Macushla Brewing’s patio

Brad Pulver
Macushla Brewing
Glenview, IL

The last really good beer I drank was…

Bell’s Brewery’s Two Hearted IPA. We took the kids out to Shabbona Lake State Park out near DeKalb. We did a fishing and camping trip, and it just hit home. It’s a great beer and a classic pale ale.   

What fellow Illinois breweries and specific beers have impressed you lately?

When I first moved to the Chicago area a little over a decade ago, this little Walgreens across the street from my apartment carried Church Street Brewing‘s beers, and their helles lager called Heavenly Helles was awesome. I was super excited to find a local craft beer so close to where I lived. They had a great lineup then, and it’s even better now. It’s so cool to see the market moving back in that direction of lighter lagers and more traditional styles. And well-made versions with a richer malt profile with more depth and character.

Church Street’s Heavenly Helles is awesome. … It’s so cool to see the market moving back in that direction of lighter lagers and more traditional styles. And well-made versions with a richer malt profile with more depth and character.

What are you most proud of at Macushla?

We’ve produced some really good, clean beers and introduced some newer styles to the lineup while also maintaining the classic staples that have been here since Mike Welch opened the brewery. I’ve really enjoyed working on and producing the flagship beers they’ve had from day one and then expanding the lineup with some of our own creative things.

It’s been fun to talk to the regulars and see how proud they are of what we’re doing to carry on that tradition. And I hope to continue to make the locals happy and proud of the beers they’ve stood by, while also introducing some new beers and beer styles compared to what they’re used to.

I hope to continue to make the locals happy and proud of the beers they’ve stood by, while also introducing some new beers and beer styles compared to what they’re used to.

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

We have our Oktoberfest out now and a brand-new American wheat beer with a touch of orange peel called Golden Gurl that we’re excited about. We’ll also have bands scheduled for the patio well into the fall. It’ll be rocking out there for a bit longer.

On Wednesday, Oct. 29, we’ll be hosting a Mandala Pumpkin Paint & Sip event from 6-8 p.m., where you can paint your own pumpkin and enjoy a few beers (supplies included), and on Nov. 8 from 7-10 p.m., we have the acoustic duo of Scott & Sara in the taproom.