Moonshine

Moonshine

While searching for a fresher, better brew to pair with its signature bar cuisine and its legendary after-dinner music grooves, Moonshine’s no-nonsense partners decided it would be best to just to do it ourselves. With award-winning Goose Island ex-patriot Reverend Bob Kittrell at the brew master pulpit, Moonshine Brewery’s mission is handcrafting quality beers with spirit and soul. (and yes, he is a real Reverend, but admits that it’s only so he can park illegally from time to time!) This outlaw brewer opened Moonshine’s Brew Pub in 2008 with several tasty new beers and an ongoing rotation of uniquely crafted malt beverages year ‘round. Creating and brewing primarily in the American tradition, Reverend Bob uses ingredients from the Midwest whenever possible such as the yeast, hops or Illinois corn for a possibly upcoming malt liquor. He makes each beer uniquely his own, drawing on his experience at some of the top microbreweries in the country such as The Oxford Brewing Company in Baltimore, Maryland, Stone Brewing in California and most recently at Goose Island in Chicago. He apprenticed in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia and was schooled at the Siebel Institute in Chicago and Doemens Academy in Munich. Reverend Bob’s well-respected reputation within the brewer’s network helped Moonshine acquire one of the highest quality brewing systems available, along with access to scarce hops and other needed ingredients. The ten barrel brew system produces 310 gallons (about 20 kegs) at one time. The four fermenters and six stainless steel tanks are housed in an annex room at Moonshine where one will find the irreverent Reverend blasting heavy metal tracks while practicing his alchemy, mixing hops, yeast and Chicago’s purest tap water! Like his beer style, this rogue mad scientist displays American-style tattoos across 80% of his body: stylized hearts, dice, skulls, pinups, a hot-rod Jesus…a veritable Sistine Chapel of body art! Bob’s offerings complement Moonshine’s unique approach to brewing, drinking and dining. “It’s easy to make beer; the challenge is making good beer. This art form takes 30 minutes to learn but a lifetime to master—I’m still mastering my craft,” he humbly remarks. Yeah, sure. Whatever…just drink it and you’ll know what we mean.