In a strip mall just off Highway 94 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, something remarkable has been brewing for over a decade. One Well Brewing has grown from a modest brewery with board games and a handful of taps into one of the area’s most beloved gathering spots—complete with 56 pinball machines, duck pin bowling, and a beer menu that changes as often as the seasons. But behind the buzzing arcade and the rotating taps lies a deeper story about community, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to making people happy.
The Living Room That Became a Legend
Every great brewery has an origin story, and One Well’s begins in the most unexpected place: owner Chris O’Neal’s living room. Trevor Klimek, the head brewer who has been with the company for nearly all of its 11-year run, remembers how it all started. “The owner was a craft beer guy,” Trevor explains. “I met him when I was working at Bell’s General Store selling home brew supplies, and I sold him a home brew kit.”
What happened next was pure Michigan brewing magic. That casual hobby grew into something much bigger when O’Neal decided to open his own brewery. But he didn’t just want to create another taproom—he wanted to recreate the warmth and inclusivity of those Wednesday night board game sessions he hosted at home. “He started the pub with 300 board games or something like that, and he had a few pinball games,” Trevor recalls. “He just brought what he had at his house and put it in the pub, and his Wednesday night thing became an every night thing for people in Kalamazoo.”
The location itself tells an important part of the story. A previous brewery had occupied the space and left on less-than-friendly terms with the Milwood neighborhood. One Well’s arrival changed that narrative entirely. Andrew Mclean, the brewery’s Director of Marketing, notes the significance: “I think it was a great thing for Chris to be able to go through and, you know, whether he meant to or not, stuck up for the neighborhood.”
Three Distinct Worlds Under One Roof
What makes One Well truly unique is how it has evolved physically. The brewery now occupies an entire strip mall, having expanded gradually over the years as neighboring businesses moved out. This organic growth created something unexpected: three distinct spaces, each with its own personality and purpose.
The original location, affectionately called “the cozy cabin,” is where the OGs still gather. With its dark wood and intimate atmosphere, it’s where longtime regulars claim their usual spots around the three-sided bar. Move through to what they call “the forest”—opened about eight years ago but still dubbed “the new side”—and you’ll find families gathered around low-top tables beneath a tree that grows right out of the middle of the space. The crown jewel of the collection is a stunning table made from a massive tree trunk, a visual centerpiece that captures the brewery’s commitment to creating memorable spaces.
Then there’s the Pinball Palace. This massive arcade houses over 56 pinball machines, 20 classic arcade games, three lanes of duck pin bowling, nine dartboards, and more. It’s a playground for adults that somehow manages to be family-friendly at the same time. “We looked at a lot of games that were more kid-centric and moved them to a separate space with the low-tops,” Andrew explains. “So a family can sit down, have their kid right next to them.” This thoughtful reorganization means that whether you’re a serious pinball competitor or a parent trying to keep your toddler entertained, One Well has carved out a space for you.
The Beer: Where Creativity Meets Quality
For Trevor, who oversees all beer production, the philosophy is straightforward but demanding: “I’m really a big believer in quality craft beer with no off flavors.” This commitment to clean, drinkable beers forms the foundation of everything One Well creates. But where the brewery truly shines is in its willingness to push boundaries while never losing sight of drinkability.
Their core lineup tells the story perfectly. Ripped Right, Trevor’s personal favorite, is a Hazy IPA featuring Citra and Mosaic hops—”truly some of the best hops that brewers can get their hands on right now,” he says proudly. State of Beans, their butter pecan coffee blonde ale, showcases local partnerships, using beans from Kalamazoo Coffee Roaster and delivering a unique drinking experience that looks light but tastes complex.
But it’s Xalapa (pronounced ha-LAH-pa) that truly captures One Well’s innovative spirit. This jalapeño beer uses a specially cultivated variety with zero capsaicin, delivering all the flavor of jalapeños with none of the heat. “It’s named after the capital city in Veracruz, Mexico, that originally started cultivating jalapeños,” Trevor explains. The beer has developed a cult following in Kalamazoo, versatile enough to drink on its own, with fresh jalapeño slices added for those who want heat, or transformed into a “bloody Xalapa” for Sunday brunch.
The brewery’s experimental beers push even further. There was the Gardetto’s beer—yes, made with actual Gardettos snacks, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. “It was a super hit at beer fest, like four or five ounces at a time,” Trevor recalls with a laugh, quickly adding, “but a 16-ounce pint was hard to get through.” Then there’s Hell-apa, Xalapa aged in hot sauce barrels for those who wanted more kick. And the Chaga Stout, featuring the health-promoting mushroom, proved that experimental doesn’t have to mean gimmicky.
This commitment to variety manifests in their tap rotation strategy. When Andrew joined the team three years ago, One Well had 12 mainstays out of 20 taps. Through careful analysis of sales data and customer preferences, they’ve paired that back to give Trevor more room to experiment. “We would love to have a new one every single week,” Andrew says. “That’s pretty aggressive, but I would say three times a month there’s a new one coming out.”
