Brian Taylor has been brewing beer his entire adult life. When he worked at Goose Island Beer Company, he knew he wanted to take things into his own hands and open his own brewery.
Along with his business partner, Ria Neri, Whiner Beer Co. opened in June 2016 in the Plant, a sustainability-focused space in Back of the Yards. The Plant helps eliminate waste streams caused by raw materials, carbon dioxide, and water.
With 12 other food businesses in the building, Taylor says they all work together through cross-branding projects.
Taylor explains, “Back of the Yards Algae Sciences provides spirulina and mushroom extract (tasteless) to our N/A sparkling teas and waters called ‘Mycodose.’ Honestly the Plant is a place everyone should see at least once. I can’t explain how amazing it is to call it home. We have a microgreens company, Closed Loop; beekeepers on the roof, Bike a Bee Honey; a kombucha company, Kombuchade; a five-acre farm surrounding the Plant; and so much more.”
Whiner’s beer selection is focused on sour ales and Belgian styles, but they also have IPAs, lagers, and fruited ales.
But this isn’t just about beer. It’s about beer . . . and film.
In addition to slinging drinks, Whiner is home to several different events. One of those to mark on your calendar is South of Roosevelt, a short film festival happening this weekend, Saturday, July 15, at 8 PM. This will be the second annual festival, with nine films running for 93 minutes total outside in the garden of Whiner Beer Co.
Organizer, curator, filmmaker, and Bridgeporter Damon Griffin began the fest when things slowly started to open up during the pandemic. “I wanted to actually bring an audience together after over a year of relative isolation,” he says. “It ended up working out great, and people had a good time seeing the movies. I wasn’t able to do a second edition last summer, but some people had asked if there would be another. So here we are.”
Organizing a film festival means a lot of screen time. Griffin says it involved months of movie watching and recommendations from friends. Filmmakers didn’t submit their work but were contacted by Griffin instead. “I have considered a submission-based method, but I decided I’d rather go ‘scavenging,’ so to speak,” he says.
The lineup of films includes Lomai’s The Black Dude Lives!, Kris Rey’s Baby Mary, and Charles Honeywood’s Pictures Only.
Another selected filmmaker is Jessica Tolliver, a Hyde Parker who studied film and video in college and currently shoots short narratives and commercials for brands like Nike, the Bulls, and the Cubs. When Griffin reached out to her about featuring a short film, she was excited to join the roster of south-side artists.
Her music video/short film is called Liar, and it follows a suspenseful love story with a song written by her brother. “Although I directed Liar, I’m a cinematographer at heart, and so I also wanted to create something that would be visually challenging and fun for me. It’s still one of the most fun projects I’ve ever shot thus far in my career,” says Tolliver.
The film won Best Music Video at the Various Artists Independent Film Festival.
In addition to Tolliver, the festival also features Tommy Palazzolo, aka Tommy Chicago, who has been making short films since the early 60s. Many of his films focus on Chicago places and events, like Maxwell Street and the ’68 Democratic Convention. The film selected for Saturday is titled Pilsen Backyard Circus, which features performance artists from the 80s.
He says that events like South of Roosevelt are important. “They give vibrance and a feeling of community engagement to city neighborhoods. [It’s] very important that events like this continue to liven the south side of the city.”
South of Roosevelt short film festival
Sat 7/15 8 PM
Whiner Beer Co., 1400 W. 46th
$5 suggested donation
whinerbeer.com/whiner-taproom
Griffin says the focus on films and art in the city is very north side-centric. “They say there are really two Chicagos, and I say, ‘so be it’—but the south side is sometimes perceived as a foreign country. We need to champion this side of the city and all its diversity, and we need to champion communal, in-person film culture, rather than solely a culture of sitting at home watching ‘content’ on Netflix.”
With a projector, a screen, chairs, and drinks, Whiner’s garden will turn into a moviegoing oasis for south-side filmmakers. The event will happen rain or shine (it will move inside if necessary), with food by pop-up food vendor @erincinichicago. All attendees will get $5 beers; a $5 donation is appreciated for entry. Blankets are welcome since all chairs are first come, first serve.