The Dixie Highway Trail

by Amy Kamp

Chicago has long been known for its booming craft beer scene, with powerhouse breweries such as Revolution, Lagunitas and Half Acre making their mark, but take a short trip to the southwest suburbs and you’ll find some captivating independent breweries situated along a historic highway.

The Dixie Highway was originally planned in 1914 as a route to connect the Midwest with the Southern United States. Built as part of the National Auto Trail, construction lasted from 1915 to 1929. The Dixie Highway was a system of paved roads that connected towns rather than a single highway that we are used to seeing today. The western portion of the Dixie Highway started in Chicago and ended in Miami, Florida.

In Illinois, Dixie Highway is also known as Route 1. Signs for the historic highway are posted along the route - some faded and worn, others bright and new. It was this simple sign that inspired the first completion prize for the Dixie Highway Brewery Trail.

The trail was the brainchild of Alan Cromwell, co-owner of Blue Island Beer Company, which sits directly next to Dixie Highway. He thought that it would be a great idea to form a bond between the independent breweries that were on or near Dixie Highway and invite people to come experience the wide variety of craft beers available on the south-side.

Spare time to work on it was always out of reach, but as luck would have it, another brewery on the Dixie Highway hired someone that had previously worked on an Indiana beer trail. Cromwell and Amy Kamp, GM of Evil Horse Brewing Company in Crete, teamed up to make the trail a reality.

The goal of the trail was to get craft beer lovers out of their comfort zones to go visit other local independent breweries, so Kamp created a passport. Trailblazers bring the passport to each of the participating breweries and get it stamped and dated with a minimum purchase of one beer. Participants are encouraged to take their time at each brewery and have six months to complete the trail.

At the last brewery visited, trailblazers have their choice of one of three prizes, including a sign, a coaster and a bottle opener. To date, more than 800 people have completed the trail.

The Dixie Highway Brewery Trail launched spring of 2019 and consisted of eight independent craft breweries reaching from the Beverly neighborhood in south Chicago to the far south suburb of Crete. Since then, one brewery went out of business and a craft distillery (with plans to brew their own beer in the future) joined the trail.

Anchoring the trail to the north is Horse Thief Hollow, whose name is inspired by the history of the local area, where in the 1850s bandits hid stolen horses that were being brought to market in Chicago. The awardwinning brewery also houses a restaurant that focuses on locally sourced ingredients and makes dishes with a Southern flair. Just a few blocks south of Horse Thief Hollow is Open Outcry Brewing Company, which features an amazing rooftop beer garden and delicious Neopolitan-style pizza. Head brewer Wil Turner, formerly of Goose Island and Revolution, is using his talent and experience to make exceptional beers at Open Outcry.

Blue Island Beer Company is the next brewery to the south. Located in the historic district on Olde Western Avenue, BIBCo has a lively music scene to complement the great selection of classic beers, craft sodas and cask-conditioned ales they offer.

Located just west of Dixie Highway is Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery, the oldest brewery in the southwest suburbs. Housed in a rustic turn-of-the-century train station, Flossmoor Station has a lot of charm - and a history of winning awards for its beer. On the eastern leg of the trail is Rabid Brewing in Homewood, Thornton Distilling in Thornton and One Trick Pony in Lansing. In addition to serving amazing cocktails made with their craft spirits, Thornton Distilling also has a great selection of craft beer.

One Trick Pony is located in an industrial area and has a great outdoor space with a firepit and room to relax. They have a large offering of beer styles and live music most weekends. Theyare currently in the process of moving to a larger space.

Rabid Brewing has a darkly mystical vibe and their beer is inspired by a myriad of ancient traditions. Their industrial taproom features not only spirited beers and delightful seltzers, but bold pieces of artwork featuring mythical creatures.

The only distillery on the trail, Thornton Distilling resides in the oldest standing brewery in Illinois, dating back to 1857. During Prohibition, the building became the largest bootlegging operation in Chicagoland under the control of Al Capone. The southernmost brewery on the trail is Evil Horse Brewing Company. Located in a historic building dating back to 1911, Evil Horse crafts traditional styles of beer made with the finest ingredients. A newly created gallery on the second floor features a rotating selection of local artwork.

If you find yourself near the southside of Chicago, make sure to stop in and visit one (or more!) of the Dixie Highway Brewery Trail partners. With this eclectic variety of breweries, there’s something for everyone!