Illinois-based Solemn Oath Brewery opening taproom in Bay View

An Illinois-based brewery is opening its first Wisconsin taproom next year in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood.

Solemn Oath Brewery will open at 342 E. Ward St. in mid-2026.

That location was previously home to 1840 Brewing, which closed in June after nearly eight years of business. Owners Kyle and Stephanie Vetter made the decision to close to focus on family after Stephanie was diagnosed with stage four metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Solemn Oath Brewery was founded in Naperville, Illinois, in 2012, and also has a location in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. At the new Bay View taproom, the brewery will serve small runs as well as Solemn Oath Brewery staples, such as its popular Lü Kölsch, Snaggletooth Bandana IPA, Small Wave City Club hazy IPA and Kidnapped by Vikings IPA.

The Bay View location will also operate as a brewery and barrel‑aging facility, creating opportunities for Milwaukee-based partnerships and projects to develop on-site.

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