Pollyanna Brewing Company
Overview of the Distillery
Pollyanna is a local brewing and distilling company based in Lemont, Illinois, which also operates taprooms in Roselle and St. Charles as well as the Pollyanna Social cocktail lounge. The company combines beer and spirits production and profiles its beers as "clean, balanced, experimental". The St. Charles address is described as both a brewery and a distillery, and the company is expanding with the acquisition of Alarmist Brewing and a planned opening in Chicago.
History
Local roots and multiple taprooms
Pollyanna has established itself as a local player with several permanent taprooms in the suburban areas around Lemont. It builds on more than a decade of activity with regular events, music programs and a community-oriented focus. The three brick-and-mortar locations in Lemont, Roselle and St. Charles form the company's core business and public-facing facilities.
St. Charles as a combined brewery and distillery
The St. Charles location is explicitly described as both a brewery and a distillery and serves as a site for both production and guest activities. Here Pollyanna Music also provides live entertainment in an intimate venue setup.
Expansion through acquisitions and a Chicago opening
Pollyanna announced an expansion plan with the acquisition of Alarmist Brewing and a planned opening of a fifth location in Chicago at 4055 W Peterson Ave in Sauganash. The acquisition includes plans to reintroduce popular Alarmist beer names such as Le Jus and Pantsless and at the same time upgrade the guest experience at the new location with an event space, outdoor area, and a new kitchen.
Ingredients and Production
Pollyanna runs both a brewery and a distillery operation and highlights the use of locally manufactured brewing equipment. Production covers year-round beers, seasonal beers, series releases and barrel-aged releases as well as a spirits line, showing a broad production spectrum. The St. Charles location is specifically described as a combined brewery and distillery, so both beer and spirits production take place within the company's network of facilities. In addition to beverages, the company integrates cocktails and coffee into its offering, reflecting a multifaceted operating model with both taproom and hospitality functions.
Aging and Barrel Types
The website section for barrel-aged products indicates that Pollyanna works with barrel-aged releases as part of the range. However, no details are given about which barrel types, prior contents, or aging times are used. The barrel-aged section points to a deliberate use of barrel aging in connection with experimental and seasonal products.
Whiskies
The range includes year-round and seasonal beers, series releases, barrel-aged beers, as well as a spirits category and special products such as Field Museum Vodka Seltzers. It is also mentioned that Alarmist products such as Le Jus and Pantsless will be brought back as part of the acquisition and expansion plans. The range spans from regular taproom beers to barrel-aged and special series as well as spirits and cocktail-related products.
Visit the Distillery
Pollyanna operates several open taprooms with fixed hours and contact phone numbers. Lemont (431 Talcott Avenue) and Pollyanna Social, Roselle (245 E Main St) and St. Charles (106 S Riverside Ave) appear with concrete opening hours and phone numbers, and St. Charles functions as both a brewery and a distillery. Guests can purchase beer, spirits and merchandise and experience music and event activities at selected locations.
The stated hours are Lemont: Tue-Thu 15:00-22:00, Fri 15:00-23:00, Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-19:00. Roselle: Mon-Thu 15:00-22:00, Fri 15:00-23:00, Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-19:00. St. Charles: Tue-Thu 15:00-22:00, Fri 15:00-23:00, Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-19:00. Pollyanna Social (Lemont): Wed-Thu 16:00-22:00, Fri 16:00-24:00, Sat 14:00-24:00, Sun 14:00-20:00.
Philosophy and Craft
Pollyanna prioritizes a guest-oriented and community-based environment and works to honor local beer traditions through acquisitions. Production-wise, the company states an ambition to deliver products that are "clean, balanced, experimental", and the business model combines beverages, cocktails and coffee to create a cohesive hospitality offering.