Sugar Maple

I took my dad out here for Father's Day at his request. We had a very nice time. The beer selection was lovely. The lady at the bar was very nice. I think for a chill summer Sunday afternoon on the outdoor patio, it was really sweet. It's true the bathrooms are co-ed but I had encountered this in Frankfurt Germany so I wasn't fazed, but the one I went in had 1 stall and a urinal outside the stall with no privacy so be prepared for that (I didn't see if you can lock the door once you're in there for more privacy).

This is such a wonderful spot in Bayview. Really lovely drink menu, a super kind staff (that helped me with a card issue super professionally and it was a mistake on my end basically not theirs!) They do tons of local artist collaborations , a super cute spot for events! I really think this is a wonderful establishment with an amazing team.

Great craft beer bar - awesome selection and great atmosphere. Highly recommend

As a large group, we were very happy that we could easily find a table that fits all of us. I loved that there was an Adventure Time popup. Plenty of drink choices and you can add 5mg of tincture to any drink. Great venue in the back with local bands.

oooo cocktails were so bomb! we ordered the fresa flora, ur in, and chamango. the fresa flora was made with a delta 8 tincture and cbd seltzer. there was an after note of balsamic vinegar that helped balance the sweetness. the blueberry seltzer and tropical cider were also great. spacious bar with comfy seats and large patio.

Went to chill with a beer and see Frogwater play, a superb duo. Experience was ruined account huge projection TV screen right behind them on wall showing Parks and Recreation. Asked bartender about turning it off due to the distraction, and the excuse was "we lost the remote". That's right up there with the dog ate my homework or I'm washing my hair that night. Lame. So, you leave it on 24/7? I've tried really hard to like this place, have given them several chances. Add up the no-effort decor and disengaged fone-focused staff, show me indifference and I'm done. Edit: Nice try, you apparently have no clue what your bartenders are up to when you aren't there. You also seem unaware that being unapologetically defensive and encouraging someone to not patronize your business is a path to failure.

Having my event at sugar maple was an absolute dream. I had never planned an event before & the idea of it was incredibly daunting. Xay & Adrienne made the event extremely easy & smooth to plan. I received prompt & flexible responses to questions and the price was very reasonable. We ended up doing a signature cocktail & my guests have been raving about it since. It was delicious- so well balanced. The other drinks at the bar & extremely large beer selection were also beloved. We were allowed to sit out on the patio by the fire which provided a lovely dynamic for guests who needed a breather from dancing. The sound system is amazing, the projector worked very well, the back room is super cool & the vibe of the bar is immaculate. I would highly recommend using Sugar Maple for your event, going there for some beer with friends or attending one of there amazing pop ups.

This a great bar to come to, especially in the afternoon on a Saturday, to just relax and have a nice drink. I’m not sure how this place is at night, but they have a huge selection of liquor to choose from, and a fantastic beer selection. Being a beer fanatic and this bar using Untappd to keep up to date with what they get it, it makes this a go to place when in the area. Definitely coming back soon to tie one on.

Great tap room in Bayview! They have like 40 beers on tap so they have a selection for everyone. They have a nice outside area to sit and you are able to bring your dog with you when you sit outside. They don't have food so it's drinks only but it was a cute little bar with a friendly staff group and great beer selection. I would recommend.

A cute, older spot in bay view with lots of charm! The drink selection was great, as well as the service. They had some live music going, which was nice but a bit loud! Overall a great spot.

Short rude server didn't make it nice at all. Her attitude was terrible and the service and ambiance was ok, we didn't get food but this girl was so rude and nasty. Our who table has issues with her. Don't know her name but she was definitely a BI*8*

