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    The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward

    4.2 (238 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward Photos

    THE EXPLORIUM BREWPUB THIRD WARD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward

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    Peanut butter stout
    Jessica O.

    GREAT beer. Such a wide variety and they are constantly updating the menu with new beers to try. I loved the bramble berry cheesecake beer and the peanut butter stout.

    Wrap
    Abigail W.

    Fun place! Would love to come watch a game here. Came for a late night bite - friendly service.

    Flight.

    Was recommended early in my trip. Not just a place for beer lovers. Portions on point to price, cheese curds, best I had, lots of milwaukee influence but different enough to not have everything, in a good way. Was told to try the curds 10/10. Told to have a crusher 10/10 for a cream ale. Bar tender/wait staff are jovial, attentive, and knowledgeable. Had a great lunch +! Wish i had come at the beginning of the trip so i could come back twice. Haven't tried the meats to the burgers but plenty of gluten friendly (reduced and free) choices and variety of normal priced foods for my area, which makes it affordable as crowd or a lunch! Thanks Explorium!

    Carla R.

    I love going to Explorium for food or drinks. I love all the space they have with an indoor area, half out/indoor space AND a patio area. We sat in the middle out/indoor space where we could get a breeze from outside. The bar out there is really casual and the staff checked on us often which is as nice! The drinks and beers are so good here. It's a great place to go with a big group because of all the space they have.

    Sema T.

    We came down because we heard about the library society - which is such a great idea and awesome way to bring in patrons. Once a month they bring out a series of brews from the vault and talk about how they were made and showcase how the beers have evolved over the years. We'll miss a February but will definitely be back to pinch our cards. We also decided to eat in the pub beforehand. The space is big and accommodating, but they felt a little short staffed for a not very busy night. We waited a good 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged us at our table, but after that we were well cared for. Food was good and as you'd expect for a pub.

    Craft Beer
    Maddy K.

    Explorium is a very cool spot to check out in the Third Ward area if you're looking for pub food, cocktails, and a wide variety of specialty beers to choose. They have a large amount of seating options for dining and have a full bar with seating. Our waitress was super kind, chatty, and very attentive all evening which we so very much appreciate! The Mai tai is a delicious cocktail choice although I was sooo hoping to get an espresso martini however although it was on the menu, they said they are discontinuing it so couldn't order, sad! The beer we chose was very light and had good flavor overall. One of my favorite items to order is their beer cheese soup- it is pretty hearty and filling but the flavor is delicious and pairs so well with the croutons. I tried the Chicken Caesar wrap today which was not my fave -maybe because of the olives- although I will say the chicken had very good flavor. I loved the season french fries and my sig others said the burger was just fair. Would recommend stopping by if you're in the third ward for some unique beer options or specialty cocktails!

    Greg W.

    Hit up the Explorium afters seeing some unique brews on their menu. We had just eaten so didn't get any food but it looked decent. It's a nice, unique space but can be a little cramped if you get in the booths. The bartenders and other folks at the bar were really great. Had some good conversation and even got a small pour of something I really wanted to try but wasn't on the menu in that size. The beer itself was mediocre, IMO. Not super well balanced but unique for the most part. Given the glut of brewpubs in the city I don't think I'd make this a priority but definitely wouldn't be upset if someone chose here to stop in for some food and a drink.

    Steven T.

