Destihl Brewery and Beer Hall
Located in Central Illinois, you have to come see for yourself why it's a great place to unwind with friends and co-workers, but also host your events
A Craft Brewery Unique To Redbird Country
Microbreweries have risen in popularity in recent years, as the craft beer movement in America has taken off. As more people discover how rich and delicious craft beers can be, more small breweries are opening up across the country to meet the demand. One such microbrewery, Destihl Brewery and Beer Hall, has been making excellent craft beer in Bloomington, Illinois for over ten years now, making its name known across the Midwest and even reaching national recognition.
Photo: Yahoo Local
About the brewery
Located in Central Illinois, Destihl Brewery and Beer Hall is a craft brewery with a wide variety of beers to choose from. The brewery has been open since 2007, offering some of the most popular craft beer in Central Illinois. They also have an outdoor patio and lawn where they offer live music as well as food to pair with their beers. There are year-round options for any season. Whether you're looking for a refreshing summer brew or a rich, hearty winter ale, Destihl Brewery and Beer Hall has what you need.
About making beer
Brewing beer is a time-consuming process with many steps. It all starts with water, barley, yeast, and hops. The barley is first boiled in the water to release the sugars that will later be converted into alcohol by the yeast during fermentation. Once it has been cooked, the grains are filtered out before being added to hot water again where they steep for 30 minutes. Hops are added at various times in the process as a natural preservative and bittering agent. Once this mixture cools, it's then transferred over to fermenting tanks for 12-24 hours of active fermentation.
The brewery's philosophy
Most breweries are founded on a deeply-rooted philosophy. All of Destihl’s beers are handcrafted to be distinctive, innovative, and true to the style they represent. They also have several different seasonal beers on tap throughout the year, so you’ll always find a unique beverage to enjoy trying out for yourself.
Photo Credit: Destihl
Destihl's history
Their website states: "You can trace the roots of DESTIHL (pronounced as 'des-tih-l') back to the first five-gallon batch of beer made by Founder & CEO Matt Potts in a glass home-brew kit given to him by his wife, Lyn, for Christmas in 1995."
After many years of practicing law and brewing professionally in Elmwood, Illinois (with his first brewpub concept), Matt & Lyn decided this new venture was worth pursuing.
The first DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works opened in Normal, Illinois, on November 23, 2007.
Following much success with the beer brewed at DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works and then winning several major beer awards to garner national attention and demand for its beers, the team directed attention toward growing its brewery operations. In May 2013, DESTIHL Brewery commenced in the G.E. Warehouses in Bloomington, IL, with the first batch of beer brewed on May 31, 2013.
With an open floor plan and modern design accented by recycled materials from an old grain silo, the Destihl Beer Hall is the perfect place to grab a few beers or hang out with friends.
The Barrel Room
Just a little information about their Barrel Room within the brewery. You can host your Private Event there such as family celebrations, business meetings, wedding functions, and multi-course food & beer pairing events.
For more information on this if you're interested in hosting a Private Event, please see the Destihl Website here.
Photo Credit: Destihl
Where to find their beers
Destihl focuses on creating great beers for those who are looking for something different. Their beers can be found in liquor stores, bars, and restaurants around the area.
If you see Destihl in your local market or liquor store, pick up some, try it out for yourself and you just might want to take a trip to see this fabulous facility and location right in the heart of Redbird Country - Bloomington-Normal, IL!
For their beer map, go to their website here.
Photo Credit: Destihl
Final Thoughts
The Destihl Brewery and Beer Hall in Normal, Illinois is a great place to enjoy a good beer with friends. It has an inviting atmosphere and plenty of space to accommodate large groups. Plus, it offers tours and tastings for those who want to get the best experience possible.
Come on out to Redbird Country to see the Destihl Brewery then check out some smaller Craft Breweries in the Bloomington-Normal area. I'll be covering each of them in future articles!
For More Information on Destihl Brewery and Beer Hall, you can find everything you need at their official website.
Matthew Kenneth Gray is a local freelance columnist for Redbird Country, founded by him to document the various businesses, events, and things to do in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, and surrounding areas. He is majoring in Communications with Public Relations emphasis at Southern New Hampshire University Online and is an ASCAP Songwriter/Publisher. You can contact him via email at matt@azweso.com.