Photos courtesy of Journeyman Distillery
Industry Veteran Greg Winget Joins Team to Create Debut Line of Beers focused on Craft Creations, Hyper-Local Ingredients, and Whiskey Inspiration in Next Phase of the Midwest’s $40 Million Dollar Destination Distillery and Brewery
One of the nation’s most exciting craft distilleries and the maker of ASCOT’s Whiskey of the Year award-winner (2022, 2023), Journeyman Distillery is now expanding operations and is pleased to announce the plans for launching Sea of Monsters, a brand new brewery. The microbrewery and tasting room is the newest addition to Journeyman’s ‘The American Factory’, the recently opened $40 million hospitality destination featuring a distillery, full service restaurant Union Hall, multiple wedding and corporate event venues and more on a sprawling historic factory campus in Valparaiso, Indiana– a state that’s becoming a boom town for brewers and distillers since craft distilling becoming legal in only 2013. Owners Bill & Johanna Welter are gearing up for Sea of Monsters’ summer 2024 debut and have appointed Head Brewer Greg Winget to lead the charge.
MORE ABOUT GREG WINGET: California-born & Indiana-raised Greg Winget joins the team with a decade of experience in craft brewing. A journalist and copywriter turned craft brewer, Winget got his start working in beer sales and distribution, before making his way to Raleigh, NC where he gained a Craft Brewing Certificate from Wake Technical College. After stints at Big Boss Brewing, one of North Carolina’s longest-running craft breweries, and Fortnight Brewing Company, he eventually joined the team at locally beloved Wye Hill Brewing to become their Brewery Director. He spent five years with their team, creating over 100 unique beer brands from creative recipes to label art conceptions and taking home numerous brewing awards across the nation, including Gold Medals at the North Carolina Brewers Cup and the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT SEA OF MONSTERS: Now returning to his Indiana roots, Winget has joined the Journeyman team to launch the brand’s first foray into brewing with Sea of Monsters, which will function as both a brewery and stand alone beer bar within ‘The American Factory’ complex. Sea of Monsters is a reference to early audacious maritime explorers who sought adventure and overcame great odds around the world while braving real and mythic creatures from the deep, which also inspires their “Face Your Fears” slogan. The brewery will focus both on regional iterations of popular American craft beers like IPAs, stouts and porters, barrel aged beers, as well as beer styles from across the world, including the exploration and resurrection of ancient recipes. Winget will be making use of the brewery's 10-barrel system constructed by American brewing industry leader Sprinkman (Franklin, WI), and will be visible to diners and guests from the bar’s adjoining Union Hall restaurant. He is excited to explore sustainably sourced raw ingredients, with a focus on regional hop varieties and locally grown or foraged elements from the Midwest. Plus, he’ll leverage Sea of Monsters’ proximity to the distillery with barrel aged brews made in Journeyman spent whiskey barrels and recipes that feature similar mash builds to Journeyman’s signature spirits.
The first official core collection from Sea of Monsters is set to debut in Summer 2024 with beer served exclusively on-premise at The American Factory. For more information visit www.journeyman.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram. A full bio for Greg Winget may be found via Dropbox here.
ABOUT JOURNEYMAN DISTILLERY: Founded in 2010 by husband-and-wife Bill & Johanna Welter, Journeyman Distillery has not only captured the palates of spirits enthusiasts across 35 U.S. states and three continents but also built a reputation rooted in integrity, community, and authentic hospitality. The family-owned grain-to-glass distillery nestled in the heart of Three Oaks, Michigan, has garnered the prestigious 'Whiskey of the Year' and 'Craft Distiller of the Year' awards from the esteemed American Spirits Council of Tasters (ASCOT) Awards in recent years. Beyond its award-winning whiskey, Journeyman Distillery's portfolio encompasses a wide array of spirits and craft liqueurs. The Three Oaks location, once home to an 1800s corset and buggy whip factory, houses the distillery's production hub and boasts an array of experiences, including on-site restaurant Staymaker, the Welter’s Folly 18-hole putting green, event spaces, and several unique lodging options. As the distillery's narrative continues to evolve, Journeyman recently opened "The American Factory," a groundbreaking $40 million destination distillery and brewery situated in Valparaiso, Indiana, Bill’s hometown, in October 2023. Bill and Johanna will also continue work with Journeyman’s 501©3 enrichment nonprofit Islay’s Barrel Foundation, which is named after their daughter, and raises funds annually to send kids to local summer camps. For more information on Journeyman Distillery, please visit www.journeyman.com.
