Morrison (left), along with Horse Thief Hollow’s Neil Byers and Jake Nelson

Andrian Morrison
Brewer and sales manager
Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Co.
10426 S Western Ave. in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood
HorseThiefBrewing.com

The last really good beer I drank was… Sgt. Reckless from Evil Horse Brewing, an American pale ale at 5.2% ABV. It’s got a fruity aroma and a sweet malt flavor with a well-balanced bitter finish. I also love the name — Sgt. Reckless was a Marine Corps war horse and, as a marine myself, I loved the homage to an American hero. I mean, who doesn’t love animals, and a badass one at that?

Hailstorm’s blueberry shandy

What fellow Illinois breweries and specific beers have impressed you lately?
Hailstorm Brewing never ceases to impress me, from their Blueberry Hill shandy to their Wil’s Wheat’n imperial wheat pale ale. I don’t think I have ever had a beer of theirs that I did not enjoy. And their head brewer Wil Turner’s decades of knowledge shine through. I have definitely picked his brain and asked him for advice over the years.

They did a collaboration with Flipside Brewing called Welcome Back Neighbor, a fruited beer with blackberry and lime that I loved. And I always enjoy a beer from our two neighbors to the south — Open Outcry Brewing and Blue Island Beer Company.

I don’t think I have ever had a beer from Hailstorm Brewing that I did not enjoy. And their head brewer Wil Turner’s decades of knowledge shine through. I have definitely picked his brain over the years.

What are you most proud of at your brewery?
Most recently, we here at Horse Thief Hollow are very proud of our Little Wing pilsner and the two gold medals it took in 2023. One at the Great American Beer Festival and one at the World Beer Cup, both in the International Pilsner category. It truly validated our hard work in the brewery day in and day out.

What do you have coming up that people should know about?
I will be brewing an American pale ale in collaboration with the Road Home Program, which helps veterans with PTSD. As a Marine combat veteran, I have many friends and brothers and sisters in arms who have dealt with mental health, and this is one way to help give back to the veteran community.

As a Marine combat veteran, I have many friends and brothers and sisters in arms who have dealt with mental health, and this collaboration is one way to help give back to the veteran community.

The beer, which will be called Because of the Brave, will be available in May. There will also be a tapping event with the Road Home Program here at Horse Thief Hollow, where a portion of the proceeds will go to help veterans with their treatment. I encourage all to attend and support a great cause. You can also find our beer on draft and in cans all across Chicagoland. Thank you craft beer lovers for your support and patronage.