Milwaukee’s beer legacy is more than hops and barley—it’s etched into the city’s architecture, neighborhoods, and cultural identity. This panel explores how Milwaukee has shaped and been shaped by brewing history, from the opulent Pabst Mansion to the adaptive reuse of industrial spaces for Lakefront Brewery.  Enjoy a brew while you hear stories of preservation, transformation, and the cultural memory embedded in Milwaukee’s beer-related history and tour the Pabst brewery complex, a renovated complex for residential, office, and retail use. 

The event is free but pre-registration is required. Shuttles to the "Beyond Beer: Milwaukee’s Beer Culture and the Built Environment" event at the Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery will depart from the 6th Street entrance of the Hilton Milwaukee beginning at 3:30 PM. The last shuttle will depart at 4:00 PM. Return shuttles will be available from the Best Place to the Hilton Milwaukee at the end of the event.

Panelists:

• Jocelyn Slocum– Museum Director, Pabst Mansion
• Mike Walker On-site Business Development, Lakefront Brewery
• Ben Barbera – Executive Director, Milwaukee Historical Society

Learning Objectives :

• Understand the role and social influence of brewing barons and how beer culture is physically embedded in Milwaukee’s landscape.
• Hear about the evolution of brewery architecture and its impact on urban development.
• Learn how breweries have repurposed historic spaces to create vibrant community hubs.
• Understanding the importance of preservation and adaptive reuse in maintaining cultural heritage.