KENOSHA, Wis. — Public Brewing Company is rolling out a revamped pub menu this week and has named longtime local culinary figure Josh Rains as its new executive chef, marking a significant expansion of the downtown brewery’s food program.
The new menu is set to debut Wednesday, Jan. 7, when the brewery opens at 3 p.m., bringing an expanded lineup of affordable, beer-forward dishes designed to pair with Public’s award-winning craft brews. The updated offerings build on familiar favorites while introducing a broader selection of appetizers, sandwiches, flatbreads, and desserts.
Fan favorites such as Public’s cheese curds remain on the menu, joined by new and returning items including drunken mushrooms and sauced brewhouse wings. The menu also features wraps, pitas, flatbreads, rotating “sausage of the month” options, salads, vegetarian-friendly alternatives, and a dedicated kids menu. Fridays will continue to feature the brewery’s popular fish fry.
Rains also brings a stronger dessert focus to the brewpub, adding house-made options such as donut bites, lemon bars, and cheesecake. Many dishes incorporate or complement Public’s beer selection, emphasizing beer-infused flavors and casual comfort food.
A Kenosha native, Rains grew up locally and draws culinary inspiration from his father, a second-generation butcher. He trained for years under Chef Vicki Rothwell and has worked across the city in pizza pubs, hotels, Irish pubs, and catering pop-ups. He said returning to cook in his hometown was a deliberate choice.
“Kenosha is where I grew up, where I played as a kid, where I’m raising my son,” Rains said in a statement. “I could cook anywhere, but I can’t think of any place I’d rather be.”
Rains described the new menu as a reflection of his career and the brewery’s atmosphere, blending dishes he has enjoyed cooking with food that guests enjoy eating, while pairing naturally with Public’s beer lineup.
Public Brewing Company operates out of the historic Barden’s Department Store building in downtown Kenosha and has continued to expand its footprint since opening in 2012. In addition to daily brewpub service, the business also offers on-site and off-site catering and event hosting.
The new menu becomes available to the public starting Wednesday.
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3 Responses
Great guy. Excited to see the changes over there
Keep your drinks covered!……
Asking for my wife with celiac, are the vegetarian options GF? Also is there any discussions about bringing the monthly Milwaukee’s GF fish fry to Kenosha for the summers?