    This was the new restaurant of the week and a bookmark since they first opened so I stopped by for a cocktail and some lunch on a Sunday. The food menu I was given was different from the online menu I thought because I didn't see the southwest steak sandwich and some other items I felt. The place is definitely a nice space with a nice bar and cool wooden plank floors. My servers were very friendly. I ordered a spicy Bloody Mary which was weird because I see ice in it but ick it was warm and disgusting was my first thought, after extensive stirring and it was chilled I thought it had good flavor but not very spicy. My local bartender always shakes the Bloody so it's evenly mixed and chilled, fail on the Bloody. Since the menu seemed slightly off what I thought was going get I opted for the Nashville hot chicken sandwich with a side of mashed potatoes. My first thought on the mashed potatoes is that it's bland and not seasoned well which I could fix until I noticed that my booth doesn't have any salt or any table fixings. The Nashville hot chicken sandwich was on the pathetic side with this small pounded flat looking chicken breast on a bed of pickles topped with slaw, more fast looking. Once again bland and not seasoned and not very hot at all, but it had a very crunchy breading that lasted the whole sandwich. For just under $40 bucks with a $10 tip for lunch I feel that there are way better options around, swing and a miss this time.

    Pretzel with beer cheese
    Ryan V.

    First brewery stop in Milwaukee and this one is going to be hard to beat. There is plenty of seating in the main bar with lots of decor to look at with an open brew area for all to see. There is also an outdoor bar that is dog friendly along with two very large fire fire for patrons. The service was top notch from the bartenders to the servers. They made us feel very welcome as out of town visitors. The food was excellent. The cheese curds are a must try and the homemade pretzel is absolutely massive (recommend as a shared app). The only downside is they close at 10pm :( If you're on the Untappd beer app, this beer is for you. Very well done beer and sodas (hard sodas too). The hard house made root beer and ginger beer was out of this world. Please check out if you're in the area.

    Kat N.

    Fantastic experience at Explorium! Was a wonderful introduction to cheese curds. Cheese tasted fresh and batter was light. The flat bread had unique topics that combined well. Our server was helpful with recommendations for a drink.

    Front entrance
    Grant S.

    We have now been to Explorium twice and it is now a favorite place of ours! The menu is so broad, diverse, and scrumptious! The first few times that you go, we highly recommend getting flights. There are so many delicious beers and ciders that it is truly impossible to just choose one! They have a wonderful selection of hard seltzers alongside their fabulous beers, which is a very nice alternative if you are looking for something tasty/on the lower end of calories. The food is also fantastic! The menu is so wide and diverse that it can be overwhelming! We ended up going more basic sandwich routes: buffalo chicken sandwich and mushroom Swiss burger. My husband got a side it tots and I got the French fries. We both loved our food and walked away extremely full. Delicious and filing food AND scrumptious and diverse beers. What more could you ask for? How about kind, compassionate, and helpful service. From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed and cared for. They truly have a fantastic staff! The ambiance is warm, rustic, and homey. With lots of places to sit and get cozy; the wooden interior space feels both intimate and expansive. It's a great spot both for larger groups and intimate gatherings. It has it all! Explorium has definitely won our hearts and tastes buds! We look forward to our next visit!

    My burger and fries, hubs' hot wings, "Big Ass" pretzel, and fried cheese curds!
    Stephanie B.

    WOW!!! The hubs and I ventured up to MKE on a motorcycle jaunt, and our first night there went in search of some "bar food". Quick Yelp search (as one does) and *POW* The Explorium Brewpub's menu jumped out at us! The parking is plentiful, however, you do have to pay (BUT it's reasonable, and you can do it right from a smart phone! And in a garage attached to the pub - street parking if you get there in time). The restaurant itself is open, decorated eclectically and super funky-fun! TONS of beer on tap, and then the food!!! OH MY the food!! We indulged in the highly suggested Wisconsin fried cheese curds, and pretzel as big as my, well.. it's big! I had a burger and fries, and the hubs got a basket of wings. Everything was delicious, fresh, and plentiful! Our server was primo and on top of our refills and requests, and spot on with the recommendations! If we ever make our way back up to Milwaukee, I can assure you, we WILL be back here for food and fun!

    Cheese curds!

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    Michael , was fantastic took his time explaining the different beers and the food out fast and tasty.

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    Ha! Glad you had a great [Wisco] meal! Cheers

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward

    Is it busy on Tuesdays?

