All you need is love ... 

... and chocolate!

BrickStone Brewery is a stop on the Village of Friendship's Chocolate Tour on Saturday, February 3rd, 2018. This year, our Chef has handcrafted Chocolate Cherry Bomb Truffles for the event. 

McCormick Place gets its own craft beer from BrickStone

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-mccormick-place-beer-0210-biz-20170209-story.html

Contact:  Michelle Benson

michelle@createmomentum.com

708-907-5301

 

 

SAVOR…CHICAGO AND BRICKSTONE BREWERY UNVEIL McCORMICK PLACE EVERYDAY PALE ALE

FIRST OF ITS KIND BRANDED BREW FOR North America’s largest convention center

 

 

 

[CHICAGO, February 7, 2017]  Brewed using hops grown in the rooftop garden atop McCormick Place’s West Building, McCormick Place Everyday Ale is a refreshing pale ale with a light malt backbone and hopped with Citra, Amarillo and Cascade hops. It is the country’s first branded ale brewed for a convention center using locally-sourced ingredients.

 

The thirst-quenching ale is the result of SAVOR…Chicago working with local Brickstone Brewery to create a McCormick Place-branded brew that uses hops grown this past season in the rooftop garden.  McCormick Place Everyday Ale is available in both cans and on tap in select McCormick Place locations during the Chicago Auto Show and throughout the year.

 

“For many visitors coming to Chicago for a trade show, McCormick Place may be the spot where they spend most of their time. We want to introduce these visitors to the region’s many wonderful makers, brewers, and bakers,” explained Doug Bradley, SAVOR…Chicago Vice President of Culinary. “This local partnership is a great way for us to showcase the region and produce a flavorful, uniquely Chicago brew.”

 

“It's really a great honor to partner with McCormick place and SAVOR,” said BrickStone’s BrewMaster, Tommy Vasilakis. “We had great time working together and we hope you enjoy McCormick Place Every Day Ale as much as we enjoyed brewing it.”

 

BrickStone Brewery first opened its doors in 2006 and started with a 5-barrel brewing system. Within a few years, their microbrews, made right on site with only the finest hops & malts, had gained such popularity that they expanded to a state of the art Newlands brew house with a capacity of 25 bbl brews and most recently opened a production brewery with a fully automated 50 bbl brew house with canning capabilities. Today, BrickStone is best known for its diverse selection of award-winning beers, including 2012 GABF gold medal and 2012 World Beer Cup bronze medal APA and 2013 GABF gold medal Belgo APA. They are located in Bourbonnais, Illinois.

About Chicago’s McCormick Place

McCormick Place, the largest exhibition and meeting facility in North America, is comprised of four state-of-the-art buildings, the North, South and West Buildings, the Lakeside Center, and the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place hotel. Combined, McCormick Place offers 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, 173 meeting rooms, the 4,249-seat Arie Crown Theater and one of the largest ballrooms in the world.

 

Located on Chicago’s lakefront just minutes from downtown, McCormick Place is owned by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and managed by SMG, a worldwide convention facility management company.  For more information, please visit www.mccormickplace.com  or on facebook.com/mccormickplace and twitter.com/mccormick_place.

 

SAVOR

SAVOR, a leader in convention center catering, concessions and special events, took over McCormick Place foodservice operations September 28, 2011. SAVOR is part of SMG, the largest public facilities management company in the world

including McCormick Place as of August 1, 2011.  In 2010, 17 convention centers where SAVOR provides food and beverage service won prestigious Prime Site Awards from Facilities & Destinations.

 

SAVOR is an industry leader in introducing green standards and programs to public facilities. As the food and beverage provider to facilities with some of the most stringent environmental policies in the world, we have researched the matter extensively and work closely with community and facility managers to develop environmentally friendly

operations focused on minimizing carbon footprint by purchasing locally produced, sustainably raised product, using non-petroleum-based packaging and recycling or composting waste whenever possible. www.savorchicagomcpl.com

 

SMG

Since 1977, SMG has provided management services to more than 220 public assembly facilities worldwide, including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, convention, congress and exhibition centers, science centers and a variety of other venues. Across the globe, SMG manages more than 14 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.75 million arena and theatre seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering division of SAVOR, currently serving more than 100 accounts worldwide. www.smgworld.com

