About Whalers

Founded in 2011, Whalers Brewing Company is a project by Josh Dunlap and Wes Staschke. We proudly brew, can, and keg all of our offerings on site at our facility in the historic Palisades Mill campus located in beautiful Southern Rhode Island.

Josh Dunlap

Shortly after being honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps, and while working as a commercial fisherman, Josh decided to make good on a longstanding dream to start a brewery. Now he spends his days making beer, with an eye towards higher ABV, barrel aged, and hoppier styles.

Wesley Staschke

Wes started brewing in 2008 while attending college, and after graduating with an engineering degree, continued to develop new recipes at home. Moving to Rhode Island in 2013, he began working on his own brewery before joining the Whalers team. Wes favors lighter, more sessionable beers, as well as his growing love of hard seltzers.

Awards & Recognition

  • Drift - Pineapple Mango, 2024 Gold Medal
    Great International Beer, Cider, Mead & Sake Competition
  • Drift - Blueberry Lemon, 2024 Gold Medal
    Canned Challenge Competition
  • Rise, 2023 "Best American-style Pale Ale", US
    World Beer Awards
  • Rise, 2023 Gold Medal
    International Craft Competition
  • Muse, 2023 Gold Medal
    International Craft Competition
  • Drift - Cucumber Lime, 2023 Gold Medal
    International Craft Competition
  • Muse, 2023 Gold Medal
    Melbourne International Beer Competition
  • Drift - Cucumber Lime, 2023 Gold Medal
    Berlin International Beer Competition
  • 2023 "Rhode Island Brewery of the Year"
    New York International Beer Competition
  • Rise, 2023 Gold medal
    Concours International de Lyon
  • Muse, 2023 Gold Medal
    New York International Beer Competition
  • Drift - Cucumber Lime, 2022 Gold Medal
    Great International Beer, Cider, Mead & Sake Competition
  • Drift - Cucumber Lime, 2022 Gold Medal
    Melbourne International Beer Competition
  • Rise, 2022 Gold Medal
    Melbourne International Beer Competition
  • Rise, 2022 Gold medal
    International Craft Competition
  • 2022 "Rhode Island Brewery of the Year"
    New York International Beer Competition
  • Rise, 2022 Gold medal
    Concours International de Lyon
  • Rise, 2022 "Best American Style Pale Ale"
    World Beer Championships
  • Rise, 2021 Gold Medal
    Denver International Beer Competition
  • Rise, 2021 Gold Medal
    World Beer Trophy
  • Rise, 2021 "Best American-style Pale Ale", US
    World Beer Awards
  • 2021 "USA Brewery of the Year"
    Melbourne International Beer Competition
  • Rise, 2021 Gold Medal
    Frankfurt International Trophy
  • 2021 "Rhode Island Brewery of the Year"
    New York International Beer Competition
  • Rise, 2020 "USA Pale Ale Brewery of the Year"
    Asia International Beer Competition
  • Rise, 2020 "Pale Ale of the Year"
    Meininger's International Craft Beer Award
  • Rise, 2020 Gold Medal
    Frankfurt International Trophy
  • 2020 "Rhode Island Brewery of the Year"
    New York International Beer Competition
  • Rise, 2020 Gold medal
    Concours International de Lyon
  • Blockstar, 2019 "Best American Wheat Ale"
    Great International Beer, Mead & Cider Competition
  • Rise, 2019 "Best American-style Pale Ale", US
    World Beer Awards
  • 2019 "Best Brewery in Rhode Island"
    Rhode Island Monthly
  • Ranked 40th fastest growing US brewery, 2018
    Brewers Association
  • Rise, 2018 "Best American-style Pale Ale", US
    World Beer Awards
  • 2018 "Best Brewery in Rhode Island"
    Rhode Island Monthly
  • Ranked 11th fastest growing US brewery, 2017
    Brewers Association
  • 2018 "Small Business of the Year"
    Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce
  • 2018 "Rhode Island Brewery of the Year"
    New York International Beer Competition
  • Rise, 2018 Silver Medal
    Best of Craft Beer Awards
  • Rise, 2017-2018 "Five Star Beer"
    The Beer Awards
  • Rise, 2017 "Best Pale Ale" in the United States
    World Beer Awards
  • 2017 "Best Brewery in Rhode Island"
    Rhode Island Monthly
  • 2017 "Small Business of the Year"
    Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce
  • 2015 People's Choice "Best Brewery"
    Great International Beer & Cider Competition (RI)
  • "Best No-Frills Brewery"
    Yankee Magazine May & June 2015 issue
  • 2015 "Hidden Gem"
    Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce
  • 2014 People's Choice "Best Brewery"
    Great International Beer & Cider Competition (RI)