Vennture Brew Company: A Wisconsin Brewery and Coffee Shop Experience

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A Man in Brown Shirt Inside a Brewery Plant
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Vennture Brew Company is a unique gem in Wisconsin, blending the world of craft beer and specialty coffee in a single location.

Their coffee shop offers a variety of specialty drinks, including lattes and cappuccinos made with high-quality beans roasted in-house.

The brewery aspect of Vennture Brew Company is just as impressive, with a focus on creating innovative beers that showcase the company's commitment to quality and creativity.

One of the standout features of Vennture Brew Company is its cozy atmosphere, perfect for relaxing with a cup of coffee or a pint of beer.

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Founding and History

Vennture Brew Company was founded by Simon McConico, Robert Gustafson, and Jake Rohde, three friends who shared a passion for photography and a vision for a unique business.

Their inspiration for a combined specialty coffee shop and brewery came from trips to various US states, where they noticed that the two beverages shared similar clientele despite being primarily consumed at different times of the day.

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Credit: youtube.com, Prost! The Beer and Breweries of Old Milwaukee

The owners' experiences and friendship flowed into the unusual spelling of "venture", with two n's, and the company's Venn diagram-esque logo, which represents the intersection of "coffee, beer, and community".

To create the business, the owners brought their hobby project experience: Rohde had become consumed with the intricacies of roasting coffee, while McConico and Gustafson had been homebrewing for years.

Vennture opened in July 2018, supported by $22,000 of funding raised in a Kickstarter campaign, making them the first company in the area to offer both coffee and beer options.

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Founding

Vennture Brew Company was founded by Simon McConico, Robert Gustafson, and Jake Rohde, three friends who were all photographers. They were inspired by their trips to various US states, where they noticed that coffee and beer share similar clientele despite being consumed at different times.

The name "Vennture" has a unique spelling with two n's, which reflects the founders' experiences and the intersection of coffee, beer, and community they wanted to create. This intersection was a key aspect of their business vision.

The founders brought their hobby project experience to the table: Rohde had become an expert in roasting coffee, while McConico and Gustafson had been homebrewing for years.

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Biloba Brewing Expansion

Interior of a brewery showcasing large stainless steel tanks and bottled beverages on display.
Credit: pexels.com, Interior of a brewery showcasing large stainless steel tanks and bottled beverages on display.

Vennture Brew Co. is expanding into Brookfield's Biloba Brewing, giving them a new location and additional brewing capacity.

The owners of Biloba, Gordon and Jean Lane, are retiring and selling the brewery to Vennture owners Simon McConico and Rob Gustafson.

The transition from Biloba to Vennture will take place in the coming weeks, with the goal of having Vennture beer pouring by St. Patrick's Day.

Vennture will use the 10-barrel Biloba brewhouse to make some of its higher-volume beers, including North Avenue pale ale and high-gravity beers like Night Crew and Doughnut Don imperial stouts.

The additional capacity will allow Vennture to add a year-round lager to their house standards.

McConico aims to retain Biloba's built-in customer base, including moving the roughly 80 members of the Biloba membership "mug club" into the Vennture mug club.

The deal has been in the works for about 2½ years, with the Lanes providing advice and support to McConico and Gustafson when they were launching Vennture.

Biloba was the only location McConico and Gustafson considered for their expansion, citing its good location and lack of nearby beer options.

Locations

Credit: youtube.com, Vennture Brew Co Nov 2017 Build Update

Vennture Brew Company has two locations in Wisconsin. The first location is in Milwaukee, where you'll find a cozy spot with a friendly neighborhood vibe.

The Milwaukee location is situated at 5519 North Avenue, straddling the Uptown Crossing and Washington Heights neighborhoods. It's a relatively small spot that can hold about 50 people, with a bright and welcoming atmosphere.

The building in Milwaukee was previously divided into two storefronts, but Vennture's owners converted it into a single space over 18 months in 2017. They added a five-barrel brewing system to the basement, giving the spot a unique character.

Vennture's second location is in Brookfield, where you can find a larger spot with more space to hang out. This location is situated at 2970 North Brookfield Road, and it's about 1,500 square feet large, making it a great spot to grab a drink and catch up with friends.

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Milwaukee

Milwaukee is home to Vennture's first location, situated at 5519 North Avenue, where it straddles the city's Uptown Crossing and Washington Heights neighborhoods.

