By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Mike Youngblood was cleaning out his home bar area about two days ago when his wife suggested it’s about time he get rid of the three growlers he had held onto from Carlyle Brewing Co.
It had been about eight months since the downtown brewery closed its doors, and there was no need to keep its custom jugs anymore.
Then, brewery owners Don Carlyle and Rocio Perez dropped a surprise on the city Tuesday with a short Facebook post saying they’d be back in business the next day.
“I was elated. This is one of my favorite places to come downtown,” Youngblood said Wednesday outside Carlyle, clutching his 64-ounce growler. “I’m a fan of craft beer and this is one of the best craft beers I’ve ever had.”
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Carlyle, 215 E. State St., reopened its doors Wednesday to a slew of customers celebrating the return of their favorite IPAs, stouts and lagers. The crispy thin-crust pizzas were available for take-and-bake but aren’t being served in-house yet.
“I make my own beer but I come down here for Don’s because it’s one of the best beers I’ve ever had,” Youngblood said.
The brewery, which had closed May 29 after 18 years in business, picked up where it left off on Wednesday with Humulus Lupulus IPA, Vienna Amber lager, The “OG” vanilla cream ale, American stout, Stanilla and Not So Hazy IPA on tap.
“After they closed, we were heartbroken,” said Matt Poulisse, who attended reopening day with his wife, Jessica. “It’s just really nice that it’s going to be back in the hands of the guy who made it so good.”
He said the Stanilla was a favorite at the brewery.
“We used to come here almost every single night before City Market,” Jessica Poulisse said. “I really like the atmosphere, it’s super casual, fun, great drinks. We’re excited that it’s back open.”
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‘We gotta go’
Michelle and Andy Lind said one of their first dates was at Carlyle. On Wednesday, they returned — now with a 3-month-old daughter, Anastasia.
“As soon as they reopened we knew we had to come here with the little one and show her the place,” Andy Lind said.
They had both come to the brewery many times before they met, and would often pass each other. Then, on their first date at Carlyle, the discovered they had identical tastes in pizza.
“I told her, ‘Look, just so you know, I always get the same pizza every time I come to Carlyle,” Andy Lind said. “She said, ‘OK, what kind is it.’ I said pepperoni and garlic. She said, ‘I was the one who came up with that pizza.’ I told her, ‘No you’re not, I was the one who came up with that pizza. You stole that idea from me.'”
Andy Lind works third shift and General Mills in Belvidere, but there was no missing the reopening.
“She saw it on Facebook and she immediately sent me the link,” Andy Lind said. “She’s like, ‘I don’t care how tired you are. We gotta go.'”
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Carlyle was scheduled to open its doors at 4 p.m. Wednesday, but customers started showing up about two hours before that, Perez said in between pouring drinks at the busy bar.
For now, the original bar side on the east end of the brewery is closed, meaning seating is limited. That meant at times Wednesday customers waited outside or just inside the front door for the chance to sit down and order their favorite brew.
“They just have good beer, good atmosphere; (it’s) comfortable,” said Carol Klentz of Rockford. “You should stop down and try it.”
About | Carlyle Brewing Co.
Where: 215 E. State St., Rockford
Hours: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
Phone: 815-278-0665
On the web: carlylebrewing.com; or on Facebook
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas .