What Pilot Project Brewing does

Pilot Project Brewing is a vertically integrated beverage incubator and accelerator headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2018-2019. The company operates three full-service taprooms and restaurants — Logan Square and Wrigleyville in Chicago, plus Milwaukee, Wisconsin — each offering rotating craft beer taps, full kitchens, cocktails, wine, coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages. Adjacent consumer revenue includes private event hosting, brewery tours ($15/ticket at the Milwaukee facility), and the Mug Club annual membership program at $90/year. The core business model, however, is the incubator: Pilot Project provides startup beverage brands with recipe R&D, production scaling, business development, marketing, distribution access, and live consumer testing through its taprooms, having helped 23+ brands move from concept to shelf. Incubated brands include Brewer's Kitchen, Devious (canned cocktails), Standard Goods, YEARS (NA beer), Brutalist Brewing Cooperative, Funkytown Brewery, Azadi, ROVM, Cerveceria Paracaidista, Donna's Pickle Beer, Dokkaebier, Occasion, and Mash Gang. The company controls a 70,000 sq ft multi-category production facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, acquired from Milwaukee Brewing Co. in September 2022 for $8 million, which produces beer, non-alcoholic beverages, RTDs, hemp (D9), wine spritzes, and functional drinks and serves as the foundation for its contract manufacturing business for B2B brands seeking to scale production.

The underlying technology is a multi-category beverage production platform combined with three physical retail testing venues and packaging/distribution logistics. Revenue mechanics span five streams: taproom food and beverage sales (transactional, with entrees $13-$28, draft beer $6.50-$9.50, cocktails $7-$16); contract manufacturing for B2B brands seeking scale (hardware-style revenue per unit produced); managed services-style brand incubation programs with mentorship and infrastructure access; subscription revenue via the annual Mug Club membership; and private event bookings across all three locations. Distribution channels include direct taproom sales, retail packaged goods via national distribution, online to-go ordering through Toast Tab, and contract manufacturing. Marketing is driven primarily by taproom-based experiential engagement, organic social (Instagram), earned media (USA Today, Fortune, Chicago Tribune, Eater, VinePair), and hosted events including the Beer Culture Summit and annual beer festival. The company has raised approximately $17.65 million across multiple rounds (2018, 2022, 2025, 2026) and operates as a private Delaware LLC with 101-250 employees.

Name

Pilot Project Brewing

Legal name

Pilot Project Brewing LLC

Website

https://pilotprojectbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pilot Project Brewing is a Chicago and Milwaukee-based vertically integrated beverage incubator operating three taprooms and a 70,000 sq ft multi-category production facility that helps startup beverage brands develop, manufacture, and scale while serving craft beer and cocktail consumers directly.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beverage Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Distilleries (312140)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Alcoholic Beverage Contract Manufacturing & Co-Packing (AFAFAAAI), Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Cocktail Mixes & Alcoholic Beverage Bases (non-alcoholic mixers, RTD spirit bases) (AFAFAGAH)

Keywords

• Craft beverage production
• Brewery incubator services
• Contract beverage manufacturing
• Craft beer taprooms
• Non-alcoholic beverage brands

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Taproom Food and Beverage Sales: Direct consumer sales of food, beer, cocktails, wine, canned cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages across three owned taprooms and tasting rooms in Chicago and Milwaukee. Food menu includes shareables, handhelds, salads, mains, desserts, and brunch offerings.
2. Incubator Program and Brand Mentorship: Pilot Project supports brewers, distillers, and beverage entrepreneurs with resources, infrastructure, and expertise. Brands receive assistance with fine-tuning recipes, production scaling, business development, marketing, distribution, and mentorship under one roof. The company reports helping 23+ brands move from concept to shelf.
3. Contract Manufacturing: Contract beverage production for brands ready to scale. The 70,000 sq ft production facility produces beer, NA beverages, RTDs, hemp, wine spritzes, and functional drinks. Includes distribution support from local to national.
4. Mug Club Membership: Annual membership program ($90/year) offering 15% off merch, $2 off full pours, 4-pack punch cards, free Teku glass, free Mug Club beanie, lottery access to Brew Day events, weekly Mug Club nights with half-off draft pours and free appetizers, and discounts to annual beer festival and exclusive events.
5. Private Events and Tours: Revenue from private event bookings (weddings, corporate events, rehearsal dinners, parties) at all three locations, plus paid brewery tours ($15/ticket) at the Milwaukee facility.
6. Investment Capital: Pilot Project raised an $8 million seed financing round (2022) to acquire Milwaukee Brewing Co. production facility and continues to raise capital through accredited investor opportunities, with $4,154,420 already sold to 32 investors in a February 2025 Rule 506(c) offering targeting $8 million.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pilot Project operates a vertically integrated beverage incubator and taproom business. The company runs three full-service taproom/restaurant locations in Chicago (Logan Square, Wrigleyville) and Milwaukee, WI, along with a 70,000 sq ft multi-category production facility. Its core service is incubating start-up beverage brands by providing recipe R&D, production scaling, contract manufacturing, distribution support, marketing, and live consumer testing through its taprooms. The company has helped 23+ brands move from concept to shelf and offers contract manufacturing across beer, non-alcoholic beverages, RTDs, hemp (D9), wine spritzes, and functional drinks.

