If you’re a craft beer drinker anywhere in Illinois, you have undoubtedly heard of Two Brothers Brewing Company, located in a quiet corner of Warrenville. Owners and brothers Jim and Jason Ebel are avid beer enthusiasts, heavily involved in the beer community, active members of the Brewers Association and always eager to collaborate with fellow brewers.
The beers produced at the 40,000 barrel a year brewery are as extensive as the background and knowledge of the brothers and their staff. From year-round varieties like their popular Domaine Dupage, a French-syle country ale, to their artisan offerings like Polar Vortex, a dunkel lager with hints of chocolate and caramel, all the way to Midwestern Death Metal, an imperial barrel-aged espresso stout—they’ve got something for every palate.
Their hopped-up red rye ale named Cane and Ebel is a favorite among staff around the brewery, as well as one of my personal favorites. Its infused with Thai palm sugar and has a strong but provocative hop profile. They are also busy releasing beers from their Project Opus line of aged sour beers. Fathom, an oaked sour ale, and Tangent, a dark sour ale are two interesting offerings in this series.
From Homebrew Shop Owners to Craft Brewers
Previously owners of a homebrew store in Naperville, Ill., Jim and Jason were finally ready to begin production in their own brewery in 1996. They began with a German-style hefeweizen they dubbed Ebel Weiss, which is still in production today.
The brothers gained their affinity for European beers while living abroad in France. As young American men, unable to gain access to stateside domestics, they were initially turned on to the beers of Belgium from the locals. They fell in love with beers that were outside the realm of what most Americans were drinking at the time. When they came back to the states and realized they couldn’t get a hold of the beers they became fond of in Europe, Jim eventually purchased a brewing kit and the brothers began brewing at home.
Over the past 17 years, the two brothers have gained much notoriety in the brewing community. They’ve brewed award-winning beers, worked with the likes of Solemn Oath and Stone Brewing, judged homebrew competitions and supported may philanthropies both locally and nationwide.
They love and welcome weekend tours of their brewery and offer samples of their beers before or after your tour. The recently-expanded brewhouse is awe-inspiring to the enthusiast, but everyone can enjoy the brilliance of the gigantic stainless steel tanks and oak fermenters that festoon the brew house floor. While there, you cannot help but pick up on the sense of familial harmony between the staff. On a staff outing last fall, the group traveled down to Pontiac, Ill., to a farm and handpicked the hops for an upcoming beer, what could be better than that?
Chances are, you’ll see the brewers making what you’re drinking through the glass windows that separate the pub from the brewhouse, or maybe even catch them enjoying a pint after a hard day’s work. On a staff outing last fall, the group traveled down to Pontiac, Ill., to a farm and handpicked the hops for an upcoming beer, what could be better than that?
Environmental Efforts and Charity
The brewery is also environmentally conscious, sending all of their spent grains to a local farm for feed. They are also advocates of locally-sourced hops and grain, which not only helps the land, but also their community.
Two Brothers Summerfest, a charitable event featuring Two Brothers’ beers, other local breweries and national headlining bands sees around 15,000 people. The festival is held at their Roundhouse location in Aurora, Ill., which is the oldest limestone roundhouse in the U.S. These yearly events help the Make A Wish Foundation, Mutual Ground and Day 1 organizations, just to name a few.
Not only does this brewery produce high quality craft beers, it also purchases local when available, recycles grain, gives back to the community, sells homebrew equipment and supports great causes, which gives brewing, breweries and beer enthusiasts a good name.
Allan Wolfe is a craft beer brewer, reviewer and whisky connoisseur who also runs BeerandWhiskeyHQ.com. Allan’s passion is finding out why and how different beers taste the way they do. Besides brewing, you’ll find him playing music, reading books, playing with his dogs and enjoying his favorite pint or dram. He’s always open to answering questions, talking beer or teaching anyone who is willing to listen about distilling!
CraftBeer.com is fully dedicated to small and independent U.S. breweries. We are published by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members.
Share Post