Revolution Brewing
| Revolution Brewing | |
|---|---|
 | |
 The original Milwaukee Avenue brewpub in 2013; it closed in December 2024. | |
| Industry | brewing industry  |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Josh Deth |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Key people | Josh Deth (founder/CEO) Jim Cibak (brewmaster) Doug Veliky (chief strategy officer) |
| Website | revbrew |
Revolution Brewing is a brewery in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded as a brewpub in 2010 on Milwaukee Avenue in the Logan Square neighborhood; the brewpub closed in December 2024. A separate production brewery, with canning and bottling lines and a tap room, opened in 2012 about a mile from the brewpub, on Kedzie Avenue in the Avondale neighborhood.[dead link]
Revolution has received local and national recognition, including awards from the Great American Beer Festival, the World Beer Cup, and Time Out Chicago. The 2013 film Drinking Buddies, starring Olivia Wilde and Jake Johnson, was partly filmed at the brewery.
History
Revolution Brewing was started as a brewpub in 2010 by owner Josh Deth. Deth attended the University of Michigan and became interested in brewing from his frequent visits to Bell's Brewery. Deth worked at Goose Island Brewery and connected with head brewmaster Jim Cibak during his time there. Cibak has worked at a number of breweries including Three Floyds Brewing.
Revolution Brewing has received local and national recognition with awards from the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and Time Out Chicago.
The film Drinking Buddies is partly set in the Revolution Brewing brewery and taphouse. A romantic comedy-drama, written and directed by Joe Swanberg, it was shot in 2012 and released in 2013. It stars Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, and Ron Livingston. In the movie, the fictional characters portrayed by Wilde and Johnson work at the brewery.
In 2024, Revolution ranked 36th among the Brewers Association's Top 50 U.S. craft brewing companies by beer volume. The original Milwaukee Avenue brewpub closed permanently on December 14, 2024, after nearly 15 years in operation, consolidating the company's operations at its Kedzie Avenue production facility and taproom in Avondale.
Beers
Revolution Brewing produces more than 20 different beers. Some of them are available year-round, and others are seasonal. There are also several dozen more beers that were brewed at different times in the past. As of August 2026, the brewery organizes its current lineup into several families, including Hero IPA-branded India pale ales, the Cold Time line of lagers, City Series session beers, seasonal and small-batch releases, and the barrel-aged Deep Wood Series; several earlier flagship beers, including two of its award-winning releases, have since been discontinued.
| Name | Style | ABV % | IBU | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Hero | India pale ale | 6.7 | 65 | Year-round |
| Hazy-Hero | Hazy India pale ale | 7.3 | 35 | Year-round |
| Fist City | American Pale Ale | 5.5 | 45 | Year-round |
| Rev Pils | German-style pilsner | 5.5 | 45 | Year-round |
| Cold Time | Premium lager | 4.8 | 15 | Year-round |
| Bottom Up Wit | Belgian-style white ale | 5.0 | Limited release | |
| Coup D'État | French-style saison | 7.6 | Limited release | |
| TV Party | Rye India pale ale | 7.3 | Limited release | |
| Red Skull | Imperial red ale | 9.3 | 60 | Limited release |
| Rosa | Fruit ale | 5.8 | Limited release; hibiscus | |
| A Little Crazy | Belgo-style pale ale | 6.8 | 35 | Seasonal |
| Oktoberfest | German-style Oktoberfest | 5.7 | 25 | Seasonal |
| Fistmas | Holiday ale | 6.5 | 31 | Seasonal |
| Straight Jacket | Barley wine | 15 | Barrel-aged; limited release | |
| Deth's Tar | Imperial oatmeal stout | 14.8 | Barrel-aged; limited release | |
| Eugene Porter | Robust porter | 6.8 | 28 | Discontinued |
| Double Fist | Double pale ale | 8.9 | 90 | Discontinued |
| Cross of Gold | Golden ale | 4.8 | 25 | Discontinued |
| Mad Cow | Milk stout | 7.0 | 30 | Discontinued |
| Mother of Exiles | German-style pilsner | 5.2 | 30 | Discontinued |
| Galaxy Hero | India pale ale | 6.6 | Discontinued; succeeded by the small-batch DDH Galaxy-Hero | |
| Crystal Hero | India pale ale | 7.2 | 75 | Discontinued |
| Local Hero | India pale ale | 7.5 | 65 | Discontinued |
| Jukebox Hero | Black India pale ale | 7.4 | 75 | Discontinued |
| 4th Year Beer | Belgian-style quadrupel | 11.5 | 32 | Discontinued |
