Spiteful Brewing
Spiteful Brewing is an independent Chicago craft brewery operating a single taproom in Bowmanville, brewing and selling five flagship packaged and draft beers plus seasonal releases to Illinois consumers and wholesale accounts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Spiteful Brewing does
Spiteful Brewing is an independent craft brewery and neighborhood taproom founded in 2012 by childhood friends Brad Shaffer and Jason Klein, operating from a single location at 2024 West Balmoral Avenue in Chicago's Bowmanville neighborhood. The company brews, packages, and kegs its own beer in small batches and sells it through an on-site taproom and limited Illinois-only wholesale. Its current lineup centers on five flagship SKUs — Spiteful IPA (6.2% ABV), Spiteful Lager (4.7%), Alley Time Pale Ale (6%), Working for the Weekend DIPA (7.9%), and God Damn Pigeon Porter (8.2%) — supplemented by rotating limited releases such as Farthing Dark Mild.
Spiteful Brewing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spiteful Brewing
- Legal name
- Spiteful Brewing
- Website
- https://spitefulbrewing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Spiteful Brewing is an independent Chicago craft brewery operating a single taproom in Bowmanville, brewing and selling five flagship packaged and draft beers plus seasonal releases to Illinois consumers and wholesale accounts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Spiteful Brewing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer
- NAICS
- Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG)
Keywords
Where Spiteful Brewing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Spiteful Brewing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Taproom Draft Sales: On-site draft beer sales at the taproom open seven days a week. Customers can enjoy pints of flagship and seasonal beers in a dog-friendly neighborhood space.
- Packaged Beer (To-Go): Packaged beer sold for off-site consumption including 16oz 4-packs and 12oz 6-packs of core and seasonal beers.
- Keg Sales: Keg sales to bars, liquor stores, and private events in Illinois. Available in 1/6 barrel and 1/2 barrel sizes with a $30 refundable deposit.
- Private Event Rentals: Private event space rental for groups up to 80 inside, up to 100 with patio. Weekday and weekend availability. Also offers hard ciders, seltzers (gluten-free), and non-alcoholic options alongside their beer.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Keg deposit |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Spiteful Brewing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spiteful Brewing is an independent craft brewery that brews and sells small-batch beer (IPAs, lagers, pale ales, porters, and seasonal releases) at its on-site taproom and through packaged 4-packs, 6-packs, growlers, and kegs distributed to Illinois bars, liquor stores, and private events. Founded in 2012 in Chicago's Bowmanville neighborhood, the company operates a dog-friendly taproom that doubles as a community event space hosting trivia, bingo, food pop-ups, and private gatherings.
Product overview
Spiteful Brewing is an independent Chicago craft brewery offering a portfolio of core beer products centered on five flagship offerings: Spiteful IPA (6.2% ABV citrusy India Pale Ale), Spiteful Lager (4.7% ABV Pale Lager), Alley Time (6% ABV American Pale Ale), Working for the Weekend (7.9% ABV Double IPA), and God Damn Pigeon Porter (8.2% ABV Porter). The brewery also releases limited editions such as Farthing Dark Mild. Products are available for on-site consumption at the taproom, for takeaway in 16oz 4-packs, 12oz 6-packs, growler fills, and in kegs for events. The taproom serves as both a retail location and event space hosting regular trivia nights, BINGO events, and private bookings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Spiteful IPA: Flagship India Pale Ale with citrusy hop flavor, notes of candied orange and grapefruit, dry and crisp with moderate bitterness. ABV 6.2%. Hops: Citra, Amarillo.
- Spiteful Lager
- Alley Time
- Working for the Weekend
- God Damn Pigeon Porter
Products and services
- Spiteful IPA
Companies that use Spiteful Brewing
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Spiteful Brewing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Spiteful Brewing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Pequod's PizzacoreLocal Chicago-style pizza partner providing food for the taproom. Recommended as a dining option for taproom visitors bringing food.
- Chef Martin SausagescoreLocally made sausages from Chef Martin available during select events and pop-ups, including Spitetoberfest with authentic German and Austrian brats.
- Kite String TaquitoscorePop-up taquito partner offering rotating specials at Spiteful Brewing events. Regular presence on the events calendar.
- Prairie Moon RestaurantminorEvanston-based restaurant setting up their Raw Bar pop-up at Spiteful Brewing for evening events featuring fresh-shucked oysters, ceviche, and shrimp.
- Todd StarrcoreTrivia night host (@quizzdaddytrivia) creating themed trivia experiences every Wednesday including Sports, Pride, Simpsons, B-Movies, and more.
- Ravenswood Community ServicesminorCharity partner for trivia fundraiser events. RCS provides meals and groceries to neighbors in need in Uptown and Ravenswood communities.
- Center on HalstedminorLGBTQ+ community organization receiving $1 per pint of Alley Time sold during Pride month (June) fundraising initiative.
- Brown Elephant / Howard Brown HealthminorClothing donation partner for Spiteful Clothing Swap events. Remaining clothing items donated to support Howard Brown Health.
