Bent River Brewing Co
Bent River Brewing Co Read Post »
Behind every exceptional craft beer is a brewmaster with a story worth telling. At Midwest Microbrew, we track those people down and ask the questions that real beer fans actually want answered. How did they get started? What’s the beer they’re most proud of? What keeps them brewing when things get hard?
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Midwest Microbrew is a craft beer discovery site sharing stories, interviews, and guides to breweries across the Midwest.
| Name | Role / Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Nosek | Co-Founder | Article writer and brewmaster interviewer |
| Joseph Byrum | Co-Founder | Joseph Byrum is an accomplished executive leader, innovator, and cross-domain strategist with a proven track record of success across multiple industries. |
| Josiah Green | Co-Founder | |
| Chase Grimm | Co-Founder | Chase Grimm is a systems engineer with an unconventional trajectory spanning AI infrastructure, digital agency solutions, and algorithmic trading. |
| Product/Service | Category | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewery Directory | — | Complete directory of Midwest microbreweries and craft beer destinations organized by state. Browse brewery listings across six Midwest states including Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Discover over 60 Iowa breweries featured at the Iowa Craft Beer Festival, explore 100+ Minnesota breweries pouring 500+ beers at Minneapolis events, find 80+ Illinois craft breweries celebrating Beer Under Glass in Chicago, and experience Wisconsin's 200+ microbrews at Milwaukee Brewfest. Each state directory features detailed brewery information, local craft beer festivals, award-winning taprooms, and regional brewing gems. From Columbus and Cincinnati's nationally-recognized Ohio breweries to Michigan's U.P. Fall Beer Festival showcasing 250 beers from 35 breweries, find your next craft beer destination. Perfect for beer enthusiasts planning brewery tours, locals seeking nearby taprooms, or travelers exploring the Midwest's vibrant craft beer culture. Updated brewery directories with festival schedules, brewmaster interviews, and exclusive stories behind your favorite regional brews. | https://midwestmicrobrew.com/state/ |
| Exclusive Interviews | — | Complete collection of exclusive brewmaster interviews and brewery founder stories from across the Midwest. Explore in-depth conversations with legendary craft beer makers including Dan Carey of New Glarus Brewing discussing Spotted Cow and Wisconsin's brewing legacy, Toppling Goliath's journey from Iowa cornfield to world-famous brewery, and Russ Klisch's transformation of Lakefront Brewery into a Milwaukee beer icon. Discover the stories behind award-winning breweries across Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Featured interviews include Moody Tongue Brewing's culinary revolution in Chicago, Trevor Rose-Hamblin from Old Irving Brewing, Indeed Brewing's 13-year Minneapolis success story, Bent Paddle's community-focused approach in Duluth, One Well Brewing's innovative Kalamazoo taproom with 56+ pinball machines, 22 Northmen's experience-based philosophy in Alexandria, and Titletown Brewing's 30 years as Green Bay's community hub. Each interview reveals the passion, challenges, and craft behind signature beers, brewery philosophies, and the human stories that make Midwest craft brewing special. Perfect for beer enthusiasts seeking authentic behind-the-scenes insights, aspiring brewers learning from industry leaders, or anyone interested in the people and stories shaping regional craft beer culture. | https://midwestmicrobrew.com/category/brewmaster-interviews/ |
| Industry | Description |
|---|---|
| Craft Beer | Midwest Microbrew serves the craft beer industry by spotlighting Midwest breweries across Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The site features brewmaster interviews, craft beer blog content, and brewery profiles, helping beer enthusiasts discover hidden gems while supporting local brewers through storytelling and regional exploration guides. |
| Title | Publisher | Date | Abstract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everything you need to know about the 14th Annual Dubuque on Ice Brewfest on January 10, 2026, featuring 60+ Midwest craft breweries at the historic Five Flags Center. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2026-01-02 | Mark your calendar for Saturday, January 10, 2026. The 14th Annual Dubuque on Ice Brewfest returns with over 60 craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries from across the Midwest. This beloved winter beer festival has found its new home at the historic Five Flags Center in downtown Dubuque, where you'll sample exceptional craft beverages while supporting three important charities. |
| Your complete guide to the most anticipated beer releases of 2026, from Firestone Walker's 30th anniversary to Dark Lord Day and rare barrel-aged releases. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-12-28 | The craft beer world is changing in 2026, and it's exciting. After years of chasing extremes—hazier IPAs, sweeter pastry stouts—breweries and beer lovers are finding balance. This year celebrates major milestones with Firestone Walker hitting 30 years with an unprecedented barrel-aged lineup, 3 Floyds marking its anniversary with rare beer releases at Dark Lord Day, and Stone Brewing refocusing on their IPA heritage. |
