Blume & Ferris Public House opening in Downers Grove
2201 Curtiss Street, Suite B in Downers Grove
BlumeAndFerris.com

Expected opening date: Late January 2026, pending approvals and inspections.

Q. What should people expect?

People should expect an authentic Irish pub experience with high-quality pub ales and lagers brewed on site. I’m from Ireland, the bar came from a joinery close to home, and my partner, A.J. Blume, has years of experience brewing in a professional capacity. Everything we do will be as close to a genuine Irish country pub as possible.

Q. What are you most looking forward to?

We’re most looking forward to combining the pub feel with a brewery background, and then inviting people in to see what we’ve come up with. We think we have something pretty unique and special and can’t wait to show it off.

Q. What’s on the horizon?

St. Patrick’s Day for sure, but what that looks like at the moment is a little unknown. As for beer, we plan to have, as you may expect, a draft stout served with nitro, a red ale (I’m from County Kilkenny, where Smithwick’s originates from) and an Irish lager similar to Harp. We’ll also have pale ales, IPAs and more, but will consider the first three our flagships.

— Micheal Ferris, co-owner of Blume & Ferris Public House

Analytical Brewing expands to Peoria’s Warehouse District this winter

510 W. Main Street in Lexington
825 SW Adams Street in Peoria
AnalyticalBrewing.com

Expected opening date in Peoria: Late January 2026

Q. What should people expect?

A comfortable and inviting taproom located in the heart of the Peoria Warehouse Historic District. Our warehouse location will include a larger variety of Analytical beers on tap than our flagship Lexington location, along with a full lineup of wines, spirits and craft cocktails. A major upgrade at the Peoria location is the addition of a curated food menu to go alongside our beers. This location will also feature a large private event space perfect for parties and corporate events.

We are looking forward to finishing out our beer garden space. … It will be a great spot for enjoying live music, playing games and just hanging out.

Q. What are you most looking forward to? 

Joining a vibrant and energized scene in downtown Peoria and the Warehouse Historic District. The area is growing into a premier destination to live, work and play here in Illinois, and we look forward to becoming a part of the community.

Q. What’s on the horizon?

We are looking forward to finishing out our beer garden space. It’s one of the largest outdoor patio spaces in the area and will be a great spot for enjoying live music, playing games and just hanging out.

— Brian Graves, co-owner of Analytical  Brewing

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery taking over former Two Hound Red space in Glen Ellyn
486 Pennsylvania Ave. in Glen Ellyn
2717 N. Maplewood in Chicago
MaplewoodBrew.com

Expected opening date: Early spring 2026

Q. What should people expect? 

We plan on bringing a similar feel of our existing neighborhood taproom in Chicago, but refined, and focused for the larger setting. In addition to our beers, spirits, cocktails and seltzers, we will have a full food menu designed by our current chef. This will include a few staple items from our Logan Square lounge menu, a selection of many new elevated offerings, and pizza. We are completely renovating the space to include more windows, a garage-style glass door for service to a new patio, and new furnishings throughout.

Q. What are you most looking forward to? 

We are excited to bring world-class beer, spirits, cocktails, unique food and outstanding hospitality to the western suburbs, and become part of the local community. This will give us an opportunity to reach more folks and allow a new customer base to see what Maplewood is all about.

Q. What’s on the horizon?

While we are always coming out with new products, we are going to release a new seasonal in early 2026 called Beebock, which is a bock lager brewed with honey produced from acacia blossoms in Colombia, specifically selected to complement the malt profile. We are also planning to launch a new IPA-focused variety pack. Lastly, our annual Pulaski Day party at the Logan Square lounge is set for Monday, March 2, so mark your calendars.

— Adam Cieslak, founding brewer and CEO of Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

We plan on bringing a similar feel of our existing neighborhood taproom in Chicago, but refined, and focused for the larger setting. … We are completely renovating the space to include more windows, a garage-style glass door for service to a new patio, and new furnishings throughout.