Tag: Illinois craft beer
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Inside Scoop: The highly anticipated Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers (FoBAB) returns to Chicago Nov. 13-14
By Katie Carrier Director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild There’s just something special about this season for beer lovers. As summer winds down, breweries across the state start tapping into their fall lineups: crisp Oktoberfests, smooth Marzens, and fresh-hopped ales, which are, of course, best enjoyed outside with friends. Almost every weekend there’s an ... -
Spotlight on Pig Minds Brewing Co. in Machesney Park
Pig Minds Brewing Co. 4080 Steele Dr. Machesney Park, IL PigMindsBrewing.com Monday-Wednesday: 3-8 p.m. Thursday: 3-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday: 12-9 p.m. Sunday: 12-8 p.m. What they’re known for: Opened back in 2012 in Machesney Park, just a few minutes north of Rockford, Pig Minds proudly boasts of being America’s first vegan brewery. Owners Brian and Kelly ... -
Brewer’s Choice: Q&A with Black Horizon Brewing Company owner/head brewer Alex Stankus
Alex Stankus Owner/head brewer Black Horizon Brewing Company Willowbrook, IL The last really good beer I drank was… Blume & Ferris’ Old Speckled Hare, which is an English pub ale. Newcomers to the suburban scene — but not to brewing — recently launched an Irish-themed brewery in Downers Grove that is making incredible small-batch pub ... -
Good eats in Lake County: Here’s just a few of the NW suburban breweries serving up much more than just great beer
The fish & chips at Mickey Finn’s Brewery in Libertyville You may not have known, but originally having opened in 1994, Mickey Finn’s just happens to be the oldest continuously operated microbrewery in Illinois. Featuring a 57-foot bar, beautiful beer garden, private event space, a stage for live music and — perhaps the most impressive aspect ... -
Q&A with Eric Flores, co-owner of the award-winning new Neuronova Brewing
Q. When did you officially launch Neuronova? A. Ryan McGough and I officially launched Neuronova Brewing in the fall of 2025, but we had been working on getting things rolling for years now. To see everything come together is pretty unreal, and even though there’s so much more work to be done, officially launching Neuronova ... -
Spotlight on Roaring Table Brewing Co. in NW suburban Lake Zurich
Roaring Table Brewing Co. 739 W. Route 22 Lake Zurich, IL RoaringTable.com Tuesday-Wednesday: 4-9 p.m. Thursday-Friday: 4-10 p.m. Saturday: Noon-10 p.m. Sunday: Noon-8 p.m. History in short: It was the summer of 2015 when the husband-and-wife team of Beth May and Lane Fearing “foolishly decided to start a brewery.” After perusing properties everywhere from West ... -
Illinois Brewing Insider Jeff Bovee
Jeff Bovee Sterling, IL Favorite breweries: My wife and I started visiting breweries as a fun activity to do together on weekends or while traveling, and we have enjoyed so many great breweries in Illinois and surrounding states over the last few years that it’s really hard to choose a favorite. One of the first ... -
Taproom treasures: We scoped out some of the most unique and historic brewery taprooms across the state… and had a few pints along the way
By Trent Modglin, Publisher Double Clutch Brewery 2121 Ashland Avenue in Evanston DoubleClutchBrewing.com What makes it unique: Double Clutch head brewer Scott Frank and Mike Chookaszian, a partner in Vandalay Brands (the company that owns Double Clutch), have long been neighbors and friends, not to mention car guys. So when you add in Scott’s skills ... -
Breweries in Bunches: Venture up to Rockford to find a quartet of unique craft breweries, each with its own charm and plenty of great beer options
By Trent Modglin Prairie Street Brewing Co. 200 Prairie Street Rockford, IL PSBrewingCo.com What they’re known for: Prairie Street Brewing Company just happens to be housed in the oldest brewery in the state of Illinois, an 80,000-square foot historic landmark building along the Rock River in downtown Rockford. Opened in 2013 after a massive two-year ... -
Spotlight on Half Day Brewing: This Lincolnshire favorite will draw you in with their lagers and barrel-aged stouts, extensive menu (try the smoked wings) and versatile event spaces
Half Day Brewing Co. 200 Village Green Lincolnshire, IL HalfDayBrewing.com Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. History in short: The building Half Day calls home used to belong to Flatlander’s Brewing, but it had long since been vacated and sat empty for almost five years before Half Day was opened by a pair ...
