What Gathering Place Brewing does

Gathering Place Brewing is an award-winning craft brewery founded in 2017 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operating two taproom locations (Riverwest at 811 E. Vienna Ave and Wauwatosa at 7208 W North Ave) alongside Wisconsin-wide wholesale distribution. The brewery produces European-inspired beer styles with modern American interpretations across a portfolio that includes year-round core beers (Arrivederci Roma Italian Pilsner at 5.2% ABV, Typhoonery Double IPA at 8% ABV, Yeah We Got Beaches Midwest IPA at 7% ABV), seasonal releases (Steel Cut Cadillac Oatmeal Stout, Festbier Munich Style, Gegenpress Dortmund Style Lager), barrel-aged limited releases (Barrel Aged Wonderworker, Barrel Aged Wordsmith), and the Carry the G Cream Ale (5.1% ABV) produced under partnership with Cheesehead TV for Wisconsin sports fans. The company has expanded its portfolio through acquisitions of Sahale Ale Works (December 2024) and Odyssea Sangria (April 2026), signaling movement beyond pure-play craft brewing.

The business operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer and wholesale model. Taproom revenue is generated through draft beer sales (12 rotating tap lines per location), happy hour promotions ($2 off Monday-Wednesday pours), the Frequent Flight-er punch card loyalty program (Short Hop $50 for 5 flights, Long Haul $99 for 10 flights plus a t-shirt and companion pass cards), private event rentals, merchandise (t-shirts $18, crewnecks $35, trucker hats $25), and food partner offerings (Flourchild Pizza, La Mendocina empanadas, Milwaukee Pretzel Company pretzels, Usinger's sausages). Recurring community engagement is built through weekly social leagues (keg curling, cribbage, euchre, darts, cornhole), the $1 for Milwaukee nonprofit donation program (donating at least 1% of revenue to rotating local 501(c)(3) organizations on designated Thursdays), and the annual Lager & Friends festival (now in its 8th year, May 30, 2026, featuring 50+ lagers from regional breweries). Wholesale distribution extends to Hy-Vee, Wine Cellar, Festival Foods, Woodman's, and independent liquor stores across southeast Wisconsin, Madison, Fox Cities, and the Milwaukee-to-Green Bay lakeshore corridor.

Primary customer segments are Milwaukee-area craft beer enthusiasts, Wisconsin sports fans (via the Carry the G channel), private event hosters, social league players, and local nonprofit partners. The company is privately held, founder-owned, and operates with 11-50 employees. Geographic operations are restricted to Wisconsin due to shipping regulations. The brewery differentiates on community integration, European-inspired brewing style, and a rotating portfolio of year-round, seasonal, and limited barrel-aged releases.

Name

Gathering Place Brewing

Legal name

Gathering Place Brewing Company

Website

https://gatheringplacebrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gathering Place Brewing is a privately held, award-winning craft brewery founded in 2017 in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood, operating two Wisconsin taprooms (Riverwest and Wauwatosa) and distributing European-inspired beers statewide. It serves craft beer enthusiasts, Wisconsin sports fans via the Carry the G partnership, private event hosters, and social league participants through taproom sales, wholesale distribution, and community programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (42481)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• European-style beers
• Taproom experiences
• Brewery distribution
• Community giving

Headquarters

HQ city

Wauwatosa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Taproom Beer Sales: On-site draft beer sales at two taproom locations with 12 rotating tap lines. Includes happy hour promotions and the Frequent Flight-er punch card program offering discounted beer flights.
2. Beer To-Go and Canned/Bottled Sales: Packaged beer sold for off-premise consumption including year-round, seasonal, and limited release varieties distributed throughout southeast Wisconsin, Madison, Fox Cities, and lakeshore regions.
3. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including t-shirts, crewneck sweatshirts, and trucker hats sold through the online shop and at taproom locations.
4. Keg Curling and Social Leagues: Revenue from keg curling lane reservations ($10-15 per hour depending on day) and team league signups ($20-40 per team) for activities including cornhole, cribbage, euchre, and darts.
5. Event Tickets and Private Rentals: Lager & Friends festival tickets ($10-50 depending on tier) and taproom private event bookings for birthdays, corporate events, and celebrations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gathering Place Brewing manufactures and sells European-inspired craft beer with modern American twists through two company-owned taprooms in Milwaukee (Riverwest and Wauwatosa) and packaged distribution across Wisconsin. Its product portfolio includes year-round flagship beers, seasonal lagers and ales, barrel-aged limited releases, and the Carry the G Cream Ale partnership with Cheesehead TV. The brewery also operates on-premise experiences including social leagues, keg curling, an annual Lager & Friends festival, and a Frequent Flight-er loyalty card.

