Spring issue question: What is the most underrated craft brewery in Illinois? 

“White Oak Brewing down in Normal. Scott and his team are consistently doing awesome beers. We’ve collaborated with them on a beer and scheduled to do another one. I don’t know if it’s mid-state thing or whatever, but I don’t feel like they’re getting as much noise as they should. Just awesome, all-around good beers.

Also, Triptych Brewing in Savoy near Champaign. Anthony (Benjamin) is a really smart guy when it comes to brewing. He makes technically excellent beers. That’s been my experience. You can tell a lot of thought goes into what he’s doing.”

— Lane Fearing, co-owner and head brewer of Roaring Table Brewery

“Sew Hop’d Brewery in Huntley has a good ambiance and fun events going on all the time. It’s pretty unassuming because you wouldn’t know it’s that big or nice of a space. And good brews, of course. We went there in the summer, and I loved their helles lager. It was super refreshing.”

— David Bonarek

Hopewell’s beers are just perfectly executed. … They put their own twist and character into everything without detracting from what a particular style should be.”

“The Lucky Monk in South Barrington for me. It’s a huge space, and lots of events are always happening there. I don’t think enough people know about it. I’m a big food person, and they have great finger foods that pair well with different beers. Lots of shareables and good pizzas.”

— Christine Szewczyk 

“I would say Hopewell Brewing Company in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. Their beers are just perfectly executed and, at the same time, they’re uniquely their own. They put their own twist and character into everything without detracting from what a particular style should be.” 

— Tom Scalzitti

“Werk Force Brewing Co. in Plainfield. Our home brew club had a pub crawl, and this was our first stop. They have amazing West Coast IPAs and lagers, which appeal to me with those two. I was very impressed.”

— Tom Hayosh

“Sundial Brewing & Blending in Barrington would be mine. They’re quite new, and they have a really good Vienna lager and a farmhouse IPA that’s fabulous. You wouldn’t know they have only been open since last July.”

— Rich Jansen

Sew Hop’d in Huntley has a good ambiance and fun events going on all the time. It’s pretty unassuming because you wouldn’t know it’s that big or nice of a space.”

“I would say Kinslahger Brewing Company in Oak Park. They were one of the first lager-only craft breweries in the Chicago area. They have a loyal following, but they don’t have much distribution. Their Baltic porter is still the best I have ever had, and I have tried different Baltic porters all across the country.”

— Luke Miller

Tighthead

“I’ve been going to Tighthead Brewing Company in Mundelein for quite awhile, and they’ve done a great job of adding on there. I like the atmosphere, you can bring your dog, and the casual beer fan can definitely find something they like there.” 

— T.C.

“I’m a big fan of Sketchbook Brewing Company in Evanston (and Skokie). It’s right next to where I volunteer, so afterwards we all go there to drink and play games. The bartenders are all really nice, and the beer is good. Orange Door IPA is probably my favorite.”

— M.K.

“Riggs Beer Company in Champaign. The hefeweizen is probably the second best I’ve ever had. They do some really interesting stuff. They’ve got some good standard beers, but they also rotate in some unique things too. It’s really good to have a solid German-style brewery in central Illinois.” 

— Tim Regnier

The Lucky Monk in South Barrington is a huge space, and lots of events are always happening there. … I’m a big food person, and they have great finger foods that pair well with different beers.”

“Artesia Brewing in Iroquois County is overlooked because of their location, but it’s a great brewery in the country, it’s family friendly and pet friendly, they have a wide variety of beers, and the owners and staff are super.

Knack Brewing & Fermentations in Kankakee is overlooked too because it’s further from most people, but they also have great staff, a nice atmosphere, and they’re making the best beers in the area.

Emancipation Brewing Company is a great brewery out in the country (Fairbury). It’s hard to beat a nice sunset out there. Family friendly and dog friendly as well, with really good beers and a nice atmosphere.”

— Ben Schuler

Sketchbook

“I will say that I have always been such a huge fan of Phase Three, but they’re far beyond the underrated tag now. So for me, Sketchbook Brewing Company is it. I used to work with one of their head brewers, and I knew then how good he was. I used to live nearby in Rogers Park and would go to their Evanston taproom a lot. I don’t get there now as much as I would like, but Insufficient Clearance IPA is one of my favorites.”

— Matt Martin, taproom supervisor at Great Central Brewing 

Roaring Table doesn’t get enough love for what they’re doing. They’ve gotten hardware at awards ceremonies, but the day-to-day beer drinker probably doesn’t know them as well as the industry folks.”

“Roaring Table Brewing Co. doesn’t get enough love for what they’re doing. They’ve gotten hardware at awards ceremonies, but the day-to-day beer drinker probably doesn’t know them as well as the industry folks. The classic craft beer styles are on point, but it’s in the farmhouse/saison/Brett beers where they really shine.”

— Zach Gelfand, CEO of Tonality Brewing Company

“White Oak Brewing is a fantastic brewery out of Normal. They don’t distribute to the Chicago burbs, so if you haven’t been there, or Bloomington-Normal, you’ve likely not had them. They brew a great variety of beers, and personally I really enjoy their lower ABV stuff. They’ve recently expanded their tap system too. The brewery itself is kind of on the outskirts of town, and Craig (IYKYK) is my favorite beertender ever! Just all around a great vibe, and our favorite place to revisit when we’re down there.”

