What Revolution Brewing Chicago does

Revolution Brewing Chicago (legal entity Revolution Beer LLC) is Illinois' largest independently owned craft brewery, founded in 2010 and operating a production brewery and taproom at 3340 N. Kedzie Ave in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood alongside a brewpub in Logan Square. Its product portfolio is organized around distinct brand families: the Hero IPA series led by Anti-Hero IPA (the self-reported #1 selling IPA in Illinois) with Hazy-Hero, West Coast-Hero, Citra-Hero, and X-Hero variants; the Cold Time premium lager family now spanning four SKUs (Premium Lager, Amber, Dry, Extra) plus the Mix Pack; the Freedom session sour series (Lemonade plus four thematic variants); the City Series (Fist City, Rev Pils); seasonal offerings (A Little Crazy, Fistmas, Sun Crusher, Oktoberfest); the Deep Wood Series barrel-aged program featuring bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stouts and barleywines; and a non-alcoholic line anchored by Anti-Zero NA IPA and Super Zero sparkling hop water, alongside a Reverb THC/CBD beverage. The core technology is conventional craft brewing with a proprietary angle on a low-alcohol yeast strain for the NA line and a 180-kilowatt rooftop solar array offsetting roughly 20% of facility energy use.

Name

Revolution Brewing Chicago

Legal name

Revolution Beer LLC

Website

https://revbrew.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Revolution Brewing Chicago is Illinois' largest independently owned craft brewery, producing and distributing hop-forward IPAs, premium lagers, session sours, and barrel-aged beers through its Avondale taproom, multi-state wholesale network, and online store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Alcohol-Free & Low-Alcohol Beer/Wine/Spirits Production (AFAFAAAJ)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Barrel-aged beer
• Premium lager
• Non-alcoholic beer
• Brewery taproom

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Taproom and On-Premise Sales: Direct beer sales at the taproom and brewpub locations, including draft pours, canned/bottled beer for onsite consumption, and growler/crowler fills.
2. Retail Package Sales: Canned and bottled beer sold for off-premise consumption through distributors and retailers across multiple states.
3. Keg Sales: Draft beer sales to bars, restaurants, and events through distribution network.
4. Webstore/Merchandise: Online sales of merchandise, gift cards, and potentially beer for pickup through the Shopify webstore.
5. Rev Rewards Loyalty Program: Points-based loyalty program where customers earn points for purchases at taproom and online store, redeemable for $15 credits at 250 points.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Revolution Brewing is a Chicago-based craft brewery that manufactures and sells a wide portfolio of beers — including the flagship Hero IPA series, Cold Time premium lager family, Freedom session sours, City Series, seasonals, and the Deep Wood barrel-aged program — directly to consumers through its Avondale taproom and brewpub, via an online Shopify webstore, and through multi-state wholesale distribution to retailers and on-premise accounts. Non-alcoholic offerings (Anti-Zero NA IPA, Super Zero) round out the lineup alongside merchandise, gift cards, and public/private brewery tour experiences.

Product overview

Revolution Brewing is Illinois' largest independently owned brewery operating a production brewery and taproom in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood and a brewpub in Logan Square. The product portfolio centers on craft beers organized into distinct brands: the Hero IPA series (Anti-Hero as flagship, Hazy-Hero, West Coast-Hero, Citra-Hero, X-Hero variants) as the core hop-forward offerings; the Cold Time premium lager sub-brand (now expanded to four styles: Premium Lager, Amber, Extra, and Dry in the Mix Pack); the Freedom session sour series (Lemonade and variants); the City Series (Fist City, Rev Pils); seasonal offerings (Sun Crusher, Oktoberfest, A Little Crazy, Fistmas); and the Deep Wood Series barrel-aged program featuring premium stouts and barleywines. Non-alcoholic options include Anti-Zero NA IPA and Super Zero sparkling hop water.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Anti-Zero: Non-alcoholic IPA brand, the NA counterpart to the flagship Anti-Hero IPA.
• Cold Time
• Deep Wood Series
• Hero IPA Series
• Freedom
• Super Zero
• Reverb