Product overview

Gathering Place Brewing is an award-winning, community-centered craft brewery founded in 2017 and located in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood with a second taproom in Wauwatosa. The company crafts European-inspired beer styles with modern American twists, offering a core lineup of year-round beers including Arrivederci Roma (Italian Pilsner), Typhoonery (Double IPA), and Yeah, We Got Beaches (Dry-Hopped Midwest IPA), plus seasonal releases like Steel Cut Cadillac (Oatmeal Stout) and The Limb Shaker (Belgian Tripel). The beer portfolio also includes the partnership beer Carry the G Cream Ale with Cheesehead TV. Beyond beer, the company operates two taproom locations with 12 draft lines serving rotating selections, provides food through partner Flourchild Pizza and snack offerings, hosts the annual Lager & Friends Beer Festival, offers merchandise including shirts, sweatshirts, and hats, and runs community programs like the $1 for Milwaukee nonprofit donation initiative. Seasonal entertainment includes keg curling at the Wauwatosa patio, and regular game leagues spanning cribbage, euchre, darts, and cornhole.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carry the G: Cream Ale partnership with Cheesehead TV - The Official Beer of Cheesehead TV
• Gathering Place Brewing

Products and services

• Arrivederci Roma Italian Pilsner Year-round Italian Pilsner at 5.2% ABV and 32 IBU, part of the core European-inspired beer lineup available on draft and in packaged form.
• Typhoonery Double IPA Year-round Double IPA at 8% ABV and 58 IBU, a flagship hop-forward offering.
• Yeah, We Got Beaches Midwest IPA Year-round Dry-Hopped Midwest IPA at 7% ABV and 60 IBU, a flagship offering.
• Carry the G Cream Ale Cream Ale at 5.1% ABV, the official beer of Cheesehead TV partnership covering Green Bay Packers content, sold at liquor stores, grocery stores, and bars throughout Wisconsin.
• Treffpunkt Kölsch-Style Seasonal Kölsch-Style beer at 4.6% ABV and 24 IBU, available May through July.
• Festbier Munich-Style Seasonal Munich-Style Festbier at 6.3% ABV and 28 IBU, available September through October.
• Ryed of the Valkyries Dunkel Lager Seasonal Dunkel Lager at 4.8% ABV and 18 IBU, available February through May.
• Steel Cut Cadillac Oatmeal Stout Seasonal Oatmeal Stout at 5.7% ABV and 27 IBU, available October through March.
• Interval Pineapple Wheat Ale Seasonal Pineapple Wheat Ale at 4.5% ABV and 5 IBU, available April through September.
• Gegenpress Dortmund-Style Lager Seasonal Dortmund-Style Lager at 5.6% ABV and 35 IBU, available November through January.
• The Limb Shaker Belgian Tripel Limited seasonal Belgian-Style Tripel brewed with Door County Cherries at 8.7% ABV and 20 IBU, available October through December.
• The Wonderworker Biere de Garde Limited-release Winter Biere de Garde at 8.3% ABV and 25 IBU.
• Barrel Aged Wonderworker Premium barrel-aged limited release of The Wonderworker Winter Biere de Garde aged in wine barrels at 9.5% ABV and 22 IBU.
• The Wordsmith Wheat Wine Ale Limited-release Wheat Wine Ale at 10% ABV and 54 IBU.
• Barrel Aged Wordsmith Premium barrel-aged version of The Wordsmith Wheat Wine Ale offered as a limited release.
• Riverwest Taproom Original brewery and taproom at 811 E. Vienna Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53212, with 12 rotating tap lines, industrial-chic decor, food menu (Flourchild Pizza and snacks), happy hour Mon-Wed 4-6pm, and Saturday tours. Open 7 days a week.
• Wauwatosa Taproom & Patio Second taproom location at 7208 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213, with outdoor patio featuring ice rink and heaters, 12 tap lines, happy hour Tue-Wed 4-6pm, and keg curling activity in winter. Closed Mondays.
• Lager & Friends Beer Festival Annual beer festival celebrating lager styles, now in its 8th year, showcasing 50+ lagers from regional and European breweries. Regular tickets at $40 include unlimited sampling, souvenir glass, food, and 20% off taproom coupon; Lager Lover tickets at $50 include a 4-pack of collaboration beer.
• Frequent Flight-er Punch Card Program Prepaid punch card loyalty program offering discounted beer flights at taprooms. Short Hop tier $50 for 5 flights; Long Haul tier $99 for 10 flights plus a t-shirt and 2 companion pass cards for free pints. No expiration on punches.
• Keg Curling Winter recreational activity on the Wauwatosa taproom patio where teams slide mini kegs across ice to score points. Lane reservations at $10 weekday or $15 weekend per 60-minute block; 2026 league registration at $40 per team for 16 games.
• Game Leagues (Cribbage, Euchre, Darts, Cornhole) Weekly league programs held at both taprooms including Cribbage, Euchre, Darts, and Cornhole (Bags). Teams compete in round-robin formats across 6-week seasons with prizes for top finishers. Tosa Bags Cornhole league meets Mon/Wed evenings at $20 per team enrollment.
• Taproom Event Rental Private event hosting for birthdays, business meetings, corporate events, celebrations, and weddings at both taproom locations. Options range from reserved tables to full taproom rental. Inquiry-based booking via [email protected].
• Branded Merchandise Branded apparel including t-shirts ($18), ladies-cut shirts ($18), crewneck sweatshirts ($35), and trucker hats ($25) sold online and at taproom locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1% of revenue donated to local nonprofits through $1 for Milwaukee program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• $1 for Milwaukee Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Monthly rotating nonprofit partnership program started in 2019. Each month a different local 501(c)(3) nonprofit receives $1 from every pint sold on a designated Thursday. Past partners include Feeding America, Milwaukee Rescue Mission, Victory Garden Initiative, Pathfinders MKE, Wisconsin Humane Society, and 20+ other organizations.
• Cheesehead TVcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic marketing partnership making Gathering Place Brewing the official beer of Cheesehead TV. The Carry the G cream ale (5.1% ABV) is sold in 16oz tallboys at retailers and bars throughout Wisconsin. Born from Aaron Rodgers' 'Carry the G' phrase representing team ideals.
• Flourchild PizzaminorOthersFood partner at Riverwest taproom providing pizza cooked fresh in the taproom and frozen for take-home with 4-packs. Local company using heirloom flour, Wisconsin cheese, and local producers with mission to spread love through their brand.
• La MendocinaminorOthersLocal Argentine-style empanada company providing hand-made empanadas in beef/olive/onion, chicken/mushroom/leek, and spinach & cheese varieties served at Riverwest taproom.
• Milwaukee Pretzel CompanyminorOthersSupplier of Bavarian-style pretzels (10oz soft pretzels crafted with malt, rye, and real Wisconsin butter) for taproom snack menu.
• Usinger'sminorOthersMilwaukee-based sausage company providing traditional German-style Landjaeger (smoked meat sticks) for taproom snack menu.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bell's Brewery: Large Midwest craft brewer (now under Lion) with broad packaged distribution and a taproom — operates as a wider-portfolio incumbent in the same regional craft category.
• Founders Brewing Co. Established Michigan craft brewer with multi-state distribution and taproom experience — broader incumbent operating in similar Midwest craft category.

