Argus Brewery

Argus Brewery was a brewing company located on the south side of Chicago, at the edge of the Roseland community and the historic Pullman District.[1] Founded in 2009, the brewery produced beer for multiple Chicago restaurants as well as its own self-named brand. Argus brewery closed in March 2020.

Argus Brewery
LocationChicago, Illinois, United States
Opened2009
Closed2020
Key peopleBob Jensen
Annual production volume2,500 US beer barrels (2,900 hL) in 2015[1]

History

The brewery was housed in a century-old building that originally served as the Schlitz Brewery stable.[2] Schlitz constructed its largest facility across the tracks from the Pullman Company to provide beer to the 10,000 area workers who were forced to live in a dry community.[3]

In 2016, Ted Furman became the brewmaster at Argus Brewing, and began to reproduce recipes from his defunct brand Golden Prairie. That same year the Argus Lager won a bronze award at the World Beer Cup.[4] In 2018, the Golden Prairie Doppel Alt was awarded a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival.[5] Argus brand original craft beers and Golden Prairie brand beers were available in local taverns and stores, with most sales coming from taphouses.[6]

In late 2012 the brewery teamed up with Jarrett Payton, son of the late NFL Hall of Famer Walter Payton, to create the Jarrett Payton All-American Wheat Ale. The limited release beer was developed by Payton and the Jensen family.[7] Argus also brewed beers honoring other notable Chicagoans, including the Paschke Pilsner for beloved local artist Ed Paschke,[8] and the Tuskegee Airmen Pursuit as homage to Jack Lyle, one of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen.[9] Argus Brewery also briefly contract-brewed for Baderbrau, one of Chicago’s oldest craft brewing companies.[10]

Argus Brewery closed in 2020, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois. The brewery stopped brewing on March 28, twelve days after bars and restaurants were ordered to close to stem the spread of the virus in Chicago.[6]

References
  1. Marotti, Ally (2015-04-23). "Foreign beer drinkers are craving Chicago brew. Hard". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 2015-10-28. Bob Jensen, co-founder of Pullman-based Argus Brewery, said a distributor recently approached him about exporting as well. The brewery, which was founded in 2009 and produces 2,500 barrels a year, plans to start shipping four of its brands to Germany and England in about three weeks.
  2. "Argus Brewery Returns Craft Of Beer To Pullman". CBS Chicago. 20 February 2012.
  3. "Landmark Status Urged For Former Brewery". CBS Chicago. 7 April 2011.
  4. "Award Winners". World Beer Cup. Brewers Association. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  5. "GABF Winners". Great American Beer Festival. Brewers Association. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  6. Noel, Josh (April 22, 2020). "After a lifetime of trying to turn the corner, Argus Brewery shutters in the shadow of coronavirus". Chicago Tribune.
  7. "Son of 'Sweetness' Partners With Father-Son Brewers in Forgotten Chicago". DNAinfo Chicago. 18 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  8. McDermott, Matt. "Argus Brewery Closes in COVID-19 Downturn". ChicagoNow. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  9. "Beer Named After One Of The Last Surviving Tuskegee Airmen". CBS DFW. CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  10. Noel, Josh. "Baderbrau rebirth culminates with South Loop brewery". Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
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