Built on a history where hard-working, prideful people could enjoy a sip of great beer and have good conversation, today we're featuring Whiskey Hill Brewing Co in Westmont! It's one of the coolest, most intimate garage door breweries I've ever been to. Nestled in a park of numerous auto body shops, it's a hidden treasure with big, flavorful beers and a few surprises too >>>
Nested between Wheaton & Lombard, we ventured to the village of Glen Ellyn this week to visit the folks at Two Hound Red Brewery ! Inside a completely-rehabbed building that housed Glen Ellyn's downtown pharmacy for 44 years, the history and the beer and the menu center around creating classic, innovative beers paired with classic, inventive American dishes. Take a listen >>>
Right on the border of Ukrainian Village, West Town, and East Village, we find today's featured brewery >>> Forbidden Root ! All about the roots and the herbs and the spices, they are Chicago's first botanic brewery and the pairings of flavors between food & beer are spectacularly delicious. My favorite? A tart golden ale with raspberry and lemon! Take a listen >>>
Remember our friends at Skeleton Key in Woodridge with their Spare Keys incubator program, teaching you how to open & run your own brewery? One of their first graduates opened in late 2021 and they're already killing it ... today we're talking about Bubblehouse Brewing in Lisle! 12 beers on tap, a Noir Wall collab with SK, The 10 Second Hug (my favorite beer name of the year), why Evan behind the bar made my entire weekend & much more >>>
Celebrating Black History Month, today we featured one of the coolest coffeehouses we have ever visited ~ Afro Joe's on the south side, in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood! Kendall & Aisha opened their dream spot in the middle of the pandemic (!), but the community quickly responded and it's become a go-to destination for artists, musicians, fans of literature, people who love the arts, and *everyone* who loves a great cup of brewed coffee! Take a listen >>>...
I love a great Friday morning surprise phone call, and that's exactly what happened today ... HELLO LEE BRICE! We chatted about his first irresponsible purchase way back when he got his first "real money" paycheck, what's the ONLY app that he has on his phone (!) plus his stories-behind-the-songs TV series that debuts on Monday night >>>
February is Black History Month, and today's featured Black-owned brewer does it with a twist ... they brew coffee! We’re talking about Drip & Culture in Waukegan, the absolute coolest hidden gem Jill & I have ever encountered. Anywhere. Rich in history within North Chicago and Waukegan, rich in culture from Mississippi and beyond, the flavors and the vibes and the community are simply incredible >>>
February is Black History Month, so today we wanted to honor and feature Illinois' first Black-owned brewery, Black Horizon Brewing in Willowbrook! A "Nice & Toasted" imperial stout release tomorrow that's described as "liquid dessert in a glass"? YAAAAS! Count us in & take a listen >>>
Today's featured brewery? It started with three best friends with a vision long ago, leading now to their celebration of the release of their favorite bourbon barrel-aged stouts ... there is a lot to love about Phase Three Brewing in Lake Zurich! Peanut butter and coconut? Marshmallow and vanilla? YAAAAAS! Take a listen >>>
Today's featured brewery? From a home brewing kit gift way back in 1993 to finally deciding to quit Corporate America in 2009, Bruce & his wife Molly have put everything into their baby and we love it so much >>> Tighthead Brewing in Mundelein! So much variety (18+ beers on tap) plus a collaboration with the longest-tenured Bears player in history? YUP! Take a listen >>>
Today's featured brewery is all about perfecting and focusing on *one* style of beer, the lager. We're talking about the folks at Goldfinger Brewing in Downers Grove! It's a deliberate, delicate and time-consuming process that makes an incredible beer. Wife and husband owners Allison & Tom have created an incredible environment, down to the specially-designed glasses for each release. Take a listen >>>
Today's featured brewery is all about the "slow pour" ~ have you heard of it? The folks at Seedz Brewery in Union Pier, MI have mastered this process! #FoamIsSexy Having a nice foam sit on the top of your beer glass shows that you have a well-rounded, perfectly executed beer ... they're determined to brew beautiful and delicate lagers/ales. Take a listen >>>
Today's featured brewery is all about the holiday decorations and celebrations, in pajamas* ~ Begyle Brewing! *By pajamas, we're talking about the gold-medal winning Barrel-Aged Imperial Pajama series release! It's a series based on an Oatmeal stout with several variants ... but don't forget about their Russian Imperial 13% stout called Snooze Button too! Take a listen here >>>
Today, we’re talking about not one, but dozens of breweries ... it's FoBAB weekend! What is FoBAB? It's the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beers, hosted by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. It's the largest beer competition in North America and another chance for Chicago to show why we're so much fun! You can taste over 330 different beers from 180 breweries over two sessions, and I'll be volunteering at tonight's session (5-10pm). Come find me and I'll pour ya a taste >>>...
Today's brewery is one I stumbled on by accident last weekend, but it is now in my Top 5 of ALL Chicagoland breweries ~ the atmostphere, the people, the beer, all of it. Today, we're featuring Roaring Table Brewing in Lake Zurich! From their Dopplebock with chocolate notes, to the Tuba Solo Hazy IPA, to the Imperial Milk Stout aged in bourbon barrels with coffee & cacao nibs, the creativity is everywhere! The Square Root of Impossible Numbers (!) IPA is their release this week, take a listen...
