Erik Pizer
Owner/head brewer of Flipside Brewing
Tinley Park, IL 

Favorite breweries: It’s impossible to pick just one or even name just a few. Over the years I’ve made so many great friends with Illinois breweries, but Brando and the gang at Werk Force Brewing Co. are some of my closest friends, so I’ll have to shout them out here. Everything they make is just off-the-charts good. From the lightest of lagers like Ol’ Pile and Blues of Mexicali to the biggest barrel-aged Sleepy Bear stouts, they just have something for any mood I’m ever in.

I’m also partial to the other breweries right near me in the south suburbs: Hailstorm Brewing Co., Soundgrowler Brewing, Banging Gavel and Brothership Brewing. I’m lucky to have so many great spots within just a few minutes from Flipside. It’s great that we’re all pretty good friends and get to hang at each other’s taprooms often too.

Everything Werk Force makes is just off-the-charts good. From the lightest of lagers like Ol’ Pile and Blues of Mexicali to the biggest barrel-aged Sleepy Bear stouts, they have something for any mood I’m ever in.

Drinking tendencies: I’m a fan of beer in general, so I do tend to drink bit of every style. A High Life or other light lager is always a go-to for hanging out in the yard. Overall, I guess I’d say I’m partial to traditional English styles like mild and bitter. The balance of rich, biscuity, bready malt character with floral English hops and nice fruity esters from British yeast is just a combination I can’t pass up.

Recent beers that have caught your eye: Little Wing, the pilsner from Horse Thief Hollow, seems to be getting slept on. It won gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup this past year. It’s just an absolutely great beer that I don’t feel like enough people are talking about.

Everything I’ve had from Knack Brewing has been great too. They’re tiny and newer, and a little out of my area being in Kankakee, but Matt and Emily have a super fun space and are making some delicious beers.

What are you looking forward to enjoying on draft this spring?

I’m going to be a bit of a homer here, but I’m really looking forward to our Frogger Lager release this May. It’s a helles lager with lime added that we brew in collaboration with The Open Bottle as an homage to dodging traffic to run across the street to visit them here in Tinley Park. It’s super light, dry and refreshing, with just enough lime to add a hint of tartness while still being able to taste the helles that’s at its base.

Favorite beer bar in Illinois: It’s more of a family-friendly restaurant than beer bar, but Franklins Public House in Palos Heights always has a solid draft lineup. Being only a couple blocks from my house doesn’t hurt it’s cause either! And while I don’t get out too much and haven’t been there in a while, Rock Island Public House does everything right. They curate an amazing draft lineup and make some killer cocktails too.

The Open Bottle Bingo night

Secret beer spot: It’s not much of a secret spot, but I do love having The Open Bottle right across the street from Flipside. They do an awesome job of curating a great tap list and have just about anything you’d like to buy on their shelves. They’re also one of only a couple places outside of our brewpub that you can pretty regularly find Flipside beers.

I’m really looking forward to our Frogger Lager release this May. It’s a helles lager with lime that we brew in collaboration with The Open Bottle as an homage to dodging traffic to run across the street to visit them here in Tinley Park. It’s super light, dry and refreshing.

Best brewery you’ve hit on vacation: Vacation? What’s that? Actually, my family tries to get away to Sheboygan, Wisconsin at the end of the summer every year. We always make a point to hit 3 Sheeps Brewing when we’re up there. They have a pretty standard industrial taproom, but it’s family friendly, which is important to me when I have my kids around. Dog friendly too, so you’ll always be able to make a new friend. The beers are all solid, which makes it a great time whenever we’re in town.

3 Sheeps Brewing in Sheboygan, WI