Chicago's Pipeworks Brewing Company has existed all but a year, but already the small batch operation is topping lists of hopheads everywhere.
The influential consumer beer site RateBeer just named the young company its list-topper in the "Top New Brewers In The World" ranking.
Founders Beejay Oslon and Gerrit Lewis first met while working at West Lakeview Liquors, according to the company site, and later honed their craft in the Belgian countryside.
After a successful 2011 Kickstarter to get the business going, the pair opened a brewing space at 1675 N Western Ave, according to Chicago Now. The brewery's first beer, the double India pale ale Ninja vs. Unicorn, sold out in a matter of days, reports the Tribune.
Praise for their beers, which are sold in limited runs of roughly 1,400 bottles, has been consistently positive.
According to BeerPulse.com, this is the third year in a row a U.S. brewer has won the honor since the site began the ranking in 2011. Other top-ranking U.S. brewers included Tired Hands Brewing Company out of Ardmore, Penn. (2nd place) and Gigantic Brewing out of Portland, Ore. (5th place).
h/t: Gapers Block