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

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.

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][11][12]

References

  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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.
  11. ^ Konkol, Mark (April 20, 2020). "Argus Brewery in Pullman Closes as Coronavirus Kills Keg Sales". Patch. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  12. ^ McDermott, Mark (April 20, 2020). "Argus Brewery Closes in COVID-19 Downturn". The Beeronaut. Retrieved February 25, 2021.

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