Oshkosh Craft Beer Week Celebrates Local Breweries

Annual 10-day event features collaboration beer and events across over 30 participating establishments.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:07pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeated pattern of a single iconic beer can or bottle in vibrant neon hues, conceptually representing the energy and creativity of Oshkosh's craft beer community.Oshkosh's annual Craft Beer Week celebrates the city's thriving local brewing scene through collaborative beers and community events.Oshkosh Today

Oshkosh, Wisconsin is gearing up to host its annual Craft Beer Week, a 10-day celebration of the local brewing industry. The event, running from April 2nd to April 12th, will feature a collaboration beer called 'Oshkosh on the Water: Rice Lager' created by three area breweries - Bare Bones Brewery, Fifth Ward Brewing Company, and Fox River Brewing Company. Brewers from each company discussed the process of developing the unique beer and their excitement around the growing popularity of the citywide celebration.

Why it matters

Craft Beer Week highlights the vibrant beer culture in Oshkosh, a city known for its thriving small business community and entrepreneurial spirit. The event brings together local breweries to showcase their creativity and collaboration, while also attracting beer enthusiasts from across the region to experience the city's offerings.

The details

For the fifth year in a row, Bare Bones Brewery, Fifth Ward Brewing Company, and Fox River Brewing Company have teamed up to create a special Oshkosh Craft Beer Week collaboration beer called 'Oshkosh on the Water: Rice Lager'. The brewers discussed the process of canning and labeling the limited-edition brew, as well as their annual production and preparation routines leading up to the 10-day celebration. Over 30 local establishments across Oshkosh will be participating in Craft Beer Week, hosting a variety of events, tastings, and promotions.

  • Oshkosh Craft Beer Week will run from Thursday, April 2nd to Sunday, April 12th, 2026.
  • The 'Oshkosh on the Water: Rice Lager' collaboration beer will be available during the 10-day event.

The players

Patrick McHugh

Representative from Fox River Brewing Company, one of the three breweries collaborating on the special Craft Beer Week beer.

Jody Cleveland

Head Brewer at Bare Bones Brewery, one of the three breweries collaborating on the special Craft Beer Week beer.

Ian Wegner

Representative from Fifth Ward Brewing Company, one of the three breweries collaborating on the special Craft Beer Week beer.

Anna Murphy-Pociask

Representative from the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau, providing an overview of the Craft Beer Week event and its growing popularity.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to collaborate with Bare Bones and Fifth Ward again this year to create a unique beer that captures the spirit of Oshkosh.”

— Patrick McHugh, Representative, Fox River Brewing Company

“Canning and labeling the collaboration beer is always a fun process as we get ready to share it with the community.”

— Jody Cleveland, Head Brewer, Bare Bones Brewery

“Working with the other Oshkosh breweries is a great way for us to connect, catch up, and create something new together.”

— Ian Wegner, Representative, Fifth Ward Brewing Company

What’s next

Craft Beer Week attendees can find more information about participating breweries, events, and the collaboration beer at the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau website and Facebook page.

The takeaway

Oshkosh's annual Craft Beer Week showcases the city's thriving local brewing scene and community spirit, with breweries coming together to create a unique collaborative beer and host a 10-day celebration that continues to grow in popularity.