When you combine a passion for craft beer, a love of golf, and a visionary approach to brand-building, you get Links Brewing — the nation’s only golf-exclusive brewery. Based in Pittsburgh, Links Brewing has carved out a unique niche by creating exclusive beers tailored for some of the most prestigious golf courses in America, including the legendary Oakmont Country Club. Their journey is a case study in innovation, passion, and precision — and Deutsche Beverage + Process has been right there with them, helping engineer the equipment that powers their success.
A Niche Brand with a Big Mission
Links Brewing was born from founder Jeff Becker’s realization that golf, despite its carefully curated world of premium products and experiences, didn’t yet have its own dedicated beer. Inspired by the meticulously branded atmosphere at Augusta National, Jeff set out to fill the gap for a golf-specific craft beer. From humble beginnings with a 17-gallon home system, Links scaled steadily — first selling small batches, then moving into exclusive collaborations with top-tier golf courses.
The brewery’s mission? To brew unforgettable, high-quality beers exclusively designed for golf courses — with unique recipes crafted specifically for each club. They don’t just place a private label on an existing beer; they design recipes from scratch to reflect the personality and palate of each partner. Today, Links is on tap at over 19 golf courses, including Oakmont Country Club, where their flagship 1903 Ale has become their official beer, famously launched during the U.S. Amateur Championship. Links Brewing also has a core lineup of beers to complement their course-specific brews, which are also available for customers to purchase at their headquarters.
Brand Values That Drive Success
At Links Brewing, authenticity, exclusivity, and community are core values. Jeff, along with partner Kylie Shevchik, emphasize that they spend as much time refining their brand as they do their beer recipes. They believe that a great beer is only part of the equation — what matters just as much is the experience and the emotional connection their brand creates with golfers. That’s why they’re highly selective about partnerships, only creating in-house beers for clubs that share their standards and vision.
What Sets Links Apart?
Unlike many breweries, Links doesn’t aim for mass restaurant or bar distribution. Instead, they focus on becoming the beer of golf, building relationships with elite clubs and offering something no competitor can match: custom, club-exclusive beers. While other breweries might repackage an existing recipe, Links insists on crafting each beer to be a one-of-a-kind experience, available only at its partner course. This commitment to authenticity has not only set them apart but has inspired copycats across the country — though none with the same depth of integration into the golf world.
The Equipment Journey
When Links began looking for equipment to scale up, the journey started at the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC). “It’s an overwhelming experience when you’re just entering the brewing world,” Jeff recalls, describing how he collected brochures from every major manufacturer, including Deutsche. Over time, personal connections — particularly with Deutsche’s Fred, Tony, and Matt — deepened Jeff’s confidence that Deutsche was the right fit.
What made the difference? Jeff and Kylie highlight the engineering support Deutsche provided from the start. Weekly construction calls, detailed design recommendations, and hands-on problem-solving gave the Links team the confidence to scale from a 3.5-barrel system to a 7-barrel Deutsche brewhouse. They also appreciate that the system was designed with scalability in mind — allowing them to later upgrade fermenters or double-batch as demand grows, without redoing their infrastructure.
Why Choose Deutsche?
Jeff puts it simply: “The design phase was where Deutsche really stood out.” From the initial layout and engineering insights to helping avoid costly mistakes, Deutsche’s team became trusted partners — not just equipment suppliers. Kylie adds that many breweries don’t get this kind of hands-on relationship with their equipment provider, noting that the Deutsche team was available on every call and worked closely with them and their contractors to ensure everything ran smoothly.
And it’s not just the personal touch. Links has been thrilled with the quality and reliability of the equipment itself, from the brewhouse to fermenters to glycol and steam systems, everything has worked beautifully.
All-in with Middleby: How Links Uses Deutsche, Ss brewtech, and Wild Goose
For Jeff and Kylie at Links Brewing, their success story is closely tied to the Middleby Brewing & Distilling Solutions family. Beyond their custom Deutsche 7-barrel system, they also rely on an Ss brewtech pilot system — the same Ss brewtech professional line that helped them early on with their 3.5-barrel setup.
As Jeff put it, “We actually kept two of our 3.5-barrel Ss brewtech fermenters, and we still use them alongside the new Deutsche setup.” This allows the team to brew small batches, experiment with new recipes, and have more creative flexibility now that they’re no longer confined by the limitations of their old space.
On the packaging side, Links runs a Wild Goose Filling Gosling canning system.
Jeff says proudly, “We are all Middleby — through and through.” He values that, as they grow, they don’t have to deal with multiple vendors or complicated transitions: they can stay within the Middleby family and get the right equipment for every stage of their operation, from pilot brewing to full-scale production to packaging.
The shared engineering expertise across Deutsche, Ss brewtech, and Wild Goose means Links gets a seamless experience, backed by specialists who understand how each piece of the puzzle fits together — helping them stay focused on creating world-class, golf-exclusive beers.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Fun and Innovation
Now operating out of a larger space with more capacity, Links is excited to expand its footprint — not just locally, but nationally. They’re looking to partner with breweries in other golf-rich regions like the Carolinas, bringing their exclusive, golf-centered beers to top courses across the country. On the product side, the team is eager to use their newfound brewing flexibility to explore creative, experimental beers beyond their core lineup, making the brewing process as fun and dynamic as the game they love.
The Takeaway
Links Brewing’s success story is a masterclass in brand focus, customer experience, strong leadership, and smart scaling — and it’s been powered by Deutsche’s custom-engineered brewing systems every step of the way. As the only brewery dedicated solely to the world of golf, Links isn’t just making beer; they’re creating a one-of-a-kind experience on and off the course.
If you’re looking for equipment partners who understand your vision, guide you through the process, and deliver solutions built for long-term growth, Deutsche Beverage + Process is ready to help.