 

 

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Good Beer Hunting Interview with Sandy Vox

Check out what Sandy has to say about the beer industry. You will hear her mention BrickStone around the 24 minute mark. http://goodbeerhunting.com/gbh-podcast/2017/2/3/ep-111-sandy-vox-of-jewel-osco

BrickStone Brewery earns three more Gold medals from the Beverage Testing Institute

Bourbonnais, IL (April 19, 2016) – BrickStone Brewery earns three more Gold medals from the Beverage Testing Institute for BrickStone APA, HopSkip and Galaxy Down Under in the North American and British Ales category. “I feel very honored to have all three brews tested ranked among the top rated American style pale ales and American style IPAs,” said John Thompson, brewer for BrickStone Brewery.

The Beverage Testing Institute gave Galaxy Down Under Pale Ale a score of 95 points calling it “a fresh, nicely extroverted tropical hop bomb of flavor and goodness.” This brew is bold, bitter, hoppy & malty with the aroma of spiced pineapples and mangoes, toasted Hawaiian bread, bee pollen and caramelized onions. This is the first year that BrickStone Brewery has released this brew. While it is available only for a limited time on draft, you will see this brew come back for a visit every year.

BrickStone APA was awarded a score of 94 points from the Beverage Testing Institute. This brew is also bold, bitter, malty & hoppy but with the aroma of spiced mangoes & apricots, chive-garlic-herb bread and pine blossom. It is “a super lively and tropical pale ale.” BrickStone APA is one of BrickStone’s flagship brews available year round in both draft and in cans.

The third brew that earned a gold medal was HopSkip earning an exceptional score of 93 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute. This malty & hoppy brew is both smooth and mild. It has the aroma of caramelized mangoes and pineapples, pepper herb muffin, pine blossom and sage with the flavor of honeyed grapefruit peel, spicy orange soufflé, roasted sweet potato, and birch bark. According to the Beverage Testing Institute, this brew will appeal to “citra heads.” HopSkip is available year round in both draft and cans.

Last year, the Beverage Testing Institute awarded BrickStone Dark Secret Russian Imperial Stout a gold medal and included BrickStone Dark Secret among the top rated for flavored stout.

About BrickStone Brewery:  BrickStone Brewery first opened as a brewpub in 2006 and quickly became known as the place where people meet for hand-crafted brews in an inviting atmosphere. Although delicious cuisine has always been a large part of the overall experience, BrickStone’s award-winning craft brews have been gaining more and more recognition regionally and nationwide. Because of the growing demands of the ever expanding craft beer market, last year BrickStone opened a full-scale brewery just a half mile from the brewpub to increase production capabilities. For more information about BrickStone, please visit www.brickstonebrewery.com 

About BTI: The Beverage Testing Institute was founded in 1981 as America's premier source for wine, beer, and spirits reviews for consumers and a boutique, specialty marketing service for the drinks trade. For more information about BTI's competitions and review services, please visit http://www.tastings.com/trade.html

BrickStone among great company!

BrickStone APA has been listed in Chicago Tribune's Eat This, Drink This 25 Essential Chicago Beers!

Dark Secret Dark Matter Collaboration earns Gold in BTI's World Beer Championships

The Beverage Testing Institute awarded BrickStone's Dark Secret Russian Imperial Stout a Gold medal in the Stout, Porters, & Strong Ales competition held last month. BrickStone's Dark Secret is released annually on Black Friday. This year's variance was aged in Dark Matter El Rosaro coffee beans which were barrel-aged then roasted to a medium dark and blended with Giant Step dark roast.

BTI gave the brew a rating of 92 (exceptional) and described it as, "Opaque black color. Dense aromas and flavors of dark roasted coffee beans, burnt sugar and nuts, burnt raisin toast, and wood with a velvety, soft, under-carbonated, dryish medium-to-full body and a warming, medium-length finish with elements of espresso gelato, smoked nuts, caramel cream, and honeycomb with light oak. An intense coffee stout for real coffee connoisseurs that has an interesting arc from burnt to sweet."

"We're very proud of this brew," said BrewMaster Tommy Vasilakis. "We are extremely fortunate to have collaborated with Dark Matter and their fun and talented team. We knew from the first sip of coffee that we just had to work with them."