More Than Beer: Building Community
Walk into One Well on any given day, and you’ll quickly realize this isn’t just about the beer. The food program, led by award-winning head chef Bip, reflects the same thoughtful approach that characterizes everything else about the brewery. Because owner Chris O’Neal is vegetarian, every dish is conceptualized as a vegetarian option first, with proteins available to add. “All of our dishes are thought of with vegetarian first,” Andrew explains. “Can it hold up on its own?”
This approach has led to menu items so good that meat-eaters don’t even realize they’re eating vegetarian. Their faux chicken sandwich has fooled more than a few people, and their current cauliflower and chickpea wrap is hearty enough to satisfy any appetite. The brewery also smokes its own meats for those who want to add protein, creating a menu that truly serves everyone at the table.
The events calendar reads like a community center’s wishlist: tarot card readings, murder mystery dinners, vintage clothing pop-ups, duck pin bowling leagues, and pinball tournaments. They host an annual New Year’s Eve lock-in where all 80-100 arcade machines go on free play. There’s their block party that kicks off Sounds of the Zoo, a week-long free music festival for the community. And of course, their anniversary party every Black Friday, where they release exclusive beers and celebrate another year of doing what they love.
The mug club, now 2,100 members strong, exemplifies the brewery’s approach to building lasting relationships. Until recently, membership was only available one day a year—Black Friday—creating an exclusive community of regulars who take pride in their numbered ceramic mugs. “It’s colored ceramic,” Andrew says. “I’ve got a blue and brown one. You know, kind of reminds me of the ocean, the lake. And that’s my mug. I’m number 606.”
What sets One Well apart is the Monday emails to mug club members announcing beers that will be available exclusively to them until Friday. “I just remember how cool that is for people to say, ‘Hey man, I can get it because I’m a part of the club, and on Friday then everyone can get it,'” Trevor says. “They can tell their friends, ‘Hey man, meet you back up there on Friday because you can’t get this beer yet.'”
The Cicerone Difference
One of Andrew’s proudest achievements has been implementing a comprehensive training program for all bartenders. Every staff member, within three months of joining, earns their Cicerone certification—a rigorous beer education program that goes far beyond knowing what’s on tap. “Some of them come in very passionate about beer. Some of them come in very passionate about hospitality and service,” Andrew explains. “We want that person. We can teach them beer.”
This investment in education pays dividends in customer experience. Whether someone is a craft beer veteran or trying their first IPA, they’re met with knowledgeable, enthusiastic staff who can guide them to the perfect choice. It’s part of that larger philosophy that Trevor articulated so perfectly: “We have a passion for making people happy.”
Looking Forward
As craft beer faces headwinds across the industry, One Well is doubling down on what has always worked: listening to their community, staying flexible, and never sacrificing quality for convenience. They’re exploring a distiller’s license to expand their beverage offerings. They’re working with their new distributor, M4, to bring more of their innovative beers to stores across Michigan. They’re continuing to refine their events calendar and strengthen partnerships with local businesses.
“I’m hoping with our new distributor that we’re able to continue to expand our rotational and seasonal program,” Andrew says, “because we’re doing it in the pub already. Let’s try to get it out to stores.” The goal is to remind people what made them fall in love with craft beer in the first place—not the same six beers on repeat, but a constantly evolving lineup that rewards curiosity and keeps you coming back to see what’s next.
For Trevor, who has watched the brewery grow from its earliest days, the vision is both simple and profound: “We go where we go with the punches, you know. I think the most important thing to do is to be flexible and to know that you have to be able to move around with whichever way things go.”
The Destination Worth the Detour
Located just a quarter mile off Highway 94, perfectly positioned between Chicago and Detroit, One Well Brewing has become more than a pit stop—it’s a destination. “I find myself when I’m traveling somewhere, I look into some breweries and I say, ‘Man, that’s a little bit, you know, I got my family, I got stuff, but really this could just be like a potty stop,'” Trevor reflects. “You know what I mean? And I go in and get a quick beer, take a 15-minute break.”
That’s the magic of One Well: whether you’re planning a three-hour board game marathon, a quick pint between meetings, or a full evening of pinball and pizza, they’ve created a space that adapts to whatever you need. The forest if you want natural light and space for the kids. The cabin if you want that cozy corner bar vibe. The Pinball Palace if you need to blow off some steam and remember what it felt like to be a kid in an arcade.
As Kalamazoo prepares for a new downtown arena and continued growth, One Well stands ready to welcome both longtime locals and first-time visitors. After 11 years, they’re still working hard to earn every customer, still experimenting with new beers, still figuring out how to make the experience even better.
“Just because we started a new thing, we’re not stopping the old work,” Andrew says. “We’re just working harder. Just working harder every week if we can.”
For a brewery that started with board games in a living room, that work ethic—paired with genuine care for their community—has built something that feels less like a business and more like Kalamazoo’s really cool living room. And the door is always open.
