Justin Curtis
Head brewer at Door 4 Brewing Co.
Decatur, IL
Door4Brewing.com

The last really good beer you drank was…

I had the opportunity to go to Asheville (N.C.) and do a collaboration with Eurisko Beer Company this winter. Zac had a killer pilsner that we drank off the tank all day. I’m also still a huge fan boy for Burial Beer Co. down there, and we got to sit and enjoy several beers there. They alway inspire me to dig deeper and go harder with our brand.

I also had a dark lager from Twisted Hippo at the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild convention in Bloomington this spring. That beer made me really happy of several reasons. It was clean and full of flavor, the style is under appreciated, and those guys have overcome one hell of a year.

What are you most proud of at your brewery? 

The overall quality of our beer is always on my mind. If I’m not our harshest critic, I don’t know who is. I’m never happy with anything that we make, but if I’m close, I know its OK. If the lagers are clean and crisp, and the hazy IPAs are big, juicy hop bombs with no off flavors, I’m proud of that.

I’m proud that we are craft-beer focused and not just a hype machine. Consistent quality builds loyalty. And loyalty is way more sustainable. I’m also super proud of the team here at Door 4. They all work really hard and take pride in even the most mundane work. We all know how hard that is to find right now.

“I’m proud that we are craft-beer focused and not just a hype machine. Consistent quality builds loyalty. And loyalty is way more sustainable.”

What fellow Illinois breweries and specific beers have impressed you lately? 

Phase Three stays on our guest tap list constantly. MORE Brewing and Old Irving Brewing Co. are on there a lot as well. If we could get Hop Butcher or Brothership Brewing, those are no brainers right now also. Probably no surprises there. We visited Evil Horse Brewing in Crete for a tap takeover this winter and had great time.

Noon Whistle has a lot to be proud of, and that hop water they are making is probably the best one I’ve had. We’ve been using it in a whiskey cocktail in our taproom.

Noon Whistle has a lot to be proud of, and that hop water they are making is probably the best one that I’ve had to date. We’ve been using it in a whiskey cocktail in our taproom. I’m also stoked to see what our friends at White Oak Brewing do this year after their recent expansion.

What do you have coming up that people should know about?

Summer is coming. When the weather is nice, we can open up the big garage door and easily double our capacity. Every Sunday is brunch, and every Thursday is open-mic night with Bob the Brewer. Oh, and more fresh IPAs and lagers, of course.