About is/was brewing
is/was brewing is a Chicago brewery with a taproom in the Ravenswood neighborhood. It focuses on the Saison style. The brewery says co-founder Mike Schallau has grown it into one of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine's Top 20 Saison Breweries in the world.
It makes beers that are as complex and contemplative as they are approachable. It uses Brettanomyces yeast and bottle conditions its saisons for natural carbonation. The name reflects the idea that each bottle keeps evolving after it is filled.
Schallau began at Pipeworks Brewing as an unpaid intern. He went on to oversee daily operations, recipe development and the barrel aging program there. The brewery says his beers have won multiple gold medals at the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers.
The taproom is friendly to well behaved children and dogs. The entrance, parking lot, restroom and seating are wheelchair accessible. The online store sells cans and bottles.
From is/was brewing's own website and its Google listing, read September 26, 2026.
Been here? Write the first Brewery.fyi review.
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Map
Questions people ask
Are kids and dogs welcome at is/was?
Yes. The taproom is friendly to well behaved children and dogs.
Is is/was wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance, parking lot, restroom and seating are wheelchair accessible.
What kind of beer does is/was make?
It is currently focused on the Saison style. It uses Brettanomyces and bottle conditioning in its saisons.
Where can I buy is/was beer?
You can buy it in the brewery's online store, or find Illinois stores that carry it on the store locator page of its website. The brewery cannot guarantee stock at any given store, so call ahead.
Which breweries are close by?
Urban Brew Labs is under 0.1 miles away. Half Acre Beer Co, Cultivate by Forbidden Root and Band Of Bohemia are each 0.5 miles away.
Answers come from is/was brewing's website and its Google listing, read September 26, 2026.
Breweries near is/was brewing
Before you visit is/was
Check the draft list on iswasbrewing.com before you go. The menu is subject to change. Friday and Saturday hours run later than the rest of the week.
Come ready for saison. The style is very dry, drinkable and complex. The glossary on its website explains Brettanomyces and bottle conditioning if you want to read up first.
Urban Brew Labs is under 0.1 miles away, so it is easy to walk between the two. Half Acre Beer Co is a short drive at 0.5 miles.