Products and services

• Anti-Hero IPA Flagship India Pale Ale combining five classic U.S. hop varieties for bold citrus, floral, and pine aromas with notes of grapefruit, lemon candy, and orange marmalade; the #1 selling IPA in Illinois.
• Hazy-Hero Hazy IPA featuring American hops with smooth, velvety body, big fruit-forward flavor, and a refreshing finish.
• West Coast-Hero West Coast-style Double IPA with dank, resinous waves of powerful hops and crystal-clear appearance.
• Citra-Hero Juicy IPA bursting with ripe orange, bright passionfruit, and zesty lemon; available as part of the Hero IPA Variety Pack.
• Hero IPA Variety Pack Variety pack featuring four Hero IPAs: Anti-Hero IPA, Hazy-Hero, West Coast-Hero, and the return of Citra-Hero (pack exclusive).
• Anti-Zero NA IPA Non-alcoholic IPA counterpart to flagship Anti-Hero, delivering bold hop aroma and flavors via a special yeast strain that produces minimal alcohol.
• Super Zero Sparkling hop water with zero alcohol, calories, or carbohydrates, packing big hop flavor into a non-alcoholic beverage.
• Cold Time Premium Lager Approachable, competitively priced craft lager brewed low and slow, kept cold to mellow and finish, delivering brewery-fresh, never pasteurized flavor.
• Cold Time Mix Pack Curated 12-pack featuring three cans each of Cold Time Premium Lager, Cold Time Amber, Cold Time Extra, and Cold Time Dry.
• Cold Time Amber Premium lager with toasty malt character and subtle caramel notes, balanced by a clean lager finish.
• Cold Time Extra Fuller-bodied, slightly stronger lager with elevated malt depth and firm hop structure.
• Cold Time Dry Lighter expression of Cold Time brewed with rice for a crisp, refreshing finish and easy-drinking snap.
• Fist City Chicago pale ale representing the brewery's neighborhood as part of the City Series lineup.
• Rev Pils Pilsner beer in the City Series lineup.
• Freedom Lemonade Session sour made with real fruit and premium cane sugar at 4.5% ABV, part of the Freedom session sour lineup.
• Freedom Variety Pack Variety pack featuring the Freedom session sour lineup (Freedom Lemonade, Freedom of Speach, Freedom of Press, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Assembly).
• Deep Wood Series Premium barrel-aged beer series featuring bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts, barleywines, and variants aged 6–36 months in barrels, including Deth's Tar, Cafe Deth, Straight Jacket, and V.S.O.J.
• Deth's Tar Barrel-aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout brewed with English specialty malts and flaked/malted oats, aged 12 months in American oak barrels at 14.8% ABV.
• Brewery Tours Public and private tours of the Avondale production brewery and taproom for craft beer enthusiasts and groups.
• Taproom + Brewpub Food and Beverage Service On-premise service of beer, snacks, and soft drinks at the Revolution Brewing taproom + production brewery in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood.
• CaramelCrisp Limited-release collaboration ale with Garrett Popcorn Shops, brewed with 450 pounds of fresh caramel corn, featuring notes of creme brulee sweetness and lightly salted finish at 7.0% ABV.
• DePaul Athletics Co-Branded Cold Time Premium Lager Can Co-branded Cold Time Premium Lager can produced with DePaul Athletics for the 2025-26 basketball seasons.
• 2026 Small Batch Lineup 2026 small batch and seasonal releases including DDH Galaxy-Hero (Double Dry-Hopped IPA), Bottom Up Wit (Belgian-style witbier), Coup d'Etat, Rosa Hibiscus Ale, Pursuit of Freedom Strawberry Lemonade, and Pursuit of Freedom Watermelon Mint.

