Sketchbook Brewing Company

What Sketchbook Brewing Company does

Sketchbook Brewing Company is a privately held craft brewery founded in 2014 in Evanston, Illinois by Shawn Decker and Cesar Marron, operating two neighborhood taprooms — the original Evanston location at 821 Chicago Ave. (opened April 2016, expanded fall 2019) and a larger production brewery and taproom at 4901 Main St., Skokie (opened July 31, 2020). The Skokie facility houses the company's primary 20 BBL brewing system (triple the capacity of the original) along with a Codi canning line, producing a portfolio of four year-round beers (Orange Door IPA, Pinky Sweater Pilsner, Insufficient Clearance Hazy IPA, Amistosa Mexican Lager), four quarterly seasonal releases, and a rotating slate of limited special releases. Notable technical and operational features include brewery viewing windows at Skokie, a smart-thermostat and composting-enabled sustainability stack, EV chargers funded in part by a 2024 BRITE grant, and a spent-grain diversion program that ships approximately 12,000 lbs weekly to Hasselmann Family Farm and has achieved 99%+ waste reduction.

The company operates a hybrid revenue model combining on-premise taproom sales (flights, pints, growler fills, canned beer to-go) across both locations, wholesale distribution into Illinois and southern Wisconsin via self-distribution plus two distributor partners (Joseph Mullarkey Distributing and Brew City Distribution), a Community-Supported Brewery (CSB) membership program offering 6-month ($85) or 12-month ($155) prepaid subscriptions (600+ members as of 2022), and a private event space rental program hosting 80+ events annually including weddings, corporate functions, and nonprofit fundraisers. Its go-to-market is heavily event-driven, anchored on live music programming, food-truck partnerships, trivia and karaoke nights, seasonal festivals such as the annual Oktoberfest (2,000 liters of Märzen poured in 2022), and an annual collaboration brew program (e.g., Beer for the Soul with Soul & Smoke and Time Out Market Chicago; the Freedomish series with the Skokie Park District and Skokie United; Black is Beautiful with Weathered Soul Brewing Co.).

The customer base spans local craft beer enthusiasts, families, CSB subscribers, corporate and private event clients, and nonprofit partners such as the Evanston Community Foundation, ACLU, Let Us Breathe Collective, and Evanston Reparations Committee. Brand recognition includes Draft Magazine's 2017 Top-20 IPA ranking for Insufficient Clearance and the Chicago Tribune's 2022 Readers Choice "Best Under the Radar Brewery" award. The company supports 18 full-time employees with living wages, health benefits, and profit-sharing, and maintains Illinois Green Business, Skokie Green Business, and Sustain Evanston certifications.

Name

Sketchbook Brewing Company

Legal name

Sketchbook Brewing Co.

Website

https://sketchbookbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sketchbook Brewing Company is a privately held craft brewery founded in 2014 in Evanston, Illinois, operating two neighborhood taprooms in Evanston and Skokie with a 20 BBL production brewery. It serves local craft beer enthusiasts, families, CSB subscribers (600+), wholesale accounts across Illinois and Wisconsin, and private event clients through year-round, seasonal, and special-release beers plus venue rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewery

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Taproom retail sales
• Craft beer distribution
• Subscription beer membership
• Brewery event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Taproom Beer Sales: Direct on-premise beer sales at two taproom locations (Evanston and Skokie). Offers flights, pints, growler fills, and canned beer to-go.
2. CSB Membership Subscription: Community-Supported Brewery membership with 6-month ($85) or 12-month ($155) pre-paid options providing discounted growler fills and perks including 10% off beer purchases and 20% off merchandise.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Distribution throughout Illinois and southern Wisconsin via self-distribution and distributors including Joseph Mullarkey Distributing and Brew City Distribution.
4. Event Space Rental: Private and semi-private event hosting including weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, and fundraisers at both locations. Minimum spend requirements and rental fees apply.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sketchbook Brewing Company is a craft brewery that produces, packages, and serves a rotating portfolio of year-round, seasonal, and special release beers through two neighborhood taprooms in Evanston and Skokie, Illinois. The company offers direct-to-consumer on-premise sales (flights, pints, growler fills, canned beer to-go), wholesale distribution across Illinois and Wisconsin, a Community Supported Brewery (CSB) membership program with 600+ members, and private event space rental. Its beers span IPAs, pilsners, lagers, stouts, Belgians, saisons, fruited sours, plus gluten-free cider and non-alcoholic kombucha.

