Meet a Philadelphia nano brewery built on customization
My Local Brew Works (MLBW) in Philadelphia continues to carve out a niche in the contract brewing world. The nano brewery blends hands-on brewing experiences with small-batch production for clients who want their own beer, not a rebranded house style. The company started with homebrew sessions in a backyard around 2010. Cofounders Wayne Humphrey and Tim Montague noticed that friends loved helping on brew day. That early feedback shaped the business they run today: a brewery built on participation, customization and one-off recipes. MLBW now operates three business lines. The team produces contract beer for restaurants and events. They hosts special brew day experiences for groups. They also offer direct-to-public releases. The brewery works inside the historic Globe Dye Works building in Philadelphia’s Frankford neighborhood.
Inside the Custom Craft Brewing Package
For the holidays, MLBW highlights its Custom Craft Brewing Package. It’s a hands-on option for people who want to create a personalized beer, not just buy one. Guests walk through the entire process. They choose the beer style, help dial in ingredients, name the beer and design the label. The experience includes a pre-brew consultation, a tour of Globe Dye Works, aroma sampling, grain and hop selection, catered lunch with tastings and a final brew session. Groups finish the day with a toast and branded gifts. Pricing averages $150 per person, depending on volume, ingredients, fermentation time and catering options. Those visiting Philadelphia can also take part in a restaurant-oriented brew day experience. MLBW works with several local restaurants, and participants can take home bottles of those beers or try them on tap at spots like Bolo, Butcher Bar and Monk’s Café. From a recent announcement:
“The holidays are a time of gathering, and we want to bring back that communal aspect to brewing beer,” says Wayne Humphrey, co-founder of MLBW. “No other brewery lets you add grain or pitch the hops yourself—everything else is automated and behind glass. They say it’s the thought that counts, but we think the experience is even more powerful.”
A holiday gift idea for serious beer people
MLBW’s package works for beer nerds who want more than a rare bottle under the tree. It’s an experience built for people who want time on the brew deck, grain in hand and hops ready to pitch. Because the recipes are custom, the final beer becomes a personal keepsake. People use the package for family keg releases, team thank-you gifts, bachelor parties, wedding beers or end-of-year corporate events. The experience adds something the industry rarely offers: direct, physical involvement in a brew day at a working brewery. It’s a gift that produces both a memory and a finished beer.
Those interested in the Custom Craft Brewing Package can contact MLBW for a consultation by emailing beer@mylocalbrewworks.com or visiting www.mylocalbrewworks.com
How MLBW stands out in a crowded beer market
MLBW’s angle feels different in today’s saturated beer landscape. Many breweries chase new flavors every week. MLBW instead builds beers one order at a time. That approach mirrors a tailor shop more than a production brewery. Humphrey described the model in Brew Magazine as “custom tailoring” beer rather than producing boutique styles or mass-market staples. He explained that their beers are “one of a kind and completely designed to fit your needs and style.” MLBW can produce several different beers from one mash, thanks to its flexible system. The team also works with experienced mentor and Philadelphia beer figure George Hummel, who helped design the brewery’s grain room to support a wide palette of recipes. The brewery’s signature lineup includes beers like Philly Phinger, Saison de Printemps, Retro Rocket, Johann, Pigeons Punching Penguins and St. Marmotte. But most batches are bespoke and never repeated.
A niche built on creativity and participation
Most contract breweries focus on production and packaging scale. MLBW focuses on customization and creative control. Clients can walk in with a story, an event or a theme and leave with a beer tailored to that idea. This model attracts artists, restaurants, nonprofits and couples planning weddings. In a market crowded with seasonal hype and rapid releases, MLBW leans on experience, storytelling and collaboration. It’s contract brewing with personality, built on the idea that beer tastes better when you help make it. Those interested in booking a Custom Craft Brewing Package can contact My Local Brew Works at beer@mylocalbrewworks.com or visit mylocalbrewworks.com.