Quantifiable outcome

• Anti-Hero is the #1 selling IPA in Illinois
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ComEdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026ComEd launched its ComEd Breweries Pilot program offering free energy assessments and targeted solutions for breweries. Revolution Brewing was named the first participant and received a Distributed Generation rebate of more than $30,000 to support expansion of its rooftop solar array to 180 kilowatts, capable of offsetting about 20% of its energy usage. The pilot targets energy-intensive brewing operations and prioritizes producers in disadvantaged communities.
• Chicago Fire FCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThird year partnership as official craft brewery partner; Anti-Hero IPA is the Official IPA of Cubs Radio; Cold Time Premium Lager partnership with the soccer team.
• Chicago SkycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with hometown WNBA team for 2024 season and beyond; hosted WNBA draft party at Revolution Brewing taproom.
• Chicago HoundscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with hometown rugby union club; Cold Time Premium Lager is the Official Beer of Chicago Hounds; hosts watch parties at taproom and partner bars.
• C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLongstanding sponsorship since 2013; hosts pop-up parties at taproom leading up to convention; DDH Galaxy-Hero is the original beer of C2E2; exclusive beer releases and merchandise at the event.
• Jackbox GamesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTeaming up to power the ultimate game nights; partnership announced October 2024.
• DePaul AthleticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-branded Cold Time Premium Lager can released for 2025-26 men's and women's basketball seasons.
• Garrett Popcorn ShopsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to brew CaramelCrisp Caramel Popcorn Ale using 450 pounds of fresh caramel corn; released September 2022 as limited release celebrating two Chicago food and beverage mainstays.
• Sun King BreweryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Code Switch beer brewed with maple sugar, dark candi syrup, and Belgian yeast; early switch from Tennessee whiskey to Kentucky bourbon barrels with unfermented blackberries.
• Saint Errant BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to brew Reverrant, a Double Dry-Hopped Down Under Hazy IPA using Vic Secret, Motueka, Galaxy, and Dr. Rudi hops.
• Friends of Fisher House IllinoisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable giving partnership through Heroes for Heroes program; portion of Hero IPA sales donated to help provide free lodging for military families during medical crises.
• Indy Local 416 Peer Support FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable giving partnership in Indiana through Heroes for Heroes program supporting peer support for first responders.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Goose Island Beer Company: Chicago-based craft brewery (founded 1988), now owned by AB InBev, with flagship IPAs (Honker's Ale, IPA, Matilda) and a strong local Chicago identity. Most direct geographic and category peer to Revolution, though better capitalized.
• Half Acre Beer Company: Independent Chicago craft brewery operating a taproom and production facility with a portfolio of IPAs, lagers, and seasonal releases. Directly competes with Revolution for Chicago taproom traffic, on-premise listings, and retail shelf space.
• Surly Brewing Company: Minneapolis craft brewery with a production brewery, taproom, and distribution across the Upper Midwest. Comparable independent craft brewer competing in overlapping regional distribution territory.
• Two Brothers Brewing Company: Independent Chicago-area craft brewery with a broad portfolio including IPAs, lagers, and seasonals. Direct Midwest peer competing for the same on-premise and retail accounts in the Chicago market.
• Bell's Brewery: Michigan-based craft brewery (Two Hearted IPA), now part of Lion. Comparable in regional Midwest dominance, hop-forward portfolio, and broad multi-state distribution — though larger and now corporately owned.
• 3 Floyds Brewing: Indiana craft brewery known for hop-forward IPAs (e.g., Zombie Dust) and limited releases. Comparable to Revolution in style focus, regional Midwest positioning, and independent ownership model.
• Sun King Brewery: Indianapolis-based independent craft brewery with a wide portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers. Existing collaboration partner of Revolution and a comparable Midwest independent at similar scale.

Broad incumbents

• New Belgium Brewing: Fort Collins, Colorado craft brewery (Fat Tire) now part of Lion. Comparable in portfolio breadth (IPAs, sours, lagers) and sustainability ethos, though national in scope and corporate-owned.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: One of the largest U.S. independent craft brewers with national distribution and a sustainability program. Overlaps with Revolution in hop-forward IPAs, lagers, seasonals, and sustainability investments, but at significantly larger scale.
• Lagunitas Brewing Company: National-scale craft brewery (IPA-focused) now owned by Heineken. Comparable on product positioning (hop-forward IPAs as core) but operates at materially larger scale and with global brewer backing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/revbrewchicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/revbrewchicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/revbrewchicago
• TikToktiktok.com/@revbrewchicago?lang=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/revolution-brewing-chicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Revolution Brewing Chicago