Solemn Oath’s Hidden Hand: Inside Chicago’s Secret Experimental Beer Brand

Learn how Solemn Oath’s founder opened a brewery without brewing, transformed a hometown IPA into a cult classic, and built Hidden Hand’s wild beer lab.

Solemn Oath Brewery Founder and CEO John Barley shares how an untrained beer lover built one of Chicagoland’s most creative and community-driven breweries. From his time in Belgium and Wisconsin to opening Naperville’s first brewery in over a century, John’s story is one of bold leaps and boundary-pushing flavor.

He explains why Solemn Oath’s Still Life taproom in Logan Square channels Belgian beer-hall energy with Midwestern hospitality, and how a surprising Coors connection helped him find his first brewer. John also discusses the rise of brewery euchre tournaments, how he launched a brewery without ever brewing a beer, and why he believes branding and camaraderie matter as much as hops.

After the beer break, John dives into Solemn Oath’s flagship Snaggletooth Bandana West Coast IPA, tracing its evolution from its early sea-hop bitterness to today’s smoother, citrus-forward profile — and the cult following that’s inspired fans to tattoo the Snaggletooth tooth on their skin. He also shares the origin of Hidden Hand, Solemn Oath’s experimental offshoot exploring foeder-aged lagers, barrel-aged saisons, and approachable beers like The 77 light lager. Hear about the Oaked Val d'Or that won Best in Show at FOBAB, and what makes foeder aging uniquely expressive of Chicago’s barrel-aged beer heritage.

Plus: how Solemn Oath navigated Naperville’s original three-drink limit, whether a third location might be next, and how a Robert Burns poem inspired the brewery’s name while Napoleon’s “hidden hand” lent mystery to its sister brand.

About Solemn Oath Brewery: Solemn Oath Brewery is a Chicago-area brewery known for its Belgian-inspired and barrel-aged beers, offering a diverse lineup that blends American ingenuity with traditional Belgian styles. Founded by John Barley and Tim Marshall, the brewery has two primary locations in Naperville and Chicago, providing taprooms for visitors to sample their craft beers. Learn more on their website at https://www.solemnoathbrewery.com/ 

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You can learn more about Crafty Brewers and get in touch with us on our official website, https://craftybrewerspod.com 

Crafty Brewers is a production of Quantum Podcasts, LLC. Is your brewery or business looking to capture a loyal audience to drive business results with the power of podcasting? Then visit https://quantum-podcasts.com/ to learn more.

Our executive producer and editor is award-winning podcaster Cody Gough. He insists that we tell you that in this episode, you’ll learn about: Hidden Hand Brewing, Small Wave IPA, City Water hard seltzer, Heaven’s Mirror Mexican Lager, Val d’Or Project, The 77 Lager, American hops, Centennial hops, Cascade hops, Citra hops, craft beer Chicago, Naperville brewery, Logan Square taproom, Still Life taproom, Belgian beer culture, Wisconsin brewing, experimental beer styles, Chicago barrel-aged scene, FOBAB Best in Show, foeder lagering, barrel-aged saison, brewery expansion plans, brewery events, euchre tournament, brewery community, beer branding strategy, brewery storytelling, brewery hospitality, Midwest craft beer, hop-forward beer, IPA evolution, brewery leadership, brewery hiring, craft beer entrepreneurship, beer innovation, craft beer heritage, and beer tasting experiences.