Lincoln Slagel
Co-owner and head brewer
Emancipation Brewing Co. in Fairbury, IL
EmancipationBrewingCo.com

The last really good beers I drank: The first was the mosaic Double Daisy Cutter by Half Acre Brewing Company. I’ve always loved Daisy Cutter, and this beer is just as great. So much flavor in such a drinkable package. I also recently had a dry-hopped lager from Werk Force Brewing that took me by total surprise. I knew it would be good because they make amazing beer, but this lager didn’t get the recognition it deserved. Just awesome stuff.

I knew the dry-hopped lager from Werk Force would be good because they make amazing beer, but this lager didn’t get the recognition it deserved. Just awesome stuff.

What fellow Illinois breweries and specific beers have impressed you lately? The breweries that have impressed me the most lately have been the ones that either specialize and excel in one category, or ones that really spread out, making a wide variety of styles at a very high level. The ones that spring to mind are Goldfinger for specializing in and making some of the country’s best lagers, and Triptych and Old Irving Brewing for just nailing every style they make, from traditional styles to modern, fruity, hazy and adjuncted beers.

What are you most proud of at your brewery?

I’m most proud of the experience that our employees and our space provide for our customers. It’s truly unique, and the team has made it what it is. Within that, I’m proud that we offer a thoughtfully curated menu of offerings that always has specific purpose — to help craft beer drinkers on their craft beer journey, whether they’re looking to expand their experience with an obscure or historical style, have their first hoppy beer or first imperial stout, or simply drink something they are comfortable with and not feel judged.

I’m proud that we offer a thoughtfully curated menu of offerings that always has specific purpose — to help craft beer drinkers on their craft beer journey.

On top of that, we put just as much effort, care and planning into the obscure styles that maybe don’t sell as well as we do into the beers that top the sales list. I know that’s not unique, especially in Illinois where we’re spoiled with amazing beer of all styles, but it’s something we’re proud of.

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

Besides our occasional kölsch nights and monthly trivia nights, we’ve always got fun food vendors and special beer releases, like a Bordeaux barrel-aged amber lager, a pale ale made with fresh hops grown at our brewery in the Hop Yard, and a new hoppy lager featuring a super unique hop. Also, on February 8-11, we’ll be celebrating our five-year anniversary, so save the dates and come celebrate with us!