Gluten Free Restaurants in Milwaukee: Where to Eat When You Also Want a Beer

Most gluten-free diners aren’t looking for a separate, sad menu. They want a normal night out, with good food, good company and maybe a beer in hand. The Explorium Brewpub is a gluten-friendly brewpub in Milwaukee where the entire house-made beer lineup is gluten-removed and the kitchen follows dedicated gluten-free preparation practices. That includes gluten-free pizza, prepared on dedicated pans with separate tools.

Can you drink beer at a gluten free restaurant in Milwaukee?

At Explorium, all beer brewed in-house is treated with Clarity Ferm®, an enzyme used to break down gluten. The beer is made with ingredients that originally contained gluten, so it’s important to know that “gluten-removed” is not the same as beer brewed from gluten-free ingredients.

Explorium says samples of its treated beers were lab-tested and showed no gluten above the measurable threshold of 10 parts per million. Even the hazy and barrel-aged beers are treated. Owner Joan Doble, who is personally sensitive to gluten and lactose, has been drinking the gluten-removed beer since fall 2018 without a reaction.

That may make Explorium worth considering if you’re searching for a gluten free brewery Milwaukee visitors and locals can enjoy together. It’s still important to read the caveat below, especially if you have celiac disease.

How does Explorium make its beer gluten-removed?

Clarity Ferm® is added during the brewing process to break down gluten in the beer. Explorium says its lab results were below 10 ppm, the lowest measurable threshold in those tests, and below the 20 ppm standard used for “gluten free.”

For guests who avoid gluten, it’s a way to explore the house beer lineup alongside dinner. You can check the current Third Ward taplist to see what’s pouring. If you have celiac disease, however, keep in mind that the brewery’s ingredients originally contained gluten. Explorium advises people with celiac disease to proceed with caution.

What gluten free food can you order?

Explorium’s kitchen takes specific steps to minimize cross-contact. Gluten-free buns are toasted in a dedicated area away from regular buns. Staff use separate utensils for gluten-free items, and gluten-free pizzas are baked on dedicated pans with separate saucing and slicing tools. Batters are made with gluten-removed beer, and the fryers are dedicated for gluten-removed preparation.

Guests have called out gluten-free pizza, including buffalo chicken pizza, gluten-free wings, pork rinds and gluten-free dessert in Find Me Gluten Free reviews. These are guest favorites mentioned in reviews, not a promise that every item is available every day. Ask your server about the current menu and preparation when you visit.

If you’re searching for gluten free pizza Milwaukee diners can enjoy at a brewpub, the dedicated pans and separate pizza tools are useful details to know. If you’re interested in a burger, you can also ask about a gluten-free bun and let the staff know what precautions you need.

If you’re looking for…	What to ask about
Gluten-free pizza	Current pizza options and the dedicated pan and tools
Gluten-free wings or fried food	Current availability and dedicated fryer preparation
A gluten-free bun	Separate toasting area and utensils
A gluten-removed beer	Current taps and the gluten/celiac disclaimer
Another drink option	Handcrafted cocktails and full bar service

Is it safe for celiac disease?

Explorium is not a certified gluten-free facility. Staff are trained to minimize cross-contact, and the kitchen uses dedicated procedures for gluten-free items, but the restaurant cannot promise a completely gluten-free environment.

The beer has an additional caveat: it is made with ingredients that originally contained gluten, even though the enzyme treatment breaks down gluten and samples tested below the lab’s measurable threshold. Explorium’s own guidance is that people with celiac disease should proceed with caution and consult their doctor if they have questions.

If you have celiac disease or a serious sensitivity, tell your server before ordering. Explain your needs clearly and ask about the current item and its preparation. That conversation helps the team guide you; it’s not a substitute for deciding what feels appropriate for you.

Best for: Guests looking for gluten-friendly food, gluten-removed beer, and a shared meal where the rest of the group can order from a full kitchen and bar.

What to know: This is not a certified gluten-free facility, and Explorium’s beer is gluten-removed rather than brewed from gluten-free ingredients.

Which Explorium location should you pick?

All three locations are family-friendly and welcome dogs on their patios. Each has outdoor seating and fire pits, plus handcrafted cocktails and a full bar for anyone who would rather skip the beer.

Location	Address	A few location details
Third Ward	143 W. St. Paul Ave, Milwaukee	In the historic Pritzlaff Building; home of the sour beer program, with heated covered tunnel seating and an outdoor patio
Greendale	5300 S. 76th St, at Southridge Mall	Year-round heated covered outdoor bar, patio with fire pit and adjacent parking
Wauwatosa	11200 W. Burleigh St, in the Mayfair Collection	Dog-friendly patio, on-site catering, and private and semi-private event spaces
Explorium Distilled	333 W. Juneau Ave, Milwaukee	In the Deer District across from Fiserv Forum; elevated comfort food, craft cocktails, a dog-friendly patio and private event spaces

The Third Ward is a good pick if you want to pair dinner with a visit to the Pritzlaff Building or explore the sour beer program. Greendale offers a heated covered outdoor bar and convenient mall location. Wauwatosa has event spaces and a patio for a relaxed gathering.

There’s a fourth Explorium spot worth knowing about: Explorium Distilled, in the Deer District across from Fiserv Forum. It’s built for game nights — elevated comfort food, handcrafted cocktails and house beers, a dog-friendly patio on the plaza, and private event spaces including a Barrel Room and the Oak Room. Its hours differ from the brewpubs (closed Mondays and Tuesdays, open two hours before Fiserv Forum events), so check before you plan around it. Explorium Distilled’s social posts have also featured a fish fry made with gluten-removed beer-battered cod — worth asking about if you’re there on a game day or a Friday.

What if someone in your group doesn’t drink beer?

The full bar includes handcrafted cocktails and other drink options, so your outing doesn’t have to revolve around beer. All three locations offer a full kitchen, too, which makes it easier to plan a meal with family, friends or a partner who may have different preferences.

For anyone searching gluten free brewery near me, Explorium’s three Milwaukee-area locations offer a place to ask about gluten-free food practices and gluten-removed beer in the same visit. If you’re planning a group outing, the location pages also have more information about each brewpub.

When can you visit?

Bar hours at the three locations are Sunday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; and Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Kitchen hours are Sunday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; and Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

Reservations are available daily from 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m. for parties of up to six through the reservation page. For a larger group, call 414-423-1365 and choose a location. Wauwatosa’s phone number is 414-539-4343.

Pick the Explorium location that works for your plans and reserve a table if you’d like. When you sit down, tell your server about your gluten needs and ask any questions you have about the food or beer.