Brewery

When Lion’s Tail Brewing had set its sights on Wauwatosa to open its new taproom and brewery, they could not have found a better location and set of existing buildings from which to work. The owners had come across a former Garden and Pet store on North Ave in Wauwatosa and wanted to renovate the complex for their new operations. Our team was immediately in sync with the owners as to the overall vision of the property. The existing complex consisted of two parcels with two separate buildings and a parking lot that divided them. We saw the parking lot as the perfect opportunity to join the buildings and create a semi-enclosed beer garden. The connector link served many purposes in the new design. It not only housed the new bathrooms, which were crucial for a high volume of guests enjoying the patio. Additionally, it provided ramps, creating a transition for the 16-inch elevation difference between the two buildings while completing the courtyard shape. Within the buildings, the taproom acts as a flexible space with large overhead doors leading to a covered patio and brewery space. The brewery space features a cut-out in the floor with three open sides to allow the stainless steel brewing equipment to be on display. Murals are featured inside and outside the complex, merging art and architecture. The space is designed to integrate the indoors and outdoors with several access points and ways to meander from the sun to shelter.