Business & Tech
Giving Back to the Community One Beer at a Time: Rock Bottom Brewery
The Orland Park brewery has used their distilling and culinary skills to raise money for different causes, most recently for firefighters.
The in Orland Park has a secret weapon for every charity event that it hosts.
Yes, there are meetings, planning, community involvement, schedule changes and press releases in preparation of each event. But the one element that stands out in Orland Park’s restaurant has the distinct and coveted title of Brewmaster, an honor held by Iain Wilson.
Wilson has brewed in three different countries; his native Scotland, England and currently here in the United States. It’s almost as if he was destined for the job.
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
The brewer's award-winning career started with a Christmas present at the age of 16 when his friends bought him a home brew kit. They bought it “mainly because they wanted to drink beer but they didn’t want to make it,” Wilson said. “So they made me do it.”
And he’s been doing it ever since.
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
Wilson holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Brewing and Distilling from AME Institute and Guild of Brewers and Distillers. He also holds several gold, bronze and silver medals for his brews. Taste a specialty beer at the Orland Park location, and you have had a taste of Wilson’s work. All of the specialty beers at the restaurant are his recipes.
Wilson doesn’t conform to a particular brewing style although there are hundreds to choose from. He relies on experience and compares his craft to cooking.
“It’s like being a chef,” Wilson says. “After years of experience you know what goes together.”
He knew exactly what to blend to make this years’ Fire Chief Ale, a medium-bodied red ale. The annual Fire Chief Ale promotion raises money for local fire departments and fire related charities.
But the charitable events of the Louisville-based chain don’t stop there. For Easter, the Orland Park location had a special appearance by the Easter Bunny who gave eggs to needy families as they ate a free breakfast.
“We support the community we are in and give back as much and as often as possible,” Manager Jon Jones said.
Wilson is gearing up a specialty brew for the ‘Liquid Cureage’ event at the end of May for the Walk for Life event to support cancer research.
This past Monday, May 2nd the Orland Park Rock Bottom Brewery launched C4 IPA. The beer was described by the company's website as ‘an explosive hoppy West Coast IPA brewed with Crystal, Cascade, Columbus and Centennial hops.'
