In case you missed the news, Milwaukee Record is releasing a brand new beer for the first time since Company Brewing—which produced our long-running “Re-Porter” spiced porter—abruptly closed in the spring of 2024.
This time around, we’re partnering with Ope! Brewing Co. in West Allis to produce a collaborative beer we think a lot of you are going to love. Before Thursday’s official beer release event (which will double as our 12th anniversary celebration), we figured we’d let you know more about our new beer by giving you a few tidbits that might interest you.
It’s a honey lager
Though we loved the spiced porter Company Brewing made for us all those years, we do acknowledge that it’s a pretty niche beer style that not everyone was into. In the spirit of inclusion and wanting to draw a clear line between our old and new beers, we opted for a lager this time around. More specifically, it’s a honey lager that we’re calling “Milwaukee Record Bee-Side” as a nod to records, bees, and…uh, Milwaukee Record.
It’s crushable!
Like many-a-lager, this light-bodied beer is—as they say in the brewing world—”sessionable.” It’s a summer-suited (another brewery term incoming) “patio pounder” that can be enjoyed while grilling, lounging at the beach, tailgating, at your favorite summer music series that allows carry-ins, after a day of yard work, and countless other scenarios. And with a modest 4.5% ABV, you can enjoy a few of ’em if you’d like.
It’s local (and local-ish)
When crafting the recipe, West Allis-based Ope! called upon Milwaukee’s own Kallas Honey to give our beer a dash of locally-sourced sweetness. As an ode to Wisconsin’s state fruit, we selected the apiary’s cranberry blossom honey variant. That sweetness will be countered by the subtle presence of cashmere hops from Michigan. We’re told most of the malt used in the beer comes from a company whose North American headquarters is right here in Milwaukee, and that barley itself was malted in Minnesota. So when you’re drinking Milwaukee Record Bee-Side, you’re supporting a number of local and upper Midwest folks.
It can only be purchased at Ope! Brewing Co. (and that’s a good thing)
Speaking of “keeping it local,” Milwaukee Record Bee-Side Honey Lager will only be able to be purchased at Ope! at this time. You can enjoy it on draft in the taproom or pick up four-packs of tallboys to go. This will save the consumer money by cutting out middlemen and will bring more money directly to Ope! (an independent Wisconsin brewery that routinely hosts free concerts, lifts up area food trucks, employs people, and offers a fun pet- and kid-friendly hangout) and Milwaukee Record (a thing you’re reading right now).
If it sells well, they’ll keep making it
If this release scuffles, we totally understand if Ope! opts to make this a one-and-done offering. However, if sales go well, they said they’d love to make Bee-Side “a regular offering.” The market will dictate that! And each new batch of this beer will bring more money our way. So if you want to support what we do and support Wisconsin brewing, pick up some Bee-Side so we can keep the train going. Who knows…maybe it will even make its way to the draft lines and cooler shelves at the brewery’s forthcoming “Ope! North” taproom and pilot brewery up in Appleton when that opens later this year.
It comes out April 2, we’re celebrating, and you’re invited
The beer will officially hit tap lines and cans on Thursday, April 2. That same night, Milwaukee Record will host a beer release event at Ope! Brewing’s taproom (6751 W. National Ave., West Allis) that will double as our 12th anniversary party. In addition to being able to enjoy Bee-Side Honey Lager for the very first time, there will also be performances by HOSTS, Gold Steps, and West Allis-born comedian Dana Ehrmann.
Chucho’s Red Tacos and Mr. C’s Grill & Sushi will be serving up eats outside. The fun kicks off at 7 p.m. and the show is FREE. Consider using some of that savings on merch from the performers and, of course, more honey lager! After Thursday, Bee-Side will be available for purchase during Ope!’s operating (Ope-er-ating?) hours while supplies last.
In closing, MILWAUKEE RECORD HAS A NEW BEER AND IT’S AWESOME. Cheers!
