NOTE: This post updated after Franklin Beer Garden sent out a corrected news release with a different date for its event.
What’s better than a nice summer beer? Why, a free summer beer, of course, and there are a few opportunities coming up for gratis suds in the next week and a half.
Unlike the classic "free beer tomorrow" signs in local taverns, this time we mean it: there is free beer on tap next week.
First, on Thursday, July 24, the Franklin Beer Garden celebrates the official grand opening of its new pavilion at Croatian Park, 9100 S. 76th St., from 5 until 10- p.m.
There will be free beer, while supplies last, along with music (free), food (not free) and more (maybe free, depends) at the 30-acre fun zone with a playground, bocce court, TVs showing sports events.
While you’re there, enjoy the new pavilion with its full-service bar, built-in stage and dance floor.
With covered seating for 300 (expandable to up to 600 for events like concerts), this new flexible venue is well-suited for weddings, parties, corporate events, festivals and more.
Find more great beer garden information in our 2025 Milwaukee Beer Garden Guide.
Free Miller Lite on International Beer Day
Then, on Friday, Aug. 1, in celebration of International Beer Day, Miller is giving away 50,000 Miller Lites across the country for a national toast.
Among the more than 450 bars participating are 23 in Wisconsin, including Who's on Third, Friends on Forest Home, The Harp Irish Pub, Jack's American Pub, Kelly's Bleachers, Leff's Lucky Town, Milwaukee Brat House, Murphy's Irish Pub, Major Goolsby's, Steny's Tavern, Matty's Bar & Grill and New Berlin Entertainment Center in the Milwaukee area.
Also taking part are Erin's Snug Irish Pub & Restaurant, Pooley's Sports Bar & Event Center, Players Sports Bar & Grill and Wilson's Bar & Grill in Madison; Fox Harbor Pub & Grill and Hagemeister Park in Green Bay; Draft House Bar & Restaurant and 5th Quarter Bar & Grill in Verona; GameDay Sports Bar & Grill in Appleton; Ten Pin Alley in Fitchburg; and Taner’s Grill & Bar in Kimberly.
To signal the toast the Miller Brewery in the Valley will host a New Year’s Eve-style event featuring a Beer Drop with an oversized novelty six-pack with each beer representing one of the U.S. time zones.
Starting with the East Coast can and moving westward, each will drop at 4:50 p.m. in its time zone.
You can find more information at millerlite.com, including how you can get a free beer even if you can’t make it to one of the venues on Aug. 1. There’s also a chance to win Miller Lite Merch or a $500 prepaid card at the link.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press. A fifth collects Urban Spelunking articles about breweries and maltsters.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has been heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.