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.
The catalog is a mix of workhorse gear and sentimental souvenirs. Industrial pieces like stainless fermenters, bottle fillers and barrel racks share space with a 2013 Mercedes cargo van, a tap-beer trailer and a 2013 Toyota forklift, according to the auction listing. There are also cash boxes, point-of-sale materials, tables and chairs, cleaning supplies and the lawn games that once dotted the taproom floor. Online photos show more than a dozen bottles and cans chilling in a cooler, though many beer lots skip details like vintage or style, a quirk noted by Urban Milwaukee.
What's for sale
The online catalog breaks everything down by lot, with images, pickup windows and removal notes laid out for bidders. To see full lot information and place bids, buyers have to register on BidSpotter. Gerlach Companies is listed as the auctioneer and posts local pickup dates and rules on its auction pages. With both heavy-duty production gear and smaller taproom fixtures on the block, everyone from home bar decorators to startup brewers will find something to eye.
1840's legacy
1840 opened its flagship Bay View brewery and taproom in 2017 and carved out a niche with slow-paced, mixed-fermentation and barrel-aged beers, limited bottle drops and taproom-only releases. Local coverage has highlighted the Vetters’ commitment to oak-barrel aging and a "drink slow beer" philosophy that helped land festival invitations and awards for standout brews. For regulars, seeing the tanks, taps and tools in an auction catalog is a tangible sign that a distinctive chapter in Milwaukee’s beer story is closing, a sentiment Milwaukee Magazine has chronicled in detail.
What comes next for the space
Illinois-based Solemn Oath Brewery has indicated it plans to move into the former 1840 production and taproom footprint, aiming for a mid-2026 opening, according to neighborhood reporting. The incoming brewery has already hosted preview events and pitched the expansion as neighborhood-first, so Bay View’s old 1840 corner could be pouring beer again under new management later this year. How quickly Solemn Oath moves and how it reshapes the production layout will determine the next act for that stretch of Kinnickinnic Avenue.
How to bid
Anyone looking to buy needs to sign up on BidSpotter and read each lot’s fine print, since pickup windows, buyer premiums and payment terms can differ from item to item. Gerlach’s typical rules require licensed and insured rigging crews for heavy machinery and lay out strict removal deadlines, so bidders should factor in moving costs and logistics before going big on a tank or forklift. Small brewers sizing up equipment should also double-check compatibility, electrical and ventilation needs and local permitting requirements before committing.
The full auction catalog and photos live on BidSpotter. Deeper background on 1840’s closure and impact can be found at BizTimes and Milwaukee Magazine. For updates on the Bay View space and Solemn Oath’s plans, keep an eye on HereMilwaukee and other neighborhood outlets.
