Brewery Profile

Pipeworks Brewing Company - The Dojo

In Chicago’s broad craft beer scene, this is a stop tied more to production and release variety than to a restaurant-style brewery visit. Pipeworks Brewing Company was founded in 2010 by Beejay Oslon and Gerrit Lewis and first operated as a contract brewery before establishing its own physical location. Its current facility, known as The Dojo, gave the brewery room for expanded capacity and a 30-barrel brewing system. For visitors, the taproom is the public-facing piece of that operation: a place to try current releases, see what limited-run batches are available, and get a closer sense of a brewery known for packaged beer across Illinois and nearby markets.

Travelers seeking out Chicago-area breweries often look for hop-forward beers, stronger specialty releases, and taproom-only pours that may not be easy to find elsewhere. Pipeworks fits that route through its long-running focus on experimental and high-gravity beers, frequently built around complex flavor profiles and unusual ingredient combinations. Its better-known offerings include Ninja vs. Unicorn Double IPA, while seasonal stouts are also part of the brewery’s identity. A stop at The Dojo works well for visitors who want to compare familiar packaged releases with whatever is pouring on site that day, especially if they are interested in breweries that rotate through small batches rather than relying only on a fixed tap list.

The practical experience is straightforward. The Dojo taproom offers pours of current releases and limited experimental beers, but it does not have an in-house kitchen. Local food vendors are hosted frequently, so the taproom is the place to confirm the day’s food option as well as the beer list. Because Pipeworks maintains a strong focus on cans and bottles, visitors may also encounter packaged beer associated with current distribution rather than only draft service. Details such as hours, vendor schedule, and available releases can change, so checking directly before visiting is the best way to plan around what is actually on tap.

Pipeworks Brewing Company was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 2010 by Beejay Oslon and Gerrit Lewis, initially operating as a contract brewery before establishing its own physical location. The brewery is known for its extensive portfolio of experimental and high-gravity beers, often featuring complex flavor profiles and unique ingredient combinations, with flagship offerings including the Ninja vs. Unicorn Double IPA and various seasonal stouts. Production moved to its current facility, nicknamed "The Dojo," allowing for expanded capacity and the installation of a 30-barrel brewing system. Pipeworks maintains a focus on packaged distribution, primarily cans and bottles, reaching markets throughout Illinois and select neighboring states. The taproom space at The Dojo offers pours of current releases and limited-run experimental batches, operating without an in-house kitchen but frequently hosting local food vendors.

Website available

3912 W McLean Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, USA, Chicago, Illinois, 60647

Phone: (312) 841-7574

Website: http://pdubs.net/

Hours: ["Monday: Closed","Tuesday: Closed","Wednesday: Closed","Thursday: 12:00 – 7:00 PM","Friday: 12:00 – 7:00 PM","Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM","Sunday: Closed"]