his head and he looks up and says "Don't fucking touch me". Mind you, I just paid 15 dollars for ONE DRINK. To be spoken to that way. A friend of mine proceeds to get angry, in which this same bar back says "then just fucking leave". Then Of course another bartender proceeds to tell us that asking a bar back for a napkin is like asking a doctors nurse to perform a surgery. HOW IN THE HELL THAT IS SIMILAR I DONT KNOW. Then of course the bartender who originally served me my 15$ drink (which I normally wouldn't be angry about paying) asks me if I need anything, I say "I am just a little upset that your bar back swore at me" and then proceeds to roll his eyes and walk away from me. I've worked in customer service since I was able to legally work and never have I ever been treated so poorly. Thank you sugar maple for charging me $15 for an alcoholic beverage and then proceeding to swear at me and my friends for no apparent reason; biggest waste of my money to be treated like a piece of shit. Fuck you and your so called classy business read more

I seldom give a 1-star review. I feel that doing so requires some explanation, which I will attempt to give here. In a way it pains me to do so. I was going to The Palm (Sugar Maple's sister bar) before Sugar Maple existed. Back when I was going to bars a bit more often, I often frequented Sugar Maple after it first opened, and almost always had a good time. Their selection is excellent. I hadn't gone in a while, and some friends and I were out in Bay View for a birthday dinner celebration recently, and we all (8 of us) decided to stop in at Sugar Maple at around 9:30 on a Saturday night. Knowing that it's a busy time of the evening we all filed in and started to look for a place to sit. It was full, but not overly packed, There was no place that we can all easily sit together, but we saw two smaller tables near each other that were free, and figured that with minimal effort we could all manage to sit together. We turned one long table 90 degrees, and moved two chairs. This was all out of the lane of traffic, in a corner against a wall and railing at the far side of the room. We were just sitting down when one of the bouncers (owner?) walks up and YELLS at my fiancée to "GET UP! YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO MOVE THE FURNITURE" and proceeds to slam the tables and chairs back into their original positions and then storms off and proceeds to stare menacingly at us from the corner. So, wanting for all 8 of us to sit together, we're now standing in the lane of traffic to/from the restrooms, getting stared at by the rest of the patrons who are wondering what we did to piss off the bouncer. My fiancée, being a sensitive person, was about ready to cry and wanted to just leave right away. We convinced her to stay, and then proceeded to stand at the end of the bar and be ignored by the bartenders who were busy checking their smartphones behind the counter. It probably took us 5 minutes for the bartenders to get done with text/email/facebook updates and finally ask us what we wanted. All this time we were having to move back and forth to allow people to go to/from the restrooms since we were forced to stand in the lane of traffic. I was originally going to chalk this up to the bouncer having a bad day, but after reading the other reviews, it seems that rudeness and poor service has become a common practice since I stopped coming here regularly. The bouncer could have said "I'm sorry, but fire code prevents us from allowing the tables to be moved, would you mind standing over here until I can free up some room for you" or "We prefer not to move the tables and chairs because it scratches up the floor, would you mind moving them back, please", or even put up a sign that said "Please do not move the tables or chairs". Any of these would have been better than yelling at a group of completely sober people that had just walked into a business establishment just looking for a drink and some friendly conversation. read more