Divergent Brewing

Our Mission

Divergent Brewing is a micro-brewery dedicated to providing career training and job opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By prioritizing outreach and collaboration amongst locally-owned companies and other community groups, Divergent Brewing seeks to influence a more inclusive work-force that allows everyone to utilize their individual strengths to contribute to their community.

Divergent Brewing is currently being incorporated and seeking collaborative partnerships with local individuals, companies, and organizations. We aim to be functioning by 2025 at the latest.

Currently we are seeking to expand our Board of Directors and are actively seeking members of all abilities. If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, please fill out the mailing list form and we will reach out to you ASAP.

What's happening?

Divergent Brewing is currently in the start-up phase with plans to begin operations Summer of 2024. Check out below for our everchanging list of short and long term goals:

Short-term goals (by June 2024):

1. Establish a Board for the Non-profit sector and schedule our first board meeting (if you are interested in applying- be on the lookout for a separate email very soon.)

2. Incorporate the LLC sector, securing the necessary licenses and fulfilling other legal requirements.

3. Secure investors/loans for the LLC and seek grant funding for the non-profit aspect of our organization.

Long-term goals (by 2025):

1. Hire a head brewer who shares our passion and vision, and together, finalize four flagship brew recipes that reflect the uniqueness of Divergent Brewing.

2. Begin our paid apprenticeship program by hiring the first round of individuals, providing them with valuable training opportunities and meaningful employment.

3. Collaborate with an established brewery to produce a special collaborative beer, fostering partnerships and helping to establish our brand in the industry.

4. Organize a release party for the collaborative project, inviting our community to celebrate with us, and further building our brand while forging new development partnerships.

Longer-term goals (within 2-4 years):

1. Begin operations of producing and distributing our four flagship beer products, either through contract brewing or incubator options, ensuring our brews reach beer enthusiasts in Chicago and beyond.

2. Expand our employment programming by offering opportunities in brewer's assistant and training assistant roles to previous apprentices, while maintaining our apprenticeship program's integral focus on empowerment and growth.

3. Secure a dedicated location to establish a taproom, enabling us to offer a full brewery experience and expand our employment opportunities to include front-of-house, marketing, and other roles as our brewery operations continue to flourish.

Meet the Team

Allow me to introduce myself as the founder of Divergent Brewing. My name is Kaylie Honkala, and I am honored to embark on this exciting journey with all of you. With a master's degree in special education and an extensive background as a teacher leader for Chicago Public Schools, I have had the privilege of serving in various leadership roles and responsibilities. Additionally, I work part-time at A.B.L.E. Ensemble, where I am a theatre teaching artist and an employment support liaison for actors and employees with disabilities.

This upcoming school year will be my last one (at least for the time being) as I will be taking a step back from my teaching role starting June 2024 to focus on getting Divergent Brewing on its feet and established as a company that is deeply committed to inclusive employment. This decision stems from my unwavering belief in the power of creating meaningful opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds and abilities

Over the past year, I have dedicated my time to extensive research and completed a robust business plan, utilizing both the business educational resources available in Chicago and online. Currently, I am enrolled in a mentorship program that will play a pivotal role in fine-tuning our business plan and commencing our journey of seeking funding.