Azadi Brewing Company

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 Azadi range was rather limited, with only about 3 or maybe 4 available at the time, but this is more than the others looked to have. Most were fine, if some of the usually-distro'd stuff. 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 some of Azadi's particular recipes might be enticing enough to tip the scales one way or another. Maybe.

 

Azadi Brewing Company is a beer marketing company that advertises their taproom at Pilot Project, the local brewery incubator. Their brewing concept is using ingredients based in Indian cuisine & culture.

As one of the newest tenants at Pilot Project, they had the smallest selection. Two beers on draft, and one was out, leaving an exotic mango IPA as their only beer to try at the taproom. I'll seek out more of their beer to form a broader opinion of their product line and brewery concept. Edit: After trying their Kadak chai stout and Hazy IPA, the beer quality so far has been great. Selection has expanded to include a lager and several fruited kettle sour ales.

The Pilot Project taproom is neutral grey and sterile, with some plants sparsely dotting the space. Nothing promotional for the tenant beer marketing companies like Azadi, you’d learn nothing about them by just walking in here. Azadi sells beer to go, and at retail outlets around the city, including a couple higher end Indian restaurants. Looking forward to trying more of their beers in the future, hopefully they invest in their own space someday.