Direct peers

• Third Space Brewing: Milwaukee craft brewery and taproom with a community-focused identity, rotating small-batch lineup, and on-premise experience directly comparable to Gathering Place.
• Capital Brewery: Midwest craft brewery with lager specialization (German-inspired styles) and a taproom/event model that closely mirrors Gathering Place's European-lager positioning.
• Surly Brewing Co. Minneapolis destination brewery with a large taproom, event spaces, and statewide distribution — analogous scale-up trajectory from regional craft to multi-venue operation.
• Half Acre Beer Company: Chicago craft brewery with taproom, packaged distribution, and a similarly diversified portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers targeting Midwest craft consumers.
• Lakefront Brewery: Milwaukee-based craft brewery operating a brewery, restaurant, and tour-focused taproom with similar European-style offerings and tour/event-driven GTM in the same metro.
• New Glarus Brewing Company: Iconic Wisconsin craft brewery with extensive state distribution and a similarly strong local loyalty following, competing for the same Wisconsin craft drinker and retail shelf space.
• Central Waters Brewing Company: Wisconsin craft brewer with statewide distribution and a taproom presence, offering comparable packaged beer and taproom experiences to Milwaukee/Wisconsin consumers.
• Sahale Ale Works: Recently acquired by Gathering Place (Dec 2024), this craft brewery is now part of the same portfolio and represents the closest directly-comparable operating peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GatheringPlBeer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gathering-place-brewing-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gathering Place Brewing