I was here to attend a celebration for a friend and as I arrived I wanted to get a drink for me and another person, I went to the end of the bar and was waiting patiently while others were being served. The bar cleared up of people waiting for orders and I was hoping I would be served soon as I had already been waiting for, and i'm not exaggerating, 20 minutes. I've worked at a bar before so I understand the work flow and I'm a very reasonable person, however, I started to notice that people who were walking up to the bar were getting served immediately while I was being completely ignored. And I mean completely ignored. I was not looked at even once, despite my attempt at making eye contact and my presence known. I've never felt so dehumanized. After 30 whole minutes I finally was able to get the drinks for me and my friend. Of course, the cider was yummy, it only took a second to pour, but it was tainted with an entire half of an hour of being treated like I didn't exist. This was my first time here and I doubt I'll be coming back, which is a shame because when I was looking at the menu there were lots of neat and unique looking drinks and the vibe of the place was kinda cute. I'm not one to leave reviews either, like I said I'm a reasonable person when in comes to engaging with service workers (as I have been one myself most of my life), however, this experience left me feeling so awful that even this morning I still feel sad.

Really cool craft beer bar located in Bay View. They had so many good beers, most of which I'd never had before. Plenty of seating, both at the bars and lots of tables, plus outdoor seating in the back. The best part? A Tim Robinson I think you should leave pop up art exhibit. How cool is that?? The bartender was real nice. Looked like they had several events that they host there as well. If I lived in Milwaukee, I'd definitely be coming back often.

Not sure how I missed the memo on Sugar Maple. Either way I did but eh, better late than never. This place is quite the establishment. It's all about the brews here! They do have liquor but how can you come to a joint like this and not drink beer! Blasphemy! From what I saw there's at least 40 plus beers on tap. A whole line of fresh taps for you to choose from. The best part, the prices are reasonable. I was floored at all the good brews they had to choose from in that sweet spot of six dollars all the way up to ten. Most around the six range were some seriously solid taps. Sugar isn't a place you come to chow down as they skipped the kitchen and focused on just the brews. You can bring in whatever eats you want and Bay View and all it has to offer are just out the door. They also aren't a place to come watch sports although I'm sure where there's a will there's a way. Sugar is focused on connections. Connections between you, the people your with or are there and the beer and that's fine with me. I enjoyed an afternoon relaxing and conversing with friends all while drinking on the solid tap selection Sugar offers! Keep it up and stay that quiet off the beaten path establishment you are Sugar. If I'm in the neighborhood I'll stop in and tip a pint or two!

tl;dr Spacious bar, dark ambiance and wide beer selection and fun events Sugar Maple is a place I've been to several times, like everyone else has mentioned, it has wide selection of beers and friendly staff. I will say that with the spike in craft breweries in the nearby area and other bars stepping up the beer game, Sugar Maple needs to setup itself apart. I'll give it credit, the bartenders are very knowledgeable about the expansive running beer list it does have, but it can be a little slow for service if it is super busy since the bar is so long. The venue itself is big and open for parties/large groups (low tables for seating and conversation - the super wide wooden seats are hard to get over if you're wedged in the back of the table, however) and it has a very dark ambiance which is a choice. I'm old now, so I could use a little more lighting. There's usually always some interesting art on the walls. No TVs, but it does have a backroom and it has been doing a great job hosting events (comedy shows, live music, a "Bob Ross" inspired painting class, etc.) These events might be just what the doctor ordered to keep bringing fresh life to Sugar Maple instead the big beer selection being its only crowning glory. Will definitely continue to have this place in a longer-cycle rotation of coming back every few months to see what else is new.

If you like craft beer, this is the place for you. With like 60 taps of craft beer, you're bound to find several beers you want to try. Not only is their tap list solid, they also have awesome events to promote featured beers. I attended their cider pie pairing event and it was so good. Order a featured cider, got a slice of pie with it. They also have a fun heads up 7 up do you know this beer game. Last time I played, it was Tuesday nights. If they still do it, I highly recommend it. It's free and it's a great way to test out you beer tasting skills. Yes some of the beers are pricey but that's to be expected with some of your higher abv, and harder to access beers. Staff is friendly, and most importantly, know their beers. Keep up the good work Sugar Maple!