Product overview

Pilot Project Brewing is a multi-faceted Chicago and Milwaukee-based company operating as both a craft beer/brewpub business and a beverage incubator. Its core consumer-facing offering consists of three taproom and restaurant locations (Logan Square, Wrigleyville, and Milwaukee), each serving rotating craft beer taps (up to 24), food, cocktails, coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages. Complementing the taprooms are ancillary services: the Pilot Project Mug Club (annual membership), private event hosting, and guided Milwaukee brewery tours. The company's incubator arm provides manufacturing infrastructure, market testing, distribution, and mentorship to emerging beverage brands — including Brewer's Kitchen, Devious, Standard Goods, YEARS, Brutalist Brewing Cooperative, Donna's Pickle Beer, ROVM, Cerveceria Paracaidista, Funkytown Brewery, Azadi, Occasion, and Mash Gang — several of which have graduated to independent operations. A major infrastructure asset is the 70,000 sq ft contract manufacturing facility in Milwaukee enabling multi-category production (beer, NA, RTDs, hemp, wine) for scaling brands. Pilot Project also offers an investor program for accredited investors targeting the beverage innovation ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Devious: A canned cocktail and cocktail lounge brand featuring real spirits, juices, and botanicals. Devious offers RTD canned cocktails including Moscow Mule, Strawberry Margarita, and Blackberry Whiskey Sour.
• Brewer's Kitchen

