RAISE A GLASS. The Phoenix Taproom & Kitchen (402 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) has a whopping 72 self-serve beer and beverage taps, plus a craft cocktail bar. If you can't find something you like, well, maybe there's something wrong with your tastebuds. 

Of the many things that make our slice of the region special, beer lovers in particular have a lot to love. Alongside a rich brewery background, Wisconsin – specifically, Eau Claire – made a new entry in beer history when it became home to the Midwest’s largest self-pour taproom in 2024: The Phoenix Taproom & Kitchen. 

This locally-owned business completely renovated what is now a sprawling, industrial-meets-modern style taproom in downtown Eau Claire. Stretching across the first floor of the 402 Graham Ave. building, and out toward the Chippewa River via patio space, it’s become a fast favorite for locals.

So much so that, in its first year of operations, it snagged a number of awards in the Best Of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll – including No. 1 for Best New Bar.

In the 2026 iteration, The Phoenix Taproom & Kitchen walked away with seven total awards, including No. 1 for Best Beer Selection. With 72 self-serve taps to choose from, that makes sense.

We asked owner Brad Hansen just how much people have enjoyed The Phoenix Taproom & Kitchen’s self-serve options since opening up shop – by the ounce. Here’s what he shared:

1,150

Total number of unique beverages served out of the self-pour wall

2,842,670

Total ounces people have poured from those taps

2,130,670

Total ounces of beer (including non-alcoholic beer) people have poured from those taps

32,998

Total ounces of non-alcoholic beer, specifically, people have poured from those taps

98,986

Total ounces of the most popular beer – Busch Light – people have poured.

Brad did note that, to be fair, Busch Light is always offered on the self-serve taps (taps 1-3, domestic beers, never change) unlike others that rotate in and out. "For some additional local flavor, Spotted Cow is our fourth-highest product overall at 62,103.1 ounces," he said.

Swing by The Phoenix Taproom & Kitchen (402 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) to pour yourself a drink (or order one from the craft cocktail bar), any day of the week • Hours are 11am-10pm, Sunday-Thursday; 11am-midnight, Friday-Saturday • Keep up with the Midwest’s largest taproom on socials