Honestly love this place! If your looking for a bar with a large tap list look no further. Sugar maple had 60 beers on draft when I was there! So yes there is a beer for everyone here. Every time I come here I am with a group, which I highly recommend. Why? Because you can try out more beers if everyone gets a flight! I love doing this because there are a lot interesting beers on tap that I would love to try, but don't know if I want a whole 16oz. After the flights I usually order a 16oz to truly enjoy the beer I liked the most. Honestly can't complain about the beer because they have so many. There are also some wines, cocktails, and seltzer on tap that are very delicious. The vibe here is great! There is plenty of seating and wider tables for larger groups. the lights are low and every time I've been here it's never been too loud to have a conversation. The only complaint is the Juke Box. They have one of the Juke Boxes that you pay for a song and have to pay extra to be queued up next otherwise it will be played at a random time. All in all Sugar Maple is the move! If you are looking for a bar that pleases everyone, to me Sugar Maple is a no brainer!

Sugar Maple is a great place for any beer lover. They always have lots of interesting taps. You can sample what you'd like before ordering and I'd suggest that you do so that you have a full glass of something that you really enjoy. They also have a small back room and patio. I've been in the back room for a couple of different events. It is very small, though. The only thing I don't like about Sugar Maple is the uncomfortable seating. Wish they'd improve it, especially knowing that their customer base has mentioned this several times.

I love that they have 100 different beers on tap, but I absolutely hate the interior of this place. The esthetic is dark, rigid and not very warm/welcoming. The outdoor seating area is great in the summer and it's dog friendly, but I won't bother coming here unless it's by invite or to sit outside on the days when weather is favorable.

Absolutely huge tap list at Sugar Maple! If you're a beer conesseur this place is a must-see. I try something new every time I go and I am never disappointed. The patio is super cute and I definitely want to come back on a night when they have live music. The bar has a slight hipster vibe meets neighborhood hangout. Also, kind of random but adorable, the last time I went someone had left free milkweed seeds on the counter by the bathroom So I took some home to help attract Monarch butterflies. Overall, it's a great neighborhood bar!

I really want to like this place, especially because of their wide array of beers and liquors/liqueurs but the service is just so terrible! I always feel like I'm held hostage here because the bar staff seems to adhere to an esoteric school of service where they love to avoid people with empty glasses until they've endured half an hour of more of awkward wait time. Please...get it together and let me get out of here.

I really love Sugar Maple! The bar is huge and they have an extensive beer list! I was happy to see one of my favorite beers on the list - Loop Station from Eagle Park! The bartenders were extremely friendly! The bathrooms are nice and they were playing awesome music. I love their decor and artwork! It's in a nice area and within walking distance to a lot of cool places!

What?!?! I've never reviewed the Sugar Maple? What was I waiting for? It already had an impressive craft beer selection. It already had knowledgeable bartenders. It already partnered with local food trucks to occasionally provide food options for its patrons, while helping another small business. It already partnered with local non-profits to host fundraisers and help the community. It already hosted live musicians and underground clubs. I don't know what else I was waiting for to write my review and tell you that this is one of my favorite drinking establishments and small businesses in the city. So now you know how I feel, and I feel better getting this off my chest.

Feeling a bit of cabin fever while in town house sitting, I decided to pop in for a midweek comedy night at Sugar Maple. This was my first visit. I was surprised at how roomy and somewhat empty the interior was. I imagined it would be a very cozy place with a name like Sugar Maple. I got there a bit early and the show started a bit late, so I had plenty of time to enjoy a tap beer off of their four dollar special sheet. Unfortunately I chose based on a cute name and got a terrible beer. Mental note, always ask for a taste first before committing to a pint. For eight dollars, I believe there were four comedians, all dudes. Some of their jokes were more poignant than funny, but it was still a fairly decent night out. I'd say overall that Sugar Maple is fine.

We happened upon Sugar Maple while we were walking down the street on our way to another bar, but figured we'd check it out. We were pleasantly surprised with the high quality cocktails and large beer selection. The bartender was knowledgeable of the menu and really helpful in helping us figure out what to order. They were also just really nice. I also really liked their somewhat retro aesthetic. I'll definitely go back when I'm in Milwaukee again.

