• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

Craft Brewing Business Craft Brewing Business
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment & Systems
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

Brewery owner named Chicagoland Leadership Award winner

July 10, 2015Chris Crowell

Horse Thief Hollow Restaurant and Brewing Co. Logo
This is the Horse Thief Hollow Restaurant and Brewing Co. logo.

Neil Byers, owner of Horse Thief Hollow Restaurant and Brewing Co., has been named winner of the 2015 Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce James Tyree Emerging Business Leadership Award. The Southwest side restaurant and brewery was identified as a fast-growing business with a strong philanthropic connection that represents the spirit and values of the late Chicagoland Chairman and business leader, James Tyree. Cheers, Neil!

“I am completely honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. The reality is that this is an award for the Beverly neighborhood as much as it is for Horse Thief Hollow. Without the support of the community, I would not be in the position I am today,” Byers said.

Byers, a 32-year-old resident of Chicago, opened the brewpub located in the historic Beverly neighborhood in February 2013. The menu offers an eclectic mix of Southern Gastropub and casual American fare. Horse Thief’s beers feature the finest fresh-milled barley, local yeast and hops sourced from the Midwest. Byers and Brewmaster David Williams were awarded twice in 2014 for their beers, first at the World Beer Cup and later at the Great American Beer Festival.

Brewpub segment up 20 percent. Why? A possible theory

Byers plans to use the $25,000 prize to expand the brewery and aims to have his beers distributed throughout Chicagoland in early 2016.

“The award cut the money I needed to raise for the expansion nearly in half. Tap handles and new tanks are now on order. Everything is coming together quickly as we finalize the details for our future” adds Byers.

Rooted in community, Byers prefers to locally source ingredients when possible and is proud to employ over 40 local residents. He is very close with the local art community, supporting both the Beverly Arts Center and the Beverly Arts Alliance. Every quarter, Horse Thief displays a gallery of local works, providing free space for artists to showcase their items. He also works closely with local small artisanal businesses like Jimmy James Sweet Potato Pie, Hardboiled Coffee Co., Sweat Freaks Chocolate Co., Wild Blossom Meadery and more.

“We have a multitude of great local businesses, artists and musicians on the South Side. By collaborating on ideas we can create better products and reach a wider audience. It is my goal to help bring the recognition of all Chicago for all of us,” shares Byers.

One example of their community support is the annual “Summer Swelter” outdoor party, which will be held this year on Saturday, July 25 from 6 – 9 p.m. Summer Swelter will feature a food collaboration with Chef Graham Elliot, music from Environmental Encroachment and beer by Horse Thief Hollow, Revolution Brewing, One Trick Pony, Marz Community Brewing and Imperial Oak. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Beverly Area Arts Alliance, a non profit art “co-op” that started over a year ago in the Southwest Chicago neighborhood.

Horse Thief Hollow was one of 70 applicants for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce James Tyree Emerging Business Leadership Award. Contestants participated in rigorous elimination rounds featuring a two minute presentation until the final 12 were selected and then put to the test by a panel of Chicago business owners including former James Tyree Emerging Business awardees. The winner was announced at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting.

Lyft_PressKit cbb crop
Craft Beer Marketing Idea of the Week: Lyft partners with Baderbrau Brewing in Chicago on a ride discount beer
Burnt City cbb crop
Cool loot we get in the mail: Burnt City Brewing’s mixer sixer (it rocked out most convincingly)
Moody Tongue Brewing announces new tasting room in Chicago
Illinois map cbb crop
Self-distribution key to craft beer growth in southern Illinois

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. KCHopTalk says

    July 13, 2015 at 9:08 am

    Brewery owner named Chicagoland Leadership Award winner http://t.co/tdPGMK46nR

    Log in to Reply
  2. craftbangkok says

    July 10, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    Brewery owner named Chicagoland Leadership Award winner http://t.co/5UhvubGKDH

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • State of California Craft Beer: Covid recovery challenged by competition, consolidation
  • MicroStar Logistics launches Network Services Division to manage reusable plastic pallets for the beer Industry
  • Analyst speculates on Heineken acquiring Boston Beer, stock jumps
  • United States Bartenders’ Guild now has access to WOTVS Hospitality Assistance Program

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • CCBA California Craft Beer SummitState of California Craft Beer: Covid recovery challenged by competition, consolidation
    March 23, 2023
  • Koga-brothers-karben4Karben4 Brewing to relaunch Ale Asylum brand
    March 20, 2023
  • 4 steps to understanding the filtration process in craft beer
    March 20, 2023
  • newbelgium_2023_wildnectar-shopping-basket_family_IMG_2Beyond beer: Examples of craft breweries exploring canned cocktails
    March 16, 2023
  • brooklyn 35 featureBrooklyn Lager turns 35 and more beers to know this week
    March 14, 2023
  • Backwoods Brewing to open a 19-acre resort called Party Acres in the Columbia River gorge this May
    March 13, 2023

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2023 · CBB Media LLC