Werk Force Brewing Co.

What Werk Force Brewing Co. does

Werk Force Brewing Co. is a privately held craft brewery and taproom headquartered at 14903 S. Center St., Plainfield, Illinois. The company's core offering is a 29-tap taproom featuring 50+ rotating beer styles, including signature series such as the Vultures (Airport, Farmhouse, Homestead, Imperial) and the Bear (Baby, Little, Mamma Bear Nitro, Sleepy Bear), built on an experimental hop and yeast program sourcing inputs from suppliers including Hop Head Farms, Omega Yeast Labs, and T's Bees. Beyond draft beer, the business sells packaged beer to-go (4-packs, 32oz crowlers, and 375ml/750ml bottles), distributes 1/6bbl kegs ($100-$135) to select Chicagoland accounts, and operates an online merchandise shop. Ancillary revenue comes from two private event venues (Tap Room Party Space at $350/3 hours for up to 40 guests and The Barrel Den at $800/4 hours for up to 80 guests), a co-located food partner (Happy Belly Kitchen), and recurring community programming such as the monthly Bluegrass Open Jam and Joliet Slammers stadium takeovers. The company is led by brewers Brandon Wright, Jake Scheufler, and Matt Crema, with Amanda Wright overseeing marketing/special events and Jason Leyh managing sales and distribution; the ownership structure appears founder/management-owned with no disclosed institutional backing. Its go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer through the taproom, packaged beer, and events, supplemented by limited regional wholesale, and its customer mix centers on local craft beer enthusiasts, private event hosts, and a small set of on-premise accounts in the Chicagoland market.

Name

Werk Force Brewing Co.

Legal name

Werk Force Brewing Co.

Website

https://werkforcebrewing.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Werk Force Brewing Co. operates a single 29-tap craft brewery and taproom in Plainfield, Illinois, serving local craft beer enthusiasts, packaged-beer buyers, private event hosts, and select Chicagoland on-premise accounts with experimental and barrel-aged beers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Taproom beer sales
• Barrel-aged beer
• Private event venue
• Craft brewery distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Plainfield

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tap Room Beer Sales: On-premise sales of craft beers featuring 29 taps including their rotating seasonal and experimental beers
2. Beer to Go: Packaged beer sales including 4pk 16oz cans ($9.99-$16.99), 32oz crowlers, and single bottles (750ml, 375ml)
3. Keg Sales: 1/6bbl keg sales (approx 5 gallons) priced $100-135, distributed to select accounts throughout Chicagoland
4. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including apparel, hats, accessories, glassware, and gift cards sold through online shop
5. Private Events: Tap Room Party Space ($350 for 3 hours, max 40 people) and The Barrel Den ($800 for 4 hours, max 80 people) venue rentals
6. Happy Belly Kitchen: In-house food partner Happy Belly Kitchen provides catering for events and food sales during tap room hours

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Werk Force Brewing Co. is a craft brewery and taproom in Plainfield, Illinois that brews and sells experimental craft beer across more than 50 styles. The company operates a 29-tap taproom, sells packaged beer to-go (4pk 16oz cans, crowlers, and bottles), distributes 1/6bbl kegs to on-premise accounts across Chicagoland, and rents private event spaces (Tap Room Party Space and The Barrel Den). Supporting offerings include an in-house food partner (Happy Belly Kitchen), a CO2 tank exchange program for home brewers, branded merchandise, and community events such as Bluegrass Open Jam sessions and Joliet Slammers Stadium Takeovers.

Product overview

Werk Force Brewing Co. is a craft brewery and tap room located in Plainfield, IL, operating as a single unified venue with multiple interconnected product lines. The core offering centers on their tap room with 29 rotating beer taps featuring over 50 distinct craft beer styles, complemented by packaged beer to-go (cans and bottles). Supporting products include private event spaces (The Barrel Den accommodating up to 80 guests and Tap Room Party Space for 40), in-house food service (Happy Belly Kitchen), homebrew supplies (CO2 tank exchange), keg sales for distribution, and community events (stadium takeovers, bluegrass jam sessions). Their beer portfolio includes signature series such as the Vultures series (Airport, Farmhouse, Homestead, Imperial), Bear series (Baby Bear, Little Bear, Mamma Bear, Sleepy Bear), single-hop experimental ales, and seasonal offerings. Merchandise and gift cards round out the consumer-facing products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Happy Belly Kitchen: Scratch-made snacks, shareable-plates, sandwiches and sweets, conveniently located inside Werk Force Brewing's tap room.
• The Barrel Den

Products and services

• Tap Room Craft Beer Service On-premise craft beer service at the Plainfield, IL taproom featuring 29 rotating taps of in-house brewed beers across styles such as Belgian Saisons, American Pale Ales, German Altbiers, Brown Ales, American Stouts, Imperial Stouts, Wheat Wines, Goses, Farmhouse Ales, Barleywines, and Imperial IPAs. Designed for adult local craft beer consumers.
• Beer to Go (Cans, Crowlers, and Bottles) Packaged craft beer available for off-premise consumption, including 4-pack 16oz cans ($9.99-$16.99), 32oz crowlers, 750ml and 375ml single bottles, and Sleepy Bear Hot Sauce 5oz bottles. Sold online and at the taproom with pickup and shipping.
• Wholesale Keg Sales (1/6bbl) 1/6 barrel kegs (approximately 5 gallons) of craft beer priced $100-135, distributed to select on-premise accounts throughout Chicagoland with standard American D Sanke Keg Coupler fitting and 24-48 hour processing time.
• The Barrel Den Private Event Space Private event venue within Werk Force Brewing accommodating up to 80 guests, featuring industrial-chic atmosphere with barrel decor and patio lights, available for $800 per 4-hour block for celebrations, business appreciation events, corporate meetings, and rehearsal dinners.
• Tap Room Party Space Rental Private party space within the taproom accommodating up to 40 guests at $350 per 3-hour block, suitable for birthdays, showers, engagement parties, holidays, and corporate events.
• Happy Belly Kitchen Food Service In-house scratch-made food partner located inside Werk Force Brewing's taproom, offering snacks, shareable plates, sandwiches, and sweets during taproom hours Wednesday through Sunday, plus event catering.
• CO2 Tank Exchange Program Tank exchange service at the taproom for home brewers, providing 5-year certified tanks with year-for-year exchange based on date stamp, or 2023 tanks filled for older tanks with a recertification fee.
• Branded Merchandise and Gift Cards Online and taproom merchandise including t-shirts ($19.99), flannels ($39.99), joggers ($29.99), hats ($19.99), Nalgene bottles ($24.99), koozies ($2.00), holiday ornaments, tin tacker signs, and physical or print-at-home gift cards from $5 to $100.

