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Brewer's Choice
Home›Featured Post›Brewery Focus›Brewer's Choice›Brewer’s Choice: Double Clutch Brewing’s Scott Frank on the unique vibe at his award-winning brewery, a fondness for Evanston neighbors Temperance and Sketchbook, and gearing up for a big Oktoberfest party

Brewer’s Choice: Double Clutch Brewing’s Scott Frank on the unique vibe at his award-winning brewery, a fondness for Evanston neighbors Temperance and Sketchbook, and gearing up for a big Oktoberfest party

By Trent Modglin
July 24, 2023
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Scott Frank
Head brewer at Double Clutch Brewing Company
2121 N. Ashland in Evanston, IL
DoubleClutchBrewing.com

The last really good beer you drank was…

I had a really good Maibock from Church Street recently that was given to me in a can by their sales rep. It had all the flavor profiles and an amber color that was darker than expected. I really enjoy that toasted Munich malt. It was a little high at 7.1% ABV, but I loved it.

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

The folks at Sketchbook Brewing Co. are super nice, and I go there often. I had their Helles lager called Level Par and it was very nice. I had their English mild there recently as well, and I always have to get the Snowy Owl, a red rye ale, when it’s on draft. 

I like Temperance Beer Co. too, where my go-to is called Smittytown, an English-style ESB. All of us in Evanston are spoiled to have a very supportive community. We all visit each other’s establishments and share ingredients and equipment frequently. 

Double Clutch is unique. The classic cars on display, the live music, the quality food. … It’s been a really cool experience the way the neighborhood has embraced us. It’s a legitimate bond, and that’s a testament to the environment we created.

What are you most proud of at your brewery? 

I would say the vibe we have. The warm and welcoming vibe that all the employees here helped create. It’s unique. The classic cars on display, the live music, the quality food. We had to change city ordinances in order to produce beer in the 5th Ward here in Evanston, and we’ve come a long way. It’s been a really cool experience the way the neighborhood has embraced us. It’s a legitimate bond, and that’s a testament to the environment we created. 

We also were able to bring home a couple silver medals for our helles lager and helles rauchbier at the Great American Beer Festival last October. And we won Brewery of the Year and Brewer of the Year in the smaller 250-barrel category because we hadn’t even been open a year at the time we had to submit our beers for judging. 

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

We have a popular amber lager Marzen and lighter Festbier for our big Oktoberfest party on Saturday, Sept. 23. We have all kinds of festive food, contests, three bands playing — highlighted by The Polkaholics. As a German brewery, we plan this party a year out, and it’s a lot of fun. The Marzen and Festibier will be on draft by the middle to end of August. Every year we have to brew more of each, and that’s a good problem to have. 

TagsChurch Street BrewingDouble Clutch BrewingESBEvanston breweriesGreat American Beer FestivalMarzenOktoberfestSketchbook BrewingTemperance BrewingThe Polkaholics
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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
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Art director: Brian Hertel
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Illinois Brewing's magazine, website and email newsletter are property of Venture Forth Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023.

illinoisbrewing

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

From our Brewer’s Choice section in new summer i From our Brewer’s Choice section in new summer issue: 

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

@burningbushbrewery head brewer Scott McElhenie: We recently brewed Da Pope, an American mild ale, in honor of the new pope, Pope Leo XIV, who is a Chicago native. People immediately loved the name, but were surprised to realize how much they also enjoyed the beer. We workshopped Da Pope as a lighter-bodied option that still offers notes more commonly found in darker styles to give some variety over the summer. It makes me laugh a little every time somebody says, “It’s actually good!” as if we would make a beer that didn’t taste good just for a cheesy name.

Read the spotlight now at IllinoisBrewing.com
Instagram post 18399803860117341 Instagram post 18399803860117341
The Streetz Artz Alliance Summer Art Bazaar return The Streetz Artz Alliance Summer Art Bazaar returns to Tinley Park’s @flipsidebrewing this Sunday, July 6 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The event with @streetzmobeatz will showcase 16 talented local artists in an intimate and vibrant setting inside the brewery’s taproom, perfectly paired with house-made smash burgers and fresh craft beer.

