WHO WE ARE
Handmap Brewing is a new brewery located on the river in downtown Battle Creek MI. Built from the ground up by a couple of Battle Creek natives, Chris McCleary and Jennifer Brown, who moved home from Chicago to open Handmap. Chris, a former brewer from Goose Island, is the Head Brewer and has a passion and commitment to quality. He loves to brew beers that are classic and clean and span a variety of interests, from ales to lagers, porters, stouts, sours and few barrel aged options. Handmap’s primary focus is beer and is also Battle Creek’s premier entertainment venue, hosting bands, comedy shows & events in the beautiful, historic taproom.
Chris McCleary & Jennifer Brown
Chris was born and raised in Battle Creek Michigan. He worked at Southern Graphic Systems for 25 years in Battle Creek. He is also a certified welder and taught welding for over 10 years in the Battle Creek education system and at Post Cereals. Chris started brewing at home 15 years ago and his passion for the craft lead him to change careers and become a professional brewer. He moved to Chicago and was employed as a Brewer at Goose Island Beer Company where he learned all aspects of production brewing, with a focus on cellaring and fermentation. He left Goose Island and moved back to Battle Creek to open Handmap Brewing, where he is the Head Brewer and runs the brewery operations.
Jen was also born and raised in Battle Creek Michigan and graduated from Western Michigan University. She is a CPA, who started in big accounting, then moved to the start-up world. She spent 15 years at Sportvision, as the Controller/VP of Finance, until the Company was sold in 2016 and then moved to another start-up, Swing King, where she was the Controller and Director of Finance. She moved home to open Handmap and now takes care of the financial side of the business.