Sugar Maple is a cool concept. They have 60 American craft beers on draft -- so the options are never ending. They also serve cocktails if beer isn't your thing. Their happy hour is Monday-Friday from 3- 7. I had a peach sour while I was waiting for my table to open up at a restaurant nearby. Their bartenders are very knowledgable and are open to letting you have a few samples. I just wish their atmosphere was a bit different. It is pretty spread out with a lot of tables for seating. I think this would be a good place to go to with a group, but not the best if only with a few people.

NSFW or just read it to yourself if you are at the ofc.. Carrie G turned me on to this place a year ago. She said if you like beer you will love it.. well that was an understatement. Most big bars may have 20 to 25 drafts to choose from this has 62. she just said they have a large selection. So just a warning instant beer nerd-boner alert. Very chill. Mix of classic old school long bar so size matters, with a huge variety of spirits and crafts. Soak in the ambiance, look around absorb the art. Lots of great stuff on the walls expect muted music. Not too loud not too bright. Bathroom graffiti hipster kind of place. Chill bartenders. Quick service. Check out the many sticks of crafts happy hours from m-th get a buck off your drink -silly me for forgetting what day it is. TGIF, yay! but, no specials that day. Arg last four days/nights are catching up on me need to catch up on sleep to get my brain right. 62 sticks of draft but they happened to have 1 from Central waters brewery. Yay for Mud Puppy Porter. All the rest can range from $5 -13 a glass. Parking is a PITA so I suggest walking carpooling or biking. Food none Amb 4 a place where you can have a conversation in. Restrooms have (Graffiti) art too. Lol. Service 4 Loc 4 Val 3 avg to moderate prices for premium beers 43/2015

A Milwaukee institution, so glad to have this spot in my hood. Great enormous tap list, plenty of space inside, local ownership. I've always had good service here. The seating is indeed kind of open and less intimate but at least there's room for plenty of people and you can always sit at the curving bar.

Sugar Maple is a great staple in the Milwaukee craft beer scene. With so many beers on tap, there's definitely something for everyone! They have a full bar if beer isn't your thing. The service and atmosphere are nice, and there is a patio out back. Sugar Maple often hosts fun events like Name That Beer trivia (free to play!), food trucks, beer and food pairings, and brewery visits/tap takeovers. They now offer an order-in food selection as well. If you like craft beer, Sugar Maple is an excellent bar to visit.

Great craft beer and even better atmosphere. Everyone who works there is super friendly and knowledgeable. Keep up the great work!

Sugar Maple was never one of the bars I frequented most in Bay View, but whenever I did manage to stop by I always had a great time. They boast a really large beer selection, which definitely calls out to all the craft beer nerds! The interior bar area is really lovely with a huge wooden bar that stretches almost the length of the building, plus they have casual table seating inside and out. The best time to go to Sugar Maple are the off hours when the staff can give you the most attention. They are always friendly and knowledgable, which make these times the best for them to shine.

If you're looking for a fun spot to try a couple of craft beers, then look no further. I stopped in here to catch-up with a friend and it was such a fun spot. My first impression when I walked in was that the bar is HUGE, I swear it just kept going on and on. They have a very extensive draft beer list that I would highly recommend trying something new. They also have a full bar if you have a non-beer drinker with you. We ordered our beers at the bar and then took them out to their patio area. For a Sunday night, they only had one bartender working, but I felt like he was very on top of helping everyone out at the bar. Overall would highly recommend stopping in here for a beer with a couple of friends or even a casual date night.

I went from raving fan to wondering whether or not this has become a regulars bar. I want to acknowledge the beer selection and the quality of the events that come to the sugar maple, but I should have to wonder how long it takes to order a beer. The selection quality is among the best in Milwaukee, but I shouldn't be able to have a sandwich delivered and consumed in the amount of time it takes to get the attention of an order. My protest was countered by a regular, of whom I should thank rather I wait to get my check, to a lengthy wait time. There are plenty of great beer bars in Milwaukee and you shouldn't have to go to bay view and wait to get it. The bar is big and clean, the selection is awesome, the staff is knowledgable friendly. But If you want an order, bring a flare, a regular or find another bar.

