James VanOsdol with craft brewery owner Mike Pallen, of Mikerphone Brewing, in Elk Grove Village
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Elk Grove Village’s #1 brewery: Mikerphone Brewing (Episode 978)

Mike Pallen of award-winning brewery Mikerphone Brewing (121 Garlisch Dr, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007) returns to Car Con Carne. Moments before Mikerphone Brewing’s senses-shattering burger throwdown between Biker Dude Burgers (Darrin Klapprodt) and Chicago Culinary Kitchen (Greg Gaardbo), Mike…

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Music and craft beer come alive on ‘Malt Row’ – Ravenswood on Tap (Episode 974)

Like craft beer? Ravenswood on Tap comes to Ravenswood & Berteau on Chicago’s north side on July 20-21. “Malt Row” will be well-represented with a list of participants, including Begyle Brewing, Cultivate by Forbidden Root, Demo Brewing Company, Dovetail Brewery,…

Posted in beer breweries Brewpub Episodes

Celebrating two years of SW suburban brewing: Flipside Brewing (Episode 972)

I’m back in Tinley Park for a chat with Flipside Brewing owner Erik Pizer. As Flipside revs up its second anniversary plans, we chat about the business and beer while eating from Flipside’s menu (my order of smash burger and…

Posted in breweries beer Brewpub Episodes

Goose Island opens Salt Shed Pub (Episode 948)

I visited Goose Island Beer Co.’s soon-to-open Salt Shed Pub (1357 N. Elston) on what turned out to be a perfect night for having a 312 on the river. Let’s get this out of the way: Goose has found the…

Posted in Episodes beer breweries Brewpub

Bullet to the Heart at Flipside Brewing (Episode 848)

Bullet to the Heart (Draven and Audrey) joined me for this episode recorded at Flipside Brewing (7144 W 183rd Tinley Park). Flipside owner Erik Pizer jumped in the car to share some of his food menu and talk about the…

Posted in beer breweries Brewpub Episodes Tinley Park

Metal! Beer! Tacos! Cats! ‘Feed the Beasts’ fundraiser preview at Soundgrowler (Episode 817)

Feed the Beasts is hosting a metal-themed cat rescue benefit at Soundgrowler Brewing Co. (8201 183rd Street Suite P, Tinley Park) on February 18 (5pm start). I’m joined by Nicci and Dan, the kind souls behind Feed the Beasts, as…

Posted in beer Episodes NA Naperville non alcoholic

Illinois’ first NA brewery, Go Brewing, celebrates Dry January (Episode 808)

It’s Dry January, and I think a lot of us are working toward GO BREWING’s mantra of “Less alcohol, fewer calories… more productive tomorrows.” Go Brewing is the first low-alcohol or NA brewery in Illinois, and I’m joined by Go…

Posted in Episodes beer breweries

Skeleton Key Brewery visited by the Spectral Silhouette (Episode 795)

Skeleton Key Brewery (8102 Lemont Road in Woodridge) is a fantastic craft brewery with a variety of inventive and delicious beers. That’s where this episode was recorded, as co-owner Paul Slayton and I were joined by musician Henry Scherrer (The…

Posted in beer business Entrepreneurs Episodes NA

The future of non-alcoholic beer is… delicious. Meet Jeff Stevens of Well Being Brewing (Episode 692)

Non-alcoholic beer was stigmatized for decades. Problem was, most NA products weren’t worth drinking. The craft beer revolution’s led to companies like Well Being Brewing, which for the past 5 years has been leading the way for non-alcoholic beer. Joining…

Posted in alcohol beer breweries Brewpub Episodes

The beer! The food! Crushed By Giants redefines what River North can be (Episode 645)

Oh, man. Crushed By Giants rules. I spent the afternoon with Marketing Director Joe Steigerwald, Head Brewer David Kerns and Head Chef Enrique Roman. I got to watch Crushed By Giants in motion, but more importantly, I got to sample…