City Lights Brewing Co.

Went this past Sunday with friends for some food and a beverage. I am not drinking these days, so had an NA beverage. I felt sorry for the one bartender on staff who had to handle the entire room. I noticed people leaving because they had to wait to be served. Not his fault, by any stretch, as he was doing as good a job as anyone could under the circumstances. Really unfair of management to understaff the place. And, like many other patrons who have reviewed the brewery here, I got a $30 parking ticket for not backing into the parking space in the lot. My fault for not seeing the signs about this that were indeed posted, but I have never heard of such a ridiculous parking restriction. I understand this is the city's doing, not the brewery's, but I would think, knowing this happens a lot (there were a half dozen cars in the lot parked the wrong way who were also ticketed that day), that the brewery would post signs everywhere warning people of this. Even make it part of the server's greeting to make sure they don't get this unpleasant surprise as they leave. Really bad for business. I probably will never return here, or ever buy your beer because of this. Just left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth, pun intended. If I were the owners, I would work harder to get this restriction changed, as it makes absolutely no sense. Felt like entrapment. Still fuming about it.

It’s been a while since we visited City Lights. The last time we went, I don’t believe food was available yet, and the beer selection was pretty basic. This was probably within a few months after they had opened. This time, we had dinner and there was a more impressive variety of brews to choose from. We had an enjoyable evening! We stopped in before a Brewer’s game to catch their shuttle. Much nicer than most of the bar shuttles around Milwaukee, and just a short ride from Miller Park. We were able to get dinner within an hour or so and hop on the shuttle to arrive about 20 minutes before the game started. The beers have vastly improved since our last visit. I had the Double Ditty (hazy double IPA) and the Belgian Wit with Guava. Both were nicely done, and the guava was especially tasty. Our server was happy to offer tasters for our table without making us commit to a full beer (the Cucumber Brut IPA was interesting but not something we wanted a full pint of). The food was solid; between the four of us we had a chicken sandwich, two burgers, and the grilled cheese. Their menu was somewhat limited, especially compared to what was listed on their website, but I’m going to guess that was because it was a game day? The grilled cheese I had was good, but it could have used a better variety of cheese or a little something extra flavor-wise included – it was good but wasn’t amazing. The fries were nice and crispy, but a little under seasoned and not hot when they arrived. The atmosphere was pleasant, and the service was friendly. The patio along the river is definitely a bonus. I will definitely be utilizing their shuttle service for games in the future and grabbing a bite to eat beforehand. Kudos to City Lights for their improvements – hopefully the next visit will be even better. Original review: 2 years ago Really nice location, large patio area. Beers were all solid, although the Coconut Porter and Double IPA were our favorites. The Irish Red was also good.

Fantastic spot. Ordered some incredible apps and enjoyed a great flight of beer. Service is awesome.

Walked in at 9PM on Saturday night. Host said they were closed (They close at 10PM) despite numerous people still in the bar.

Love the hazy IPA.

Great beer options and delicious munchies

Good beer. Cool setting

Had an amazing time here with a group of 15! The atmosphere is welcoming, and the staff is attentive. The food is fantastic, with a diverse menu to suit all tastes. The craft beers are a highlight – refreshing and well-crafted. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience. Highly recommend for a great night out! Cheers to the team at City Lights Brewing Co.!

Great drinks. Delicious food. Very friendly staff. Beautiful, cozy interior. I love that you can see the brewery while you drink.