Brewery Profile

is/was brewing

Chicago’s beer scene has room for both neighborhood staples and smaller producers built around unusual process choices, and is/was brewing fits into the latter category. A visitor should not expect the profile of a brewery organized only around standard year-round styles; the known focus is on experimental ingredient combinations and barrel aging programs. The most useful way to approach a visit is to pay attention to how ingredients are handled, not just what they are. Tree Tipper is a good example: spruce tips are steeped in locally sourced honey from The Hive Supply before being added during fermentation, a process intended to shift sharper resinous spruce character toward more floral and fruit-driven notes.

Travelers exploring beer in Chicago often look for range: classic Midwest drinking beers, hop-focused releases, mixed-fermentation projects, and barrel-aged specialties. A stop at is/was brewing fits best for people interested in the more exploratory end of that spectrum. The brewery’s mixed-culture barrel aging program gives visitors a reason to look beyond a single flagship pour, especially when annual variants of Tree Tipper are available. Recent barrel releases have included versions aged for one year in Barr Hill Tom Cat Gin barrels and Malort barrels, which points to a program built around cask character as much as base recipe. Reported flavor notes for Tree Tipper include green mango, pineapple, cotton candy, and maple sap, so it is the sort of beer that may appeal to visitors who enjoy tasting for transformation rather than only for familiar style markers.

Because specific amenities are not provided here, the taproom is the place to confirm the day’s pours, current availability, and whether any barrel-aged or mixed-culture releases are being served or sold to go. Visitors planning around a particular variant should check directly with the brewery before making the trip, since specialty beers can be limited and may not be on tap at all times. The same applies to basic logistics such as hours, food options, seating, and event schedules. For a traveler building a Chicago beer itinerary, this is a stop to treat as a tasting-room visit rather than a guaranteed checklist of specific beers: ask what is fresh, what has been in barrels, and what ingredients or casks are shaping the current releases.

The brewery is/was brewing in Chicago, Illinois, focusing on experimental ingredient combinations and barrel aging programs. One notable release, Tree Tipper, utilizes spruce tips steeped in locally sourced honey from The Hive Supply before being added during fermentation. This specific process is designed to convert aggressive, resinous spruce compounds into more floral and fruity notes, resulting in a flavor profile that includes green mango, pineapple, cotton candy, and maple sap. The brewery also maintains a mixed-culture barrel aging program, releasing annual variants of Tree Tipper aged for one year in various casks. Recent barrel releases have included versions aged in Barr Hill Tom Cat Gin barrels and Malort Barrels, expanding the complexity of their specialty offerings.

Website available

5121 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, USA, Chicago, Illinois, 60640

Website: https://iswasbrewing.com/

Hours: Tu 12pm-9pm, We 12pm-9pm, Th 12pm-9pm, Fr 12pm-12pm, Sa 12pm-12pm, Su 12pm-9pm