Brewer's Kitchen

 

Having already experienced the multi-brewery fun of District Brew Yards, I figured I knew what I was in for with the similarly-plotted Pilot Project. Not quite. Situated on Milwaukee a few blocks southeast of the Revolution brewpub, the place is pretty much a large, open cubic structure, lines of tables, a few more bistro-style bits here and there, and a few couches for the more decadent of us. (Yes, I took a couch to myself, complete with the rest of the miniature living room set around it, but there was almost no demand for seating, so it wasn't a deal at all. Trust me.) No screens, really, it's more of a work and socializing atmosphere. The gimmick, aside from the multiple breweries (and a kombuchery) occupying the space, is that you order on your phone. Entirely. This includes setting up a tab to be fully paid at the end, but it's still a minor hassle if you're either somehow without a smartphone/laptop or do not already have a ToastTab account (I had to replace my password, as it had been a minute since I'd used the service). If this is a deal-breaker at all, I'd steer clear. That being said, the app is pretty easy to use, though sometimes the serving style isn't as obvious at they might think (I ordered a can when I thought I'd ordered a draft pint), but you get used to it as you use it. The time between ordering and getting the brews delivered is mere minutes, usually slightly less than if you'd ordered from wait staff (not counting directly at a bar, though). The Brewer's Kitchen range was the most expansive of the lot, with some interesting stuff mixed in with a handful of regularly-distro'd IPAs (someone save me from this Groundhog Day IPA nightmare!). Food is on offer, but I didn't delve into that aspect of the menu, so I can't really speak on it. Despite the impersonal nature of the experience, it's still generally positive, and I could easily see myself coming back when next in the neighborhood. That said, if any of this sounded weird, or if you just wanna throw down a few sawbucks cash, I would say Pilot Project isn't best suited for you in general, though there may very well be something BK in particular offers that might sway you one way or another.

Brewer’s Kitchen is a beer marketing company advertising their taproom at Pilot Project, the local brewery incubator. They are a house brand of Pilot Project. Their concept seems to draw inspiration from global food and cultural experiences.

They are the longest running tenant I believe, and as a result have the largest selection. Nine drafts and canned beers to go. Selection spans from 4 IPA’s, 2 APA’s, a Festbier, Mezcal Margarita Gose, and an Imperial Stout. Quality can be hit or miss, but some are decent.

The bar is clean and modern, very little if any identity or promotion of the resident beer marketing companies, besides maybe a t-shirt. No brewery staff to interact with besides the servers, who were quick and friendly. Overall, there’s more to learn about this company online than at their taproom, an experience that left something to be desired.