Product overview

Sketchbook Brewing Company is a craft brewery with two taproom locations (Evanston and Skokie, Illinois) offering a portfolio of year-round, seasonal, and special release beers. Core year-round offerings include Orange Door IPA, Pinky Sweater Pilsner, Insufficient Clearance Hazy IPA, and Amistosa Mexican Lager. Seasonal releases follow quarterly availability (Common Culture Oatmeal Stout, Level Par Helles, Oktoberfest Märzen, Snowy Owl Red Rye Ale), while special releases include limited hop-forward beers like Night Game DIPA and Coastal series. The company also operates a Community-Supported Brewery (CSB) membership program and provides event space rentals at both locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orange Door IPA A year-round American IPA featuring bold citrus and piney aromas from double dry hopping, balanced on a malt backbone at 7.2% ABV and 76 IBU. Available in cans and on draft at both taproom locations.
• Pinky Sweater Pilsner A dry, cleansing pilsner brewed with red rice offering a smooth, crisp, and refreshing finish at 5.5% ABV. Available as a year-round offering in cans and on draft.
• Insufficient Clearance Hazy IPA A hazy New England IPA with juicy mango, guava, and pineapple flavors and a smooth texture at 5% ABV and 65 IBU. Named among the 20 best IPAs in the country by Draft Magazine in June 2017. Available year-round.
• Amistosa Mexican Lager A highly-attenuated pale lager with high carbonation, crisp and refreshing at 5.3% ABV and 25 IBU. Available year-round in cans and on draft.
• Common Culture Oatmeal Stout A Q1 seasonal oatmeal stout brewed with toasted oats featuring rich coffee tones and soft fruitiness at 5.5% ABV. Released in winter months.
• Level Par Helles Lager A Q2 seasonal clean, crisp lager with biscuit malt finish at 5.5% ABV, designed as a versatile food-pairing beer. Released in spring.
• Oktoberfest Märzen A Q3 seasonal traditional German-style Märzen with complex malt flavors at 5.4% ABV, brewed annually for the brewery's Oktoberfest celebration.
• Snowy Owl Red Rye Ale A Q4 seasonal hoppy amber ale featuring caramel malts, spicy rye, and citrus hops at 5.6% ABV. Released in fall/winter.
• Night Game Double IPA A limited availability Double IPA with Mosaic hops and honey featuring tropical fruit, citrus, and floral flavors at 8.8% ABV.
• Hop Thirsty Void Hazy Double IPA A limited availability hazy Double IPA with rotating juicy hop varieties at 7.6% ABV.
• Coastal West Coast IPA A Midwestern homage to the West Coast IPA featuring Lake Michigan water and Michigan hops at 6.5% ABV. Limited release.
• Double Coastal West Coast Double IPA A West Coast Double IPA with double the hops featuring pine, citrus, and tropical fruit aromas at 8.5% ABV. Limited release.
• Community-Supported Brewery (CSB) Membership An industry-recognized pre-paid subscription membership offering 6-month ($85) or 12-month ($155) growler fill memberships with 10% off beer purchases, 20% off merchandise, and 10% off private parties. Members receive a complimentary growler and over 600 members were enrolled as of 2022.
• Event Space Rental Private and semi-private event hosting at both Evanston and Skokie locations including taproom buyouts, brewery space rentals, and beer garden bookings. Accommodates groups from 20 to 300+ people with add-on options including a $250 brewery tour, $150 viewing party, $150 audio/visual package, and $7 commemorative can glass plus koozie party favors. Skokie brewery space minimum spend starts at $3,000.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99%+ waste reduction through spent grain diversion from landfills
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Soul & SmokecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2022Evanston-based black-owned, women-led BBQ business. Collaboration on Beer for the Soul Belgian Pale Ale with Time Out Market Chicago partnership.
• Time Out Market ChicagocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 May 2022Chicago's booming food hall market. Distribution partner for Beer for the Soul collaboration beer.
• Skokie Park DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership on Freedomish beer series and community events including Skokie Juneteenth weekend celebrations.
• Skokie UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal coalition receiving proceeds from Freedomish beer series supporting human rights and social justice causes.
• Jay Westbrook (Black Beer Baron)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraft beer educator and community advocate. Annual Freedomish collaboration partner since 2021, with 2026 edition called Respect Existence or Expect Resistance supporting immigrant communities.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPeople Power beer: 10% of first batch donated to ACLU for grassroots movement to change policies at local and national levels.
• Eagle Park BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Things We Don't Say Hazy IPA with 140+ breweries to raise awareness of mental health. 30% of proceeds donated to Hope for the Day.
• Sierra NevadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResilience West Coast IPA collaboration with 1,400+ breweries responding to 2019 California wildfire crisis. 100% of proceeds donated to Camp Fire relief.
• Weathered Soul Brewing CominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack is Beautiful Imperial Stout collaboration hosted by Weathered Soul to raise awareness of injustices. 100% of proceeds donated to Let Us Breathe Collective.
• Against the Grain (Louisville)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration brews including Hazemanian Devil Hazy NE IPA and Ales of Ryebaldry Hazy Rye IPA.
• Illuminated Brew WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations including Cesar's Cipher India Pale Lager and Resistance Witch Brut IPA.
• Chicago BrewseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Nova Reperta Old World Saison with Newberry Library.
• LanzaTechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbon-smart neighbor collaborations on IPAwesome American IPA and The 50 Farmhouse Ale Saison.
• Wild Onion MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSumACTION collaboration with Evanston Development Cooperative. Hazy Pale Ale with Sumac using Midwest ingredients. $1 from all 4-packs and pints donated.
• Evanston Development CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSumACTION collaboration. Hazy Pale Ale with Sumac. Proceeds support partner organizations.
• The Talking FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban agriculture nonprofit. Sketchbook grows hops on their farm and uses them in annual wet-hopped small brews. Sponsors events and concerts.
• Hasselmann Family FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily farm in Marengo receiving approximately 12,000 lbs of spent grain weekly to feed livestock. Major sustainability initiative diverting 99%+ of spent grains from landfill.
• Brave NoiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization pushing to make brewing sector safer and more equitable. Sketchbook brewed Brave Noise Pale Ale in early 2022.
• Pink Boots SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting women in brewing. Collaboration on Big Fun Scottish Ale.
• Barley's AngelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeer education organization for women. Collaboration on Big Fun Scottish Ale.
• Joseph Mullarkey DistributingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distribution partner covering North Suburbs - Cook County.
• Brew City DistributioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distribution partner serving Wisconsin markets.
• Bloodshot RecordsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago independent record label. Collaboration on Defiant Roots Barrel Aged Belgian Dubbel.
• Canal ShoresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolf course. Level Par Helles lager collaboration as first beer served at Canal Shores. Waggle Wit Witbier for 100th anniversary celebration.
• Opus 37 / St. Luke's ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit preserving Opus 327 organ and promoting musical education. Diapason Marzen collaboration supporting community cultural treasure.
• Community Area Rescue Effort (CARE)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit neighbor. Illinois Brewery Running Series partnership with portion of proceeds donated.
• Hop Head FarmsminorOthersMichigan-based hops supplier providing Cascade and Chinook hops for SumACTION beer.
• Sugar Creek MaltminorOthersMidwest malt supplier providing malt for SumACTION beer.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Revolution Brewing: Larger Chicago craft brewery with brewpub (Kedzie) and production brewery (Lukas), broad distribution and a deep year-round lineup; competes for the same suburban/Chicago retail and taproom accounts but at materially higher volume.
• 3 Floyds Brewing Co. Regional craft brewery in Munster, Indiana with cult brand, broad distribution, and Dark Lord Day event; larger and broader-reaching than Sketchbook but competes for the same craft enthusiast in the greater Chicago region.