Wanted to love it. Really really did. So much hype going in set the bar quite high. Its one of several places in milwaukee with greater than 25 microbrews on tap. So I have to compare apples to apples. For me it comes in behind stubbys gastropub. Also I like the vibe and food (no food here) at Docs smokehouse better. Just beer wise (no food) it just didn't wow me but maybe I let hype/expectations build too much. Now the place is always packed so maybe its just me......as always YMMV.

Update: in the last few days, they've had great blues musicians and a rock band. +1 star for mixing it up.

If you love a good beer on tap, this is the place to go. This is where I tried a few new beers that I love (Zombie and Raspberry Tart). I'm not a huge beer drinker, but if you're like me, don't fret, if you tell them the types of drinks you like to normally drink, they'll try to match you up with a tap they have. They don't serve food. Although I typically don't like to eat and drink at the same time, so this doesn't bother me. Be prepared to talk loudly amongst your group on a busy night. The whole place is open, so the acoustics aren't the best. Also, I don't find the seating to be comfortable. Bar seating is the best. On slow nights is nice to get to know the bar tenders; they've been pretty awesome when we've gone. Definitely worth a try if you like beer.

OMG! I cannot believe I have not written a review for Sugar Maple till now. Its one of my favorite places in Bay view to get a beer. Always fun, always something new to experiment. Its a pretty big place (big if you compare it with other "home" style bars in BV). Go there if you want - 1. Great craft beers 2. Good food options( during summer with trucks parked outside) 3. To train your ass to sit on bare wooden furniture while drinking (beer makes it worth it though)

Super friendly staff that was more than willing to give us plenty of samples! The beers on tap menu is incomparable. So many beers I had never heard of before but all American made and everything I tasted was great! No TVs but games are available and bartenders are friendly!

This place blows. Bad music. Bad seating. Bad people. Blows. Go to the Highbury and chug a beer with Matto instead. You're welcome.

Three words; Patio Ping Pong. Yes, this is a great reason to go to the Sugar Maple. There's an old school table on the smallish back patio and from bar opening to 10pm you may play at your leisure. But fair warning, you may need to face off against a challenger for table time. Beer is another great attraction here, if you're in to that sort of thing. But since I'm not, I'll leave the reviews of the constantly rotating offerings of stellar micro brews from all over the country to the experts. The drink lists are constantly being updated with new selections, and best to keep an open mind, and who knows what you will find? Years ago, when ciders hit the market, this is where I sampled my first one. And it wasn't one of the standard bar offerings like a flavorless Magner's or the classically bitter Strongbow. Sugar Maple tapped a bright and robust pear cider from the then small,independent, and not-very-well-know, Fox Barrel Brewery in Northern California. (Fox Barrel was purchased by the larger cider company Crispin in 2010. And in 2012 the beverage giant, Miller Coors bought them out thereby eliminating all their competition at the time). The cider had a subtle woody flavor and finished with layers of intense, fresh pear. And said pear comes from 100% pear juice with no artificial flavors or colors. These kind craftsmanship represents what Sugar Maple is; a straightforward, classic, bar for drinking without any frills and circumstance (okay, there is that ping pong table, but even that is a classic activity). Point being, if you want to focus on great micro brews, interesting bourbons and whiskey, rouge ciders and the like, then Sugar Maple is the place for you!

Sugar Maple is classified as a "dive bar"? Seriously?! It's is absolutely not a dive bar. It's a well-designed, clean bar with a great beer selection. If you live in Chicago, but find yourself in Milwaukee for a weekend, and are slightly lonesome for Hopleaf, go here. In fact, I know this place is owned by a former Hopleaf bartender - so he knows how to get it right on the beer selections. Frankly, large beer lists are lost on me - gimme a Schlitz and call it a day. However, many people - like my brother - are total beer lovers, and this is the place for them. Tons of beers on tap, friendly bartenders and a very chill vibe. No attitude at all, a very nice place to stop in and sip for awhile. Myself and my comely companion were not the oldest people gracing the bar area on the Saturday when we visited - yay! It got a bit loud (not a bad thing), but hey - it's a Saturday night! I think this would be a great bar to while away a Saturday or Sunday afternoon with friends. Sort of tucked on a side street in Bay View (which has gotten OH SO COOL since I left this city!). Live Music. SMOKE FREE (ohhh yes - other Milwaukee bars, can you copy Sugar Maple on this facet? Thanks.)

