Crystal Lake Brewing

Bringing “Easy to Drink, Hard to Put Down” to life, one beer at a time.

In 2013, three men armed with brewing know-how and a vacant building decided to open a brewery in Crystal Lake, Illinois. With a deep sense of local pride, the brewery’s name was a given — but the rest of the brand was unknown. 

Using the eponymous lake and its popular beach as the centerpiece, the brand took shape. A visual identity emerged, using elements like lifeguard chairs and ring buoys. Beer names paid homage to the characters found on the lake: Slalom King, Beach Blonde, Wake Maker. And everything was tied together with a nostalgic nod to a simpler time when craftsmanship was king, reflecting the brewers’ emphasis on creating honest, accessible, thirst-provoking beer. 

Since the brewery’s launch in 2014, production capabilities have doubled, resulting in Crystal Lake Brewing becoming Illinois’ 12th largest brewery in a highly-competitive market.