Beau Ingledue
Partner at InsureTheBrewery.com

Favorite breweries: Whenever we venture down to the southern part of the state on our way to a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game or STL City soccer game, Old Herald Brewery & Distillery in Collinsville is our go-to.  In addition to their solid choice of beer, they have a great food menu and an outstanding atmosphere. In the recent past, they have added an impressive outdoor music venue that I look forward to enjoying on a future trip.

When in the suburbs, I always like to hit up Elmhurst Brewing for the similar reasons of great beer, food and atmosphere. Wolfden Brewing is also a fun spot when looking for an inviting outdoor setting.

Old Herald Brewery & Distillery

Recent beers that have caught your eye: Most recently while traveling in California, I came across Russian River’s Pliny the Elder on draft in a little Irish pub off the beaten path. It could have been the quality of the beer, or it could have been the surprise of the unexpected fortune, but either way it was a great experience.

Drinking tendencies: As with many, my preferences change with the season. As we enter fall, I always enjoy the German styles that come with Oktoberfest, such as a traditional fest beer or hefeweizen. Fall also brings storytelling around a campfire, which is when I gravitate towards a well-balanced pale ale like Half Acre’s Daisy Cutter or a Sierra Nevada pale ale. Or something a little darker like a Friends in Lomax Places dark lager from Forgottonia Brewing in Macomb or a stout like Printers Ink from Old Herald Brewery.

Forgotonnia Brewing

What are you looking forward to enjoying on draft this fall and winter: I am always on the lookout for a saison. It is a style that is a little harder to find, but when I do, I am always pleased with the unique interpretation each brewery approaches the style with.

Favorite beer bar: My favorite beer bar is not a single location, but rather a type, which is the unassuming establishment that surprises you by having a couple of unique finds on tap. I love the character of the buildings and the people inside. Fortunately, these types of bars are sprinkled throughout, and Illinois breweries are finding them to provide quality to their taps.

Burial Beer Co. music festival

Best brewery you’ve hit on vacation: A few years ago, I had a business trip to Europe that my wife could join me on. Coincidently, the business trip ended at the same time Oktoberfest was starting, so we took the short flight to Munich to take in the sights, sounds and flavors for the opening weekend of the 16-day event. The fairgrounds where the various breweries set up was incredible, the people were friendly and the food and beer were plentiful. We look forward to returning again in the future.

A little closer to home, I would have to lean towards the many breweries of Asheville, N.C. There are many within a close proximity, so stopping into several makes for a great day. Burial Beer Co. and New Origin Brewing Company stood out as favorites. For an impressive experience, visiting both Sierra Nevada and New Belgium was a lot of fun.

Secret beer spot: I have to say one of my favorite places to have a beer is at the trailhead with friends following a few challenging miles on the  mountain bike. Knowing a refreshing beverage awaits at the end of the ride provides motivation for the climbs and feels like a well-earned reward when the destination is reached. It often turns into a bottle share in the parking lot. For these occasions, it is hard to beat a hazy IPA.