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Home›Inside Scoop›Inside Scoop: Welcome to Illinois Brewing — A new magazine, website and e-mail newsletter dedicated to the state’s vibrant craft beer scene

Inside Scoop: Welcome to Illinois Brewing — A new magazine, website and e-mail newsletter dedicated to the state’s vibrant craft beer scene

By Trent Modglin
September 9, 2022
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Welcome to Illinois Brewing! Wow, I must admit, I’ve been wanting to say that for some time. And now, thanks to the support of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild and its board members, it’s officially… official. A glossy quarterly magazine, website, monthly newsletter, social media, photography and — very soon — events. And we couldn’t be more excited to be partnering up. 

The goal of this project is simple: To inform, educate and entertain craft beer enthusiasts (as well as those with a more novice palate) and keep them in the loop with all that’s going on with Illinois’ vibrant craft beer scene. We will be distributing the magazine to nearly 300 breweries in the state, as well as more than 100 of craft beer stores and beer-centric bars, restaurants and events. IMBIBE members with the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild? Yep, you guys will get it too, right to your doorstep. 

While conducting “research” at some of my favorite breweries the last few years, my art director and I uncovered a void that needed to be filled like an empty pint glass at last call.

With 14 years of experience publishing a pair of Chicago-area entertainment magazines, I guess I could’ve been content there. But in conducting “research” at some of my favorite breweries the last few years, my art director, Brian Hertel, and I uncovered a void that needed to be filled like an empty pint glass at last call.

A craft beer enthusiast since tasting my first Left Hand Milk Stout after a long day of hiking with my brother in Colorado 20 years ago, I truly feel like a kid at Christmas when realizing how far this industry has come, especially right here in Illinois.

Breweries have the freedom to be as creative and bold as ever, with so much camaraderie and shared support that it feels like a unified passion project. The sky is the limit for sure. 

And that’s where Illinois Brewing fits in. A new magazine, website and email newsletter is coming your way to broadcast all the wonderful, innovative things local breweries are doing. Feature articles, interviews, brewery spotlights, event promotion, insider information and much, much more.

Find us on Facebook (@Illinois Brewing) and Instagram (@illinoisbrewing and don’t hesitate to sign up for our email newsletter here at IllinoisBrewing.com or just reach out to say hello or ask for more information on all we have planned. We can’t wait to get started. Cheers!

Sincerely,
Trent Modglin
Publisher
Trent@IllinoisBrewing.com

TagsIllinois BrewingIllinois Craft Brewers GuildIMBIBELeft Hand Milk Stout
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About us

Sponsored by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, Illinois Brewing is printed and distributed quarterly (early January, April, July and October) to more than 250 breweries across the state as well as more than 100 craft beer-focused bars, restaurants and stores. Each member of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild’s IMBIBE club also receives the magazine in the mail. 

Publisher/owner: Trent Modglin
Trent@IllinoisBrewing.com

Art director: Brian Hertel
Brian@IllinoisBrewing.com

Illinois Brewing's magazine, website and email newsletter are property of Venture Forth Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023.

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Stylish magazine, website and e-mail newsletter focused on the vibrant craft beer scene in Illinois. Sponsored by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild

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May 19

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The weather is here, and the patio at @uneannee Brewery in Niles is beckoning. So are the steak fajita tacos, on special Tuesday-Thursday. Pair them up with a One Hop Citra IPA, Twist of Wit or Lime Pils and you're set.

The weather is here, and the patio at @uneannee Brewery in Niles is beckoning. So are the steak fajita tacos, on special Tuesday-Thursday. Pair them up with a One Hop Citra IPA, Twist of Wit or Lime Pils and you`re set. ...

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May 16

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One of the more than 300 breweries, bottle shops, bars and festivals you can find a copy of Illinois Brewing is the award-winning @mikerphonebrewing in Elk Grove Village, where you can also pick up your summer passport from the @ilcraftbeer  Guild and some of the best hazy IPAs you'll find anywhere (and don't forget the uber-popular Italian pilsner called Mambo Italiano).

One of the more than 300 breweries, bottle shops, bars and festivals you can find a copy of Illinois Brewing is the award-winning @mikerphonebrewing in Elk Grove Village, where you can also pick up your summer passport from the @ilcraftbeer Guild and some of the best hazy IPAs you`ll find anywhere (and don`t forget the uber-popular Italian pilsner called Mambo Italiano). ...