| Rise | Stout | 7.6 | 55 | Discontinued |
| Repo Man | Rye stout | 6.4 | 30 | Discontinued |
| Very Mad Cow | Milk stout | 9.7 | 30 | Discontinued; barrel-aged |
| Mean Gene | Porter | 8.5 | Discontinued; barrel-aged | |
| Bean Gene | Porter with coffee | 9 | 28 | Discontinued; barrel-aged |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Beer | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | World Beer Cup | Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout | Deth's Tar | Bronze |
| 2025 | United States Beer Tasting Championship | Imperial Hazy IPA (Midwest Regional) | X-Hero Juicy Rush | Regional Champion |
| 2024 | Brewers Association | Top 50 U.S. Craft Brewing Companies by beer volume | — | 36th place |
| 2024 | United States Beer Tasting Championship | Wood/Barrel-Aged Beer (Grand National) | Straight Jacket | Champion |
| 2024 | United States Beer Tasting Championship | IPA (Midwest Regional) | Anti-Hero | Regional Champion |
| 2024 | World Beer Championships (Beverage Testing Institute) | Beer of the Year | Straight Jacket | Won |
| 2023 | United States Beer Tasting Championship | Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout/Porter (Grand National) | Deth's Tar | Champion |
| 2023 | United States Beer Tasting Championship | IPA (Grand National) | Anti-Hero | Champion |
| 2022 | Chicago Tribune Readers' Choice Food Awards | Best Bar Food | — | Won |
| 2022 | United States Beer Tasting Championship | Multigrain Beer (Grand National) | V.S.O.R. | Champion |
| 2022 | European Beer Star Awards | Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Beer | Straight Jacket | Silver |
| 2021 | Chicago Reader Best of Chicago | Best Local Beer | — | Won |
| 2021 | Chicago Reader Best of Chicago | Best Local Brewery | — | Won |
| 2021 | European Beer Star Awards | Strong Porter | — | Gold |
| 2020 | Chicago Reader Best of Chicago | Best Local Beer | — | Won |
| 2020 | Chicago Reader Best of Chicago | Best Local Brewery | — | Won |
| 2019 | Chicago Reader Best of Chicago | Best Brewery | — | Won |
| 2018 | Great American Beer Festival | Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer | Straight Jacket | Bronze |
| 2017 | Brewers Association | Top 50 Craft Brewery | — | 40th place |
| 2017 | Brewers Association | Top 50 Overall Brewery | — | 50th place |
| 2016 | Chicago magazine | Best Craft Brewery (Readers' Choice) | — | Won |
| 2016 | Brewers Association | Top 50 Craft Brewery Companies | — | 46th place |
| 2016 | World Beer Cup | Other Strong Beer | Winter Woman | Bronze |
| 2015 | Brewers Association | Top 50 Craft Brewery Companies | — | 50th place |
| 2015 | Chicago magazine / Chicago Reader Best of Chicago | Best Craft Brewery / Best Local Brewery (Readers' Choice) | — | Won |
| 2014 | Chicago magazine Best of Chicago | Best Craft Brewery (Readers' Choice) | — | Won |
| 2014 | Chicago magazine Best of Chicago | Best Beer (Readers' Choice) | Anti-Hero | Won |
| 2013 | Chicagoist | Beer of the Week | A Little Crazy | Won |
| 2013 | Time Out Chicago 2013 Eat Out Awards | Best Chicago Microbrewery | — | Won |
| 2013 | Chicagoland Brewpub & Microbrewery Shootout | Best Food/Beer Pairing | — | 1st place |
| 2013 | Chicago Tribune Dining Awards | Beverage Maker of the Year | — | Won |
| 2012 | Great American Beer Festival | English-Style Summer Ale | Cross of Gold | Gold |
| 2012 | Great American Beer Festival | American-Belgo-Style Ale | A Little Crazy | Bronze |
| 2012 | Chicago Reader Best of Chicago (Readers' Poll) | Best Brewpub | — | Won |
| 2012 | Chicago Reader Best of Chicago (Readers' Poll) | Best Pub Grub | — | Won |
| 2012 | World Beer Cup | American Style Stout | Rise | Gold[better source needed] |
| 2012 | World Beer Cup | English Style Summer Ale | Cross of Gold | Gold |
| 2012 | Chicago Beer Society's 35th Annual Fall Tasting | Hoppy, American Stout | Rise | 1st place (tie) |
| 2012 | RateBeer | Best Brewpubs of 2012 | — | Listed |
| 2011 | Chicago magazine | 36 Best Local Craft Beers | Bottom Up Wit | Top 36 |
| 2011 | Chicago magazine | 36 Best Local Craft Beers | Eugene Porter | Top 36 |
| 2011 | Chicago Reader Best of Chicago (Readers' Poll) | Best Brewpub | — | Won |
| 2011 | RateBeer.com | Top New Brewers in the World | — | Top 5 |
| 2011 | Chicagoland Brewpub & Microbrewery Shootout | Best Beer/Food Pairing | — | Won |
| 2011 | Festival of Barrel Aged Beers | Classic Porter/Stout | Black Power Oatmeal Stout | Silver |
