Pipeworks

Chicago, IL - USA

Pipeworks started, like many breweries, in kettles and fermenters in plastic buckets in the homebrewer's kitchen. Beejay Oslon and Gerrit Lewis met while working at Chicago's famed West Lakeview Liquors, a haven for beer geeks looking for new and exciting beers from around the world. While working there, they began to think it was time to turn their passion into a business. The first steps of this long journey took them to the small town of Lo, in the Belgian countryside.

It was there that the Pipeworks boys lived and worked with Urbain Coutteau, owner and brewer at De Struise Brewery. While working there, the boys honed their craft, learned the basics of running a brewery and had the opportunity to create their first commercially available beers. The success of these brews fueled their passion and prepared them for the work ahead.

Back in the U.S., the two began experimenting with pilot batches, formulating a business plan and developing an image for Pipeworks. Now they are bringing what they learned to the craft beer world!