Alter Brewing Company

What Alter Brewing Company does

Alter Brewing Company is a privately held craft brewery founded in 2015 in Downers Grove, Illinois, operating a three-location hospitality and production footprint across Chicagoland: the original Downers Grove taproom (2300 Wisconsin Ave), St. Charles Brewery + Kitchen (a 160-seat full-service restaurant along the Fox River with an outdoor riverside patio, opened May 2020), and Oak Brook Brewery + Kitchen (a full-service restaurant opened 2022 anchored by a Solera Brewing System of 12 American Oak wood foeders producing barrel-aged sour beers under the Solera Discovery Series).

The company's core technical capabilities combine traditional six-stage brewing (malting/milling, mashing/lautering, boiling/whirlpooling, cooling/fermentation, conditioning, packaging) with a distinctive solera-method sour program at Oak Brook, where wort is produced in Downers Grove and transported for fermentation and aging. Head Brewer Matt McCowan — ex-Lagunitas Brewing Company where he helped scale their Chicago facility and produced 1,000,000+ barrels — anchors the production team. The portfolio spans a year-round core lineup (Hopular Kid Pale Ale, Alterado Mexican-style Lager, Ambigram Hazy IPA, Alterior Motive IPA, Day Sipper Pilsner), a rotating Solera Discovery Series of fruited sours, a quarterly Motive Series of limited-release IPAs, and named seasonal releases (Midnight Mariachi, Bleacher Seat, Festbier, Swedda Wedda / S'mores Wedda).

The revenue model is hybrid multi-channel: on-premise food and beverage sales at three locations (draft beer, cocktails, wine, full restaurant menu), off-premise packaged beer wholesale through two regional distributors — Lakeshore Beverage and Schamberger Brothers — covering the Chicagoland retail footprint, direct-to-consumer packaged beer pickup via Toast Takeout, subscription-based recurring revenue through the Alter Beer Club ($19 and $35 tiers via the OZNR app), the Alter Rewards loyalty program, and private event hosting across multiple venue spaces (Barrel Room up to 175 cocktail / 100 seated, The Loft up to 40, Private Dining Rooms, and outdoor patios). Customer segments split among craft beer enthusiasts, full-service diners, private event hosts (weddings, corporate, birthdays), off-premise retail buyers via distributors, and a chamber-of-commerce-aligned business community across Chamber630, St. Charles, and Oak Brook.

Name

Alter Brewing Company

Legal name

Alter Brewing Company

Website

https://alterbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alter Brewing Company is a privately held craft brewery operating three Chicagoland locations (Downers Grove, St. Charles, Oak Brook) producing year-round, seasonal, and Solera-barrel-aged sour beers for on-premise diners, regional wholesale, subscriptions, and private events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA), Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Brewery taproom
• Craft beer distribution
• Private event hosting
• Barrel-aged sour beer

Headquarters

HQ city

Downers Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. On-Premise Food and Beverage Sales: Revenue from selling craft beer, cocktails, wine, and food at three physical locations (Downers Grove taproom, St. Charles Brewery + Kitchen, and Oak Brook Brewery + Kitchen). Includes draft beer sales, cocktail sales, and full restaurant menu.
2. Off-Premise Packaged Beer Sales: Sale of canned and bottled beer through retail distribution partners (Lakeshore Beverage and Schamberger Brothers) to stores throughout Chicagoland. Core lineup includes Hopular Kid Pale Ale, Alterado Mexican-Style Lager, Ambigram Hazy IPA, and seasonal releases.
3. Beer Club Memberships: Monthly subscription memberships offering beer redemptions and discounts. Tier One at $19/mo includes one monthly beer redemption and 10% off beer and merch. Tier Two at $35/mo includes four monthly beer redemptions and 10% off everything at all locations.
4. Private Event Hosting: Revenue from hosting private events including weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, and bachelor/bachelorette parties. Multiple event spaces available at each location including Barrel Room, The Loft, Private Dining Rooms, and outdoor patios.
5. Alter Rewards Program: Loyalty program where members earn points for every dollar spent on food and beverage. Points can be redeemed for discounts and free items. Also includes birthday treats and special perks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Alter Brewing Company is a craft brewery that produces and serves its own beer through three Chicagoland locations (Downers Grove taproom, St. Charles Brewery + Kitchen, and Oak Brook Brewery + Kitchen). The company brews year-round, seasonal, and limited-release beers including a Solera barrel-aged sour series, distributes packaged beer to retail through two regional distributors, operates full-service restaurants with food and cocktails, and hosts private events such as weddings and corporate gatherings.

