Every brewery has its own personality, but certain things remain consistent across the spectrum. The familiar sight of silver tanks, kegs, hoses strewn across the floor and the air thick with the smell of grains are all familiar territory for breweries. Illuminated Brew Works in Chicago’s West Loop measures up in all of these ways,… Continue reading Illuminated Brew Works: A Brewery for Interesting Times

When you’ve spent four years perfecting your business plan, the thought of throwing away the first batch of the first beer you’ve brewed in your new brewery seems unfathomable. But when “good enough” doesn’t meet the high standards you’ve set for yourself, you cut your losses, learn from it and move on. While it may… Continue reading Alarmist Brewing: In Pursuit of Perfection

Since 1988, when the first craft brewery in Chicago opened, there’s been a consistent wave of new brewers on the scene, each one having to dig deeper to bring something innovative to an ever-changing market.  While Maplewood Brewery & Distillery is hardly the first to combine brewing and distillation under one roof, they’re the first… Continue reading Maplewood Brewery & Distillery Comes Full-Circle

One of the best things about traveling as a beer lover is delving into whatever might be available where your plane touches down. With the U.S. reaching a total of 4,144 licensed breweries as of December 2015, it’s almost a given that where ever you end up, you’ll be able to find something new and… Continue reading Craft Beer’s Crawl in Montreal

It’s not uncommon for an upstart brewery to have some growing pains before finally hitting their stride and getting comfortable. Sometimes getting comfortable means upheaval, sudden change and big risk; all circumstances that are even more common when trying to grow a business from little to no funding and passion for a common interest. After… Continue reading Blue Nose Brewery: A Second Home for a Second Beer