Credit: youtube.com, Milwaukee musts: Places to eat in the city

The location was previously divided into two storefronts, which housed various businesses over time, including a hardware store.

The owners, McConico, Gustafson, and Rohde, all lived within seven blocks of the building as of 2018.

They leased the space in February 2017 and converted it to its present use over 18 months.

The primary colors used inside are blue and white, creating a welcoming atmosphere.

The bar is constructed from upcycled hardwood floors, adding to the location's unique charm.

Milwaukee Magazine has described the place as "a bright, welcoming spot ... with a friendly, and family friendly, neighborhood vibe."

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Brookfield

Brookfield is home to Vennture Brew's second location, which opened on March 16, 2024.

The building, situated at 2970 North Brookfield Road, is a 1,500 square foot space that can hold up to 150 people.

Vennture's ownership had been looking to expand, citing a lack of additional brewing capacity, as reported by the Milwaukee Business Journal in early 2023.

An existing friendship with Biloba's retiring owners provided Vennture with the perfect opportunity to take over the space and build upon what Biloba had already accomplished.

Brewery and Coffee Shop

Credit: youtube.com, We're Open: Vennture Brew produces fresh coffee and beer

Vennture Brew Co. is a unique brewery-coffee shop hybrid with a second location opening in Brookfield this weekend.

The new Brookfield space is about 1,500 square feet, significantly larger than their original location on North Avenue.

It will seat about 80 people inside, compared to about 50 on North Avenue, and has an outdoor patio that's about twice as large as the original location.

The new space also has about double the brewing capacity, which is exciting news for beer enthusiasts.

Upon opening, the coffee side of the business will lag a bit behind as espresso equipment is still on order, but they'll sell pre-packaged coffee from their other location instead.

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Coffee and Beer in Washington Heights

Washington Heights is a neighborhood that's really come alive with the opening of Vennture Brew, a brewery and coffee shop that's serving up some amazing drinks. Their flagship beer, "The Heights", is a tablesaison that's been brewed since the shop opened.

You can enjoy "The Heights" alongside a variety of coffee- and espresso-based drinks, all made possible by a partnership with a company in Madison, Wisconsin.

Brewery Coffee Shop Opens Second Brookfield Location This Weekend

Interior of Brewery Museum
Credit: pexels.com, Interior of Brewery Museum

Vennture Brew Co. is opening its second location in Brookfield this weekend. The new spot will be at 2970 N. Brookfield Road.

The building was previously home to Biloba Brewing and is about 1,500 square feet large. It can hold up to 80 people inside and has a patio that's twice as large as their original location.

Vennture Brew Co. has been open since 2018 and has been looking to expand. They started conversations about purchasing the new location about two years ago.

The new location will have significantly more space than their original location on North Avenue. It will also have about double the brewing capacity.

For now, the coffee side of the business will be a bit behind, as espresso equipment is still on order. They'll be selling pre-packaged coffee from their other location instead.

Vennture Brew Co. will be open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. for its initial opening. They'll have the same hours next week and plan to operate seven days a week once they're fully open.

Top Beers and Products

Cars Parked In Front Of Company Building
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Vennture Brew Company offers a variety of beers that are worth trying. Their flagship beer, "The Heights", is a tablesaison named after the neighborhood where the brewery resides.

You can find "The Heights" on tap at the brewery, along with six other beers that were available on the opening day. On that day, they also served coffee- and espresso-based drinks, as well as tea from a company in Madison, Wisconsin.

If you're looking for something hoppy, try one of their many IPA options. Taste BudsIPA, Bonilla MoneyIPA, Tier 5IPA, Super DopeIPA, and North Ave.Pale Ale are all New England / Hazy IPAs that are sure to satisfy your hop cravings.

For those who prefer a darker beer, Doughnut DonStout is an Imperial / Double stout that's worth a try.

Sheldon Kuphal

Writer

Sheldon Kuphal is a seasoned writer with a keen insight into the world of high net worth individuals and their financial endeavors. With a strong background in researching and analyzing complex financial topics, Sheldon has established himself as a trusted voice in the industry. His areas of expertise include Family Offices, Investment Management, and Private Wealth Management, where he has written extensively on the latest trends, strategies, and best practices.

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