Chicago’s prowess as a brewing heavyweight is no secret. The city’s seasoned and inventive beer scene is responsible for first-rate beers that are now sold around the world. Over 200 Chicago breweries, big and small, can be found in every corner of the city ranging from the huge recently-opened Guinness Taproom in West Loop to Other Half’s new brewery hidden within the revamped Ramova Theatre.
Now two new Chicago breweries have been recognized in USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards as two of the best new breweries in the United States.
The ranking, which honors breweries across the country founded in the past three years, was put together by a panel of beer experts before USA Today readers then voted on the top 10.
The first Chicago brewery on the list was Bronzeville’s Turner Häus Brewery which only just opened late last year. Named the 7th best new brewery in the United States, the Black-owned brewery on Chicago’s South Side was set up by co-founders and relatives Blair Turner-Aikens, Nathaniel Aikens, and Steve Turner.
Currently, Turner Häus Brewery shares a storefront and space with the Bronzeille Sip & Savor location at 78 E. 47th Street. Inside the 70-seat space transitions from a coffee house in the morning to a brewery by night where guests can enjoy unique beers all of which are named after women in the founders’ families.
“They poured into us, now we pour pints of them” reads a slogan on the Turner Häus Brewery website.
The “flagship” beers on offer consequently include a Grapefruit Lager named “Helen” created in honor of the co-founder’s grandmother, a Cherry Oak-Aged saison named “Eliza” in honor of the family’s matriarch, and “Lola” — a Peanut Butter, Basil & Jalapeno IPA in honor of Steve Turner’s aunt.
Coming in one place above Turner Häus Brewery in 6th was the other Chicago representative — Funkytown Brewery.
A labor of love from three lifelong friends from Chicago’s Oak Park named Rich Bloomfield, Greg Williams, and Zach Day, Funkytown Brewery is another thriving Black-owned business.
Having started as a home brewing project from within a garage, the three friends turned their craft beer-making hobby into a successful operation and now create from within Pilot Project Brewing.
A brewery incubator, tasting room & restaurant, Pilot Project Brewing serves as a launch pad for start-up breweries, offering a “purpose-driven, collaborative, and artistically curious brewing and tasting room facility to help support talented brewers in an industry with exceptionally high barriers.”
From here Bloomfield, Williams, and Day have earned an array of awards for both “for their fantastic endeavors and community projects”. Funkytown Brewery creations can be found at over 400 locations in the Chicago area and their Black Is Beautiful imperial stout is even now sold on tap at Chicago Bulls games at the United Center.
Finishing in first place as the best new brewery in the United States was the slow-pouring Seedz Brewery, a small-batch brewery located in the sleepy town of Union Pier in Michigan.
View the full list of USA Today’s 10 best new breweries in the US.
[Featured image from Facebook /@turnerhausbrew]