Head Revolution Brewer Hired By Open Outcry

CHICAGO — One of Chicago's most prominent beer makers has come to the South Side. Wil Turner, who for years worked at the city's famed Goose Island Brewing Company and most recently was the head brewer at Revolution Brewpub, is the new head of brewery operations at the Open Outcry Brewing Company in the city's Beverly neighborhood.

"I've been living on the South Side for over 10 years, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to bring some good beer down here," Turner said. "This area has been lagging behind the city a bit in that category."

Turner lives in Evergreen Park and has two high school-aged daughters. The move to Open Outcry made sense from both family and professional perspectives.

"This will allow me to spend a little more time with my daughters," Turner said. "I had gotten used to an hour and 25 commute to and from work. Now I can ride my bicycle there every day."

At Revolution, Turner was a vital part of a brewery that quickly rose to prominent status in the city. During his time there, the brewery went from small beginnings as a brewpub in the city's Logan Square neighborhood to becoming the largest independently-owned brewery in Illinois.

“We’ve been incredibly lucky to have Wil as our Head Pub Brewer the past seven years,” Revolution’s Director of Retail Operations Meg Rutledge said in an article posted on PorchDrinking.com.

“Someone with his talent and decades of experience is hard to find, and it will be tough to see him go. At the same time, Open Outcry is getting a great brewer, and we wish Wil all the success in the world.”

Open Outcry Owner John Brand is naturally excited about Turner's expertise coming to the South Side.

"Wil is one of the most well-known brewers in the Chicagoland area," Brand said. "He came in to the brewery one time and - even though we hadn't met - I knew who he was."

"Not only am I excited for the beer portfolio at Open Outcry, this is a really exciting thing for South Side beer in general. Our friends at Horse Thief Hollow, Blue Island Beer Company and others have called to say how excited they are too."

Brand said the beers that regulars have come to know and love over the past year-and-a-half that Open Outcry has been open aren't changing, but the addition of Turner brings "a different element."

"He will bring a slightly different angle and help us round out our beer portfolio and widen our range," Brand said. "Moving forward, Wil will be our primary driver of new beers that will come out."

For Turner, a brewer with more than 25 years of overall experience, the move to Open Outcry gives him a chance to be part of the growth of a third brewery in the city.

"It will be a very short time before we see the same quality of beer here on the South Side," he said.

Photo: New Open Outcry brewer Wil Turner (left) sits with owner John Brand on his first day on the job / courtesy of Open Outcry Brewing Company