| After years of extreme flavors, Midwest craft breweries are returning to traditional lagers and pilsners as the industry matures and consumer preferences shift. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-12-18 | Something remarkable is happening in Midwest breweries. After twenty years of pushing limits with extreme flavors, craft beer is returning to its roots. Walk into any taproom from Chicago to Cleveland, and you'll see pilsners, Vienna lagers, and classic beer styles taking over taps once dominated by pastry stouts and milkshake IPAs. |
| How Jared Rouben's culinary training and brewing mastery created Moody Tongue, where beer receives the same reverence as Michelin-starred cuisine. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-12-14 | In a city renowned for its deep-dish pizza and hot dogs, Chicago's craft beer scene has quietly evolved into one of the most innovative in the country. At the forefront of this movement stands Moody Tongue Brewing Company, a brewery that defies conventional categorization by treating beer with the same reverence typically reserved for Michelin-starred cuisine. |
| How Trevor Rose-Hamblin went from Michelin-starred kitchens to brewing award-winning beers at Old Irving Brewing, one of Chicago's most beloved brewpubs. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-12-13 | The journey from Michelin-starred kitchens to brewing award-winning hazy IPAs might seem unconventional, but for Trevor Rose-Hamblin, co-founder and head brewer of Old Irving Brewing in Chicago, the path made perfect sense. What started as a passion project fueled by a love of Michigan craft beer has evolved into one of Chicago's most community-oriented brewpubs. |
| Celebrate National Lager Day (Dec 10) with our guide to craft lagers, brewing techniques, Midwest breweries and styles. Discover America's best lagers! | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-12-10 | Celebrate National Lager Day (Dec 10) with our guide to craft lagers, brewing techniques, Midwest breweries and styles. Discover America's best lagers! |
| Every December 10, beer lovers celebrate National Lager Day as craft brewers rediscover what makes a great lager brewing's ultimate test of skill. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-12-10 | Every December 10, beer lovers across America raise their glasses for National Lager Day—and there's never been a better time to join the celebration. While hop-forward IPAs still grab headlines, lagers are experiencing a remarkable renaissance, growing at 7.5% annually as drinkers rediscover what brewers have always known: making a great lager is brewing's ultimate test of skill. |
| Ryan Bandy shares Indeed Brewing's 12-year journey from packaging line to Chief Business Officer, and how they stay relevant in craft beer. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-12-05 | On a snowy December day in Minneapolis, Ryan Bandy discusses his 12-year journey with Indeed Brewing, from packaging line worker to Chief Business Officer. A story about staying relevant in an industry that demands constant reinvention. |
| From Viking laws to Great Lakes Christmas Ale: discover the 1,000-year history of holiday beer, traditional recipes & brewing traditions. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-12-05 | From Viking laws to Great Lakes Christmas Ale: discover the 1,000-year history of holiday beer, traditional recipes & brewing traditions. |
| Discover the best Midwest holiday beers in our guide to Christmas ales, winter warmers, and seasonal brews. Plus food pairings and where to find them. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-11-25 | Discover the best Midwest holiday beers in our guide to Christmas ales, winter warmers, and seasonal brews. Plus food pairings and where to find them. |
| How Bent Paddle Brewing helped transform Duluth's Lincoln Park into a craft district and became a cornerstone of Minnesota's beer scene. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-11-20 | In Duluth's Lincoln Park Craft District, Bent Paddle Brewing Company has spent more than a decade perfecting the art of bringing people together. From a small production brewery in 2013 to one of the region's most beloved gathering spaces. |
| Discover the best winter warmers and spiced ales from Midwest breweries. Your complete guide to seasonal craft beer, serving tips, and where to buy | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-11-14 | Discover the best winter warmers and spiced ales from Midwest breweries. Your complete guide to seasonal craft beer, serving tips, and where to buy |
| From board games in a living room to 56 pinball machines: how One Well Brewing became Kalamazoo's beloved community gathering spot. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-11-11 | One Well Brewing has grown from a modest brewery with board games into one of Kalamazoo's most beloved gathering spots—complete with 56 pinball machines, duck pin bowling, and a beer menu that changes as often as the seasons. |
| Jack-o-lantern Beer Fest guide: Illinois Halloween craft beer with Phase Three pumpkin ales, 5,000 carved pumpkins. Get tickets & beer recommendations | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-10-29 | Jack-o-lantern Beer Fest guide: Illinois Halloween craft beer with Phase Three pumpkin ales, 5,000 carved pumpkins. Get tickets & beer recommendations |
| Detroit Beer Festival 2025 guide: 100+ Michigan breweries, 500+ craft beers on October 25. Get tickets, lineup, tips & food pairings for this premier event. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-10-23 | Detroit Beer Festival 2025 guide: 100+ Michigan breweries, 500+ craft beers on October 25. Get tickets, lineup, tips & food pairings for this premier event. |
