The Five Shores Brewing Story
Five Shores Brewing is the product of years of planning, dedication, and passion for craft beer — but the story is ultimately about embracing the unknown. Helmed by Oliver Roberts, an award-winning brewer from Ann Arbor, and Matt Demorest, a business owner and craft beer aficionado, Five Shores was hatched like so many breweries before it: over a couple beers. Matt and Oliver met at a critical juncture — Oliver was ready to take his brewing career to the next level in Northern Michigan, an area he had grown to love, and Matt had been searching for that elusive “perfect partner” to bring a decade-long dream to fruition. A business plan, some serious soul-searching, and several beers later, Five Shores Brewing broke ground in the historic Quonset building in Beulah, Michigan.
This brewery’s roots run deep in Michigan soil. We take inspiration from the water, the grain, and the steadfast people who call this place home. Five Shores is here to give you a place to explore and enjoy craft beer, escape from your inbox, and connect with friends and family. Because at the end of the day, a pint is only a pint unless it’s enjoyed in a place you love.
At every stage of life, there’s uncertainty. But there’s also a little bit of wildness and wonder in that uncertainty. Five Shores Brewing started as an idea, and we offer it to you now as a haven for connection, enjoyment, and relaxation. Every shore should be explored — especially the unknown ones.
Cheers,
Matt and Oliver
Oliver Roberts
Co-Founder // Brewmaster & Operations Manager
Oliver has been brewing beer for 17 years, spending the past 10 as Brewmaster for a startup brewery, which came to be known as Wolverine State Brewing Co., Michigan’s first all-lager craft brewery. Oliver designed and spearheaded the opening and operation of WSBC, Ann Arbor’s only production brewery, which, in 2017, was ranked the 27th largest brewery in Michigan by volume.
Oliver calls Northern Michigan home. He’s passionate about conserving the land and water and paying homage to this beautiful area — and its residents — in each and every Five Shores pint.
Oliver brews award-winning beer. In 2016, as Brewmaster at WSBC, he won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival, the largest beer competition in the U.S. The same year, one of his beers also won a bronze medal at the World Beer Cup, the largest and most prestigious beer competition in the world. In 2018, Oliver added a Silver medal and a Bronze medal from the Great American Beer Festival. His Gulo Gulo India Pale Lager was named a Top 25 Beer in the US by DRAFT Magazine. He also has earned many regional and local awards.
Matt Demorest
CO-founder
You may know Matt Demorest as a mortgage expert and all-around businessman, but you don’t really know him until you have a pint or split a hard-to-find special-release can with him. Matt is passionate about craft beer and the community surrounding it. He’s also passionate about running toward opportunities — even when those opportunities include a degree of uncertainty.
In 2014, with two young children at home and another on the way, Matt started a mortgage business (HomeSure Lending) with $3,000 in startup capital. The business grew to 7-figure annual revenues in under two fiscal years. The key was solid branding and consistent (honest) marketing and building systems to proactively manage the loan process.
Matt has been recognized as one of the Most Connected Mortgage Professionals in the country and one of the Next 40 Under 40 by National Mortgage Professional Magazine. But you’ll find that the titles Matt enjoys most are father of five, husband, and brewery owner.
