About Us
A little about us
9th Hour Brewing Co. was established in 2016 by us, Dave Auston and Jim Valsa. We first met at Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa, Illinois, where we teach science and math, respectively.
Soon after we discovered a shared interest of home brewing, we started collaborating. Friends and co-workers seemed to really like our beer. We figured we must be onto something! We even gave our operation a name, 9th Hour, inspired by the Friday happy hour gatherings of Lakes teachers and staff after their eight-period school day.
We started small by brewing at Jim’s family farm, Richardson Farm in Spring Grove, Illinois. We appeared at festivals, and even took home a few awards at beer competitions. We knew it was time to expand our presence . . .
The right time came when Harbor Brewing Co. decided to open a location in Lake Villa. We drew up a partnership: We brew our beer there, and they sell it by the pint in their taproom. Cheers!
We still have our eyes set on a taproom of our own, but we are being patient, waiting for the right time and the right place.
We would be remiss to forget to thank all of you! We could not have grown our micro operation into a full distribution business without the support and love of our family, friends, and many community leaders and business owners. Thank you for being a part of our journey. Stick around. The fun is just beginning!