Illuminated Brew Works

Latest Visit 4/19/26 (Chicago, Illinois): This is a venue in Norwood Park, with limited craft beer options. I have been here twice before, but the beer wasn’t good, so I did not return until finding out they will close by the end of June. I had ok to good experiences with their packaged beer sold at The Beer Temple prior to their taproom opening perhaps 4-5 years ago.

Vibe: Eclectic, somewhat like a vintage store with all types of memorablia and decorations, some beer related, others occult. They had a band playing, talent level mid, but some seemed to like it. Somewhat of an odd place for this neighborhood, but one the old stuffy neighborhood could use. 4.0

Quality: Enjoyed a few package beers before the taproom opened, beers tasted off the two tries prior to this visit. A few of the beers styles on their tap list I was interested were sold out, which I don’t hold against as they are closing. Ordered a cherry flavored beer this visit and it was mid. 2.75

Service: Prompt, no issues. Beer in proper clean glassware, bartender seemed to have had a long day. 3.25

Selection: Limited, they are closing, so expected. Hit or miss in the past for me, not a lot in my wheelhouse. 2.75

Food: They offered frozen pizza and perhaps a few snacks, but I did not order. N/A.

Overall: Space was interesting, would have went more if I enjoyed the beer during my prior visits, as this is a short walk from home. Sad they are closing limiting further the available nearby options, as it seemed like a good space, though their beer needed work. 2.75

Hitched from down the road, from the Norwood Park Metra station. Just swing around the neat 60s/70s-modern bank, stalk a few blocks north-ish, realize you've missed the place, backtrack a block or two, notice the barely-descript entrance sandwiched tightly between a wine store and an auto detailing/repair shop, finally make your way into the place. You're met initially by a fabricated hallway, comprising an almost barn-like wooden fencing bit separating you from some portion of the brewing/storage aspect of the space; once traipsing a short way past some signs/art and the coolers holding some take-away packs, you're there in a still-barn-like open area, the bar wrapping around in front of you, various miscellaneous seating scattered about the rest of the space. Lots of miscellany on the walls, the overall effect creating a punk/esoteric vibe. Think the X-Files if curated by Legs or something. It's a strong feeling, but the vibe is decidedly more welcoming than off-putting. Big chalk board over the center of the bar lists the tapped offerings, while a flat screen to the right is playing 1964's The Time Travelers on Prime. Right on, cheesy early sci-fi is always welcome with some suds. Speaking of which, the menu includes, as quite a few places do nowadays, plenty of IPAs and their ilk, along with a saison, a couple stouts, and a couple sours. I've seen plenty of other styles from these guys over the past couple years, so I wouldn't take this slightly limited version of the menu as necessarily representative. My man tending the bar is great, genial and knowledgeable, and seemed as though he was responsible for at least some of the pickled options available to nosh on. (I didn't try any, but they smelled pretty solid.) Gotta say, though it may not be at the top of my destination brewery list, I will certainly be stopping in again, and I can only recommend for anyone looking to have a unique experience at a tap room.

Dark, dim industrial space, bowtrussed ceiling, narrow entrance that obscures the room from the outside. Nondescript outside, the brewery is tucked in between a car wash and chain wine boutique. Decor consisted of a lot of old school skate decks, colorful psychedelic murals, and random taxidermy. Sabbath riffs rumbling overhead. Horseshoe shaped bar and a quartet of tables for groups of four. A chalkboard above the bar listed 9 drafts including a couple seltzers. Comfortable upholstered stools and chairs, no cheap metal seating. Smaller to midsize space, nearly the opposite of so many huge sterile industrial brewery spaces.

Beer selection was varied and eclectic, a 13% peanut butter stout, 2 hazy DDH DIPA variants, a very solid pale lager, cream ale, APA, a sour key lime seltzer and a wine seltzer. Overall a good balance of modern and traditional styles. They seem to have a more experimental approach, which is welcome in the current age of hazy/pastry/seltzer everything.

Staff was great, really friendly and unpretentious folks. A brewer was on hand to chat about the beers extensively with patrons. The vibe was laid back and relaxing.

Overall this is a unique and semi-hidden taproom on the NW side, just what the neighborhood needed. Printers Row Brewing is not far either, and i’d recommend St. Bess Jerk nearby for some awesome jerk chicken.