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 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. [upper-alpha 1] 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.
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] [upper-alpha 2] 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 under new executive chef Ashley Turner, and the addition of hard seltzers. [13] [14] [15] [16] In 2023, Hacienda won the Wisconsin IPA Fest with a beer called Back to the Flow, a hazy IPA. [17]
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| Publicity stills of Hacienda's Milwaukee taproom |
Hacienda's 4,500-square-foot (420 m2), 125 seat Milwaukee taproom is located in a 1913 building at 2018 E. North Ave. [8] [18] [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." [18]
Primary colors in the new taproom included blue, green, and orange. [19] 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". [19]
Hacienda focuses on juicy IPAs, pale ales, and sour beers. [19] At its opening, it served around twelve beers, including: [8]
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