    There were other people in there around 6:30pm/7pm. My husband and I sat at the bar. We were served right away and didn't wait.

    Is the patio dog-friendly?

    Yes, my friends and I sat out there with their pup in May!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Stopped for a drink before a game and was pleasantly surprised at the beautiful inside. It was a…read more10-minute walk to Baird Center and the center of downtown. But parking is paid parking on the street, with spots hard to find. Once the parking situation is resolved, things are great. The vibes inside was awesome - very open, with lots of seating. There seems to be tons of seating options, and outdoor seating as well for when the days are warmer. And for a brewery, the most important thing? The beer, of course! And it was good. We've had their beer before and have always like them. It was great getting some more on draft. Agro pop IPA Yummy!! Panther pale ale OK, but not my fave. I wouldn't get it again. Cheese curds $14 These were delicious, but it did get salty after munching through the plate. We were limiting ourselves to just one drink, and needed more drinks or another food item to mediate our tastebuds. I'd order again with a proper meal or with more booze. Service was super nice, though not quite polished, which I don't mind at all. Points for a nice smilze!

    Solid food, great vibes. If you are ever in the area looking for some bar food and cool atmosphere,…read morecheck out Pilot Project! My chicken pesto melt was super flavorful and felt light since the chicken was grilled and the focaccia bun was nice and soft. Fries were average bar fries. David's chicken sandwich was huge! He didn't like the pickles that were on it, or the garlic aioli but chicken and bun were good. I wasn't a fan of my sour (Punch Kissed Parasol) but David enjoyed his beer (Falk Bock). Service was great!

    Triple Taproom & Kitchen

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    Took my boyfriend to Triple Taproom last Friday evening for dinner and some fish fry! The last time…read moreI went to Triple Taproom it was called "Haciendas" before! It wasn't too busy so we were able to get some booth seats- we had some brisket rolls and elote corn for appetizers and they were sooo good, the rolls had a nice spice to them! I got their Friday fish fry while my boyfriend got the jalapeño popper burger and we loved our entrees! The battering of the fish fry is def one of my favorites in the area, and my bf loved their burger! My bf (a beer lover) said this place has been one of his favorite breweries he's been to in the MKE area! I had the Wisconsinitis while my boyfriend got their barley beer Deeply Rooted and he was looooved the barley beer! He was sad when they couldn't bottle it up and I don't think triple tap sells it bottled or may be out! Otherwise- such a good dinner, we'll be back!

    First time here. Came over after see a movie at the Oriental…read more Got here around 5:00 on a Saturday night. The place was about half full. They have a couple of different areas, and the one towards the back had a private event (birthday party). To me it feels more like the name, a Taproom with a Kitchen. It has a good selection of adult beverages and a small, but decent selection of food. The menus are all online, and you go to the bar to order (they have servers to bring you the food). Got a round of drinks (Sangria, Marguaritas, and Old Fashioned). They were all good. For food, we started with an order of the Cheese Curds. They came out hot, with the chili honey sauce drizzled on top, with a side of ranch. They were good, but could have benefited from being cooked longer (some were soggy or cheese not melted). For our dinners, we ordered the Shrimp tacos, Brisket tacos, Veggie Quesadilla, and the Hamburger. Everybody was satisfied, but nobody was all that excited. My Shrimp tacos were just okay. The flour tortillas tops were hard and the lower parts soft (as if they might have been sitting under a heat lamp. The pico de gallo was okay, but it had jalapenos, and I didn't think to ask. (But easy enough to pick out). The whole plate seemed a little thrown together. The burger was the best of the entrees that we ordered. For service, you need to go up and order. It took a while to get someone's attention, but in taking the order, they were friendly and helpful. The food took a reasonable amount of time, but during the meal nobody stopped back to ask how things are. Maybe because we didn't have an actual "server" we were left on our own. It was an okay experience, but not a place that I would see us coming back to.

    The Explorium Brewpub Third Ward - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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