Tinley's Hailstorm Brewing To Host Watch Party For Craft Beer Hall Of Fame Induction

TINLEY PARK, IL — Tinley Park's Hailstorm Brewing Co. is one of four breweries across the country chosen to host a livestream honoring this year's best in the business, nationwide.

The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame's 2026 Induction Ceremony is set for Feb. 28, and will be livestreamed globally, the association said. The induction honors "the individuals whose vision, leadership, and dedication helped shape the modern American craft beer industry," the association said.

Craft beer fans and industry professionals will be able to gather at live watch parties hosted by some of the country’s most respected breweries, with Hailstorm Brewing, 8060 186th St., among them.

In celebration of the event, Hailstorm brewer Wil Turner, will debut special "Inductor" beer for the occasion, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the ACBHOF. "Inductor" is described as a fresh take on the brewery's Local Harvest Fresh Hop Ale, with an additional dry-hop of whole Oregon Centennial and an ABV of 6.5%.

Hailstorm will also donate $1 from each pint of the Inductor sold during the event to the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame.

Other sites chosen to livestream the event include:

• Dogfish Head Brewery – Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
• Round Trip Brewing – East Cobb, Atlanta, Georgia
• Breakside Brewing – Portland, Oregon

The ceremony will take place on Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. Central, and will be livestreamed globally through Craft Beer Professionals.

The 2026 class "reflects the extraordinary breadth of talent, innovation, and advocacy that has defined American craft beer since its inception." This year’s nominees for induction include some of the most respected and well-regarded figures in the industry’s history:

• Charlie Bamforth
  • British scientist specializing in malting and brewing. Former president of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.
  • Former Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences at University of California at Davis Brewing School.
• Larry Bell
  • Founded Kalamazoo Brewing Company (later renamed Bell’s Brewery) in 1985.
  • Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale was ranked by the American Homebrewers Association as one of the best beers in the United States.
• Sam Calagione
  • Along with his wife, Mariah, he Co-founded Dogfish Head Brewing Company in 1995.
  • Invented Randall the Enamel Animal (draught beer flavoring device).
  • Starred in the popular Discovery Channel series “Brew Masters” in 2010.
• Ray Daniels
  • The founder and director of the Cicerone Certification Program
  • Author of Designing Great Beers, a book regarded as a “must-have” technical guidebook for microbrewers.

• Teri Fahrendorf
  • Brewmaster at Golden Gate, Triple Rock, and Steelhead Brewing Companies (one of the first women Brewmasters in the U.S.).
  • Winner of eight Great American Beer Festival medals.
• Kim Jordan
  • Co-founder of New Belgium Brewing Company in 1991. Under her leadership, the New Belgium grew from a small operation to one of the nation's largest and most popular breweries.
  • The New Belgium Brewing Company has been an industry leader in sustainable brewing practices.
• Garrett Oliver
  • Brewmaster at Manhattan Brewing Company and Brooklyn Brewery.
  • Book author and editor: “The Brewmaster’s Table,” “The Oxford Companion to Beer.”
• Pete Slosberg
  • Co-founder of Pete’s Brewing Company in 1986.
  • Flagship beer, Pete’s Wicked Ale, defined the American Brown Ale style. It was the #2 selling craft brand at its peak in the mid-1990’s.
• Mitch Steele
  • Responsible for several innovations in craft brewing, especially related to hops, yeast, and process methods.
  • Brewmaster and co-founder of New Realm Brewing Company, former brewmaster for Stone Brewing
• Carol Stoudt
  • Husband and wife team opened Stoudt’s Brewing Company in 1987.
  • Carol was one of the first female Brewmasters in the U.S. and the nation’s first female sole proprietor of a brewery.

“This year’s nominees are all deserving of recognition for their incredible work and advocacy,” said Marty Nachel, Founder and President of the Hall of Fame. “From brewing innovation and education to business innovation and cultural impact, each of these individuals has left an enduring mark on the craft beer industry in America, and we are proud to have yet another opportunity to induct some of their number into the Hall.”

The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame exists to preserve and celebrate the history of craft beer in the United States by honoring the people who built it, championed it, and ensured its continued growth.
The annual Induction Ceremony brings together brewers, industry professionals, and beer lovers from across the country to reflect on craft beer’s past, present, and future.

Additional details about the ceremony, the nominees, and the mission of the Hall of Fame can be found at americancraftbeerhalloffame.com.