Hagen and Bill, the two masterminds behind Dovetail Brewery, met at an appropriate place: the Doemens Institute in Germany, an intensive school for the next generation of brewers. Outside the classroom and over frosty drafts in the beer halls of Bavaria, the two decided to join forces and open their own brewery back in the States. They sought to combine their newfound knowledge of traditional beer-making techniques with the creativity that propels American entrepreneurship.

Today at Dovetail, they specialize in interesting brews made according to time-tested methods. Their dog-friendly, BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) taproom was called "a must for any serious beer lover" by the Chicago Tribune, and the Chicago Reader lauded the tours for "informative, interactive explanation of what goes on behind the scenes of a brewery."

• Lager: Golden, malty, rich, and creamy with aroma of malt and hops, plus a stiff head offering lacing with every sip. (4.8% ABV)
• Winter Bock: 100% barley malt lager, dark and high-strength with reddish tones from addition of caramel malt. (6.9% ABV)
• Dunkelweizen: Rich chocolate and roast notes blended with traditional clove and banana notes found in hefeweizens. (5.1% ABV)