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May 16

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Very happy to have the Main Street patio open for the season today in Park Ridge, with great beers from @arthistorybrewing @riverlandsbrewingcompany @brothership_brewing and @pipeworksbrewing

Very happy to have the Main Street patio open for the season today in Park Ridge, with great beers from @arthistorybrewing @riverlandsbrewingcompany @brothership_brewing and @pipeworksbrewing ...

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May 12

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From our current spring issue: 

Illinois Brewing Insider @jkbrewlife — owner of @hopdistrictbrewing — on the outstanding pilsners from @riverlandsbrewingcompany and @arthistorybrewing ... a fondness for @maplewoodbrew @orangenbrewtap and @littleowlsocialpub ... and looking forward to the return of his own seasonal gose made with fresh strawberry puree and Himalayan salt 

Read the spotlight now at IllinoisBrewing.com

From our current spring issue:

Illinois Brewing Insider @jkbrewlife — owner of @hopdistrictbrewing — on the outstanding pilsners from @riverlandsbrewingcompany and @arthistorybrewing ... a fondness for @maplewoodbrew @orangenbrewtap and @littleowlsocialpub ... and looking forward to the return of his own seasonal gose made with fresh strawberry puree and Himalayan salt

Read the spotlight now at IllinoisBrewing.com
...

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May 11

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Sunday, May 24th (12-9PM) is the ninth annual Main Street Craft Beer Festival hosted by @wehavegreatbeerpr and @theharpandfiddle 

With food, live music, a kid zone and most importantly… 100+ craft beers, it’s hard to think of a better way to kick off summer.

Sunday, May 24th (12-9PM) is the ninth annual Main Street Craft Beer Festival hosted by @wehavegreatbeerpr and @theharpandfiddle

With food, live music, a kid zone and most importantly… 100+ craft beers, it’s hard to think of a better way to kick off summer.
...

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May 10

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Q: What are you most proud of at @black_horizon_brewing ?

A: Most recently, our back-to-back gold medal wins for our gin barrel-aged botanical lager, From Earth to You, at @fobab (Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beers). Being a smaller brewery with only so much room and ability to barrel age beer, we put incredible dedication and love into our barrels and want to present something barrel aged that both long-time and new craft beer drinkers may never have thought to try. Our vision has always been “smaller beers in odd barrels” or a style you might never think to barrel age." 

Read more of our Q&A with Alex Stankus from Black Horizon at IllinoisBrewing.com

Q: What are you most proud of at @black_horizon_brewing ?

A: Most recently, our back-to-back gold medal wins for our gin barrel-aged botanical lager, From Earth to You, at @fobab (Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beers). Being a smaller brewery with only so much room and ability to barrel age beer, we put incredible dedication and love into our barrels and want to present something barrel aged that both long-time and new craft beer drinkers may never have thought to try. Our vision has always been “smaller beers in odd barrels” or a style you might never think to barrel age."

Read more of our Q&A with Alex Stankus from Black Horizon at IllinoisBrewing.com
...

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May 8

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The talented team at @oldirvingbrewing recently took over the role of brewing a pair of beers, the Billy Goat IPA and Billy Goat Pilsner, exclusively for the iconic Billy Goat Tavern — aka @cheezborger — and they’re now available on draft at Old Irving’s taproom on the city’s NW side and all seven different Billy Goat locations across Chicago, as well as in canned 4-packs at your favorite beer store. 

For the pilsner, the goal was “something simple and clean and steeped in brewing tradition,” says co-founder and head brewer Trevor Rose-Hamblin. And, of course, a beer that would pair well with Billy Goat’s famous cheeseburgers. 

“For the IPA, we utilized classic hops like Columbus that will give piney and grapefruit-like flavors,” according to Rose-Hamblin. “We aimed for a nicely balanced bitterness that keeps you wanting more.”

The talented team at @oldirvingbrewing recently took over the role of brewing a pair of beers, the Billy Goat IPA and Billy Goat Pilsner, exclusively for the iconic Billy Goat Tavern — aka @cheezborger — and they’re now available on draft at Old Irving’s taproom on the city’s NW side and all seven different Billy Goat locations across Chicago, as well as in canned 4-packs at your favorite beer store.

For the pilsner, the goal was “something simple and clean and steeped in brewing tradition,” says co-founder and head brewer Trevor Rose-Hamblin. And, of course, a beer that would pair well with Billy Goat’s famous cheeseburgers.

“For the IPA, we utilized classic hops like Columbus that will give piney and grapefruit-like flavors,” according to Rose-Hamblin. “We aimed for a nicely balanced bitterness that keeps you wanting more.”
...

