7/13/2018 Black Horizon Brewing Company, 7550 S. Quincy St. Willowbrook, IL 60527 phone: #630-413-4964   website: BlackHorizonBrewing.com
Hours: Thursday 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Friday Noon to 11:00 pm | Saturday Noon to 11:00 pm | Sunday Noon to 7:00 pm

Experience before you go . . .

Out of the blue, Beer Drinking Buddy Brad got a hankering to go on a brewery tour. Now Brad being the working stiff and me being every bit retired and lovin it, I'm usually the one setting up these brewery adventures. Brad's either working, plum worn out or doing family stuff. So Brad took the half barrel by the hand pump and the plan was in place. Brad was picking me up on Friday. Friday the 13th I might add, and he had a surprise for me......surprise????? What the heck, the last surprise I had was when my wife Kat planned a surprise 50th Birthday Party at the VFW Hall in Naperville, Illinois. Most of my family were there, friends covering a span of 30 years, my brother-in-law's band on stage, catered Tex-Mex and an open bar!! So obviously my curiosity started getting the best of me. Was a long lost high school buddy joining us on the tour, was Brad picking me up on a Harley, did Brad shave his head? What ever it was, I was looking forward to it. Okay, Brad pulls up the driveway, no Harley, he's by himself, he still has his hair but he's carrying a box. He hands me the box, I open it carefully and inside we have a bunch of bright blue polo shirts. I take one out and WOW, the first Hoppin Brewery Tour logo shirt.....loud and proud! Brad's already wearing one and he's looking sharp and ready to drink some beer. I pick out my size and put it on and Brad and I prance around like two roosters trying to out do each other. Well after all the crowing we managed to get into the car and we're on the road again heading to Black Horizon Brewing Company. Windows down, music playing, conversation rolling......the dynamic duo is back!

We pull up, drive by the handmade BHBC sign and into the parking lot. No spots, this place is rocking! Finally one opens up and Brad grabs it. Two out front sign selfies and we hit the door. Now I'm taking it all in as we walk in with matching shirts and we're getting the looks like we're the local pest control company here to take care of a major bug infestation. But once a few folks take in our shirt logo and we gravitate to a couple empty bar stools I sense a calming effect come over the whole crowd.....the eradication of the giant beer bug will have to wait another day.

Charles, one of the three owners is behind the bar by himself, servicing a full bar, cleaning glasses, sweeping the floor and smiling the whole time. It was poetic to watch! Once he got to us, he took the time to introduce himself, heard our elevator pitch, was impressed (I think) and Bing, Bang, Boom the Hoppin Brewery Tour strikes again in Willowbrook! I order a single engine Cessna short flight starting with the Delicate Approach - Double Dry Hopped IPA (6.8%, 60 IBU) well balanced IPA with medium body, crisp pleasant bitterness with under notes of herbal strawberry, citrusy pine and white grapefruit. Next up we have Another Spectrum - American Lager (5.5%, 25 IBU) summer lager brewed with German malts and hops that provides a delicate citrusy, crisp and clean taste with mild bready grains....thirst quencher! And last we have Barrel Works #3 - Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Porter w/tart cherry (7%, 18 IBU) aged 9 months with rye spice, dark malts and tart cherries.....not my normal but pretty tasty! Brad orders a pint of their Big Chocolate "Habanero" - Chocolate Stout (6.5%, 18 IBU) brewed a week with dark chocolate then infused with habanero peppers for a low, slow peppery burn......right up Brad's alley!