Shrinkage: is a term for lost product and beer loss, is beer shrinkage.

Begyle Brewing is a community supported brewery located in Chicago, IL. We’ll borrow principles from community supported agriculture, offering growler subscriptions to our customers ("CSB"). We really like growlers – they’re portable, reusable and promote sharing! Our counter-pressure growler filler will allow us to offer an extension on the usual growler experience. In order to ensure a proper growler fill, a growler is often overfilled to make sure no oxygen is left inside (oxygen makes good beer taste funny!). This filling method leads to beer loss, and beer lost is beer shrinkage. We want to eliminate wasted beer (oh, the humanity!) and increase the shelf life of our growlers fills.



Begyle Brewing consists of Brendan Blume, Matt Ritchey and Kevin Cary. Kevin and Matt both hail from Fenton, a small town outside of Flint, MI. Having both moved to Chicago after college, they became roommates and quickly began brewing together. Matt eventually bought all the textbooks and literature he could find and has been working to perfect his craft ever since. Brendan Blume was born and raised in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. While attending the University of Dayton, Brendan and his brother started Blume Brothers Pedicab. After graduation, Brendan helped start an organic farm in Ohio and build their CSA membership. When he returned to Chicago he met Kevin through his pedicab business. One thing led to another and an idea was born to start a brewery, and to be one of the first breweries based on a CSA model.

Begyle Brewing - Photo courtesy of Moss Design

Why Ravenswood?

We chose the Ravenswood industrial corridor based on its unique status in the city. Once a manufacturing epicenter for the north side - from clocks to cameras and lava lamps to butterscotch candies - warehouse space formerly used for manufacturing now hosts dozens of talented artists and one of the best art centers in the city (Lill Street Art Center). Set on locating within the Ravenswood corridor, we set out to find the perfect space. With limited space available, we stumbled upon a warehouse on the corner of Ravenswood and Cuyler where a woodworker was finishing up his lease in the space he shared with a sculpture artist. Today the sculpture artist takes residence in our unused brewery space along with three other studios. Our vibrant building also is home to the Chicago Mosaic School, Black Lion Audio, Studio AG and the third floor artists space (headed up by JC Steinbrunner of the Salon Series). Collaboration is commonplace in brewing and we are excited for the opportunities our building offers.

Kevin, Matt and Brendan meet with the neighbors of Cuyler Street. (Photo by Joe Tighe)

Why do you need a counter-pressure growler filler?

Growlers are portable, re-usable and re-recyclable. After choosing the growler as our preferred packaging vessel, we decided want to find the best way possible to package our beer for our customers. Counter pressure growler filling will allow us to reduce beer loss and increase the life expectancy of each growler filled at Begyle Brewing.

When will the CSB be up and running?

We anticipate our CSB to be up and running before the new year. In order to sell growlers we are subject to the same licensing process as a liquor store. Although we can currently brew beer we can’t sell it at retail out of our Ravenswood brewery. Look for our beer on tap around Chicago in September or check us out at one of the many events in which we will be participating.

How can I sign up for the CSB?

We are not yet accepting memberships for the CSB, however we’ll begin accepting deposits shortly. Or contribute today at the $100 level and you will receive a growler and a reserve your spot when the CSB launches. (Our brewing capacity will be limited as the brewery gets rolling, so get in touch with us today if you want to be one of the first to partake in this amazing – and tasty – part of beer history!)

Do I have to be a member of the CSB to purchase a growler?

Once we receive our final permitting from the City of Chicago, we will offer growler sales to the general public as well as our CSB members. Just like a mug club, our growler CSB will offer discounts to members and other opportunities that might not be available to the public.

What if you reach your goal before time runs out, then what?

We are looking to raise money to cover the cost of this amazing piece of equipment. If we were to surpass our goal we want to let you know what we would do with that money. Built in Austria we will have the unit shipped over when it is complete, any additional funds would go to cover shipping. Beyond that we will add more fermentation space! The more you contribute the more beer we will brew this year! Sounds fair right!?

Share this photo on Facebook or Twitter, and show your support for Begyle Brewing!!

If you have any further questions please email us at oh.hey@begylebrewing.com

Thanks!

Kevin, Brendan and Matt.

Learn more:

NEW! http://hopheadfarms.com/Blog/?p=244 NEW!

NEW! http://aleheads.com/2012/08/17/get-your-beer-subscription-an-interview-with-chicagos-begyle-brewing/#more-16233 NEW!

Red Eye Chicago Aug 2nd, 2012 http://www.redeyechicago.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/redeye-begyle-brewing-coming-to-chicago-bars-in-late-august-20120802,0,5588007.story

http://moss-design.com/2012/03/23/argyle-brewing-co-welcome-to-community-supported-beer/



http://fenton.patch.com/articles/fenton-grads-set-to-open-community-supported-brewery-in-chicago

http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/06/chicagos-small-breweries/