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May 7

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Spotlight on @chaosbrewclub 

Spring issue Q&A with @jwhelp1 member director of this diverse group of talented and energetic homebrewers with their own 24/7 space — and plenty of events — in Chicago 

Read the spotlight now at IllinoisBrewing.com

And check out their Cinco de Mayo fundraiser event coming up May 9

Spotlight on @chaosbrewclub

Spring issue Q&A with @jwhelp1 member director of this diverse group of talented and energetic homebrewers with their own 24/7 space — and plenty of events — in Chicago

Read the spotlight now at IllinoisBrewing.com

And check out their Cinco de Mayo fundraiser event coming up May 9
...

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May 6

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BEER OF THE WEEK
Cross Pollination double NEIPA
8.0% ABV
@phasethreebrew 

Brewed in collaboration with Villa Park’s @standardmeadery this hazy double IPA 3 features big, juicy grovestand orange and tropical notes finished with a sweet kiss of orange blossom honey. Catch Cross Pollination on draft and in to-go 4-packs at Phase Three’s Lake Zurich and @phasethreebrew.elm locations now.

BEER OF THE WEEK
Cross Pollination double NEIPA
8.0% ABV
@phasethreebrew

Brewed in collaboration with Villa Park’s @standardmeadery this hazy double IPA 3 features big, juicy grovestand orange and tropical notes finished with a sweet kiss of orange blossom honey. Catch Cross Pollination on draft and in to-go 4-packs at Phase Three’s Lake Zurich and @phasethreebrew.elm locations now.
...

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May 6

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If you find yourself in Madison, Wisconsin this spring or summer, do yourself a favor and swing by @karben4brewing 

Tasty beers, friendly place and a seriously spacious patio (photo only covers half of it).

If you find yourself in Madison, Wisconsin this spring or summer, do yourself a favor and swing by @karben4brewing

Tasty beers, friendly place and a seriously spacious patio (photo only covers half of it).
...

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May 1

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Brewer’s Choice from our spring issue: Q&A with @black_horizon_brewing owner/head brewer Alex Stankus on the new @blumeandferris pub ales, rye beers from @werkforcebrewing and @arthistorybrewing as well as ramping up his own lager program and Black Horizon’s upcoming Pickle Fest and nine-year anniversary luau 

Read it all here: IllinoisBrewing.com

Brewer’s Choice from our spring issue: Q&A with @black_horizon_brewing owner/head brewer Alex Stankus on the new @blumeandferris pub ales, rye beers from @werkforcebrewing and @arthistorybrewing as well as ramping up his own lager program and Black Horizon’s upcoming Pickle Fest and nine-year anniversary luau

Read it all here: IllinoisBrewing.com
...

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Apr 30

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Inside Scoop: The @ilcraftbeer annual Beer Under Glass event in @millennium_park kicks off @ilcraftbeerweek May 8

Read all about BUG, the Drink Illinois passport program, Craft Beer Week pint glasses and more now in the Inside Scoop section at IllinoisBrewing.com

Inside Scoop: The @ilcraftbeer annual Beer Under Glass event in @millennium_park kicks off @ilcraftbeerweek May 8

Read all about BUG, the Drink Illinois passport program, Craft Beer Week pint glasses and more now in the Inside Scoop section at IllinoisBrewing.com
...

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Apr 27

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A trio of the 350+ locations you can find a copy of our spring issue is Beer on the Wall — @wehavegreatbeerpr @wehavegreatbeereh and @wehavegreatbeerah — where you can always find a great selection of cans to go and craft beer on draft. Don't sleep on the variety of liquor or THC selzters either. 

Enjoyed recently:
1. 28 Months Later barleywine from @oldirvingbrewing 
2. Mana Wahine tropical stout from @phasethreebrew 
3. Join us in Creating Excellence (JUICE) double NEIPA from @narrowgaugebeer 
4. Herbasaurus West Coast double IPA from @phasethreebrew

A trio of the 350+ locations you can find a copy of our spring issue is Beer on the Wall — @wehavegreatbeerpr @wehavegreatbeereh and @wehavegreatbeerah — where you can always find a great selection of cans to go and craft beer on draft. Don`t sleep on the variety of liquor or THC selzters either.

Enjoyed recently:
1. 28 Months Later barleywine from @oldirvingbrewing
2. Mana Wahine tropical stout from @phasethreebrew
3. Join us in Creating Excellence (JUICE) double NEIPA from @narrowgaugebeer
4. Herbasaurus West Coast double IPA from @phasethreebrew
...

10 0
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