---
title: "QSR Magazine: Meet the Fast Casual Reinventing Beers and Brats"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/83931222-0696-404e-b769-a66da7729e5e
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-meet-the-fast-casual-reinventing-beers-and-brats-6780
category: "Fast casual"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Fast casual"
published: 2016-10-21T16:11:36.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:33:24.305Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/758c5a382a869eb4af915fdd5a1ac4aa5928.jpg
---

# QSR Magazine: Meet the Fast Casual Reinventing Beers and Brats

**TL;DR:** Vanguard, a Milwaukee-based fast casual, offers unusual menu items and is focusing on new menu ideas with a new menu every quarter. The restaurant was opened two years ago by Jim McCann, Chris Schulist, and Chef Shay Linkus.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2016-10-21. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-meet-the-fast-casual-reinventing-beers-and-brats-6780).*

## Story

Lemongrass brats anyone? While Milwaukee residents are certainly no stranger to bratwursts and hot dogs, Vanguard is starting to shake things up with unusual menu items like jalapeño Cheddar brats and more. According to a recent QSR Magazine article, restaurateur Jim McCann and former bar manager Chris Schulist opened the fast casual two years ago along with Chef Shay Linkus as part of the nightlife scene that includes daytime business with hearty food, full bar, and signature cocktails.

In an interview with the magazine, Schulist explains, “Nothing says Milwaukee like beer and bratwursts. Since it was such a familiar food, we thought we could push the boundaries.”

With their Octopus Chorizo and Duck BLT, the boundaries have certainly been pushed. Customers can also enjoy classic house-made brats, or vegan/vegetarian sausages if they aren’t feeling quite so adventurous.

The restaurant is focusing on new menu ideas, with a new menu every quarter. With that consistent variety, customers will be sure to come back to try different offerings at least every few months, if not more.

“We love it when people get really excited about our new menu items. More than anything, it seems like the neighborhood has embraced us, and we want them to keep coming back.”

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- QSR Magazine (publication)
- fast casual (topic)
- menu innovation (topic)
- Milwaukee (location)
- restaurant concept (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-meet-the-fast-casual-reinventing-beers-and-brats-6780). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/83931222-0696-404e-b769-a66da7729e5e).