Joel Hatlin, head brewer
Mickey Finn’s Brewery
Libertyville, IL

Q: The last really good beer I drank was…

A: Two that always do it for me: 1.) Bodhizafa from Georgetown Brewing (Seattle, WA). It’s always been good, but it just keeps getting better. I had a few last harvest, and they dropped my jaw. Legendary stuff.

2.) Whatever was fresh at Everywhere (Orange, CA) last time I stopped through there. Everything they make is great. It’s one of the very few breweries in the country that is absolutely worth the hype, and as good as their beer is, their brand is even better. They are so far ahead of the curve. They live in the future.

It’s awesome that Phase Three is taking over the former Metropolitan Brewing taproom at Rockwell on the River. Great location, and I’m really excited to have a pint there again.

Everywhere

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

A. Three that are doing cool things right now: 1.) It’s awesome that Phase Three is taking over the former Metropolitan Brewing taproom at Rockwell on the River. Great location, and I’m really excited to have a pint there again. 2.) I am always super impressed by the can designs produced by Beth May for Roaring Table Brewing. Her aesthetic is great, and I always find her artwork so engaging. 3.) I’m eager to finally get to try some beer from the new Fenton Brewing Company out of Mundelein. Glad to see more brewers opening up in the northwest suburbs.

Roaring Table Brewery in NW suburban Lake Zurich

Q. What are you most proud of at your brewery?

A. I’ve worked for a lot breweries around the country and made beer on a lot of different systems, and in a way, making beer at Mickey Finn’s is a bit like riding a single-speed bike to work when everyone else drives a convertible. The reality buried underneath that metaphor is that it’s way more fun to ride a bike. It keeps you on your toes, and it forces awareness and perspective and choice. And if you’re paying attention, then there’s so much opportunity to become a better steward.

My obviously biased opinion is that we make beer that’s often as good as the best beer at any brewery in the country, and we do it with older equipment in a 109-year-old building. … How can you not be proud to be a part of that?

My obviously biased opinion is that we make great beer — beer that’s often as good as the best beer at any brewery in the country, and we do it with older equipment in a 109-year-old building. It takes a lot more effort, and it is for sure humbling, but how can you not be proud to be a part of that?

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

A. Libertyville’s Oktoberfest (Sept. 25-26) is coming up fast, and there’s always great food and fun stuff happening in our taproom (345 N. Milwaukee in Libertyville). Lots of family-friendly stuff (including a mini arcade) during the day, music on the stage at night. And football season is huge here; people get in early to grab a good spot to watch all the big games.

Mickey Finn’s patty melt