4 patios & beer gardens to visit this summer
Enjoy Wisconsin’s beautiful summer weather with an ice-cold IPA, lager, or stout at these restaurants, breweries, and bars around the state.
Aqualand Ale House, Boulder Junction
This casual Northwoods eatery in Vilas County in the heart of Wisconsin’s Northwoods boasts 20 beers on tap and a welcoming outdoor patio where you can bring your (leashed) pet. Taking its name from a popular wildlife park and petting zoo that once called Boulder Junction home, Aqualand prides itself on its selection of local, regional, and national microbrews, as well as great gastropub offerings like flatbreads, sandwiches, and salads.
Rocky Reef Brewing Company, Woodruff
This microbrewery in Woodruff—located between Minocqua in Oneida County and Arbor Vitae in Vilas County—started as a half-barrel brew system in 2015 and has since evolved into a 15-barrel brewhouse that produces lagers, IPAs, sours, stouts, and more. Rocky Reef’s outdoor beer garden is a popular spot when warmer weather hits, and visitors can enjoy live music on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the summer.
Blue Heron Brewpub, Marshfield
This popular central Wisconsin microbrewery is located in a former ice cream factory, and patrons can enjoy drinks and delicious dining at a handful outdoor tables along West 9th Street in downtown Marshfield. (There’s also plenty of seating indoors.) Diners can enjoy everything from brick oven pizza and a classic Friday fish fry to burgers and salads.
Otto’s Beer & Brat Garden, Minocqua
Minocqua is a can’t-miss vacation destination in northern Oneida County in Wisconsin’s Northwoods—and when you’re there, you can even find a little taste of Old Bavaria. Otto’s Beer & Brat Garden in the heart of downtown Minocqua is a German-themed bar and eatery that serves up brats, pretzels, schnitzel, and more favorites as well as a wide selection of beer, with seating inside and out.