Product overview

Alter Brewing Company is a craft brewery operating three Chicagoland locations (Downers Grove taproom, St. Charles Brewery + Kitchen, Oak Brook Brewery + Kitchen). The core product portfolio consists of year-round beers (Hopular Kid Pale Ale, Alterado Mexican-style Lager, Ambigram Hazy IPA, Alterior Motive IPA, Day Sipper Pilsner), seasonal releases (Midnight Mariachi, Bleacher Seat, Festbier, Swedda Wedda/S'mores Wedda), and the Motive Series limited-release IPAs. The company also produces the Solera Discovery Series of barrel-aged sour beers at its Oak Brook facility. Additional offerings include the Alter Beer Club subscription program, Alter Rewards loyalty program, private event hosting across all locations, full-service restaurant and bar service, and B2B distribution throughout Chicagoland via Lakeshore Beverage and Schamberger Brothers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Craft Beer (Year-Round Core Lineup)

Quantifiable outcome

• 136,000+ Untappd check-ins
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Morton SaltflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2023Collaboration to create 'Pure Joy' beer honoring Morton Salt's founder Joy Morton. Limited-edition hazy IPA/Gose blend featuring sweet and citrusy aroma with noticeable salt character. Released October 2, 2023 at all three Alter locations and Morton Arboretum's Ginkgo Restaurant. Celebrated Morton Salt's 175th anniversary.
• Pink Boots SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Collaboration with women in brewing to create 'Against the Currant' saison featuring Pink Boots hop blend, Belgian yeast, and black currants. Brew day included women from all three Alter locations on February 9th. Beer debuted on International Women's Day, March 8th.
• Skeleton Key BreweryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Collaboration beer called 'Spontaneous Human Collaboration' with neighboring brewery. Featured High Density Hop Charge (HDHC) method using cryo hops, traditional hop pellets, and hop oil for intense aromas and flavors.
• Lakeshore BeveragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner covering Grundy, Kankakee, Lake, Lasalle, Livingston, Logan, McLean, Putnam, Will, and most of Cook county. Located at 4300 S Halsted, Chicago, IL 60609. Responsible for distributing Alter beer to retail and on-premise accounts throughout their coverage area.
• Schamberger Brothers, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner covering DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and portions of northern and western Cook County. Located at 101 E Hill Street, Villa Park, IL 60181. Distributes Alter beer to retailers and bars/restaurants throughout their territory.
• CiderboysminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHard cider offerings (First Press and Peach County) available at Oak Brook location to provide variety for non-beer drinkers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Empirical Brewery: Chicago craft brewery operating a taproom/restaurant with house-brewed beer and a distribution footprint. Comparable as a brewpub-style operator in the same metro.
• Revolution Brewing: Chicago-based independent craft brewery operating a brewpub, a dedicated production brewery, and a beer garden. Closest comparable to Alter in scale, multi-location brewpub-plus-distribution model, and Chicagoland footprint.
• Hopewell Brewing Company: Chicago taproom-focused craft brewery pouring its own beers on-site. Similar Chicago footprint and bar-driven revenue model to Alter's Downers Grove taproom.
• Half Acre Beer Company: Independent Chicago craft brewer with a taproom, production brewery, and regional distribution. Directly comparable as a Chicago craft brand competing for similar retail accounts and consumer occasions.
• Maplewood Brewery: Chicago craft brewery with a taproom and packaged distribution into Chicagoland retail. Comparable to Alter on geography, distribution channel mix, and craft beer enthusiast audience.

Broad incumbents

• Lagunitas Brewing Company: Major craft brewer (Heineken-owned) with taprooms and national distribution; Alter's head brewer previously ran its Chicago facility. Useful benchmark for the larger end of the regional craft model.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. National craft brewer with taprooms, broad distribution, and an established brand portfolio. Comparable as a scaled craft incumbent against which regional brewers compete for shelf space.
• Stone Brewing: Large independent craft brewery with taprooms and national wholesale distribution. Comparable as a larger-scale craft operator competing in the same off-premise retail channel.
• Goose Island Beer Co. Pioneering Chicago craft brewery now owned by AB InBev, with a brewpub, large production facility, and broad distribution. Comparable as a Chicago craft brand but at much larger scale and with corporate backing.

Regional players

• New Holland Brewing: Midwest regional craft brewer with brewpub locations and packaged distribution. Comparable on combined brewery + restaurant + distribution model outside Chicago.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/alterbrewingcompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/alterbeer
• Xx.com/alterbeer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alter-brewing-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Alter Brewing Company