Amanda Steinbraker
Church Street Brewing
Itasca, IL

Favorite breweries: Besides Church Street Brewing Co., I love my lager friends! Close to home we love Roaring Table and Buffalo Creek. When we are out and about, I always try and make it to Skeleton Key, Bubblehouse, Art History and Brother Chimp. In Chicago, Old Irving Brewing and Eris Brewery & Cider House are also some of my favorites, especially their kitchens.

Drinking tendencies: Lagers! But I am a sucker for sours too. No lactose, please. Old Irving has some of my favorites, besides Church Street, of course. I am a traditionalist at heart. I love my beer to taste like beer. Marzens I really could drink all year round if that was an option. Sours are like dessert — something tart and a touch of sweet always puts a smile on my face.

Recent beers that have caught your eye: Sean, our head brewer at Church Street, introduced us to Einbecker Ur Bock Dunkel, and I am in love! I am always on the hunt, so please send me recommendations. Brother Chimp’s bock is great, and their Marzen called Schimpansenfest is crushable.

What are you looking forward to enjoying on draft this winter: Oktoberfests, bocks and entering into the dark side of beers… malty and crushable. I will be drinking Church Street‘s Springbook Bock till it kicks. We did a collaboration with Itasca’s Nature Center with that beer, and it turned out great. Also, FoBAB this fall was such a great experience to try barrel-aged beers I normally wouldn’t try. Will County Brewing Company had one of my favorites — and also took second place for the barrel-aged lager category with their Barrel-Aged Mustachio!

I will be drinking Church Street’s Springbook Bock till it kicks. … Also, FoBAB this fall was such a great experience to try barrel-aged beers I normally wouldn’t try. Will County Brewing Company had one of my favorites — their Barrel-Aged Mustachio lager.

Favorite beer bar: Lunar Brewing Co. in Villa Park, hands down. The vibe is just so fun. Woody’s sports bar in Wood Dale has some fun specials too, and their food is delicious.

Secret beer spot: 1913 restaurant in Roselle. I grew up in Roselle, and my parents still live there, so I’m always in town. My background is in wine, and it is usually my go-to when beer is not on the menu. Lynfred Winery in Roselle is my home away from home — that’s no secret. However, when I want to go incognito, Consume in Lake Zurich and cocktails and wine at D&J Bistro in the same parking lot.

Best brewery you’ve hit on vacation: New Glarus Brewing Company is the reason I got into craft beer. My parents have a lake house close to the border of Wisconsin, so I have seen them grow into the brewery it is today. Breckenridge Brewery has the best scenery. I am always on the hunt for fun breweries while on vacation. Ohio has so many fun ones, too, that it’s hard to pick just one. Always open to try new beers!