Argus Brewery

Argus Brewery was a brewing company located on the south side of Chicago, at the edge of the Roseland community and historic Pullman District and brews the Argus brand of beers.[1] Founded in 2009, Argus produced Pegasus IPA, Bloodshot Red ESB, and Argus Lager along with some limited release seasonal offerings. Argus also brewed the Golden Prairie brands that were first brewed in 1991 by Ted Furman, establishing Golden Prairie as one of Chicago’s first craft breweries. Golden Prairie beers include Golden Prairie Alt, Honey Ginger, Maple Stout, Doppel Alt, and Jolly Old Ale.

Argus Brewery
LocationChicago, Illinois, United States
Opened2009
Closed2020
Annual production volume2,500 US beer barrels (2,900 hL) in 2015[1]
Websiteargusbrewery.com

Father and son homebrewers, Robert and Patrick Jensen, founded Argus Brewery[2] after producing house brand beers for two local area restaurants, Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant and Country House.[3] The brewery is housed in a century-old building that originally served as the Schlitz Brewery stable.[4] Schlitz constructed its largest facility across the tracks from the Pullman Company to provide beer to the 10,000 area workers who were forced to live in a dry community.[5] Argus Brewery started with four employees and now has grown to 20.

The company produces traditionally crafted beers. Argus’ original beers, Argus Lager and Pegasus IPA, as well as the seasonal offerings and Golden Prairie brands, can be found in local taverns and stores, both on draft and in bottles. In late 2012 the brewery teamed up with Jarrett Payton, son of the late NFL Hall of Famer Walter Payton, to create the Jarrett Payton All-American Wheat Ale.[6] This craft beer was developed by Payton and the Jensen family and was a limited release. Argus has also brewed beers honoring other notable Chicagoans, namely Paschke Pilsner for beloved local artist Ed Paschke, and the Tuskegee Airmen Pursuit, paying homage to Jack Lyle, one of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. Argus Brewery also briefly teamed up with Baderbrau, one of Chicago’s oldest craft brewing companies, in a strategic partnership, brewing an original pilsner. In 2016, Argus Lager won a bronze award at the World Beer Cup and in 2018 Golden Prairie Doppel Alt was awarded a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival.

The brewery closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois.[7]

References
  1. Marotti, Ally (2015-04-23). "Foreign beer drinkers are craving Chicago brew. Hard". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 2015-10-28. Bob Jensen, co-founder of Pullman-based Argus Brewery, said a distributor recently approached him about exporting as well. The brewery, which was founded in 2009 and produces 2,500 barrels a year, plans to start shipping four of its brands to Germany and England in about three weeks.
  2. "The Team Behind Chicago's Craft Brewery". Argus Brewery. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  3. McClure, Vaughn. "Walter Payton's son Jarrett to launch his own beer". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  4. "Argus Brewery Returns Craft Of Beer To Pullman". CBS Chicago. 20 February 2012.
  5. "Landmark Status Urged For Former Brewery". CBS Chicago. 7 April 2011.
  6. "Son of 'Sweetness' Partners With Father-Son Brewers in Forgotten Chicago". DNAinfo Chicago. 18 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  7. Noel, Josh (April 22, 2020). "After a lifetime of trying to turn the corner, Argus Brewery shutters in the shadow of coronavirus". Chicago Tribune.
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