Hacienda Beer Company
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Exterior photo of Hacienda's Milwaukee taproom, via Mike Simon |
Hacienda Beer Company is a microbrewery in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is strongly associated with the Door County Brewing Company (DCBC), from which Hacienda was created in 2018.[A] As of 2022[update], Hacienda brews their beer in DCBC facilities in Baileys Harbor and operates a taproom on Milwaukee's Upper East Side. Their beer is served both there and at DCBC in Baileys Harbor.
History
Hacienda originated in the family-run Door County Brewing Company, which was founded by John and Angie McMahon beginning in 2012 as a way of luring their sons Danny and Ben back to their Door County, Wisconsin, roots.[3] In 2017, Danny, Ben, and three other DCBC employees founded Hacienda, giving an intentional branding for experimental and non-conventional beers—what a local Door County magazine called "bolder flavors".[4][5] According to a later Hacienda general manager:
Hacienda was their attempt at doing more experimental stuff [like US] East Coast hazy IPAs, milkshake stuff, juicy IPAs ... things that are really popular out there. Door County was doing ... more straightforward stuff.[6]
Hacienda launched in February 2018, having waited for the equipment needed to finalize a new 15-barrel brewery and taproom in Baileys Harbor.[4]
In November 2018, Hacienda announced that had signed a lease with Milwaukee developer Josh Jeffers to open a taproom of their own on the city's Upper East Side. The space was formerly used for G-Daddy's BBC Bar and Grill, but was gutted inside in preparation for the new operators.[7][B] Beer for the new location would be brewed in DCBC's 15-barrel brewery.[9]
The Milwaukee taproom opened in June 2019, and becoming part of a wave of new openings that reinvigorated the surrounding district and cemented a shift in the area's patronage from college students to young well-heeled professionals.[8] In November of the same year, the brewery added two lines of roasted coffee for sale,[10] and overhauled their food menu.[11] In 2021, the McMahons departed DCBC and Hacienda.[12]
In late 2022, a new management team at Hacienda announced a brand "re-introduction" with the goal of making it less intimidating to casual visitors. Changes included a new exterior sign to highlight the taproom's kitchen offerings, another menu shake-up, and the addition of hard seltzers.[13][14]
Milwaukee location
| External image | |
|---|---|
| Publicity stills of Hacienda's Milwaukee taproom |
Hacienda's 4,500-square-foot (420 m2) Milwaukee taproom is located in a 1913 building at 2018 E. North Ave.[8][15] The interior, gutted prior to Hacienda moving in, was designed by Milwaukee-based 360 Degrees. They aimed to create "a blend of casual, whimsical, yet hardworking, sophisticated and timeless qualities."[15]
Primary colors in the new taproom included blue, green, and orange.[16] The builders left cream city brick walls deliberately exposed while large hanging orbs to light the space.[6] Seats on the Prospect Ave. side of the building were upholstered with Madras fabric.[2] The way to the bathrooms is marked by a highly visible neon sign reading "flush vibes".[16]
Beer
Hacienda focuses on juicy IPAs, pale ales, and sour beers.[16] At its opening, it served around twelve beers, including:[8]
- Everything Eventually, a New England-style pale ale and its best-selling beer[1]
- Does Anyone Work Around Here?, an unfiltered lager[16]
- There is No Other Way, a gin-barrel aged farmhouse ale[16]
Notes
- ^ Hacienda has been described as being "spun off" from the Door County Brewing Company,[1] or as that company's "experimental arm."[2]
- ^ Hacienda was the first brewery to open a Milwaukee taproom unconnected from beer-producing facilities. They were permitted to do so under a Wisconsin law allowing breweries to operate up to two taprooms: one at their production facility, and another at a single remote location within the state.[8]
References
- ^ a b Hoffmeister, Hannah (June 7, 2019). "First Look: Hacienda Beer Co.'s East Side Taproom". Milwaukee Magazine.
- ^ a b Flanigan, Kathy (May 31, 2019). "Hacienda Beer brings a lush vibe and a selection of experimental beers to Milwaukee's east side". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ "Crafting a Family Brewery". Door County Pulse. June 18, 2015.
- ^ a b Flanigan, Kathy (December 15, 2017). "Door County Brewing founders launch Hacienda Beer Co". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ Skiba, Alyssa (December 7, 2020). "The Art of the Beer Label". Door County Living (published October 23, 2020).
- ^ a b Tanzilo, Bobby (April 9, 2019). "Progress report: Hacienda Beer Co. taproom". OnMilwaukee.
- ^ Ryan, Sean (November 21, 2018). "Hacienda Beer Co. opening in former BBC space". Milwaukee Business Journal.
- ^ a b c d Horne, Michael (June 18, 2019). "Bar Exam: Hacienda Beer Company A Radical Redo". Urban Milwaukee.
- ^ Flanigan, Kathy (November 21, 2018). "Door County's Hacienda Beer Co., will open a taproom on Milwaukee's east side next spring". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ Flanigan, Kathy (October 14, 2019). "Hacienda Beer's creative vibe extends to a new venture: Hacienda Coffee; it's sold at Milwaukee taproom". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ Maas, Tyler (November 4, 2019). "Hacienda Beer Co. announces new menu, updated brunch items, Hacienda Coffee line". Milwaukee Record.
- ^ Drosner, Chris (November 21, 2021). "Beer Baron: Reimagined stout a sign of change at Door County Brewing". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison.com.
- ^ Wild, Matt (November 10, 2022). "Revamped Hacienda Taproom & Kitchen now home to some of East Side's best food, drinks". Milwaukee Record.
- ^ Fredrich, Lori (November 10, 2022). "From beer bites to brunch: Hacienda Taproom & Kitchen gets a redux". OnMilwaukee.
- ^ a b Lesk, Sari (June 3, 2018). "Hacienda Beer Co. opens taproom on Milwaukee's east side". Milwaukee Business Journal.
- ^ a b c d e Fredrich, Lori (May 30, 2019). "The BBC becomes the HBC: Slick design is at core of Hacienda Beer Co. Taproom". OnMilwaukee.