MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – Broken Bat Brewery and MobCraft Beer are teaming up to host Party on Pitt, a pop up beer patio located at 117 E. Pittsburgh Avenue, celebrating Milwaukee beer, food, music, and more. The event will be held every full weekend in September and October, kicking off on Friday, September 4. The opening evening will feature plenty of local beer, food from Merriment Social, and live music from Patrick Van Bibber from 4:30-7:30pm.
The patio will be open on Fridays in September from 3:30-9:00pm, Saturdays from 12:00-9:00 and Sundays 12:00-7:00pm. Once October begins, hours will be slightly shorter on Fridays (3:30-7:00pm) and Saturdays (12:00-7:00pm). Sunday hours will remain the same. Guests can book 90 minute reservations at specific times during these hours on the Party on Pitt Eventbrite page.
Opening at their new location in Walker’s Point during the pandemic, Broken Bat is no stranger to getting creative when it comes to hosting safe, beer themed parties: they did it back in June for their Grand Opening. Recognizing the popularity of the limited outdoor seating at his taproom, Broken Bat Co-Founder Tim Pauly started thinking again. He set his sights on the parking lot immediately to the west of his new brewery. “It was an empty surface lot that looked like it needed a party,” Pauly commented.
Pauly began talking to neighbors including Merriment Social and MobCraft. The three businesses came together to make Pauly’s idea a reality. Merriment Social will sell food at the event for the duration of its run. Broken Bat and MobCraft beer will be staples in the tap line up. Visitors can look forward to guest chefs and breweries alike.
Those who attended Broken Bat’s Grand Opening party may be familiar with the format for reservations and seating. Guests book a 90 reservation slot on Eventbrite. Guests who want to hang out for more than 90 minutes can book multiple reservations. At the end of each 90 minute reservation slot, staff will sanitize tables and restrooms and prepare for the next group of attendees. Groups who book two reservations can remain at the tables in between reservation slots. Guests who don’t book in advance can walk up to check out availability.
To control crowds and promote social distancing, the pop up patio will offer two types of reservations: a 90 minute reservation of a picnic table or a 90 minute reservation of a 10×10 plot of land. Both reservations are $30, but that $30 turns into a beer voucher issued to groups when they check in. All tables and plots will be a minimum of six feet from one another. Masks will be required at all times that guests are not seated at their table or on their plot.
Why offer a 10×10 plot instead of filling the space with tables? “As Tim and I talked about what we wanted to be able to offer to visitors, we found ourselves talking about what we missed most about a traditional Milwaukee summer. Sports, festivals, and concerts were common themes,” Elise Strupp, Event and Programming Manager of MobCraft Beer, commented. “We wanted to offer people the opportunity to get a piece of the patio to make their own. If they want to bring a beer pong table and recreate a tailgate experience, they can. If they want to keep the plot empty so they can polka, they can do that, too.”
The conversation regarding what Pauly and Strupp missed about Milwaukee summers inspired not only the layout of the beer patio, but also weekend themes such as “City of Festivals” and “I Miss Alpine Valley.” Beer and food selections, as well as entertainment, will correlate to each weekend’s theme. All themes can be found on the Party on Pitt Facebook or Eventbrite page.
In Pauly’s words, the goal of Party on Pitt is to create a “fun, safe, family friendly environment for all.” Grab your mask and your friends, and get ready to Party on Pitt all fall long!
Are you a vendor or musician interested in being a part of the party? E-mail Elise at elise@mobcraftbeer.com.