 

They keep on brewing!

Tommy and the rest of the brewing team just keep on brewing away!

 

With plans to open a new production brewery this winter, the brewers of BrickStone keep on coming up with new recipes and even reinventing old ones for you! In addition to the popular Shady Summer American Wheat flavored with lemons, you can expect to see Hazy After Five, a Blood Orange Hefeweizen, and Dark Secret, a Russion Imperial Stout! A portion of the Dark Secret will even be barrel-aged and released at a later time!

 

 

 

Chicago Foodie Sisters: BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery appearing at sever...

Chicago Foodie Sisters: BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery appearing at sever...: Craft Beers are HUGE right now and the summer months allow for some fun opportunities to try new brews while out at local festivals. BrickSt...

BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery Taps Hops All Over Chicago This Summer

Bourbonnais, IL - - June 11, 2014 - - BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery  - the suburban Chicago brewpub that recently swept the American Beer Classic held at Soldier Field - is popping up all over town this summer, tapping its award-winning beers at some of the area’s top festivals.

“Chicagoans love their summer craft beers and we’re right there with them,” says BrickStone BrewMaster, Tommy Vasilakis. “We’re pouring our award-winning BrickStone APA, Belgo APA and other house brews at some very cool venues.”

Both APA’s recently took #1 and #2 “Best Beer” awards at the American Beer Classic.  BrickStone’s HopSkipNImDrunk secured the #3 position and the restaurant/brewpub was named  “Best Brewery.”

Craft beer fans can sample these brews and more at the following events:

Saturday, June 21, 2014: Berwyn Brew Fest

1 – 5pm at Proksa Park, 3001 Wisconsin Avenue, Berwyn, IL 60402
WEBSITE: http://www.berwynbrewfest.com

Saturday, June 21, 2014: 4th Annual Summer Solstice Craft Beer Festival

2 – 7pm at Blarney Stone, 15400 Cicero Avenue, Oak Forest, IL
WEBSITE: http://blarney-stone.net/events.html

Saturday, July 12, 2014: Barrington 11th Annual Brew Fest

3 – 7pm (VIP at 2:30pm) in Downtown Barrington , IL
WEBSITE: www.Barringtonbrewfest.com

Friday, July 18, 2014: 10th Anniversary Lawn Ball

7pm – 12am (VIP at 6pm) at Saddle & Cycle Club of Chicago, 900 West Foster Avenue, Chicago, IL
WEBSITE: http://www.bgcc.org/events/10th_anniversary_lawn_call/

Friday, July 18, 2014: Frankfort Park District Beer Tasting

7-9pm at Founders Community Center, 140 Oak Street, Frankfort, IL
WEBSITE: http://frankfortparks.org/special-events.aspx

Friday, June 25 – Saturday, June 26, 2014: Merchant Street Music Fest

In Depot Park, 199 S. East Avenue, Kankakee, IL
WEBSITE: www.merchantstreetmusicfest.com

Sunday, July 27, 2014: Beer Camp Across America – Midwest Edition

12 – 5pm at Navy Pier, 600 East Grand, Chicago, IL
WEBSITE: www.sierranevada.com/beercamp

BrickStone’s APA is also 2014 Beer Advocate’s 34 of 50 most popular beers  and Belgo APA was named the 2013 Great American Beer Fest gold-medal winner.

BrickStone released two new craft beers during the recent Chicago Craft Beer Week, including One Night Blonde IPA a light malt with hop bitterness and citrus flavor and aroming coming from Galaxy and Amarillo hops; and Kaffir Lime Lemon Grass IPA, a collaboration between BrickStone and DryHop Brewers.

About BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery

BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery opened as a small-town brewery in 2006 in Bourbonnais, IL., using a tiny, 5 barrel brewing system. By 2008, its hand-crafted microbrews - featuring the finest hops and malts - had gained such popularity that BrickStone expanded to a state-of-the-art Newlands Brewhouse with a capacity of 25 BBL brews.

Today, BrickStone is best known for its diverse selection of award-winning craft beers, including its 2012 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal and 2012 World Beer Cup Bronze Medal winning BrickStone APA and 2013 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal winning Belgo-APA.