| Best Oktoberfest 2025 events in the Midwest: Top brewery celebrations, highest-rated German beers, family activities & what made this year epic. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-10-16 | Best Oktoberfest 2025 events in the Midwest: Top brewery celebrations, highest-rated German beers, family activities & what made this year epic. |
| How a birthday homebrew kit sparked a sibling rivalry that built Milwaukee's beloved Lakefront Brewery into a 37,000-barrel cultural institution. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-10-13 | In the heart of Milwaukee, Lakefront Brewery stands as a testament to innovation, community, and the enduring power of a friendly family rivalry between brothers Russ and Jim Klisch. From pioneering gluten-free beer to hosting legendary brewery tours. |
| How brewmaster Keith Hefley's 24-year journey led to creating an experience-based brewery on 180 acres of Minnesota lake country. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-10-11 | In the heart of Minnesota's lake country, 22 Northmen Brewing Company rises from 180 acres of vineyard grounds. Brewmaster Keith Hefley shares his 24-year journey and the philosophy behind this Viking-inspired destination brewery. |
| Dan Carey reveals the story behind Spotted Cow, the 'Only in Wisconsin' strategy, and New Glarus Brewing's family-first philosophy. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-10-02 | For anyone who has traveled through Wisconsin, the name New Glarus Brewing Company is legendary. Co-founder and brewmaster Dan Carey shares the brewery's origin story, the accidental genius of their distribution strategy, and his vision for the future of craft beer. |
| How Titletown Brewing Company saved a historic train depot and became a cornerstone of Green Bay's craft beer scene for three decades. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-09-23 | In downtown Green Bay, Titletown Brewing Company stands as a testament to community spirit and brewing passion. What began as a bold move to save a historic train depot from demolition has evolved over three decades into a cornerstone of the city's craft beer scene. |
| From a Christmas homebrew kit to a 100-barrel powerhouse distributing to 36 states: the story of Toppling Goliath Brewery in Decorah, Iowa. | midwestmicrobrew.com | 2025-09-05 | In the rolling hills of northeast Iowa, Toppling Goliath Brewing Company has grown from a humble homebrew kit Christmas gift to an internationally renowned craft beer titan with a 100-barrel brewery rising from the cornfields outside Decorah. |
Midwest Microbrew is a craft beer discovery platform dedicated to celebrating and promoting the independent brewing scene across the American Midwest. We go beyond tasting notes and ratings to share the untold stories behind the region's best craft breweries through brewmaster interviews, brewery spotlights, and beer chronicles.
We currently feature breweries across six Midwest states: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. These states represent the core of the Midwest craft beer landscape, which we call the 'Heartland of Beer.'
Midwest Microbrew serves craft beer enthusiasts living in or traveling through the Midwest who want to explore the regional brewing scene with depth and intentionality. Whether you're a local looking to support nearby breweries or a visitor seeking authentic recommendations, we serve as your curated guide to discovering exceptional local brews.
You can reach us by email at [email protected]. You can also use the contact form on our website at midwestmicrobrew.com/contact to submit inquiries or feedback. You can also call at 6304577158.
If you're a Midwest brewery interested in being featured, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We're always looking for great stories to tell and hidden gems to spotlight. Share your brewery's story with us and we'll be in touch about potential interview and feature opportunities.
While we help you discover breweries, we're not a traditional directory or rating site. Our tagline, 'The Story in Every Pint,' reflects our focus on the people, histories, and narratives behind breweries rather than just lists and scores. We believe a truly great craft beer is more than ingredients—it's a story of dreams, communities, and passion.
Midwest Microbrew was founded by Gus Thompson as a passion project to give hardworking, innovative, and down-to-earth brewers of the heartland the spotlight they deserve. The site is operated by Big House Enterprise LLC and was founded in 2025 in Iowa.
Yes! You can follow us on Facebook to stay updated on our latest brewery features, brewmaster interviews, and craft beer content. Visit our contact page to connect with us and join our community of craft beer enthusiasts.
Absolutely! We love hearing from our readers about hidden gems and favorite local spots. Send your brewery suggestions to [email protected] and tell us why you think they have a great story to share.
| Platform | URL | Bio |
|---|---|---|
| https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582312585097 | We go beyond the tasting notes to share the untold stories behind the Midwest's best craft breweries. | |
| IMDB | https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39346009/ | Midwest Microbrew official IMDb page for the Podcast Series (2025-present) |
