2022: Year In Review
Growth & Innovation in Challenging Times
SKOKIE & EVANSTON, IL, January 1, 2023 – Sketchbook Brewing feels lucky—and proud. “Sketchbook’s success in 2022 (and really throughout the pandemic) is due to three strengths: the quality of our beer, the loyalty of our customers, and the dedication of our team,” according to Managing Partner and Head Brewer Cesar Marron. The brewery’s tagline–Beer is Art, Beer is Community, Beer is Food–also celebrates community, a core value at Sketchbook.
“We are grateful to be experiencing a modest expansion during a time of economic uncertainty,” says Marron.This past year was a challenging one for craft beer across the country. “While the bubble isn’t quite bursting when it comes to craft beer — as some onlookers have long been speculating — the industry is facing headwinds long in the offing for small and local breweries that knew mostly growth for more than a decade.”(Josh Noel, Chicago Tribune, 12.8.22)
Founded in 2014 in Evanston, then expanded to Skokie in 2020, Sketchbook is a 20 barrel brewery, with two taprooms (Evanston and Skokie) and distribution throughout Illinois and in southern Wisconsin. The expansion to Skokie was planned and financed just before the pandemic with support from the Village of Skokie.“Opening a major new production facility just as the pandemic hit was…tricky,” admits Managing Partner Shawn Decker. “Greeting new customers in Skokie with masks on was not what we had planned…but we built it…and they came!” Major assets propelling Sketchbook’s retail success include the hyper-local enthusiasm around theircozy Evanston taproom, the spacious interior and beer garden spaces in Skokie (capacity 400+) and Sketchbook’s robust membership program. The brewery’s commitment to serving—and welcoming—its community has also created a generous vibe, and a winning business model. Sketchbook experienced double-digit increases in both retail and wholesale sales in 2022.
Accomplishments during 2022 by the numbers:
● 530,000 cans filled on our Codi canning line
● 350,000+ lbs of spent grain donated to local farms and thus diverted from landfills
● $10K+ donated to non-profit organizations, including Alzheimer’s Association, Beer Kulture, City of Evanston Reparations Committee, Evanston Nouveau, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Project Purple, Skokie United, World Central Kitchen & More
● 3,858 BBL of beer brewed
● 2,000 liters of Märzen poured at our biggest 3-day Oktoberfest yet (and thru the fall)
● 600+ loyal fans joined Sketchbook’s CSB Membership program
● 150 runners participated in Illinois Brewery Running Series
● 80+private events, from weddings to office parties to nonprofit celebrations for organizations like Rise International and the Moran Center
● 60+ local musicians and bands hosted across Sunday performances (Skokie), PravdaFest, and Coverfest.
● 50+ aspiring artists supported at Sketch at Sketchbook First Saturday events in Evanston
● 25 local restaurants featured with pop-ups in both taprooms
● 24 Local Vendors selling handmade items in two craft fairs
● 18 Full-time Employees supported with living wages, health benefits and profit-sharing.
● 6 collab beers brewed with partners including Soul & Smoke, Wild Onion Market, Goose Island, Skokie Swifters, Brave Noise, 1 in 4
● 6 local acts featured during our first Comedy Showcase
● 2 out-of-this world variants launched of the new Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout: Celestial!
● 1 Tribune Readers Choice Award for Best Under the Radar Brewery
ABOUT SKETCHBOOK BREWING: First opened to the public on November 15, 2014, Sketchbook has come a long way from its early days filling growlers from an alley. Fueled by fierce customer loyalty and apassion for brewin excellence, this Evanston success story opened their second location in Skokie, IL, in 2020. Sketchbook Brewing Company is the brainchild of two home-brew heroes, Shawn Decker & Cesar Marron, who met through Evanston’s Homebrew Club – a mighty throng of beer enthusiasts. Cesar’s brewing skillshave earned him a dozen medals, and he was the Samuel Adams Longshot American Homebrew Contest2013 winner: his grätzer was selected from over 1,000 entries nationwide. Shawn brings a solid home-brewing practice to the partnership and decades of experience as a musician, artist, and teacher working on big projects where quality was important. Recipe swapping and mutual appreciation accelerated into partnership and Sketchbook began filling growlers in thefall of 2014. Shawn and Cesar are Managing Partners and run the business with their partners Alice George and Amy Wilkinson) now support employees with living wages and health benefits. Sketchbook opened its Tap Room in April of 2016 at 821 Chicago Ave. and then expanded that space in fall of 2019. Core beers include Orange Door IPA, Insufficient Clearance Hazy IPA, Amistosa Mexican Lager and Pinky Sweater Pilsner.
Contact: social@sketchbookbrewing.com
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