Milwaukee Ale House   

When the Milwaukee Ale House came onto the scene, it challenged Water Street Brewery's brew pub supremacy in a part of downtown that was deserted most nights. The area has since become a desirable place to work, live and live it up. The Ale House has succeeded in large part because of great beer and an ambiance that remains comfortable despite the enormity of the bar. Exposed brick and high ceilings keep the interior friendly, and the excellent tap selection of beers such as Louie's Demise and Pull Chain Pail Ale keep the clientele friendly. The Ale House fills with a post-work crowd ready to unwind and take in live music four nights a week. Entrees are decent but not cheap, so provide a base with appetizers and fill the rest of the stomach with the tasty barley concoctions. In the summer, the outdoor seating on the Milwaukee River is a popular spot (but try and disregard the garbage smell and strange brownish-green color of the downtown waterway).