Shoppers can expect a wide and unique range of offerings — from handcrafted hot sauces, crocheted creatures, and original artwork to houseplants, tarot readings, skincare products, handmade jewelry, coffee, candles and even giant cookies.
Oh yes. The expansion continues. Oh yes. The expansion continues.
From our new summer issue... Brewer’s Choice: @b From our new summer issue...
Brewer’s Choice: @burningbushbrewery head brewer Scott McElhenie on @russianriverbrewingofficial living up to the hype, the @sturdyshelterbrewing sensational Paddlewheel porter, and naming a popular new beer after the Pope Leo XIV

“I just had a couple beers from Sturdy Shelter Brewing that really impressed me. … I have had a few porters in my life, but the Paddlewheel Porter was extraordinarily well crafted. The vanilla is well balanced with the darker malts so that you aren’t left with an overwhelming sweetness in the beer.”

Read it all now at IllinoisBrewing.com
If you haven’t tried the menu at @industryales i If you haven’t tried the menu at @industryales in downtown Chicago yet, prepare to be blown away. 

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From @oldirvingbrewing burgers and the @uneannee c From @oldirvingbrewing burgers and the @uneannee cave monster sandwich to @crustbrewing fish tacos and @morebrewing Indian dishes, we asked readers and industry professionals: What’s the best meal you’ve had recently at an Illinois brewery?

Read the Last Call section now at IllinoisBrewing.com
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Read the feature now at IllinoisBrewing.com
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Read the brewery spotlight at IllinoisBrewing.com
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Not a bad way to spend a summer evening.
Had a great time at the annual @illinoisbrewing go Had a great time at the annual @illinoisbrewing golf scramble earlier this week — with a tasty variety of beers from the likes of @hopbutcher @midwestcoastbrewing @blindcornerbeer @werkforcebrewing @reserveartisanales @alterbeer and more.

Also swung by for an interview with @brotherchimpbrewing for a feature in the summer issue. Now that’s a day.
Thanks to @maplewoodbrew for the invite earlier th Thanks to @maplewoodbrew for the invite earlier this week to get a sneak peek of their new kitchen and expanded taproom in Logan Square. Stellar smash burger, Pillowy Mellows NEIPA and In Dark Trees dark Czech lager. And a bottle of their finest bourbon to go. Look for more on Maplewood in the upcoming summer issue
Fun event alert: The fourth annual STC Six collabo Fun event alert: The fourth annual STC Six collaboration launch party is happening on Wednesday, June 18 at 5 p.m. at Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling in downtown St. Charles. 

The STC Six is made up of the following St. Charles breweries: @93octanebrewery @alterbeer.stc @brokenbrix_cidery @pollyannabrewingcompany @riverlandsbrewingcompany and D&G. The breweries invite everyone to join in on the celebration for a great cause with the first opportunity to taste the new beer — a West Coast pilsner with notes of citrus, tropical fruit and a touch of pine. 

This year’s collaboration supports the important mission of Support Over Stigma, a nonprofit helping veterans and first responders. For every beer and limited-edition glassware sold, $1 will be donated to the cause. Can’t make it to the event but want to contribute? You can visit any of the participating breweries to try the beer and purchase limited-edition glassware.

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Nice patio session catching up with old friends la Nice patio session catching up with old friends last night at @halfacrebeer on Chicago’s far north side. Really dug the Nebula Double Daisy Cutter hazy IPA, Persephone pomegranate kolsch and Second Setting imperial IPA. New supply of Illinois Brewing is there now too. Summer issue out soon.
Brewer’s Choice: Tom Beckmann @twbeckmann from @ Brewer’s Choice: Tom Beckmann @twbeckmann from @goldfingerbeer on tasty recent brews from @iswasbrewing and @suncatcherbrewing … the growth of his brewery and their fifth annual Lagerversary coming up July 18-20

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This is not an event to be missed from the @ilcraf This is not an event to be missed from the @ilcraftbeer Guild. Tomorrow, Friday, June 6 at @gallagherwaychi next to Wrigley Field. Not a bad backdrop, right?

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This Saturday, June 7 is the @keggrovebrewco annua This Saturday, June 7 is the @keggrovebrewco annual Summerfest + Pub Club Rotary’s BBQ Smoke Show 

Get ready for an unforgettable day of craft beer, mouthwatering BBQ and music. Summerfest includes plenty of live entertainment, food trucks, and craft beer from across Illinois. A portion of the proceeds will go toward providing supplies for local animal shelters, so every bite you take is for a great cause. Doors open at noon.

712 E. Empire Street in Bloomington. KegGroveBrewing.com
One of the nearly 400 locations across the state y One of the nearly 400 locations across the state you can grab a copy of Illinois Brewing is @hopdistrictbrewing in west suburban La Grange Park. Friendly staff, versatile space, community focused, great beer (try the 2 Week Vacation hazy IPA) and an underrated patio out back. 
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