I really enjoy stopping by here to have a tasty beer! There draft list is always very impressive. The environment is kind of industrial compared to what you would expect from the name but that doesn't effect the taste of the beer :) The last time we were there they were doing a fundraiser for the Domes and it made us very happy to know a local business was supporting something so important to us. Keep it up!

What a cool place for craft beer lovers! We stopped in after Mitten fest and I was pleasantly surprised. There is a rotating craft beer draft list with lots of things to try. The space is very open and room for a lot of people. You can sample beers before ordering a full glass or enjoy of flight of a variety of beers. We went during the day on the weekend where it was kind of empty. I'd be surprised to see how quickly you get served while their space is busy? We will be checking here when we're downtown to see what new beers they have on tap.

Bottles and taps, oh my! They do have a large selection if you are looking for beer or booze, and if you aren't, I'm not sure why you would make this your destination. Paired with the curvy bar and the modern furniture, Sugar Maple had a pretty chill vibe. There is a happy hour special during the week. I think it was $1 off tap beers from 4-8 p.m. The space was kind of dimly lit at 6:30 in the evening, and hopefully because of that and for no other reason, our bartender took my beer glass away when it still had a good gulp left in the bottom of it.

A recent compliment brought me back to update this old review. Sugar Maple has a new owner and has changed quite a bit since the first time I visited. Since joining a bocce ball league there I have become quite a regular. It used to be a lounge-type of place pretending to be a craft beer bar with a somewhat mediocre draft lineup. It's now turned up the lights, gotten rid of the drapes and weird music and turned in to a place where everyone feels welcome. Their beer lineup has improved as well. They always have at least 3-5 great beers on tap and host a slew of different events and special tappings including some harder to get beers. I have not seen Josh in some time, so I am not sure if he is still there, but Kat is our regular bartender on Tuesday nights and she is amazing. Extremely friendly, hard working and knows her stuff. Very happy with the changes at Sugar Maple. I very much look forward to going there on our regular nights, especially now that we've relocated to only 10 min away.

Sugar Maple, you are everything I want and need in a relationsh- I mean, bar. The tappers! Oh, the tappers! The atmosphere is perfect for Bayview. Dark, gloomy, grandma's attic smelling, grandma and grandpa's old couches adorn the bars perimeter and gracefully surrounds that wonderful row of 50-60 tappers. I can't imagine going out of your way to come here if you aren't a beer drinker, though. The bartender was totally cool and were the people inside. Sugar Maple might just be #1 on my 'Favorite Dive Bars' & trust me, that's a good thing!

I love this place. Definitely a go to spot if you are in the Bay View Area. A great place to catch up with friends and a nice, chill place to bring a date to. The bartenders are knowledgeable of the wide array of the ever changing beers they have on tap. Don't know what to drink? Don't hesitate to ask and they will be more than happy to recommend a beer to fit your tastes.

So many beers to choose, is this Heaven? I love love love the changing beer selection and the opportunity to try new ones. This place is rather spacious, sometimes loud, but a great place to bring a group or meet with a friend.

I love the wide range of beer to choose from -- especially all of the sours. Fun place to drink and play cards with friends. Huge patio for the summer. Love this place!

Sugar Maple is a really great bar to go to with a group of friends. The bar itself is very long, so there is ample seating if you wanted to go alone or with one other person, however the majority of the space is set up as lounge seating at wooden tables. They have a full bar (hard liquor) but they do not have a cocktail menu. Although I am fine with ordering my own cocktail, I did wish that they already had something fun and unique put together on a menu since there was so much booze in the place! That being said, their alcohol menu is comprised mostly of beer. They have all kinds of beer, ranging from ciders to stouts. This is pretty easy to find and right off of KK so I feel that it is an ideal place to grab a pre-dinner drink. I do not believe they serve food here, so don't plan on having an entire meal here, but it is a fun bar to swing by on your way out if you are in the Bay View area.

