Crafty Brewers: Tales Behind Craft Beer

Explore Chicago’s sunniest brewery, where beer is served straight from European-style tanks and brewed with rye, winter barley, and nostalgia.

Suncatcher Brewing Head Brewer and Co-founder Matt Gallagher shares the origins of his brewery, reviving old-school beer styles, brewing with winter vs. spring barley, and how his ultra-fresh draft system preserves flavor. He also shares how Suncatcher’s small size enables hyper-local ingredi...

Hear how Forbidden Root uses rare botanicals and fruit to craft unique beers—and how the same fruit can create different flavors.

Phil Zelewsky, Head Brewer at Forbidden Root, shares how Chicago’s first botanical brewery evolved from a root beer experiment into one of the top 10 brewpubs in the U.S. He explains how founder Robert Finkel sources wild ingredients like the “smuggled” Alpine botanical Génépi, Forbidden Root’s approach t...

Executive Producer Cody Gough discusses Crafty Brewers' plans for the next few months—just in time for the 2025 Memorial Day weekend.

Tune in this summer for:

• Forbidden Root, June 5
• Suncatcher Brewing, July 10
• Ike & Oak Brewing Company, August 14
• Season 3 Premiere, September 11

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

Crafty Brewers is a pr...

Hear how Maplewood Brewery & Distillery is reinventing adult beverages, from hazy IPAs to THC seltzers to spirits including fernet and gin.

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery’s Adam Cieslak (Co-Founder/Director of Brewing & Distilling) and Roger Cuzelis (Head Brewer) discuss launching Chicago’s first brewery/distillery hybrid, their award-winning Hazy IPAs, and the art of recipe refinement. They discuss why beer awards matte...

Hear how an award-winning Polish Grodziskie helped elevate Sketchbook from brewing in an alley to becoming an industry leader in sustainability.

Sketchbook Brewing Company Managing Partner and Head Brewer Cesar Marron discusses his brewery's journey from humble alleyway origins to becoming an award-winning establishment with a strong emphasis on sustainability. He shares the exciting but stressful story of how he won the Sam Adams L...

Learn about the surprising origins of Pollyanna’s award‑winning Lexical Gap IPA, freeze‑distilled Eisbocks, and Snickers‑inspired pastry stout.

Brian Pawola, co‑founder, head brewer, and distiller at Pollyanna Brewing Company, shares the story behind Pollyanna’s most unique beers. In particular, he discusses the freeze distilling involved in crafting their Jötunheimr Eisbock Lager, the reluctance behind creating the award-winning Le...

Trailblazing women in craft beer discuss the impact of the Vibes Beer Project and how they became innovators in the brewing industry.

In a hilarious and candid conversation, Solemn Oath Brewery Director of Hospitality & Operations Charolette Converse and ERIS Brewery & Cider House Co-Owner Michelle Foik discuss the Vibes Beer Project and how the craft beer landscape has changed for women over the years—and what’s next. They ...

Learn about Guinness’ Chicago location, their beer styles—including Czech lagers and Kentucky Commons—and how Chicago’s water influences their brewing.

Guinness Open Gate Brewery (OGB) Chicago Senior Brewer Megan Schwarz and Guinness National Ambassador Ryan Wagner discuss Guinness’ expansion into Chicago, how Megan’s chemical engineering background led to brewing, and the challenges of changing people’s perception of Guinness. They...

Learn how Off Color Brewing's yeast-first focus makes its beers distinct from the more common hops-focused breweries in the craft beer industry.

Off Color Brewing co-founder and head brewer John Laffler shares the science behind his yeast-first brewery and how it stands apart from other more hop-focused breweries. He discusses the revival of forgotten beer styles, focusing on esoteric brews crafted before the Bavarian Purity Law and...

Chicago's most award-winning brewpub reveals the secrets of its medal-winning Lagers and a bold malt liquor revival.

Keil Weimer, head brewer at Piece Brewery and Pizzeria, discusses brewing award-winning lagers and reviving forgotten styles. He tells the story of winning a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in October for his Door Code Pilsner, sharing insights on what it takes to brew crisp German Pilsners, why patie...

Learn how Soundgrowler’s beers draw inspiration from a variety of art forms, resulting in a blend of rare styles, death metal, and yoga.

Head Brewer Jacob Hutcheson and Brewing Operations Manager John Halek showcase Soundgrowler’s vibrant and eclectic brewery, where beer, doom, and tacos come alive in Tinley Park, Illinois. Jacob begins by sharing his passion for the Grodzinski, a rare Polish-style beer that won Soundgrowler a meda...

What makes a cider a cider? Explore the fruits and chaos-inspired ingredients behind ERIS’ biggest hits in this cider science deep dive.

Michelle Foik, co-owner of ERIS Brewery and Cider House, shares her journey to opening her historic establishment before delving into the art and science of cidering. She starts by discussing how her career took her from Goose Island Brewery and Revolution Brewing to opening the first female-owned...

Master Brewer Hagen Dost delves into Dovetail Brewery’s traditional brewing techniques, from open fermentation to coolships.

Hagen starts by sharing his journey of getting into brewing, with an emphasis on his German heritage growing up and the sensory class that helped him develop skills that he feels would benefit any brewer. He then explains how he became a Certified Master Brewer and discusses traditional European brewing metho...

Hop up your spirits with a barrel of laughs as we close out 2024. Plus: a major announcement that you don’t want to miss!

Brian, Katherine, and Cody get together via the internet to have some fun to close out the year, sharing reviews of local beers, making some major announcements, and looking ahead at what’s to come in 2025. Brian starts things off by sharing the huge news that the next episode of Crafty Brewers will feature Dove...

Learn how BubbleHouse Brewing ensures they have “something for everyone” and the story behind the best pub game you’ve never heard of.

John and April Miller, owners of BubbleHouse Brewing Company, discuss crafting a diverse beer portfolio, providing unique taproom experiences, and their journey from corporate life to brewing. They discuss the challenges and rewards of brewing clean, simple beers without relying on heavy adjuncts an...

Learn how Horse Thief Hollow became the most award-winning brewery on the south side of Chicago, having won 10 major awards (and counting).

Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Co’s Jake Nelson (Head Brewer) and Adrian Morrison (Brewer and Sales Manager) discuss the fascinating legacy of Horse Thief Hollow Brewing in Chicago's historic Beverly neighborhood, exploring the origins of the brewery's name, its cultural significance, and why the I...

Learn how Burning Bush Brewery crafts its unique brews, including their spruce tip IPA named after a true story of “tree wrestling.” 

Burning Bush Brewery’s Brent Raska, owner and brewer, and Scott McElhenney, head brewer, discuss their unique transition from meeting at church to brewing together, the surprising similarities between running a church parish and running a brewery, and the art of crafting kettle sours. They also delve...

Learn how Twisted Hippo recovered from a devastating fire and found a way to thrive while brewing their unique beers.

Karl and Marilee Rutherford, co-founders and owners of Twisted Hippo, share the story of their humble beginnings from a homebrewing beer kit from Bed, Bath, and Beyond, to opening a brewery. They explain how they recovered from a devastating fire in 2022, after which the Chicago craft brewery community rallied aroun...