Clients in the News: Stout Collective celebrates 10 years

June 12, 2026

This year marks a decade in business for long-time creative partners and former studio mates, Stout Collective.

Back in 2016, a modest Wisconsin brewery was looking for a brand refresh, as they approached their fifth anniversary. Studio Malt teamed up with then “Matt Tanaka Marketing Co.” to tackle the task for Sheboygan’s 3 Sheeps Brewing. It would been of the initial projects of what would become Stout Collective, a brand strategy and design firm built for the beer industry.

Fast forward a decade, we’ve teamed up on several projects together including Ancillary* Fermentation, Elysian Brewing, Goose Island Beer Co, HOSTE Cocktails, Other Half Brewing and Salt & Straw–to name just a few.

In addition to being longtime collaborators, we were also studio mates with Stout for nearly 7 years, at 325 N. Hoyne Ave. in West Town, here in Chicago (& even co-hosted a beer festival there…).

It’s been a pleasure getting to work with and alongside Stout and their team over the years, and impressive to see what Matt Tanaka has grown from a one-person consultancy into a fully fledged team of consultants, marketers, and designers in just 10 years.

Cheers, Stout Collective, and here’s to the next 10+!

A snapshot from Stout’s 10th Anniversary party at Pilot Project Brewing.