Our Story
Established in late 2016 by Co-Founders Jeff Linnemeyer and Trevor Rose-Hamblin, Old Irving Brewing Co. began with a shared passion for great beer and food. Jeff, having recently left the financial industry, and Trevor, a seasoned GM and Chef in fine dining, connected in 2013. Their mutual love for quality beer and food sparked the idea for a brewpub, and with both residing in the Old Irving Park neighborhood, they set their sights on opening there. After securing our location on Montrose Ave, Old Irving Brewing Co. was born. Fast forward to 2024, and we’ve expanded with our production facility in the West Loop to meet the growing demand for our beer.
Over the years, our dedication to brewing has been recognized on the national stage. In 2019, we took home a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival for our Hazy IPA, Beezer. This was followed by a GABF silver medal in 2021 for our German-style Kölsch, Della. In 2024, we were honored with another gold medal for Beezer at the World Beer Cup and then a silver medal at the Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers (FoBAB) for Champurrado Krampus. We take pride in brewing quality beers across many styles including hazy IPAs, lagers, fruited sours, adjunct stouts, and barrel-aged beers and proudly brew in Chicago, one of the premier beer cities in the country.
While beer is our passion, our food is crafted with equal care. Our menu at our brewpub has evolved over the years, but our commitment to using the best local ingredients has stayed the same. Many of our dishes are prepared on a wood-fire grill, powered by cherry and mesquite wood, which infuses a rich, smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with our beer.
Our dedication to quality in every aspect has earned us a spot on the USA Today 10Best Best Brewpub in the US list in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. While we’re proud of our achievements, we constantly strive to improve, driven by our hard-working team who make it all possible.
We invite you to experience Old Irving Brewing Co. firsthand. Visit us at the brewpub, pick up cans at your favorite beer store, or order a draft at one of the fine establishments that carry our beer.
Co-Founders:
Jeff Linnemeyer
Co-Founder
Jeff is the “numbers guy” and self-proclaimed “head beer taster”. Jeff brings years of business experience and knowledge specifically in the financial industry where he spent two decades both on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange floor and off the floor trading electronically. Jeff has lived in Chicago for 30+ years but his roots lie in Mexico, Missouri, a small town outside of St. Louis. Jeff was a Division II college basketball player at Truman State University, is an unabashed Dave Matthews Band fan, Kansas City Chiefs fan, and really likes eating and talking about chicken wings.
Trevor Rose-Hamblin
Co-Founder, Head Brewer
Trevor is “the man behind the beer”. Trevor has brewed beer for over 20 years and has a unique brewing background, having not only graduated from Kendall College of Culinary Arts, but worked for years as a Chef and GM in some of Chicago’s top restaurants. Before opening OIB with Jeff, Trevor collaborated with some of the top Chicago breweries and friends of OIB including Pipeworks Brewing, Flossmoor Station Brewing, Dryhop Brewers as well as a three-month internship with BrewDog in Scotland. Trevor is a metal head and has unfettered impersonation skills.
