Milwaukee Brew Pub Delivers Excellence [REVIEW]

Company Brewing

735 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212

Bar hours: Tuesday-Thursday 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday 4 p.m.-2:30 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2:30a.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and closed Monday

Kitchen hours: 4-10 p.m. daily, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday brunch

(414) 930-0909

Reservations accepted

Casual attire

American bar fare with artisanal twist

$11.75-$25 per entrée

Now right off of the bat Company Brewing is not much to look at if I’m being honest. The corner bar has an aged red brick exterior, with big bay windows wrapping the corner, and “Company Brewing” just above those windows in faded white paint.

You know what they say with books and covers though.

The interior is that of a comfy, bar brimming with character and warm lighting if you go after sundown, but drenched in natural light flooding in from the windows that stops plenty short of being overpowering. I genuinely cannot recommend this Milwaukee brew pub enough for the beer fan or the flavor fans.

Company is a must go for someone looking for a place that has found a comfortable home catering to the hipster population of Milwaukee.

Hipster is not a dirty word around the River West neighborhood near Milwaukee’s East Side. In fact, many take a great deal of pride in adding hipster to their identity, and Company seems to be one of those.

Not so much a home for the far from mainstream of Milwaukee, but that comfortable couch at your best friend’s apartment. Company is a laidback, comfortable where you can take in live music of all varieties, but also some fantastic house beer, cocktails, and food.

I cannot say how many times I have been there since Company opened, but you would not be able to use just fingers. They have changed menus twice, dropped and brought back a regular favorite menu item, and changed as their base has grown.

I had not gone in close to a year though, and all of this talk of Popeye’s chicken sandwich reminded me that I had not been to Company in some time. On Friday, Nov. 8, I was sitting at work and had to see if Company finally brought back the spice in their chicken sandwich. When I saw that they did I knew where I was going straight after work.

Found myself a parking space, and knew precisely what I was going to order: a spicy fried chicken sandwich, with fried on the side, and roast garlic aioli to dip the fries in, and how about some smoked gouda tots to start. Can’t go wrong with what amounts to Company’s version of the famous Guinness Stout Night Rye’d Nitro to go along with it.

Honestly calling Night Rye’d “Company’s Guinness” is a massive over simplification. This beer is deep, rich, flavorful, and could count as a meal by itself.

The tots are a good starter and a solid value at $6.50, but genuinely nothing special. Best shared, as the six tots are going to be tough to get through and leave room for your main course and beer or cocktail.

Where Company shines is with the main course. The spicy fried chicken sandwich may easily be one of the best in the state.

I love a good burger, but I will almost always prefer a good fried chicken sandwich. So you better believe that I have had plenty from all around the state. From up in Door County, Madison, Milwaukee, and even up to the River Falls and Hudson area, but the Company fried chicken sandwich makes all the rest feel average at best.

The fries are well season, with that slight crisp that I love, but the sandwich was, is, and always will be the star of the show. The spice is not overwhelming, but may turn some people off. In that case there is a regular option of the sandwich, and it is a perfectly good alternative.

The chicken is juicy, the saucy is rich and deep in flavor that is not overpowered by the spice, and a zing from the house made pickles to round things out. It is not perfect, however, as the bun is not entirely sturdy enough and the dish turns to be a bit messy.

I, of course, went on one of the busiest nights and sat at the bar, but the bartender was immediate with helping me, made sure to keep refilling my water, and was incredibly polite. The servers do their best to make you feel like you’re just their friend over to visit their house.

The price is very good for the quality of food they deliver. The beer list has incredible variety and is all made in house. The service is excellent. While the exterior is nothing special, the interior is a cozy place that is excellent for a first, fifth, or 500th date without breaking the bank.

Service: 5/5

Setting: 3.5/5

Food: 4/5

Value: 4.5/5

Overall: 4.25/5