What is Cody Whitehair's favorite cheat meal in Libertyville? What country star is he trying to see incognito next month? The one Halloween candy he never traded as a kid? All this and more in a fun conversation with our favorite Bears offensive lineman here >>>
Today's brewery is celebrating their anniversary this weekend with their Liquid Dreams Fest and an Art Fair on Sunday too ... Marz Brewing in Chicago, on the south side! It's their 7th Marziversary , with Liquid Dreams being a huge double IPA with notes of grapefruit, mango, and those incredible strawberry candies that your Grandma used to have! Take a listen at all the weekend festivities >>>
Today's brewery is celebrating a huge milestone four months after a torndao leveled their entire facility ... Skeleton Key Brewery in Woodridge is re-opening their taproom today! A family business created and owned by Emily & her husband Paul, they've come so far from that Sunday night back in June! "Little Key" is an intimate, 32-seat taproom that opens at 4pm today with lots of familiar faces, fresh cold beer & a few surprises too >>>>>
Do you love Halloween? Do you love beer? Today's brewery has two SPOOKY releases that are all about the love of beer and our favorite October holiday ... Riverlands Brewing Company in St Charles! Amber's Soul Black Rye Double IPA, Skeleton Revival Hazy Rye IPA, Boots & Waders (a collaboration with Oswego Brewing Company ) ... all on tap right now, plus a Smashburger food truck tomorrow afternoon? YAAAAAS! Take a listen here >>>>>
Do you eat dessert before your main meal? If the answer if yes, today's brewery is just what you need because they're releasing a fan-favorite blueberry cake beer this afternoon ... talking about Black Horizon Brewing in Willowbrook! From the cake beer to their collaboration with Skeleton Key, to the wood-burning oven pizza food truck pop-up, Black Horizon is exactly what you're looking for this weekend >>>
It was great to catch up with Scotty McCreery this morning from his house in North Carolina. Why was he calling me from the spare bedroom? What's his favorite cuss word that's not a cuss word? What really surprised him about the US*99 fan who won Scotty #CountryOKE this week? All this and more with Scotty here >>>
What do you pair with a delicious, fresh beer? I suggest fresh, made-from-scratch, wood-fired pizza! Today’s featured brewery does both ... Flapjack Brewery in Berwyn! From the Beerwyn Supreme pizza paired with the Bierwynsteiner Marzen for #Flaptoberfest, to the beer brats with a Hazy IPA, they have something for everyone. Even cooler? Flapjack is located just off the Metra BNSF line at the Berwyn stop (take the train with the kids) >>>>
Today’s featured brewery is ready to roll their first of TWO Oktoberfest parties ... or as they like to call it, OAK-toberfest >>> Imperial Oak Brewing in Willow Springs and now Brookfield! Live music, several beer releases, a charity aspect that is super cool, you get it all with them here >>>>
Today’s featured brewery combines beer and metal music perfectly ... Metal Monkey Brewing in Romeoville! A small batch brewery started by 3 friends, they focus on creativity and variety. Remember guzzling Hawaiian Fruit Punch as a kid? So do they, with their brand-new Five Finger Punch Hard Seltzer. The stein-holding contest coming up at their Oktoberfest Party too? We are all in >>>
Today’s featured brewery is an ambigram ~ their name reads the same front to back, right-side up to upside-down ... Alter Brewing in Downers Grove & St. Charles!! Getting ready to celebrate their 6th anniversary next month, they only have a few rules: Have fun. Be respectful. Enjoy the people around you. They have SO much variety, and today, they're releasing their Alter Ambigram Hazy IPA (!) >>>
Today’s featured brewery is found in the historic downtown district of Blue Island, we're talking about Blue Island Beer Company! From the Double Jerk Store (!) imperial stout to their open mic nights to their parking lot tailgating (yup, you've gotta hear about this!), we are super fans of them >>>>
Today’s featured brewer is actually a COFFEE brewer ... talking about Gigawatt Coffee Roasters, based in Bensenville. Wife & husband team, they've expanded ten-fold since opening last February (right before everything shut down!). From their new "Ethiopian" bean with notes of honey & shortbread, to their most popular "Kite & Key", they have a flavoring for everyone. Order anything online before Sunday night HERE, use code US99 at checkout and you'll get 15% off (!) >>>...
Drew chats with Officer Matt from the La Grange Park police department about this year's 2-night event in the community, National Night Out, coming up early next month!
Today’s featured brewery is South Side authentic, located in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago. They make everything from scratch, it's all about good beer, good food & community ~ Horse Thief Hollow Brewing! From their new "Apprehension" West Coast IPA to the Firehouse Burger Special (honoring CFD Enginer 115, the 2nd largest firehouse in the city), there is something to love for everyone >>>
Today’s featured brewery is a short trip down I-55 to find incredible innovation and variety! In preparation for our visit with Jilly's 99-year-old Grandpa Roy, we'll be stopping at ... Lil Beaver Brewery in Bloomington! From their signature "Big Hairy Beaver" 13% imperial stout to the Rhubarb Pie Hole release this weekend, there is so much to love about them. Made-from-scratch marinara sauce to pair with anything on their menu, dog treats and dog beers, they have it all >>>...
