Whiskey Hill Brewing Co.

Don Hardy
Founder of the Chicago Area Microbreweries group on Facebook

Favorite breweries: With running a Facebook group with almost 20,000 members, this is a really difficult question. Whiskey Hill Brewing Co. is one for sure since I live in Westmont and I started this group 13 years ago, when it was Urban Legend Brewing there.

Church Street, Wolfden, Black Horizon, Skeleton Key as well, just to name a few. There’s no way I can pick out the best one. I always like to support the smaller to medium breweries, especially in my area. But I’m known to travel the country looking for a good beer.

Drinking tendencies: I am hopped out a bit right now, so I’ve gotten into fruity sours lately. It may just be permanent with the hops avoidance… we’ll see. In season, I like stouts too. I try a little bit of everything. I’m diabetic, so I’m usually good with two or three of the little taster sizes. But I always like falling back on a good lager or two.

Recent beers that have caught your eye: Black Horizon in Willowbrook has a tart cherry chocolate cordial stout called Pit of Doom that’s just outstanding. It’s like those candies you buy at Christmas. Honestly, it’s like drinking one of those, but it’s only 7.5%. They’re barrel-aging some right now (I hope for FoBAB next fall).

What are you looking forward to enjoying on draft this spring/summer: Anything refreshing. A lot of times, I’ll go back to lagers or helles lagers, especially Goldfinger’s or Church Street’s. I always look forward to going to the Mayfestiversary celebration that Dovetail and Begyle put on every Memorial Day weekend on Chicago’s north side.

In the spring and summer, I’ll go back to helles lagers, especially Goldfinger’s or Church Street’s. I always look forward to the Mayfestiversary celebration that Dovetail and Begyle put on every Memorial Day weekend on Chicago’s north side.

Best brewery you’ve hit on vacation: Xul Beer Company out of Knoxville, Tennessee. They make what’s called PB&J Mixtape that tastes exactly like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and they go through it so quickly. They have two different taprooms on opposite ends of town. I just like the way the brewery is laid out. They also have a nice outdoor area with a band shell and lots of live music.

Hop Station in Mishawaka, Indiana

Favorite beer bar: I just went to one in Mishawaka, Indiana called Hop Station. People kept bugging me about swinging in there, so I finally did and it was great. They must’ve had 40 beers on draft. There’s also a restaurant called Driftwood Grille in Oak Brook Terrace that has at least 20 or more local craft beers, especially from the Chicagoland area. It’s modern and rustic at the same time with some animals and fish on the wall and an old electronic Hamm’s waterfall scenoramic sign.

You can always find something you’re going to enjoy at Black Horizon in Willowbrook. Their selection is just that good, and it’s kind of tucked away, which makes it all the better.

Secret beer spot: Running a Facebook group of this size, it’s pretty hard to have a secret spot for beer anywhere, but I do like sneaking over to Black Horizon at odd hours to see what they’re pouring. You can go in there and always find something you’re going to enjoy. Their selection is just that good, and it’s kind of tucked away, which makes it all the better.