Impressive beer selection. Had hoped after stopping in here on multiple occasions I might be treated like a regular but no such luck. My boyfriend and I follow beer around and we had one heck of a time trying to get served here during one of their recent craft beer events. We showed up early and made it clear we were there for the event and still no heads up when they started tapping the beers for the rare beer event. From there, even though we had seats right at the bar, service was slow and eventually while we had planned to stay longer, we gave up on trying to order another round. Despite the poor service, we racked up a nice bar tab and still couldn't get anyone's attention when we wanted to close out. Left a really bad taste in our mouths. I love the idea of this place and the location but I won't be making an effort to return.

SM got a 5 star review from me because the bartenders are great, the place is unique and they sell beer... which is why you're going there tonight and what you're looking for. Oh and it's good beer. The beer is cold, fresh and it's beer. That being said, this place is totally Bayview and if you know anything about the area you know what I'm talking about. It reminds me of a mash up of Art Deco and I don't know present time? If Frank Loyd Wright was still around to pound beers he'd do it here. Atmosphere is chill and a great date spot or a place for friends to gather and be able to hear each other talk.

I don't really understand everyone's bad reviews, they seem to focus on slow service and uncomfortable seating. I experienced neither. We had a very informative barkeeper who told us stories about breweries and beers, let us taste a few beers before we ordered, brought everything fast and was generally above and beyond. Everything was very cheap to me, the selection OUTSTANDING. If you are a craft beer nerd, this is the place to go. I was visiting Milwaukee from DC, and maybe the bad reviews seem to be from pretentious hipsters who are ironically criticizing the bar and area it is located in for being too hipster, and for not bing treated like kings / regulars. There was even one bad review that was genuinely puzzled why the barkeeper would be upset they brought outside drinks in. Really? Based on the bad reviews, I'd say it's good the bar is keeping those sort of people away from this bar. Leave it for the craft beer nerds :)

"OK guys, company meeting. We're gonna put a bar in a huge space, but just fill one end of it with coffee tables and uncomfortable backless ledges to sit on." "What about the other 2,000 square feet in the bar?" "Eh. Oh yeah, when someone scoots a table three inches closer to another one because they have a large group, make sure to yell at them. No literally, yell at them. "OK boss." "And make sure nobody sits on the tables, even though they're the same height as the benches. Don't even let them put their coats on the tables. Come to think of it, just yell at the customers for everything they do. But buy some beer to serve because I hear people like that nowadays. They'll keep coming in like battered wives who can't get enough of their shitty husband" "What should we call it?" "I don't give a fuck. Sugar Maple."

