History

Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling began as a brewing company, opening its first location in Lemont in 2014. The expansion into a distilling arm was established in St. Charles, IL in March 2021 as a natural extension of the brewery, where they began distilling in small batches. The brand emphasizes a philosophical approach called 'Crafted Optimism' and builds relationships with the local community through collaboration and donations. In addition to Lemont, Roselle and St. Charles, the concept also includes Pollyanna Social in Lemont, which opened in December 2022 and offers a cocktail experience beyond beer and spirits. Pollyanna describes itself as part of the community and prioritizes high-quality products, connections to craft, and a broadly community-engaged approach, including support for various charitable organizations.

Production / Manufacturing

Pollyanna began its distilling operation in St. Charles in 2021 as an extension of their brewery and now produces a range of year-round spirits: Inception Straight Bourbon, Corvair Vodka, Cadence American Gin, Keyway Rum, Woodshed Moonshine and D.E.D. (Bitter Wormwood Liqueur) as well as various seasonal spirits and liqueurs, which comprise their larger range. The distillery is described as 'Distilled in Small Batches' in St. Charles, and they mature the spirits in neutral oak barrels and continually release seasonal products. Moonshine is used as the base distillate to produce the bourbon, and barreling and other releases are also experimented with. Inception Straight Bourbon Whiskey is specified with the following aims and details: Mash Bill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley; 90 proof (45% ABV). Nose described as 'Spicy with sweet fruit, fresh oak, and delicate cornnotes underscored by a layer of caramel and vanilla'; Palate as 'Lively with spice, caramel, and vanilla that melt into a mixture of fresh and dried fruit notes'; Finish as a 'pleasant balance between dry and sweet that lingers'. There is also a planned variant called Inception Straight Bourbon Whiskey - High Rye, which has been announced as upcoming. In addition to the alcohol product line, Cadence American Gin is highlighted (distilled with neutral grain spirit and botanicals), Corvair Vodka (neutral spirit filtered through activated carbon), Keyway Rum (produced from a Black Pearl Dark molasses wash, fermented warm to emphasize esters with selected yeast) and Woodshed Moonshine (raw spirit used as the base for bourbon production). DED (Bitter Wormwood Infused Liqueur) – 70 Proof / 35% ABV; a bittersweet liqueur based on neutral grain spirits and wormwood, along with a range of botanicals – often mentioned as part of The St Charles Handshake in combination with beer. Offbeat Aquavit – 80 Proof / 40% ABV; caraway-driven aquavit with dill, orange zest and star anise, also available barreled in a 100 Proof / 50% ABV offering. Coffee Liqueur – 50 Proof / 25% ABV; made with Corvair Vodka, roasted coffee beans and local honey from Bee All About It, with notes of coffee and chocolate.

Visits / Experiences

Pollyanna operates several locations: St. Charles (distillery/brewery), Lemont (brewery), Roselle (brewery), and Pollyanna Social in Lemont (cocktail lounge). The St. Charles location offers a view of the distillery and has the largest taproom overlooking the Fox River. The Roselle house has a broad selection of wood casks and Italian Foudres and serves as a spot for unique one-offs and an expanded spirits and cocktails menu. Lemont and Roselle offer ongoing flights and initiatives such as to-go products in various packaging, while Pollyanna Social in Lemont offers a more cocktail-oriented experience. In addition, a large outdoor beer garden is part of the experience with live music, food trucks and events. The Pollyanna Music initiative in St. Charles delivers local, regional and national entertainment in intimate settings. Tour activities are not running at the moment ('We are not running tours at this time').

Philosophy

Pollyanna focuses on Crafted Optimism and works as an integral part of the communities in which they operate. The brand emphasizes sharing knowledge and advancing the culture of craft beer and craft spirits, while building relationships with customers, the brewer, the distiller and the local community. Their portfolio shows a balance between year-round products and seasonal offerings, with emphasis on small-batch, experiments with local fruits and spices, and barreling as part of developing their series. Their dedication to the local community is also evident through charity efforts and donor activities, which are mentioned under charity references on their site.