- Pleasant House PubminorChicago pub on South Halsted serving Farthing Cask Ale Release. Cask tapping event on 12/7 with 7-10 day pour window.
- The Beer TempleminorChicago beer bar on Elston Ave serving Farthing Cask Ale Release. Cask tapping on 12/13 at noon, expected to sell out same day.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Spiteful Brewing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Half Acre Beer Company: Long-running Chicago craft brewery with a taproom in Lincoln Park and a Balmoral Avenue-area production facility. Highly comparable to Spiteful on geography (Chicago North Side), core product mix (IPAs, lagers, pale ales), and direct-to-consumer taproom model.
- Maplewood Brewing Company: Chicago craft brewery operating a taproom and producing IPAs, lagers, and pale ales distributed regionally. Closely comparable to Spiteful on product mix (IPAs and pale ales as flagships), single-taproom-plus-distribution model, and Chicago origin.
- Revolution Brewing: Independent Chicago craft brewery with a flagship brewpub and taproom in Logan Square and a second production facility in Oak Park. Closest analog to Spiteful: similarly produces a rotating lineup of hop-forward IPAs and hosts events in a community taproom, but at meaningfully larger scale and multi-location footprint within the same city.
- Pipeworks Brewing Co. Chicago craft brewery known for bold, hop-forward and high-ABV beers with strong can graphics and a cult following. Comparable to Spiteful on Chicago base, independent ownership, IPA-and-specialty portfolio, and craft enthusiast distribution.
- Hop Butcher for the World: Chicago-based craft brewery focused on IPAs and hop-forward beers, distributed across the Midwest. Directly comparable to Spiteful on style focus (IPA-centric lineup), Chicago home base, and packaged distribution into regional bars and retailers.
- Off Color Brewing: Independent Chicago craft brewery with a taproom and a lineup spanning lagers, sours, and pale ales. Comparable to Spiteful on independent ownership, Chicago location, mixed portfolio of sessionable and specialty beers, and taproom-led direct-to-consumer model.
Broad incumbents
- Bells Brewery: Michigan-based craft brewery with a portfolio spanning IPAs, porters, and lagers and a taproom/commercial pilot brewery. Comparable to Spiteful on independent heritage, broad flagship portfolio including a porter (Bell's Porter vs. Spiteful's God Damn Pigeon Porter), and taproom-plus-distribution model.
- Goose Island Beer Company: One of the original Chicago craft brewers, now owned by AB InBev, with a large Fulton & Wood taproom and broad national distribution. Comparable to Spiteful on Chicago craft origin, broad portfolio of IPAs/lagers/porters, and taproom-plus-wholesale model, but operates at vastly larger scale and as part of a global beverage portfolio.
- Lagunitas Brewing Company: Craft brewery founded in California with deep Chicago roots (Lagunitas Chicago taproom in Pilsen) and national distribution. Comparable to Spiteful on IPA-centric portfolio and taproom programming, but operates as a large, now-Heineken-owned national craft brand rather than a single-location independent.
Regional players
- 3 Floyds Brewing: Indiana-based craft brewery with a strong cult following for IPAs and high-ABV beers. Comparable to Spiteful on independent craft ethos, hop-forward product emphasis, and Midwest distribution, but geographically anchored in Munster, IN rather than Chicago.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Spiteful Brewing social profiles
Digital presenceSpiteful Brewing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spiteful Brewing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Spiteful Brewing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spiteful Brewing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Spiteful Brewing
What does Spiteful Brewing do?
Spiteful Brewing is an independent craft brewery that brews and sells small-batch beer (IPAs, lagers, pale ales, porters, and seasonal releases) at its on-site taproom and through packaged 4-packs, 6-packs, growlers, and kegs distributed to Illinois bars, liquor stores, and private events. Founded in 2012 in Chicago's Bowmanville neighborhood, the company operates a dog-friendly taproom that doubles as a community event space hosting trivia, bingo, food pop-ups, and private gatherings.
Is Spiteful Brewing a public or private company?
Spiteful Brewing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Spiteful Brewing founded?
Spiteful Brewing was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Spiteful Brewing based?
Spiteful Brewing is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Spiteful Brewing make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Taproom Draft Sales are the primary driver. The others are packaged Beer (To-Go), keg Sales and private Event Rentals.
Who are Spiteful Brewing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Half Acre Beer Company, Maplewood Brewing Company, Revolution Brewing, Pipeworks Brewing Co., Hop Butcher for the World and Off Color Brewing. Broad incumbents are Bells Brewery, Goose Island Beer Company and Lagunitas Brewing Company. 3 Floyds Brewing is listed as a regional player.
Does Spiteful Brewing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Spiteful Brewing.
What industry is Spiteful Brewing in?
Spiteful Brewing's product category is Craft Beer. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFALAA, Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service), with a secondary code of THAFAEAG, Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms. Its NAICS code is 31212 and its SIC code is 2082.