Award-Winning Beers
Crafting History,
One Sip at a Time
At Adams St Brewery, we don’t just make beer—we create experiences that celebrate flavor, tradition, and innovation right in the heart of downtown Chicago.
Our brews have been recognized at prestigious competitions like Ultimate IPA Awards, Crafties Awards, US Beer Open Championships, United States Beer Tasting Championships, Brewski Awards & The Untapped Community Awards, earning accolades that reflect the passion and skill poured into every pint.
From robust stouts to crisp lagers, each award-winning beer tells a story—a blend of heritage and creativity, crafted right here in downtown Chicago. We’re honored to be recognized, but the true reward is sharing these exceptional brews with you.
Interview with our Brewer
About the Brewing Process:
- 1.What makes your brewing process unique among Chicago’s craft beer scene?In actuality all brewing processes are basically the same, although there are some unique aspects to Adams Street brewhouse that sets us apart. Our mash tun is steam jacketed which allows us to step mash and we are also set up to perform decoction mashing as well. In addition, we have two brew kettles, so we could do double batches and kettle sours without halting production.
- 2.What challenges did you face perfecting your award-winning recipes?For both Jim and I we had faced challenges many years before we both came to Adams Street while perfecting the craft with trial and error, a lot of experimentation, and self-education on the science and techniques of brewing high quality beer.
- 3.How do you blend innovation and tradition when crafting new brews?I have several acres in the woodlands in northern Wisconsin, on this property is a traditional Indian sweat lodge. On the first weekend of each month Jim and I will travel northwards and stay in the sweat lodge, drink copious amounts of mezcal until an idea for a new beer comes to mind. But seriously, we look at trends in the industry and brainstorm on ideas that we feel might be something interesting.
About Chicago’s
Beer Culture:
- 4.What’s the best part about brewing in a city with such a rich craft beer culture?There are so many things, but I feel the best part is the brother and sisterhood that is felt throughout the craft brewing community.
- 5.How do you stay inspired to create standout beers for competitions and on tap?Inspiration is always around you just must look for it. It can come from other cultures, what is new and exciting in the craft beer scene, studying fermentation science beyond beer, keeping an open mind and staying humble.
- 6.How does feedback from beer lovers and critics influence your brewing process?Personally, I take everything I hear and read with a grain of salt, not to say I don’t listen, but it takes more than just a stone to make stone soup. I look at many other factors such as sales, ratings from professional tasters, and the years of experience I put into every beer.
Explore
Our Winners
BEYOND The Horizon
The Top 10 Awards 1st Place
Ultimate IPA awards Gold 2024
Double IPA • 8.2% ABV • 75 IBU
Big rich notes of stone fruit and mango powered by a heavy dank herbal note in the back. Ode to the classics of the upper northeast
Der Reisende
The Top 10 Awards 1st Place
US beer Championships Gold
World Beer Cup Silver -2025
Export Stout • 7.12% ABV • 50 IBU
AKA “The Traveler” is a classic rich stout built for the seas. This beer has big, rich notes of coffee and chocolate able to withstand a long voyage.
McCee’s Irish Stout
The Top 10 Awards 1st Place
Irish Stout • 5.4% ABV • 30 IBU
Our classic smooth on the palate Irish style stout will give you the feeling of being on the isles. (Export stout)
Steam Engine
The Top 10 Awards 2nd Place
US Beer Championships Gold
Kentucky Common • 6.4% ABV • 15 IBU
Sometimes you feel you need a Morning Jacket to go about your day. For this historical rendition of a Kentucky classic, you’ll get rich notes of caramel and toffee along with a creamy body.
Goin’ Plaid
The Top 10 Awards 1st Place
Scotch Ale • 8.3% ABV • 15 IBU
With a distinct caramel flavor throughout, it offers an overwhelmingly malty flavor and aroma in this wee heavy.
Polotmavy Pivo
The Top 10 Awards 1st Place
Lager-Polotmave • 5.3% ABV • 35 IBU
Traditional “Amber” Czech lager with classic pilsner bitterness and undertones of caramel and toasted bread
Violet Moonbeams
The Top 10 Awards 1st Place
Ginjo Beer or Sake-Yeast Beer Hybrid Sake Lager 12 IBU • 9.7% ABV
For our next iteration of the Sake Beer series, we added a touch of more hops along with a blast of blueberry to create this intriguing flavor bomb. Dry hopped with a combination of Gemini and Ekuanot Hops help bring balance to this slight sour notes created by Koji
Be Rye Back
The Top 10 Awards 1st Place
Rye Beer American Lager 22 IBU • 6% ABV
Rich bodied lager with a hint of spice from Rye malt. You will definitely Be Rye Back for another one.
