DAN ABEL
Founder Pilot Project Brewing
Age : 37 First Industry Job : Pilot Project Brewing Favorite Drink : An after-dinner espresso , a crisp Standard Goods lager or a bold California red
While most industry veterans get started in beverage alcohol by working their way from the bottom up , Dan Abel took the plunge by cofounding Pilot Project Brewing .
“ The concept was inspired by my career in music , and technology focused on empowering creatives across music at YouTube ,” he says .
This influenced him to bring a similar platform to the beverage industry .
Pilot Project Brewing is a brewery incubator , tasting room and restaurant with locations in Chicago and Milwaukee , WI . This project aims to help support brewers in the industry , serving as a launch pad for start-up breweries and helping with product scaling , marketing , distribution and more , according to the website .
After living in seven area codes , traveling as a musician and working four different jobs , Abel landed in the beverage alcohol space with Pilot Project in August 2019 . Just over five years later , Abel employs more than 130 employees and has grown the business 2,800 % — reaching $ 12 million to $ 14 million in revenue in 2024 .
Success hasn ’ t come easy for Abel , however . “ Imposter syndrome is very real ,” he says . “ It ’ s one that many of us experience , and I ’ ve established my career across three different industries ( music , technology , beverage ), so it ’ s easy to often feel like the odd one out .”
His advice ? Gamifying everything and living by his calendar .
“ In my eyes , the difference between a mission and a goal is that a goal is measurable ,” Abel says . “ Once I establish any goal , I force myself to create a framework ─ — even a simple one ─ — for holding myself accountable .”
Today , Pilot Project has launched 20 businesses , is distributed in three states and has won numerous awards and accolades — all with Abel ’ s help .
BRYCE FAUCHEAUX
Beverage Director Justine Brasserie
Age : 33 First Industry Job : Interning for Master Sommelier Christopher Miller at République ’ s wine cellar in Los Angeles Favorite Drink : Clover Club ( I ’ m a raspberry fanatic )
A New Orleans native , Bryce Faucheaux broke into the world of wine at a young age and has quickly risen to the ranks of the industry . He currently holding the city ’ s highest sommelier accreditation .
Now serving as beverage director at Justine in the New Orleans French Quarter , he owes much of his early success to the widespread but close-knit network of the wine community , where he believes the “ pay it forward ” mentality is alive and strong . In the five years Faucheaux has been with Justine , he ’ s been as promoted from floor sommelier to wine buyer / educator , to wine director , and to beverage director .
Faucheaux has made the wine program a core focus of the restaurant , from building a wine list with a French hyper-focus , to leading a wine team of sommeliers and incorporating wine-based cocktails into the beverage list .
During his first few years as a sommelier in New Orleans , people would frequently ask Faucheaux if he was even old enough to drink . “ I could tell that guests thought I was just some kid who wore a suit and tie and was full of it ,” he notes .
“ To this day , I sometimes get that question , but I look at this as a compliment and an opportunity to really impress these guests with knowledge . When people hear I am studying for the theory portion of the Master Sommelier Diploma exam , their whole perspective changes and my recommendations are trusted without fail .”
With a focus on education and inclusivity , Faucheaux believes that “ the best way to reinforce your own learning is to help other people with their journey .”
He also feels that New Orleans needs more sommeliers and wine professionals , and he ’ s been at the forefront of making the city more sommelier-centric .
8 2025 BEVERAGE INFORMATION GROUP 40 UNDER 40