Products and services

• Pilot Project Taprooms (Logan Square, Wrigleyville, Milwaukee) Three owned taproom and restaurant locations in Chicago (Logan Square, Wrigleyville) and Milwaukee, WI serving rotating craft beer taps (up to 24), full food menus, cocktails, wine, coffee, canned cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages. Each location operates as a live testing ground for incubated brands.
• Beverage Incubator Program An incubation program for start-up beverage companies offering assistance with recipe R&D, production scaling, business development, marketing, distribution, and mentorship under one roof. The incubator has helped 23+ brands move from concept to shelf.
• Contract Beverage Manufacturing Contract beverage production from the 70,000 sq ft Milwaukee facility for brands ready to scale, producing beer, non-alcoholic beverages, RTDs, hemp (D9), wine spritzes, and functional drinks, with packaging lines and coast-to-coast logistics.
• Pilot Project Mug Club Membership Annual membership program ($90/year) offering 15% off merch, $2 off full pours, 4-pack punch cards, free Teku glass, free Mug Club beanie, lottery access to Brew Day events, weekly Mug Club nights with half-off draft pours and free appetizers, and discounts to the annual beer festival.
• Private Event Hosting Private event and group reservation services at all three locations, accommodating weddings, corporate events, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, concerts, and social gatherings with venues ranging from 20 to 1,500 guests.
• Brewery Tours (Milwaukee) Guided 1.25-hour brewery tours of the Milwaukee production facility. Tickets ($15) include five 5oz beer and/or booch tasters, a taster glass to take home, the origin story of Pilot Project Brewing, a facility tour, and three $5 draft vouchers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23+ brands launched from concept to shelf through the incubator program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Milwaukee Brewing Co.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2022Pilot Project acquired Milwaukee Brewing Co. production facility with an $8 million seed financing round. The acquisition established Pilot Project's manufacturing footprint in Milwaukee and serves as the foundation for the company's contract manufacturing business.
• Funkytown BrewerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunkytown Brewery is a Black-owned brewery incubated at Pilot Project. Founded by three friends who attended school together in Oak Park, Illinois and Grambling State University (HBCU), the brand focuses on bringing a Black brewer perspective to the beer industry. Funkytown went on to win a Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream award.
• Mash GangminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMash Gang is a non-alcoholic beer brand that was incubated at Pilot Project. The brand was acquired by DioniLife in 2024, representing a successful exit for the incubator model.
• Standard GoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStandard Goods is a Chicago-based brewery partner producing Lager and Pale Ale. The brand emphasizes approachability and affordability without extracts or corn syrup. Products are brewed at Pilot Project and distributed through taprooms and retailers.
• DeviouscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevious is an RTD canned cocktails brand created at Pilot Project. The brand offers real spirits, real juices, and botanicals in canned formats. Devious was ranked #3 Best Cocktails in the U.S. by USA Today. The brand operates Devious Lounge, a cocktail bar within Pilot Project Wrigleyville.
• Brewer's KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrewer's Kitchen is an experimental brewery created by Pilot Project people, honoring places, meals, and people through culinary-inspired beer. Products are brewed at Pilot Project in Chicago and Milwaukee and served in taprooms and retailers.
• YearscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYears is a non-alcoholic beer brand focused on brewing quality NA beer in the tradition of great Midwestern brews. Classic Pale Ale, Pilsner, and Belgian Wit offerings are served at Pilot Project taprooms and sold as 6-packs.
• ROVMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerROVM is a hard kombucha brand created by two friends from Lake Tahoe during the pandemic. The brand creates highly drinkable, refreshing beverages from all-natural ingredients for a 'better for you' buzz. ROVM Hibiscus Berry Kombucha is featured in menu items at Pilot Project Milwaukee.
• Brutalist Brewing CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrutalist is a 100% worker-owned brewery representing a bold new model for craft beer prioritizing labor equity, local ownership, and community engagement. Products (Industry Plant Lager, Agro Pop Hazy IPA) are served at Pilot Project taprooms.
• Cerveceria ParacaidistaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican craft brewery founded in 2015 in Mexico City, producing beer challenging in styles and ingredients. The Fat Mariachi Mexican Lager is brewed by Cerveceria Paracaidista and served at Pilot Project taprooms.
• Azadi BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago brewery with Indian-inspired beer selections including cardamom golden ale, Kesar Mango IPA, and stout made with Cutting Chai sourced from Mumbai. Santra Hazy IPA served at Pilot Project taprooms.
• OccasionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNA beverage brand producing wine-like beverages from French Oak-infused tea blends. Founded in 2016 as a Thanksgiving NA wine alternative and served at Pilot Project from 2024. Represents the growing NA category within the incubator.
• Donna's Pickle BeerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPickle brine lager co-founded by Scott Baird and Joshua Jancewicz, made with Donna's original brine recipe featuring herbal and floral notes integrated with an all-American Lager. Donna's Pickle Beer and Michelada featuring the beer are served at Pilot Project Milwaukee.
• DokkaebierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorean-inspired brewery partner producing Dokkaebi IPA (Citra, Mosaic, Idaho 7 hops) and Kimchi Sour. Kimchi-lada brunch special served at Pilot Project Milwaukee.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BrewDog: BrewDog is a global craft brewery with a large owned-taproom footprint (bars and hotels), multi-category production, and equity crowdfunding (Equity for Punks) — directly comparable to Pilot Project's brewery-plus-taproom-plus-investor-platform model. Both target craft beer enthusiasts with experimental brands and on-site experiences.
• Stone Brewing: Stone Brewing operates a network of large craft brewery taprooms and restaurants across multiple U.S. cities, comparable in scale and concept to Pilot Project's Logan Square, Wrigleyville, and Milwaukee taproom model. Both emphasize destination food + beverage experiences.
• Firestone Walker Brewing: Firestone Walker operates craft brewery taprooms, a Propagator innovation brewery for new brand development, and a national distribution network — closely comparable to Pilot Project's incubator-plus-taproom-plus-distribution model.
• New Belgium Brewing: New Belgium is a craft brewery with owned taprooms and a multi-state distribution footprint, owned by Kirin. Comparable to Pilot Project as a craft brewery that combines taproom hospitality with national packaged-goods ambitions through partnership/sale.
• Lagunitas Brewing Company: Lagunitas is a craft brewery with taproom operations, owned by Heineken, that scaled nationally through acquisition. Comparable to Pilot Project as a craft brewery + taproom operator with ambitions of national distribution via partnership with a larger beverage company.

Regional players

• Half Acre Beer Company: Half Acre is a Chicago-based craft brewery operating a brewpub and taproom with packaged distribution — comparable to Pilot Project as a Chicago craft brewery + taproom operator competing for the same local consumer base.
• Revolution Brewing: Revolution Brewing is one of Chicago's largest independent craft breweries with a brewpub and packaged distribution — a regional comparable to Pilot Project's Chicago taprooms and Midwest focus.

Emerging players

• Athletic Brewing Company: Athletic Brewing is the leading U.S. non-alcoholic craft beer brand, scaling nationally via retail distribution. Comparable to Pilot Project through incubated brand Mash Gang (acquired by DioniLife) and the in-house YEARS brand — both compete in the same NA beer category.

Broad incumbents

• AB InBev (ZX Ventures / Beer Garage): AB InBev's venture and incubation arm (ZX Ventures, including the Beer Garage accelerator) is a broad incumbent that partners with and acquires emerging craft beverage brands — directly competing with Pilot Project's incubator for promising early-stage founders, but with materially deeper distribution and capital.
• Drinkworks / Diageo (Beverage Accelerator Programs): Diageo's spirits ventures and accelerator-style partnerships (e.g., Drinkworks, Ketel One Botanical collaborations) represent broad incumbents that incubate and scale emerging beverage categories — comparable to Pilot Project's role as a launchpad for RTD, NA, and functional brands, but with vastly larger resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/pilotprojectbrew
• Facebookfacebook.com/pilotprojectbrewing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pilot Project Brewing