Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin McMahon.
Kevin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After a two-year career living outside of New Orleans as a commercial diver in the Gulf of Mexico, I decided to take my homebrewing obsession to the next level and make the move to professional brewing. I enrolled in the two-week Concise Course at Chicago’s Siebel Institute of Technology and landed a position as a cellerman at Abita Brewing Company in Abita Springs, LA
I left Abita in 2013 after three and half years as a lead brewer, and director of their pilot system. I found myself back in Illinois and spent the following year at Two Brothers Brewing Company as one of three Production Brewers running their brewhouse and wort production operations.
In August of 2014, I was brought on by the Gino’s East family to handle all things brewing as they expanded their operations from their Legendary Chicago Deep Dish, into the world of American craft beer production and brew pub operations.
Going into our fourth year at Gino’s Brew Pub, Gino’s Brewing Company touts seven medals from the US Open Beer Championship. In 2016, Gino’s began contract brewing our three flagship offerings, LaSalle Street Lag (German Helles), Witte Chicks Dig Me (Belgian Witte), and Broken English (ESB), for distribution to our Gino’s East family locations throughout IL, adding our Pineapple Imposter Pale Ale to the market in 2017. After renovations in early 2017, Gino’s Brew Pub has added a stage and an extensive entertainment programmed partnered with our colleagues at the Comedy Bar, which resides on the third floor our River North location at 5oo N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Honestly, the biggest hurdle has been the never-ending struggle that most newer Chicago breweries face, is to stand out in a very competitive market. Especially when Gino’s, as an entity, is opening up the doors to another market/venture outside of the Legendary Deep-Dish Pizza that the company has been associated with for the last 51 years.
We at Gino’s Brewing Company & Gino’s Brew Pub are so fortunate to be able serve, and pair, our beers hand in hand with Gino’s deep dish at the Brew Pub. However, there is still a little bit of a stigma regarding the validity of our brand as Gino’s Brewing Company. A hurdle I feel that we have really been starting to overcome over the last year or so as our beers have gained some popularity in the Chicago craft beer scene.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Gino’s Brewing Company specializes in traditional beer styles and leans towards lower ABV (alcohol by volume) beers that are packed with flavor and aroma.
I know I can’t throw beers back like I used to, and the model of this brewery has always been affiliated with doing good business as a brew pub. I’m interested in having multiple beers over a session of drinking, not simply consuming two 10% ABV, 100 IBU Double IPAs and calling it a day.
I want our guests to sit down, enjoy some deep dish, have a few pints, and walk out with a great experience. Our brewery is versed in both Lager and Ale styles from Belgium, Germany, and the UK. As well as staple American Pale Ales, and IPA’s.
We also take great pride in the profile of each individual beer we brew. It’s very easy to have flavors and aromas between beers in your portfolio that start to meld together. We here at Gino’s Brewing Company, ensure that each beer in our lineup speaks for itself, and stands alone in the way they taste from one tap to another.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve been a beer guy since college. To this day, I remember where I was, who I was with, and what I was doing, when I was handed my first Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I haven’t looked back from craft beer since.
Music has also been a huge part of my life. I bought my first bass guitar at 14, and piano when I was 20. I am an active, working musician in the extensive Chicago music scene. I currently work as a bassist for the Chicago Blues Driven Rock & Roll band Rebel Soul Revival, and the Bassist/Bandleader for my personal Prog Fusion group CRISP.
www.rebelsoulrevival.com
www.crispband.com
I also host a Music/Craft Beer focused podcast called The Indecent Exposure Podcast. Guests have included musicians such as Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey’s McGee) and Michael Leauge (Snarky Puppy), to Brewmasters like Jared Rouben (Moody Tongue Brewing Co), Hayley Shine (Eris Brewery and Cidery), and Patick Rue (The Bruery). The podcast is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, Google Play, and the Podcast Addict app.
Podcast on iTunes: https://apple.co/2jpn2RB
www.instagram.com/indecentpodcast
Contact Info:
- Address: Gino’s Brew Pub
500 N LaSalle St
Chicago, IL 60119 - Website: www.ginosbrewpub.com
- Phone: (312) 988-4200
- Instagram: @ginosbrewpub
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ginosbrewpub
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