It seems like every year there’s something new to share with you…

Our latest remodeling project

A brand new hiking trail

New restaurants

…and in this case, two new breweries in Bayfield, WI, and a wine bar you’ll be sure to love. 

Both breweries have strong family ties, tracing back to some of Bayfield’s earliest industries, including farming and commercial fishing.

The wine bar is hosted in one of Bayfield’s iconic buildings. A place well known for slinging cold ones and cocktails across its beautifully crafted wooden bar.

With such deep roots, you can count on great stories, plenty of laughs, and warm hospitality all around. 

And without a doubt, you’ll want to make sure at least one of these (or all three) is on your itinerary when you stay with us at Seagull Bay.

Let’s dive in!

Apfelhaus Cidery Tap Room at Hauser’s Superior View Farm

It’s safe to say the Hauser Family has put their stamp on Bayfield. For over five generations, members have lived and farmed on the same Bayfield hillside as its founders. 

Apples, cherries, bareroot perennials, shrubs, and flowers have been harvested for over one hundred years. 

But as the farm has passed onto the next generation, new ideas begin to bloom. And from “Blossom to Bottle,” Apfelhaus Cidery was born.

Now, truth be told, Apfelhaus isn’t entirely brand new. Bottles and cans of their hard cider have been circulating in area businesses and grocery stores for a few years. 

What’s new is the taproom, located right next door to their Big Red Barn. It offers stunning views of Bayfield’s southern horizon, Lake Superior, and, on clear days, the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan.

Open daily from 12 pm to 8 pm, Apfelhaus Tap Room is your front-row seat to experience the very essence of what farm-to-table means. 

Crafted in small batches with apples grown, picked, pressed, and fermented right there on the farm. It’s hard cider “made right, right here,” in one of the newest breweries in Bayfield, Wisconsin. 

And while we’re on the subject, the next brewery I want to introduce also has deep roots in the Bayfield area.

Clipper Brewing Company Above Bodin’s Fish House

Since the late 1800s, the Bodin family has made their mark throughout the Chequamegon Bay. 

• Establishing fish camps on Long Island
• Building a family homestead in the Town of Bayview
• Running a fish and sporting goods shop in Ashland, WI
• Operating a Fish House in Bayfield, WI

The Bodins have a strong entrepreneurial spirit, so it’s no surprise they’ve channeled that drive into brewing beer. They opened the newest brewery in Bayfield, WI:  Clipper Brewing Company, located above The Fish House on Wilson Ave.

Even better, the brewery is just a short walk from Seagull Bay via the Brownstone Trail!

Open seasonally May through October, it’s one of the best places to cool off and watch the Brewers, Twins, or Packers. 

Here you can enjoy a microbrew like the ‘Roger That IPA’ while nibbling on smoked fish or bumping elbows with other cheery folks at the handcrafted bar, designed in the shape of a fishing vessel’s bow.

It’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in some of Bayfield’s commercial fishing history. Start at Clipper’s and then walk next door to Hoop’s Dockside Market for fish and chips.

But if beer isn’t your thing, then Bates Art Bar might be…

Bates Art Bar on Bayfield’s Historic Broad Street

The story of Bates Art Bar begins in the early 1900s as Nelson’s Dry Goods in Ashland, Wisconsin. 

In 1934, after Prohibition ended, the grand bar and back bar were hauled across frozen Lake Superior to its current location and eventually purchased by the Bates family.

In 2000, the bar was sold to Mary H. Rice, who transformed the space into her art studio and gallery.

With the original bar intact, along with tin ceilings and light fixtures, Bates Art Bar is now a wine and cocktail destination under new ownership.

It’s the perfect way to unwind after a day of exploring the trails, kayaking, or sailing. 

Enjoy a glass of wine from the self-serve station, an artisan cocktail at the bar, and a charcuterie or cheese board in the relaxed, art deco-inspired atmosphere.

Open daily Thursdays through Tuesdays, 4 pm to 8 pm.

Each of these new breweries in Bayfield, WI, and wine bar has evolved over time, shaped by the families who own them and the guests they welcome.

Stories like these make Bayfield a unique place to visit. It’s a story we also share at Seagull Bay, and one we’d love to tell you.

Sip Local and Stay Cozy at Seagull Bay in Bayfield, Wisconsin

Like the businesses in this blog, our story is echoed by those who came before us. 

Isaac’s Bayfield roots go back to 1842, with his family deeply entrenched in the commercial fishing industry. Like many before him, they share a strong entrepreneurial spirit—one that often leaves me shaking my head.

In 2017, we joined in this tradition by purchasing Seagull Bay Motel and its adjacent properties. For us, it was our ticket home and a place near friends and family where we could raise our three boys. 

It’s also a place where we can offer our guests a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere overlooking the best of what Bayfield has to offer–Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands.

We offer private rooms, suites, and guesthouses for couples and groups of up to six people. Most rooms boast views of Lake Superior and its shoreline, with direct access to the Brownstone Trail leading into downtown Bayfield.

Many of our rooms feature private or shared decks and balconies. Others are just steps away from our lawn, where you can relax to the sound of waves lapping against the shore, birds singing in the trees, and leaves rustling in the lake breeze. 

It’s the perfect place to put your feet up and enjoy a cold one from one of the new breweries in Bayfield, WI—cheers 🍻!

Start planning your Bayfield vacation and stay with us. 

Your memories with a view!

Mollie, Isaac, Axel, Ridge, and Banks

QUICK LINKS:
Clipper Brewing Company

Apfelhaus Cidery – Hauser’s Superior View Farm + Apfelhaus Cidery on Instagram 

BATES ART BAR