| 2011 | Festival of Barrel Aged Beers | Classic Porter/Stout | The General Molasses Porter | Bronze |
| 2010 | Chicago Reader Best of Chicago (Readers' Poll) | Best Brewpub | — | Won |
| 2010 | Eat Out Awards | Best New Gastropub | — | Won |
| 2010 | Chicago magazine Best of Chicago | Best Beer of 2010 | Eugene Porter | Won |
See also
References
- ↑ "Why Revolution's Deth Appreciates the Blend of Strategy & Influence that CSO Veliky Brings". Brewer Magazine. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ Arnett, Lisa (January 15, 2010). "The Revolution is Near", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ↑ Kohl, Randy. "Revolution Brewing Co.", Chicago Bar Project. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Revolution Brewing". Metromix. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ↑ Noel, Josh (March 30, 2011). "Revolution Will Bottle and Can Its Beers", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ↑ Yue, Lorene (May 15, 2013). "Craft Beer's Conundrum", Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
- ↑ Gill, Andrew (June 4, 2013). "Craft Brewers Win Small Victory in Springfield, but the Real Winners Are Distributors". WBEZ. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ↑ "Revolution Brewing to Triple Production to 24k Barrels, Signs with New Distributors". BeerPulse.com. March 12, 2013. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ↑ Frost, Peter (February 10, 2015). "Look Out, Lagunitas: Revolution Brewing to Triple Capacity". Crain's Chicago Business. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
- ↑ Frost, Peter (March 14, 2015). "Brewer Learns It Isn't Easy Getting Big". Crain's Chicago Business. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ↑ Wehunt, Jennifer (November 30, 2009). "Ale Lives: The Making of a Beer—Revolution Brewing's Cross of Gold", Chicago magazine. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- 1 2 3 "2012 Winners", Great American Beer Festival. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- 1 2 "Winners", World Beer Cup. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- 1 2 Shouse, Heather (April 17, 2013). "Eat Out Awards 2013: Best Chicago Microbrewery", Time Out Chicago. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ↑ Sullivan, Emmet (August 31, 2013). "Spot These 8 Chicago Details in Drinking Buddies", Chicago magazine. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
- ↑ Metz, Nina (August 22, 2013). "Improv + Beer = Drinking Buddies", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ↑ "2024 Top 50 U.S. Craft Brewing Companies" (PDF). Brewers Association. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ Thrush, Charles (November 3, 2024). "Revolution Brewing Closing Logan Square Brewpub After Nearly 15 Years". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Revolution Brewing to shutter Logan Square brewpub". NBC Chicago. November 2, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ "View Beers". Revolution Brewing. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Revolution Brewing Company". RateBeer. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- 1 2 "Beer". Revolution Brewing. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Brew Archive". Revolution Brewing. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ Noel, Josh (May 6, 2015). "Revolution Brewing's Fist City Is an Ideal, Juicy Pale Ale", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
- ↑ Noel, Josh (December 9, 2016). "Revolution's Deth's Tar Release Party Proves Primacy of Barrel-Aged Stouts". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "Recognition". Revolution Brewing. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
- ↑ Baldacci, Jason (April 12, 2013). "Chicagoist's Beer Of The Week: Revolution Brewing's A Little Crazy", Chicagoist. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ↑ "13th Annual Chicagoland Brewpub & Microbrewery Shootout Results", Chicago Beer Society. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ↑ Noel, Josh. "Josh Deth—Beverage Maker of the Year", 2013 Chicago Tribune Dining Awards. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Best Brewpub", Chicago Reader. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Best Pub Grub", Chicago Reader. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ↑ "35th Annual Fall Tasting Recap", Chicago Beer Society. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Best Brewpubs 2012". RateBeer. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.