Kishwaukee Brewing Company
1900 Dillard Court
Woodstock, IL
KishwaukeeBrewing.com

History in short: Dan Payson, founder and head brewer, learned his craft in Seattle, and he’s quick to acknowledge the profound effect the Pacific Northwest had on him. 

“The Seattle beer scene was a big influence for both of us,” Dan says of himself and his wife, Cara, who are about to celebrate Kishwaukee’s fourth anniversary this fall. “From West Coast IPAs to traditional German-style lagers, barrel fermentation and learning about cultures. We really learned to favor clean, traditional beer styles out there.”

After moving his family to the Midwest, Dan helped launch two of the area’s better brewpubs as brewmaster, becoming an award-winner himself before deciding to open his own thing. And the bonus is that Dan’s architecture degree and six years of experience in the field made it possible for him to lead the design and hands-on construction for Kishwaukee’s initial buildout. And the result is stunning.

“Our venue has a simplicity in its structure with the beams and clean lines, and our beers are made much the same. We don’t have to overdecorate… we just let the right things shine through.”  — Owner Dan Payson

“Our venue has a simplicity in its structure with the beams and clean lines, and our beers are made much the same,” Dan tells us. “There’s a sense of commonality there. We don’t have to overdecorate… we just let the right things shine through.”

Speaking of which, the patio is a great place to try out a flight and watch the sun set. And Kishwaukee is ideal for groups and events as well, as evidenced by the birthday parties, post-golf hangouts and paint-and-sip outings we’ve witnessed on recent visits. 

Interesting notes: Not only does Kishwaukee have some great regular specials (like Thirsty Thursdays with $5 pints) and events, but one clear observation is how Cara, Dan and the bartenders know most of their patrons by name. It doesn’t take noticing the Knights of Columbus plaque on the wall to appreciate that Kishwaukee has a serious attachment to the local community. A lot of the staff are local educators too. “They’re just better at dealing with slightly older kids,” Dan says with a laugh. 

Kishwaukee will have four new bottle releases this fall, including their Great Horned barrel-aged imperial stout. It’s got a heavy malt body and sat atop a bed of cocoa nibs from Ethereal Confections before being aged in Koval Distillery bourbon barrels for nine months.

What we’re drinking: Full disclosure, Kishwaukee’s Bufflehead brown ale — which one the silver medal at the 2023 World Beer Cup — is one of the best beers we’ve had in recent memory. With hints of caramel and toffee, it’s an American-style brown ale that carries a more robust body and hop character than English versions. 

Their easy-drinking Sandhill lager is a popular flagship beer, and we were delighted to discover they made the decision to have their beautifully malty Marzen on draft year round (and in cool mugs). We’re selfishly hoping this becomes more of a trend with Illinois breweries.

“To be honest, the Marzen is one of my favorite styles, and it continues to be one of my best sellers year round,” Dan tells us. “And it’s a great segue into craft beer for people. It’s so approachable for 99 percent of beer drinkers out there.”

Kishwaukee’s lighter Festibier, which mimics what is sold in Munich, just went on tap in mid August and should be available through the fall. We also enjoyed the crisp and refreshing Birdie Blonde ale, the floral and dry Belgian-style saison, and the Pollinator Doppelbock, which has layered notes of toasty bread and dark fruit. 

Local food trucks, serving everything from paninis to tacos and pizza, are the norm here, typically setting up shop Wednesday-Sunday each week. 

On the horizon: Kishwaukee will have four new bottle releases this fall, including their Great Horned barrel-aged imperial stout, which figures to be the highlight, in November. It’s got a heavy malt body and sat atop a bed of cocoa nibs from Ethereal Confections in Woodstock before being aged in Koval Distillery bourbon barrels for nine months. The Loro Lima Mexican-style lager with lime and salt, Woodpecker red ale and Birdie Blonde will be bottled as well. 

The last weekend in October will be their four-year anniversary, which should include some Skaraoke for Halloween, so stay tuned. 

We appreciate that Cara and Dan think outside the box and think about other businesses to incorporate unique events and bring the community together. … It’s very much our go-to place because you feel like you’re part of the family.

From the patrons: “We appreciate that Cara and Dan think outside the box and think about other businesses to incorporate unique events and bring the community together like trivia nights, charcuterie boards, paint-and-plant events, etc. It’s not just about their business, but a lot of McHenry County businesses.”

“We live nearby and it’s very much our go-to place because you feel like you’re part of the family. And I hear that from a lot of people. It’s really comfortable, almost like your own backyard. You’re always going to run into a neighbor or a friend… or make a new one. And Dan is making the best beer anywhere around. We’ll go to Wisconsin, all over Illinois, and we always feel like this is the best, most consistent beer.”  

— Jim and Sean

From the brewery: “We’re proud of being here for four years and the support of the community and winning at the World Beer Cup a year ago. We’re all about making traditional-style lagers and ales. We don’t really mess around with putting donuts or pumpkin spice in our recipes.” 

— Dan Payson