Milwaukee beer die-hards now have a shot at owning a piece of Bay View bar lore. The brewing equipment, vehicles and even leftover bottles from shuttered 1840 Brewing are headed to a timed online auction, pulling items from both the original Bay View site and the later West Bend location through May 11. The catalog covers everything from gleaming stainless tanks and barrel racks to taproom furniture and yard games that once filled the space.
Gerlach Companies is running the sale, with bidding hosted on BidSpotter, according to Urban Milwaukee. The listing features 438 lots drawn from both properties, complete with photos and descriptions for would-be buyers. Bidding is scheduled to close May 11, and some of the juicier lots include vehicles and remaining beer inventory.
1840 announced it was closing the Bay View taproom after nearly eight years of operation, citing the strain of running a small brewery in a challenging market while dealing with a serious family health issue, as reported by BizTimes. The business had already shut down its West Bend taproom, a move tied to construction snags and financial pressure. The auction appears to be part of wrapping up the brewery’s brick-and-mortar presence while the owners sort out what, if anything, comes next for the 1840 name…