Episode #116 - José Lopez of Casa Humilde Cerveceria

After investing around $30,000 into a beer-making hobby, José Lopez, alongside his brother Javier, knew it was time to turn his passion into a full-fledged business. And we’re so glad he did. The Hermosa native’s Casa Humilde Cerveceria Artesanal has quickly become one of the most exciting spots to enjoy craft beer in town. Casa Humilde originally started in the Lopez brothers' childhood home in Chicago, but their operation has grown significantly since then. They joined District Brew Yards in 2019, and recently, they expanded to a new location in Forest Park. With the new location, Lopez has seamlessly integrated his Mexican heritage into nearly every aspect of the business, from the music and food to the beers themselves. He comes to the studio to tell us about his journey, from finding music as a kid to sourcing ingredients from Mexico for new beers at the brewery. Join us as we talk: the tricky business of making hard seltzers, the best session beers, establishing an identity amidst crowded craft beer market, and so much more.