In the last few years Madison has seen it’s number of breweries rise substantially. Karben 4, One Barrel Brewing Company, and House of Brews are the new kids on the block and Ale Asylum moved to it’s new facility. By the end of 2013, the building that housed the Appliance Service Center on Atwood Avenue will be transformed into the Next Door Brewing Company.
While BJCP Master Judge, experienced professional brewer, and Beerpocalypse Now co-host Keith Symonds is a traditionalist when it comes to judging beer, his brewing philosophy might surprise people.
“I am such a stickler for brewing to style as as judge,” said Symonds, “But as a brewer I am interested in making interesting beers.”
Symonds will have plenty of opportunity to experiment in his new three-barrel brewery which will allow for quick beer turnover and provide a lot of leeway for experimentation. While experimentation and creative brewing may fill a few of Next Door Brewing Company’s tap lines, Symonds plans on having three consistent brands available every day. He says one will be a lighter beer, one will be some form of an American Pale Ale, and one will be something a little higher in alcohol, perhaps around the seven percent range. Symonds didn’t give away too many secrets about his brewing plans, but talked more about the atmosphere he is hoping to create.
“We really want it to be a place where the community can come and talk to one another,” said Symonds. “We wanted it to be in a neighborhood where people could walk in…A place for political discourse.”
Symonds floor plan for Next Door Brewing Company
While 2439 Atwood Avenue is currently an empty building, Symonds hopes to remodel the space and install the brewery to begin brewing and serving to the public by the end of the year.
Brewsconsin 
Good luck with your venture, I can’t wait to visit! One could write an article about Milwaukee and the first sentence would read, “In the last few years Milwaukee has seen it’s number of breweries remain just about the same” We need a nano-brewery here!
Where would you put a nano brewery if you could open one in Milwaukee? We’ve got a few locations in mind that would work well but curious to hear what you think.
I would love to open and/or work at a nanobrewery though my brewing skills aren’t up to par yet! Most of the decent beer spots in Milwaukee are located East of the freeway – from Erv’s Mug to Landmark 1800, KK Avenue and then continuing north to Milwaukee’s East side. I might think somewhere on the East Side, maybe near North & Farwell or on the south side somewhere along KK. Of course I’m also an avid disc golfer, so anywhere near a course would be fine with me!
I keep saying that while Milwaukee has some top flight beer bars, we really don’t have a stellar brewpub to get my one-off fix and could use a good infusion of them like Madison or Grand Rapids has had in recent years.
I was thinking North and Farwell myself, but that is my old neighborhood. bayview would also be prime. Also a disc golfer and from Milwaukee. I wonder if we know each other.
Your logo looked a lot like “hole 5 guy’s”… so I assumed that was you. We haven’t met, except when teeing off at hole five on Dretzka. On a side note, my brother sponsors hole five on the new nine at Dretzka so I sometimes refer to him as “The other hole 5 guy”…