In fall 2014, BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery will further expand by adding a separate, fully-automated 50 BBL Brewhouse and release a Blood Orange Hefeweizen and Robust Porter, among other unique brews. For more information, visit http://www.brickstonebrewery.com/.

 

Yes! Magazine's Ladies' Choice Awards

The Ladies' Choice Awards were just announced in Yes! magazine's June 2014 issue.  We are pleased to announce that BrickStone has earned two awards and our gal Haley is on the front cover!!!

 

2014 Yes! Ladies' Choice Awards:

          Best Bloody Mary for a Meal - BrickStone Brewery

          Best Date Night Place - BrickStone Brewery

(For a complete list of winners go to http://myyesmagazine.com/YES_June%202014/)


We are so proud to be named winner of these two categories and thank all of you for voting for us!!!
 

BrickStone Taps it's award-winning hops during Chicago craft beer week

BrickStone Brewery Taps Its Award-Winning Hops During Chicago Craft Beer Week

 

Bourbonnais, IL - - May 13, 2014 - - BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery - just named “Best Brewery & Best Beer” at the American Beer Classic held last weekend at Soldier Field - will pour its Gold Medal-winning APA and unveil two exclusive new IPAs at some of Chicago’s top eateries and pubs, in celebration of Chicago Craft Beer Week (May 15 - 25, 2014).

 

“We’re thrilled that Chicago has embraced our hand-crafted brews,” says BrickStone BrewMaster, Tommy Vasilakis, “and we’ll unveil our new fully-automated brewhouse this summer, expanding our repertoire for BrickStone regulars and Chicago craft beer fans alike.”

 

BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery’s Chicago Craft Beer Week celebrations include:

 

THURSDAY, MAY 15TH:

 

Clock Out, Tap In featuring BrickStone Brewery

5 – 7pm at Public House, 400 North State Street, Chicago, IL

Sample complimentary tastings of BrickStone Brewery's American Pale Ale along with specialty paired bites brought to you by the Public House culinary team. APA 22oz bottles will be available for purchase for the entire day and BrickStone’s BrewMaster will be onsite to talk beer with you! While RSVP's are not required - why not make a night of it? Emailevents@publichousechicago.com to book your table for dinner & drinks (including that APA!)

 

One Night Blonde Session IPA Release Party

5 – 7pm at BrickStone Brewery, 557 William Latham Sr. Drive, Bourbonnais, IL

Looking for something easy? Come to Brickstone for the release of our One Night Blonde Session IPA and enjoy half price appetizers during the tapping party! (One Night Blonde is an easy drinking IPA with a light malt backbone following by a hop bitterness and citrus flavor & aroma coming from the Galaxy and Amarillo hops).

 

Beer Under Glass

6:30pm - 9:30pm (VIP at 5:30pm) Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago, IL

Celebrate the return of spring with the return of Beer Under Glass! This year’s Beer Under Glass will again be brought to you in partnership with the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. Enjoy the Conservatory at night as you sip inventive brews from some of Chicagoland’s hottest craft breweries - including BrickStone - in your souvenir glass.

 

FRIDAY, MAY 16TH:

 

Wisconsin vs Illinois Tap Takeover

7pm at Liquid Blues, 126 N. Benton Street, Woodstock, IL

It’s Wisconsin vs Illinois brews! Which do you prefer! Come taste BrickStone’s APA alongside brews from other great breweries in Illinois and Wisconsin!

 

SATURDAY, MAY 17TH:

 

Crown Brew Fest

2 – 6pm (VIP at 1pm) at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 889 S. Court Street, Crown Point, IN

It’s the 5th Annual Crown Brew Fest at Lake County Fairgrounds and BrickStone will be there among many other great breweries from Illinois, Indiana and surrounding states! For more information go tohttp://crownbeerfest.com/info.html.

 

BrickStone Brew Sampling

4:30pm – 7:30pm at Kitty O’Sheas in the Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL

You may be in Chicago but you’ll feel like you’re drinking BrickStone brews in Old Ireland when you come to sample BrickStone brews at Kitty O’Sheas!

 

MONDAY, MAY 19TH:

 

DryHop Brewers/BrickStone Brewery Collaboration Release

6pm – 2am at DryHop Brewers, 3155 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL

The brewers of DryHop and Brickstone Brewery came together to create a Kaffir Lime Lemon Grass IPA! Be one of the first to taste it!

