NL_071218

4 | July 12, 2018 | The New Lenox Patriot News
newlenoxpatriot.com
Retirement
From Page 3
According to Meyer, the
vast variety of hops bitters
the beer and adds an aroma.
Originally he wanted to
sell beer from his backyard
brewery on a small-scale,
but after receiving pushback
from Will County because
of an ordinance that
stated he needed 10 acres of
land to sell his product, he
had to change his plans.
“I had to decide if I was
going to do it more upscale
or if I was just going to be
an old retired guy. I decided
I’m not ready for real retirement,”
Meyer said.
Tinley Park resident Leanne
Deutsch stopped at the
brewery to check it out after
having met Meyer a year
ago when he held an open
tasting at his house from his
backyard nano-brewery.
“At that time he was talking
about the brewery, so
once I saw he had opened
one I wanted to check it out.
I like local businesses like
this, it’s something different,”
Deutsch said.
Brewing beer has always
interested Meyer since
hearing stories of his grandfather
during prohibition.
“My parents always told
stories that during prohibition
my grandfather brewed
beer in the bathtub. He actually
did it. He wanted
beer so they brewed their
own. I always thought that
was kind of neat so I started
brewing my own beer,”
Meyer said.
Hickory Creek, which is
in Meyer’s backyard, is the
inspiration behind the theme
of the brewery. The murals
in the bar section are pictures
taken from his backyard and
many of his beers are named
after animals they often see
around the creek. Rabbits,
foxes, squirrels, chipmunks
and beavers are all represented
by his brews.
One beer in particular
called “Whack the Beaver”
was named by his son who
witnessed a nun from the
next door montessori go
down to the creek with a
4-foot stick to bust down a
beaver dam.
“One Christmas when
I was still brewing from
home, my son thought that
it would be a good idea to
make me bottle labels. He
made one with the depiction
of a scared little beaver and
a nun standing over it with
a big stick,” Meyer said
laughing.
Other things in his life has
also inspired names of his
brews. Red October, an Irish
Red Ale, bares the name of
a movie, but pays homage to
his six years in the Navy as
a Nuclear Machinist’s Mate
on a submarine.
Bartender Calie Jordan,
of New Lenox, said the local
brewery is unique.
“It’s an important thing to
have in the area since there
are few places like it. It’s a
BUYING OR SELLING?
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Pictured is the multiple-barrel brewing system inside Hickory Creek Brewing Co. that
allows brews to undergo the fermentation process. Photo Submitted
nice local establishment,”
Jordan said.
The brewery also gives
back to local famers by donating
his used grain scraps
to them free of charge.
Nearly a year ago Meyer
acquired the space for his
brewery, but getting permits
and setting up equipment
took longer than expected.
Meyer had the patience to
see it through and to come
in early to brew beer, which
he said is usually “an all day
affair.” He said patience especially
pays off when he
brews Meade, which takes
about a year to undergo the
process.
Meyer’s brewery currently
makes seven barrels
815.474.1450
chriskaczmarski@yahoo.com
per batch, which can make
between 1,000 and 1,500
barrels per year. Meyer said
he’s considering the possibility
of purchasing canning
equipment down the road to
can his product.
“We just want to be a
neighborhood brewery,”
Meyer said. “It’s a great place
to come and have a beer.”
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