What the Kids Like
The Top 10 Awards 1st Place
INFUSCO COFFEE STOUT Imperial/Double Coffee 38 IBU • 10.5% ABV
This big strong cup of Joe is just what the kids like! We paired this Rye Imperial Stout with coffee from our partners Infusco Coffee.
Pont de L’Chicago
United States Beer Tasting Championship Midwest Regional Champion Best of the Midwest (Belgian/French Specialty)
United States Beer Tasting Championship National Grand Champion (Belgian French Specialty)
Saison 10 IBU • 9% ABV
This beer is our version of an impressive masterpiece fermented uncontrolled with a combination of Wormwood and Sweat Gale Herbs leaving out the modern take of hops. There are also 5 strains of Brett included to create a complete palate to enjoy.
United States Beer Tasting Championship Midwest Regional Champion Best of the Midwest (Belgian/French Specialty), United States Beer Tasting Championship National Grand Champion (Belgian French Specialty)
Horse God
Untapped Community Awards Historical Beer
Dampfbier • 6.1% ABV • 15 IBU
This eclectic style of german dampf “steam” bier was made to showcase a different way of utilizing our house hefeweizen yeast strain. We then decided to create this for the prog rock band HORSE GOD that are regulars at the bar!
Whitman’s Love Song
Ultimate IPA awards Gold 2024
New England Hazy – Double IPA • 8% ABV • 25 IBU
This experimentally hopped and mixed blend yeast combo of Belgian Wit and New England Hazy will leave yours and any Martian screaming AAKK AAKK while it blows the mind with serious hoppy flavors
Dats Da Joose
Utlimate IPA awards Silver 2024
IPA – Hazy • 6.2% ABV • 25 IBU
With big flavorful citrus and pineapple notes, this abundantly juicy, double dry-hopped hazy IPA will make you feel like you’re beach-ing it on a hot summer’s day!
Moonlight Shogun
Crafties award Gold 2024
Brewski Awards Platinum 2024
Sake Beer – Japanese Rice • 6.8% ABV • 0 IBU
ASB Canvas Series – Inspired by the Art Institute of Chicago A new leader who is evolving her daimyo in Chicago. She leads with a strong yet floral essence. This is the beginning of the “Moonlight Shōgun”. Her unrestrained ideas bring forth the aromas of green apple with the sweetness of summer sun ripened green grapes. お楽しみください“Otanoshimikudasai”
Clouds in Chicago
Crafties Award Gold 2024
Witbier • 5.9% ABV • 12 IBU
ASB Canvas Series – Inspired by the Art Institute of Chicago. We bring to you our Summer Witbier packed with Blueberries & Hibiscus to paint a flavorful palate as we turn the world over the sky above the clouds.
Der Reisende
Crafties award Gold 2024
Brewski Awards Platinum 2024
Stout – Export • 7.5 % ABV • 50 IBU AKA “the Traveler” is a classic rich stout built for the seas. This beer has big rich notes of coffee and chocolate able to withstand a long voyage. Coming out for the Holidays this year.
McCee’s Irish Stout
US Beer Open Championships Gold 2024
Brewski Awards Gold 2024
Irish Stout • 5.4% ABV • 30 IBU
Our classic smooth on the palate Irish style stout will give you the feeling of being on the isles. (Export stout)
Robert’s Rye
US Beer Open Championships Bronze 2024
Brewski Awards Silver 2024
Rye Beer • 5.2 ABV • 40 IBU
Dedicated to our brewer’s father, a man with a very wry sense of humor. Viscous mouthfeel, spicy rye, slightly nutty with hints of dark fruit balanced with el Dorado hops
Da Drizzy
Best in the Midwest
United States Beer Tasting Championships 2024 National Grand Champion
Brewski Awards beer of the year 2024
Dry Hopped Sour • 4.0% ABV • 10 IBU
Every BBL of this beer has hits of mango, pineapple, tangerine and green grapes with a hit of fruity pebbles on the nose.
Ahh Vienna
Brewski Awards Silver 2024
Lager – Vienna • 5.2% ABV • 25 IBU
A mahogany-hued German style lager, with a satisfying caramel flavor backed up by a slight hop background.
Petite Bijou Belgium Strong Dark Ale in Illinois
Untapped Community Awards 3.712 in 2023
7.6% ABV 5 IBU
In this beer you’ll experience flavors of Petite Syrah Rosé complimented by a malt backbone created through esters known by Belgian beer enthusiasts. What sets this creation apart from many others is the mild tart notes imparted by wild yeast from Grape Must, which is rounded out by aging it in heavily toasted oak.
Discover Why We’re
Chicago’s Best Craft Brewery
Visit The Berghoff Restaurant to experience craft beer perfection, from time-honored recipes to modern favorites. Taste what makes us a standout in Chicago’s craft beer scene.
