Milwaukee-based brewpub The Explorium is taking over Good City Brewing’s four taproom locations, according to On Milwaukee.
The deal does not include the Good City brands, which the Explorium will license and produce in the interim before phasing out over time.
Explorium co-owner Mike Doble told On Milwaukee: “The beers will slowly be phased out. [Good City founders] Dan [Katt] and David [Dupee] wanted to retain ownership of the brand and I wasn’t willing to pay for it.
“I have my own brand and I don’t like to confuse our brand with anybody else’s.”
Good City’s two locations in Milwaukee, as well as spaces in Wauwatosa and Mequon will eventually be rebranded. They’ll join two existing Explorium locations, one in downtown Milwaukee and one in Greendale, in the newly formed Explorium Hospitality Group.
Good City founders Dan Katt and David Dupee wrote on social media that they were both feeling “gratitude” over the change.
They wrote: “The craft beer industry has experienced seismic shifts and its future will require strategic alliances. [Explorium owners] Mike and Joan Doble are fantastic operators who will help push forward the taproom experiences we sought to create.
“We’re also excited for the new opportunities this next chapter offers our staff. We’re working closely with Mike and Joan to ensure a smooth transition.”
Good City’s volume has declined from 4,823 barrels of beer in 2019, to 1,962 barrels in 2023, according to data from the BA. The Explorium produced 1,500 barrels of beer in 2023.
In other Milwaukee brewery moves, MobCraft Beer closed at the end of November after a deal reportedly fell through, and upcoming closures are planned for City Lights Brewing and Enlightened Brewing on January 4 and 5, respectively, the outlet reported. Meanwhile, Gathering Place Brewing acquired the intellectual property and equipment of Sahale Ale Works.