Quincy Brewing Company
110 North 6th Street in Quincy, IL
QuincyBrewingCompany.com

Wednesday: 3-9 p.m.
Thursday: 3-10 p.m.
Friday: 1-10 p.m.
Saturday: 1-6 p.m.

History in short: You could say it all started back in 2014 when, in reality, Tieraney and Josh Craig were “just in the process of looking for a new investment … and really enjoyed looking at old buildings.”

“We knew our brewer at the time and knew he had done some developmental research (into the possibility of opening a brewery),” Josh tells us. “But we had two young children at the time, and found ourselves saying no to three or four serious questions that needed a yes attached to them.”

Three years later, they heard from their brewer again. A building was available on 6th Street in downtown Quincy — three buildings actually, which they would overhaul into one parcel — and they realized they needed to move on it.

To start, they remodeled the apartments above the business to make sure there was some initial cash flow coming in. Then they set their sights on the major renovations needed in the space that would become the brewery. The issues were many, and “it would not have met a single inspection at that point,” laughed Tieraney. Filled with musty carpeting, fluorescent lighting, weakened drop ceilings, even random people living in it, the Craigs stopped counting at 40 large dumpsters getting filled.

But good news came from the renovation process. As they were pulling back the ugly parts, they also found a lot worth keeping, like original tin ceilings, classic wood features and exposed brick walls.

“In the end, it turned out to be a really good leap of faith, but it could’ve easily gone the other way,” Josh says. Quincy Brewing Company officially opened in October of 2019 with a large party.

Good news came from the renovation process. As they were pulling back the ugly parts, they also found a lot worth keeping, like original tin ceilings, classic wood features and exposed brick walls. … “In the end, it turned out to be a really good leap of faith.”

Interesting notes: The Craigs actually credit Covid with helping them bond with the community. During the shutdown, they were forced to sell 32-ounce crowlers of beer out of a window in the brewery to a line of patrons that would often stretch an entire block. “We heard from so many people who would say, ‘I’m so thankful you guys stayed open during Covid because being outside on your sidewalk was the only social interaction I had,” Tieraney says.

The brewery’s beer names are centered around the history of the city and surrounding area, and having been settled back in 1819 on the banks of the Mississippi River, it turns out there are a lot of stories to be told.

“We’re very proud to have been a big part of the changing of the culture downtown on 6th Street in Quincy,” Josh says. A big draw is the fire pit-laden beer garden out back, which is partially enclosed due to the apartment decks above.

The space: The building itself was chosen specifically because of its location on the now vibrant 6th Street, as business owners nearby were beginning to come up with creative ideas for family-friendly events, festivals, a pedestrian walkway, etc. “We’re very proud to have been a big part of the changing of the culture downtown on 6th Street,” Josh says. “It really is a great area with a lot going on.”

The Craigs repurposed a lot of the old lumber from the renovation, and all the brewery tables are made from original floor joists and lumber from the walls. A big draw is the fire pit-laden beer garden out back, which is partially enclosed due to the apartment decks above.

If you’re looking for TVs everywhere, this isn’t your place. Quincy Brewing boasts exactly one projector TV, and it’s really only turned on for the Bears or Missouri football and basketball games. They favor board games and good old fashioned conversation instead.

What we’re eating and drinking: Quincy Brewing recently released a new light lager called Great Debate that has garnered attention from regulars. Electric Cream Ale is an easy-drinking option with smooth vanilla and roasted coffee flavors. Villa K is an especially hoppy West Coast IPA bursting with waves of grapefruit, mango and orange. And don’t forget a new barrel-aged imperial stout called Dark River, which is made in conjunction with nearby Ghost Hollow Distillery (aged nearly a year in pecan rye barrels) and a nod to the town’s — and river’s — sometimes sordid past.

Quincy hosts a pizza truck on Fridays and Saturdays, and there are a number of nearby eateries (Southern comfort food, brick-oven pizzas, BBQ) from which you can order in.

On the horizon:

Also, with a lasting appreciation of historic buildings, the Craigs purchased a property in 2023 that sits behind the brewery. They recently finished major renovations, got their liquor license in November and plan on opening an event space called The Vault (it was originally a bank back in the late 1800s) that can hold at least 100.

From the brewery: “I would say our customers keep coming back for the sense of community. The beer is wonderful, but the connection between us and the people of Quincy, and the friendships we’ve formed, there’s really something special happening. … Our tapsters (our name for bartenders) are great too. They love our customers and are special people that bring that welcoming energy and warmth.”

— Owners Josh and Tieraney Craig