Ope! Let us introduce ourselves!

We're Ope! Brewing Co.!

Ope! Brewing Co. kicked off in 2022 when a crew of Milwaukee beer fanatics, tired of watered-down brews and corporate slop, decided to brew their own Midwest magic in West Allis, WI. Born from late-night garage experiments and a love for crispy lagers that hit like a Packers touchdown, we transformed a former manufacturing facility into a taproom powerhouse, slingin' bold IPAs, seltzers, and seasonal stunners with zero fluff. Fast-forward through pandemics and pint-pourin' triumphs, we've grown into a community hub for live tunes, trivia brawls, and doggo hangs, all while keepin' that gritty, "dontcha know" spirit alive.

Meet The Owners

Kyle Ciske

Meet Kyle Ciske, part owner and brewmaster boss of Ope! Brewing Co. Kyle is one of the main reasons y'all love our beer so darn much!

Fresh off attending the Siebel Institute of Brewing Technology in 2007, Kyle dove headfirst into the craft scene, brewin' up tasty beers at Silver Creek Brewing Company in Cedarburg, WI. Not one to sit still, Kyle moved on and started sharing his know-how, teaching brewing classes at Northern Brewer and turning homebrew hopefuls into legit pros.

After several years of spreading his vast knowledge and expertise, Kyle became the Head Brewer at Explorium Brewpub in Greenfield, WI in 2016. While here, he continued perfecting his craft and helped build the entire beer program from scratch. 5 years later, Explorium was in a great spot and Kyle began to "explore" his aspirations of owning his own brewery.

In 2021, Kyle worked with John to spearhead their new project: Ope! Brewing Co. He used his vast brewing knowledge along with John's background to create a vibrant and extensive beer program paired with a taproom space that few had seen before. Ope! officially opened a year later in 2022.

Also, you may have noticed that Kyle LOVES music, so much so that he's an expert in another area: the drums. He's been tearin' up the MKE music scene with rhythms that echo his brewing style: precise, powerful, and always pushin' boundaries. He also had the crazy idea to weave that musical mojo into Ope!, crafting a burgeoning live music program and making hilarious yet sonically awesome jingles for many of our beers, courtesy of the Ope'n House Band moniker.

Former Head Brewer at Explorium Brewpub

18 years of brewing experience

Killer drummer and overall highly talented musician

John Onopa

John Onopa is a Milwaukee native with deep local roots, descending from a lineage of Northwoods prohibition-era moonshiners and Riverwest brewers. A graduate of Marquette University with a degree in Civil Engineering and an emphasis in construction project management, John’s professional background includes managing turnkey construction projects at Opus North Corporation and a decade in construction materials procurement at Kohl’s Corporate.

John’s passion for craft beer began with homebrewing in 2013. Since then, he has developed over a hundred unique recipes, several of which are featured at Ope! Brewing Co. As co-founder and head of business operations, John has led the brewery to significant acclaim since its opening in May 2022, earning awards for Best New Bar, Best Pet-Friendly Establishment, and Best Microbrewery Taproom.

Currently, John is spearheading expansion efforts for Ope! in West Allis and Ope! North in Appleton. A thoughtful problem-solver, he is dedicated to refining processes for strategic growth and ensuring the long-term success of the brewery while maintaining a commitment to quality and the customer experience.

Brewski

Meet the perpetual reigning 'Employee of the Month,' Head of HR, resident security guard, dapperest dog and bestest boy, Brewski.  Boy dogs want to be him and bitches want to be his side-piece.  He’ll kindly demand pets while sitting on your feet or leaning deep into your soul.

Conveniently, you don’t have to bend over to greet him.  Brewski won three independent nationwide talent searches, and he’s featured on the 'Can I Pet Your Dog?' can. You probably won’t guess his breed, so we’ll just tell ya! - he’s half Greater Swiss Mountain dog and half Beauceron.  When you come by the taproom, make sure to give Brewski some love and maybe a few treats. He is a good boy after all!

Incredibly cute

Huge but acts like a tiny pup

Friendly and (mostly) well-behaved

The Man Who Brews The Beer

Cameron Patterson

Say hello to Ope! Brewing Co.'s Head Brewer, Cam Patterson. He's the one who makes the beer and you can thank him for all the deliciousness in-person the next time you come by the taproom!

Cam was born and raised in Vermont and took up brewing not long after he became of legal drinking age. Around this time, craft brewing in the US was beginning to grab hold. Vermont was home to some of the earliest, major craft beer brands and that's exactly where Cam got his start. He first began at Magic Hat Brewing Co. in 2012 as part of the packaging team and in 2014 moved to the brewing team. He worked here for 6 years until their eventual closure in 2020.

After that, Cam worked as a press operator and fermentation specialist at Citizen Cider. While here, Cam was doing double duty and achieved his brewing degree from the Siebel Institute of Brewing Technology in 2021. With new expertise in-hand, Cam moved over to von Trapp where he worked on a talented team producing award-winning lagers and other beers.

In the fall of 2022, Cam decided it was time to move to the Dairy State with his wife and made Milwaukee his new home. His first job in MKE was at City Lights where he was part of the brewstaff and also occasionally drove the shuttlebus to and from Miller Park. He worked here for nearly a year-and-a-half before coming to Ope! in March of 2024.

Cam made a quick and strong impression on John and Kyle by producing stellar beer and working hard to continually improve and perfect our product. So much so that in September of 2025, Cam was promoted to Head Brewer. He's the man, the myth, the legend! And we thank him for his talents and tasty product :-)

13+ years of brewing experience

Worked for: Magic Hat Brewing Co., Citizen Cider, von Trapp Brewing & Bierhall, City Lights Brewing Company

Head Brewer since September '25

Frequently Asked Questions

Ope! Got a question? We got an answer! Also feel free to chat with us on the bottom right!

What kind of beers do you offer?

We strive to provide delicious beer options for everyone and their Mom. We have a wide variety. We have a couple two three hard seltzers as well.

Can you fill my growler?

We avoid growlers to provide optimal product quality whether you enjoy your purchase today or in a few weeks. We fill can crowlers.  Keep our beer cold. 

Is your taproom dog friendly?

Yes, we are dog friendly indoors and out. Dogs must be kept on a leash. Mischievous pups or those prone to messes are best left at home, yah? Check out our official Pet Policy for more info.

Do you have N.A. (Non-Alcoholic) Beverages?

We have soda pop (Two Brothers products), Hop Water, NA Beer and CBD Beverages. West Allis also has some of the best tap water in the world, try it!

Will you show “The Big Game” on your TV’s?

We will tune in for Packers, Brewers, Bucks, Marquette, Badgers and major sports events (e.g, PGA Tour Majors, Superbowl, World Series, World Cup, etc.). Otherwise, our TV’s will only be on by request.

Can I bring outside food?

For a small fee outside food is allowed.  Reservations with BYO food needs to be approved prior. Otherwise please support our food truck partners!