— Kelly Gordon

“Kishwaukee Brewing Company in Woodstock I feel doesn’t get the love they deserve. Their lagers and pilsners are outstanding, as is their Pollinator doppelbock.”

— Bill Wright

The flavors at Triptych are always perfect for whatever style you’re enjoying. If they were a Chicago-area brewery, they would be talked about as one of the top ones in the state.”

“Triptych Brewing. The quality in every sip is unmatched. The flavors are always perfect for whatever style you’re enjoying. If they were a Chicago-area brewery, they would be talked about as one of the top ones in the state.”

— Waylan Simpson

“BubbleHouse Brewing Company out of Lisle. I visit there when I go to the Morton Arboretum. The taste and clarity of the beer is delightful. There’s a variety of selections for anyone who visits, and the glassware is also sparkling clean.”

— Demi Grounds

Roaring Table

“Roaring Table Brewery out of Lake Zurich. Phase Three gets all the love and hype coming out of Lake Zurich, but Roaring Table, which is only a few minutes from P3, makes a wide array of styles that will please everyone. They even did a collab with P3 with a map on the can showing the route between each brewery. Recently, they did a collab with Hopewell Brewing on a lupo lager and knocked it out of the park!”

— Grant Petersen

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Riverlands a few times, and with each experience, I’ve been greeted with exceptional brews. The atmosphere inside exudes warmth, and the immaculate outdoor seating area is particularly eye pleasing as dusk approaches.”

“Allow me to introduce you to a gem that I think flies under the radar. Nestled just a mile away from the vibrant, rebuilt downtown hub of St. Charles lies Riverlands Brewing Company, quietly tucked within a warehouse off Randall Road & North Ave. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Riverlands a few times, and with each experience, I’ve been greeted with exceptional brews. The atmosphere inside exudes warmth, with an eclectic mix of music filling the air, and the immaculate outdoor seating area is particularly eye pleasing as dusk approaches.”

— Evan J. Thomas

“Emancipation Brewing Co. in Fairbury. Their beers are solid, they usually have a variety of styles on tap, and sometimes have guest taps that are special pours. The big draw is their outdoor space. It’s spread out over a large area overlooking a farm that has some hop vines. Part of the outdoor space is covered, and there are fire pits too. Make sure the hours fit your trip before you go. And if you’re getting there via Pontiac, stop at ACRESinn in downtown Pontiac. Their food is really good, and you can grab a craft beer on draft or a latte for the drive home.”

— Brian Huntley

“Knack Brewing & Fermentations in Kankakee. High-quality beer, good variety of styles, and always at least two lagers on side pours. Friendly and knowledgeable staff too, and they have fun events fairly often. It’s only an hour from most parts of Chicagoland.”

— Nick Allen

“Kinslahger Brewing Company … from barrel-aged, limited-run specials to quaffable session brews and everything in between, they’re all solid. And the Baltic porter is exceptional. But so too is the richly colored rye lager called Chicago Common, and the two pilsners (Czech and “Berwyn style”) are both home runs. The taproom is unpretentious in an elegant way. It’s all about the beer.”

— Greg Neise

Analytical Brewing in Lexington is a very nice taproom/brewery that shows a serious commitment to the craft.

“I would nominate Analytical Brewing in Lexington. They have a very nice taproom/brewery that shows a serious commitment to the craft. I have found their beers to be well-made, and they have a fair variety on tap. … They seem to be thriving in spite of their location in a small, rural, mid-Illinois town.”

— Steve Emberson

“Ogle County Brewery in Oregon, Illinois. It’s only been around for a few years. I always hit them up on my birthday, and they make a rare pepper beer that doesn’t last long. Their flatbread pizza is top-notch!”

— John Erdmier

Art History

“Art History Brewing is absolutely fantastic. Not only do they put out phenomenal lagers while being in the shadow of other great lager breweries like Goldfinger, but they are another one of those breweries that nail every style they put out while having a great focus on traditional brews.

Werk Force Brewing Co. gets huge recognition for their big stouts, which are fantastic, but they excel with all styles. One of my favorite beers from them right now is their Really Decent Lager. Just an everyday light lager with more flavor than any domestic light lager, all while still coming close to price on draft.

I’d add Roaring Table Brewing Co. to the list, honestly for many of the same reasons. While they don’t like to brew it as much, they make the best sour IPA in the Midwest and the only one that comes close to Hudson Valley sour IPAs. Their Thatch Whistler ESB is probably my favorite beer they brew.”

— Nader Kardoush, owner of Beer Bazaar in Grayslake, IL 

“Energy City Brewing. They come up with some of the most interesting fruited sour flavor combinations and nail it every time. Each listed flavor can be distinctly noted in each of their brews. Pumpkin pie? You get specific flavors of pumpkin, graham crust and some cream. Their stouts are also terrific. Again, they manage to hit the flavor profile perfectly.”

— Andrew Kroll

“Another vote for Kinslahger Brewing Company. They are a pioneer of lager-focused craft brewing in the Chicago area (established in 2016) and have kept their flagship beers consistently available and delicious since their inception. Their brewers are creative — they typically offer weekly special brews, a special annual anniversary beer and a handful of other unique options such as the jalapeño pilsner — but also highly skilled, and it’s evident after a few tastes that their recipes have been thoughtfully developed. Their taproom is cozy and welcoming. They also offer a handful of snacks and other libations for non-beer drinkers. Their dunkel is malty and crisp and has been my favorite beer for eight years!”

— Kendall Santucci

Kinslahger