light colored draft beer in tangled roots branded glass

Our Beer

Tangled Roots is widely known for its Farm to Foam beers. Before we started brewing in Illinois we started farming, growing barley and several varietals of hops on our small farm near Ottawa, IL. We now use these ingredients to create brews that are uniquely local in character, like our signature pale ale Forty 1 Eighty 8.

But Farm to Foam is not the whole story. Our mission as a brewery is to introduce as many people as possible to better beer. To achieve this, our brewers are committed to providing a range of excellent beers that appeal to every type of beer drinker. So whether you are a serious beer cicerone with a passion for hoppy IPAs, a lover of dark stouts and porters, or someone who simply likes crisp, light refreshment, you are sure to find a quality brew to suit your taste.

Farm-to-Foam

Our commitment to farming locally is an important piece of who we are. We grow hops and barley right down the road from our flagship brewery in Ottawa, IL. Beers in this category are brewed using some of those hops and barley from our own farms. Some of those beers, like Forty1 Eighty8, use 100% locally-grown ingredients.

Belgian Wit 16 ounce can
16 ounce can of Valley of Gold Golden Ale
snifter beer glass with matthiessen nitro medallion
12 ounce can of dobroy nochi imperial stout
snifter beer glass with winter porter medallion
snifter beer glass with blackball nitro medallion
snifter beer glass with wet hopped medallion

Hoppy

The beers in this category feature a hop forward flavor. But don’t let the hops scare you away. Those flavor profiles can range from bitter and citrusy to sweet and tropical making this the perfect category to explore those hop-forward beers.

16oz can of honest haze ipa
River Raptor Tropical Pale Ale 16 ounce can
Blueberry Yum Hazy IPA 16 ounce can
16 ounce can of transpacific express session ipa
snifter beer glass with wet hopped medallion
snifter beer glass with breaking bines medallion

Crisp & Clean

These beer aren’t fussy. They don’t contain lactose or vanilla. They aren’t over-hopped or over-hyped. These are beer-flavored beers. From lawnmower beers to crispy pilsners, these light and refreshing lagers and ales will quench your thirst and bring you back for more.

Sieur De Lasalle Lager 16 ounce can
16 ounce can of Valley of Gold Golden Ale
16oz can of intercontinental pilsner

Fruity & Spicy

Beers in this category explore the expressive flavors of fruits and spices. In beers like our Vermilion River Weiss, those banana and clove flavors come from a traditional Bavarian yeast strain. In others, like Sunkissed Blonde Ale, those flavors come from the addition of fruit purees, dried peels, and spices.

Belgian Wit 16 ounce can

Tart & Funky

These beers are separated from the rest by the use of lactobacillus to create an acidic and tart flavor profile. The tartness can often be a surprise on the first try but, when balanced properly, it can be as refreshing as a lemon spritzer. Our VIBES series of kettle-soured ales fits squarely in this category.

Malty & Mild

These beers will highlight unique malt flavors that range from biscuits, baked bread, and toast to caramel and toffee. Kit Kupfer, our flagship Amber Ale, falls in this category along with our Nitro English Mild. Sick of the hop craze? Give some of these classic styles a try.

Bison Weizen 16 ounce can
Oktoberfest Beer 16 ounce can
snifter beer glass with matthiessen nitro medallion

Dark & Roasted

Rich and flavorful, these dark beers highlight the chocolate and coffee notes of highly kilned malts. But big flavor doesn’t always mean high alcohol content. You can find low abv beers, like our Black Forest Bedtime Story, in this category along with some that are on the higher end, like our Dobroy Nochi Imperial Stout.

12 ounce can of dobroy nochi imperial stout
snifter beer glass with winter porter medallion
snifter beer glass with blackball nitro medallion

Survival of the Fittest

Survival of the Fittest is our innovation program creating unique offerings from safe and approachable to crazy and innovative keeping our portfolio offering refreshed and relevant. Learn more about our Survival of the Fittest program.

Specialty Beers

Our specialty beers range from cause beers, where money from the beer is donated to a cause, as well some of our small batch limited ones that are only brewed once a year.

12 ounce can of french toast dobroy nochi imperial stout
12 ounce can of barrel aged vanilla latte dobroy nochi
Bison Weizen 16 ounce can

Award Winners

All of the beers in this category have won an award. So we must have done something right when we brewed these.

12 ounce can of fancy feline
16oz can of intercontinental pilsner