Quantifiable outcome

• 29 taps rotating through diverse beer styles

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Gindo's Hot SauceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration on 2024 Sleepy Bear Hot Sauce - a blend of Sleepy Bear stout with hot sauce base
• Flesk BrewingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular collaboration partner with multiple joint brews including BARREL O' MONKEYS (American Farmhouse Ale) and THE MONKEYS FELL INTO THE BARREL (barrel-aged farmhouse ale)
• South Loop Brewing Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on DAMN IT, I'M A COFFEE PORTER NOT A STOUT - a robust porter with cold press coffee
• Burn 'Em BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on DID YOU JUST FAHRVERGNÜGEN - a super hoppy red ale brewed with Columbus, Simcoe, Cascade, Mosaic, and Centennial hops
• Mikerphone BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on THE ELECTRIC CANDLE LIGHT - a super citrusy wheat IPA with German Mandarina Bavaria hops and citrus fruits
• Solstice (Western Springs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on PEACH FUZZ - a tart witbier with grilled Michigan peaches and local honey
• Aleman BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on WERKINGMAN'S DEAD ALEMAN COLLABORATION - a dry Belgian brown ale with Midwestern hops and locally sourced honey
• Midwest Brewers Fest (MWBF), Hopvine, Nevin's, Urban Legend, Pale Homebrew ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWBF Collaboration Belgian Ale brewed with Midwestern raw wheat, experimental Jarrylo hops, and local raw honey, randalied through fresh raspberries
• Happy Belly KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-house food partner located inside Werk Force Brewing's tap room, serving scratch-made snacks, shareable plates, sandwiches, and sweets. Operating Wed-Sun during tap room hours.
• T's BeesminorOthersLocal honey supplier for WERKINGMAN'S DEAD ALEMAN COLLABORATION and other honey-using beers
• Omega Yeast LabsminorOthersYeast supplier providing experimental yeast strains including Brett Tois used in 'THERE'S A BUG IN MY BEER' series
• Hop Head FarmsminorOthersSupplier of hand-selected German hops used in ATTORNEYS, FIREARMS, AND DINERO German Altbier

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Revolution Brewing: One of the largest Chicago craft breweries, operating multiple taproom locations and broad Chicagoland distribution. Serves as a broad incumbent competitor with overlapping customer base but at significantly larger scale.
• Half Acre Beer Company: Established Chicago craft brewery with taproom, packaging facility, and broad regional distribution. Comparable Chicago craft beer positioning but at significantly larger scale with broader portfolio.
• Goose Island Beer Company: Iconic Chicago craft brewery (AB InBev owned) with multiple taproom locations across the city. Operates as a broad incumbent in the same Chicago craft beer market, with significantly greater resources and distribution reach.
• Lagunitas Brewing Company: Major craft brewery (Heineken subsidiary) with a Chicago taproom presence. Represents the broad incumbent end of the craft spectrum — operating at much larger scale with broader portfolio competing for similar craft consumers.

Direct peers

• South Loop Brewing Co. Chicago-based craft brewery collaborating with Werk Force on DAMN IT, I'M A COFFEE PORTER NOT A STOUT. Similar neighborhood craft brewery profile with taproom and packaged beer distribution.
• Burn 'Em Brewing: Michigan City, IN craft brewery collaborating with Werk Force on DID YOU JUST FAHRVERGNÜGEN hoppy red ale. Similar-sized regional craft operation with experimental hop-forward portfolio.
• Mikerphone Brewing: Chicago-area craft brewery partnering with Werk Force on THE ELECTRIC CANDLE LIGHT wheat IPA. Comparable small-batch craft operation with experimental hop focus and taproom presence in the Chicagoland market.
• Flesk Brewing: Chicago-area craft brewery that collaborates directly with Werk Force on joint brews like BARREL O' MONKEYS and THE MONKEYS FELL INTO THE BARREL. Operates a similar scale taproom model in the Chicagoland region with experimental farmhouse ales.
• Hopvine Brewing Company: Chicagoland craft brewery identified as collaboration partner with Werk Force on Midwest Brewers Fest projects. Similar suburban craft brewery scale with taproom and experimental beer focus.
• Aleman Brewing: Chicago-area craft brewery collaborating with Werk Force on WERKINGMAN'S DEAD ALEMAN COLLABORATION. Comparable neighborhood craft brewery with Belgian/Brown ale specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/werkforcebrew
• Facebookfacebook.com/werkforcebrewingco
• Instagraminstagram.com/werkforcebrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/werk-force-brewing-co.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Werk Force Brewing Co.