 

Haymarket’s 4th Annual Illinois Brewer’s Night

6:30pm at Haymarket Pub & Brewery, 737 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL

It’s an Illinois tap takeover. Brewers from around the state will be coming in for a night of revelry! Each brewery is bringing one keg and a case of pint glasses to give away! BrickStone will be on hand with their newly released One Night Blonde Session IPA. Tickets are $25 each which includes 12 tasting tickets, and will be available starting May 1 onhttp://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/669662.

 

 

TUESDAY, MAY 20TH:

 

Kaffir Lime Lemon Grass IPA Collaboration Release Party

5pm – 10:30pm at BrickStone Brewery, 557 Wm. Latham Drive, Bourbonnais, IL

Our brewers will be tapping the DryHop/BrickStone collaboration brew, a Kaffir Lime Lemon Grass IPA, on Tall Tuesday! Enjoy this brew with half price appetizers from 5pm – 7pm and live entertainment from local legend Lupe Carroll from 7:30pm – 10:30pm!

 

FRIDAY, MAY 23RD:

 

Blarney Stone Anniversary Party

7:00 PM at Blarney Stone Pub, 15400 S. Cicero Avenue, Oak Forest, IL

It’s Blarney Stone’s anniversary and in honor of that they will be tapping a special limited edition of BrickStone’s One Night Blonde Session IPA infused with fruit!

 

SUNDAY, MAY 25TH:

 

West Loop Craft Beer Fest (CCBW Closing Party)

1 – 5pm (VIP at Noon) at Chicago’s West Loop, on Clinton Street between Lake & Washington, 131 North Clinton Street, Chicago, IL

The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, Neighbors of West Loop, and Chicago French Market have come together to host the 2nd Annual celebration to close out Chicago Craft Beer Week 2014. Enjoy craft beer, hours of entertainment and food for purchase!

 

About BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery

BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery opened as a small-town brewery in 2006 in Bourbonnais, IL., using a tiny, 5 barrel brewing system. By 2008, its hand-crafted microbrews - featuring the finest hops and malts - had gained such popularity that BrickStone expanded to a state-of-the-art Newlands Brewhouse with a capacity of 25 BBL brews.

 

Today, BrickStone is best known for its diverse selection of award-winning craft beers, including its 2012 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal and 2012 World Beer Cup Bronze Medal winning BrickStone APA and 2013 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal winning Belgo-APA.

 

In summer 2014, BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery will further expand by adding a separate, fully-automated 50 BBL Brewhouse and release a Blood Orange Hefeweizen and Robust Porter, among other unique brews. For more information, visit http://www.brickstonebrewery.com/.

 

BrickStone APA ranked in Top 50 Most Popular American Pale Ales

The results are in and BrickStone's APA ranks in Beer Advocate's Top 50 Most Popular American Pale Ales!!!! http://www.beeradvocate.com/lists/style/97/

Paws Bark & Brew Best in Show

BrickStone earned the Gold: Best in Show at the first annual Paws Bark & Brew in Mokena today. Congratulations to our brewers and Lacie & Neco for the outstanding job they did at the show. Below are some pictures from the event: 

Beerhoptacular

We had a great time at Beerhoptacular at Lacuna Artist Loft Studios in Chicago yesterday and can't wait to do it again today!!! 

We are at booth #51! Stop by for a taste.

BrickStone is celebrating with Beerhoptacular!

http://beerhoptacularblog.com/brickstone-coming-to-beerhoptacular-to-celebrate-gabf-gold/

Bottling Line!

We begin bottling today!

Here's a couple pics! Soon you'll find bottles of BrickStone brews in stores near you! 

Stay tuned for more. 

North American Brewers Association Beer Competition Results

Results just in! The North American Brewers Association awarded BrickStone's APA the Gold in the American-Style Pale Ale category and BrickStone's Double IPA HopSkipNI'mDrunk the Bronze in the American-Style Strong Pale Ale category! Congratulations to our Brewers Tommy, George & John T!!!! Keep the beer flowing!!!!

Beer Tasting at Binny's in Algonquin tomorrow

BrickStone is going to Binny's in Algonquin tomorrow!