I'm gonna be frank here and just say, "I don't get it." I've heard great reviews about this place, so when I went to meet some friends at Sugar Maple on Friday, I was interested to see what it was like. Keep in mind that I'm not an uber beer snob that enjoys discussing the subtleties of some small brewery's latest Unicorn Fart Dopplebock, so your results may vary. First off, I will admit that the place looks nice inside. It has a long curved bar and high ceilings. The walls are painted dark and it has an almost lounge-like atmosphere. There are low tables and chairs along the wall opposite the bar and even some nice low couches. I took a look at the contraband menu (more on that later) and, quite honestly, wasn't overly impressed with the selection. I mean, I get it; they have 60 beers on tap. But in Milwaukee that's not really going to stand out in terms of selection when there are other places that have 300+ beers to offer. Granted, they might not be on tap, but having tap beer usually isn't a requirement for me personally. In the end, I decided on a blond cream ale. When it was my turn to order, I stumbled over the name of the beer and the bartender literally walked away from me. I was like, "buhh?" While I was standing there dumbfounded, the other bartender came up and took my order. Thank you, other bartender. You were nice, even though you were a poop the next time I came up to order. Once I had my beer, our group took a spot in the back which was much easier on the ears. Sugar Maple doesn't have any televisions on the wall, most likely to encourage conversation. Hey, I can dig that. I dig that a lot. The problem, however, is that the low seating and the high ceilings combine to create some seriously horrible acoustics. Despite the music being at a reasonable level, it sounded like a school cafeteria. I supposed there's not much you can do about it though. My next foray up to the bar wasn't so stellar either. I went back to the nice bartender and asked for a Lakefront Bridge Burner Ale. She shook her head, handed me a menu and walked away to help someone else. The menu indicated they only had the Snake Chaser stout. Funny, because their website said they had 4 Lakefront drafts. Whoever manages their site might want to make sure it's updated regularly. Speaking of menus, they must only have about 10 menus in that whole place. They were swiping menus from people left and right. It was seriously the most coveted object in there and they weren't nice about taking it if they spotted one sitting at your table. Considering it's a 1-page, double-sided menu, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't break the bank to print out a few more on the ol' HP Deskjet in the back. Some things I noticed that could definitely improve this place: The vibe is definitely that of beer snobs. Personally, I think that's cool. Really, I do. However, if you're gonna practice beer snobbery, you might want to serve those '60 American Craft Beers on Draft' in the glasses that have the name of the brewery on them. They seem to do this for the ciders. They also served the Fat Tire in the proper glass. But everyone else in my group got their beer in a mismatched glass. Both of my beers came in a Lakefront glass, despite them not being Lakefront products. This little touch could go a long way in the hearts of beer lovers. The other opportunity I saw that was not being leveraged was their liquor selection. It was absolutely mammoth and beautifully displayed. Sugar Maple needs to work that angle a bit more. I even thought about ordering a martini, but after my first two trips to the bar I decided against it in fear that the bartenders might slit their wrists in a depressed rage if I asked them to do anything above tapping a beer. When you take all the things mentioned above and combine it with the clientele, you really get the full meaning of the "I don't get it" vibe. Some people say this place is hipster. I really wouldn't call it that. It might be diet hipster at best. Aside from the more comfortable seating, I really didn't see that much of a difference between Sugar Maple and a place like Café Lulu or Centraal. I'll go back, because my friends like this place. Maybe next time I'll order a mudslide just to see the bartender's reaction.

Dear Sugar Maple, I love your tap selection! So many great things to taste. Unfortunately, it's so effing dark in here that I can barely see anything. Turn it up a notch. Also, your seating is super uncomfortable, although it's nice for groups. Can you look into that? It'd make me want to come more if it wasn't as wonky. Overall pretty solid though. After a couple of beers I forget about the bad seating anyway. *heart* Mike

I was visiting my dearest hometown over the holidays, and ended up at the Sugar Maple with my husband, brother, and good friends. Initially, I was impressed by the pleasant bartender lady and generally relaxed atmosphere. I had a good beer selection, good people, and a couch to sit on. Life was excellent. Close to the end of our time there, it was getting really crowded. A small group had a table with two chairs to our right, and a girl came to collect two more chairs from the wall near to us. She actually asked if we were using them, which of course, we weren't. A few minutes later, a very angry young man (a busser, I think?) came by and said, "NO! NO!!! YOU WILL *NOT* DO THAT!" and grabbed the chairs angrily, dragging them away. "Holy shit," I thought, "What is the big deal??" Since we were about to leave, we offered the poor people our table-couch area and made them happy. A girlfriend and I went up to the now extremely crowded bar to pay our tabs. The only place to squeeze in was near the edge of the bar, where waitstaff come in and out. My friend was situated on the inside edge, but is very thin, and the space very large--giving plenty of space for people to move in and out of the bar area. As we waited to be noticed by one of two bartenders working the busy room, Angry Busser Guy shoved--literally shoved (hard!)--my friend out of the way on his way behind the bar. Wow. What a classy guy. And clearly without anger issues. Oh, AND my friend was charged for drinks she never ordered! Good times...? :-/