Direct peers

• Hop Butcher for the World: Suburban Chicago craft brewery producing hop-forward IPAs and DIPAs with limited taproom footprint; comparable craft production scale and geographic overlap with Sketchbook in northern Chicago suburbs.
• Off Color Brewing: Chicago independent craft brewery with a taproom and focus on unconventional styles; closely comparable size, vibe, and independent ownership profile to Sketchbook.
• Metropolitan Brewing: Chicago craft brewery with taproom and German-inspired lager portfolio; similar community-taproom-led model and independent ownership structure.
• Half Acre Beer Company: Independent Chicago craft brewery operating a taproom and brewery in Lincoln Park with a similar year-round/seasonal/special-release portfolio and direct-to-consumer focus; comparable scale and community-driven brand identity to Sketchbook.
• Begyle Brewing Company: Chicago independent craft brewery with taproom in Logan Square, community focus, and similar neighborhood-engagement strategy; close size and operating model match to Sketchbook.
• Pipeworks Brewing Co. Chicago independent craft brewery known for hop-forward limited releases and cult brand following; comparable focus on specialty/limited beer and fan community rather than mass-market distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DZYfYYLid8u
• Xx.com/Sketchbookbrew
• Facebookfacebook.com/sketchbookbrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sketchbook-brewing-company

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Sketchbook Brewing Company