About
Sketchbook was founded in 2014 by homebrewers Cesar Marron and Shawn Decker, who were passionate about starting a microbrewery right in the thick of their remarkable hometown. We brew a wide range of historical and adventurous beer styles. Our work is driven by a love of quality in food and beer, a commitment to sustainable local production, and a lot of DIY geeky-ness.
First opened to the public on November 21, 2014, Sketchbook has come a long way from our early days filling growlers from our alley brewery. Right from the beginning we embraced our community-supported model, and now our 400+ members keep us on our toes—checking out new beers as if they were part of the family.
Sketchbook opened our Tap Room in April of 2016 at 821 Chicago Ave., Evanston. This intimate space reflects our roots and our values, and is a haven for re-use fans, with a bar surround fashioned from 19th century flooring, and bar and table tops from old bowling alley lanes. Our taproom is focused on conversation, weekly live music, and of course great beer - generally 12+ styles on tap.
In 2017 and 2018, Sketchbook is expanding out of the taproom and out of Evanston. Look for us in cans and on draft around Chicagoland.
First opened to the public on November 21, 2014, Sketchbook has come a long way from our early days filling growlers from our alley brewery. Right from the beginning we embraced our community-supported model, and now our 400+ members keep us on our toes—checking out new beers as if they were part of the family.
Sketchbook opened our Tap Room in April of 2016 at 821 Chicago Ave., Evanston. This intimate space reflects our roots and our values, and is a haven for re-use fans, with a bar surround fashioned from 19th century flooring, and bar and table tops from old bowling alley lanes. Our taproom is focused on conversation, weekly live music, and of course great beer - generally 12+ styles on tap.
In 2017 and 2018, Sketchbook is expanding out of the taproom and out of Evanston. Look for us in cans and on draft around Chicagoland.
6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6
Aromas are slightly old resin hops with some citrus and a bit of cardboard. Flavors are somewhat similar to nose, but a little better. Bolder bittersweet with good carbonation and full body. Not bad but I wouldn't look for another.
Tried
from Can
from
Steve's Liquor Store
on 22 Sep 2023
at 18:55
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Best beer I had today was one I brought from home! Sketchbook Honeybird 5.7% Ale with honey and Thai basil Ruddy Amber brown with light tan foam and a sweet honey aroma with floral elements. Medium bodied and smooth. This is a wonderful delicately balanced brew. It really showcases floral honey sweet malty notes with bright Thai basil deftly woven together. Apparently, it’s a summer seasonal and considering how crushable it is I’m not surprised. I got this can as a gift when the brewer visited Japan ;)
Tried
from Can
on 18 Sep 2023
at 12:05
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
16oz can from the brewery. A brewpub level Dubbel, not even close to being on the same level as the classics. Drinkable, but lacks much Belgian character, malt or yeastwise. Perhaps the sugar smooths it out too much. Drinkable, but not an impressive example of the style.
Tried
from Can
on 11 May 2023
at 03:10
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Can, from Foxtrot, Chicago (2022 October). Pours faintly cloudy dark yellow with a foamy light beige head, orange peel aroma, adequate carbonation, medium bitter orange peel taste, thin body, long medium bitter finish. Very orangey.
Tried
from Can
on 24 Apr 2023
at 17:30
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Pour is a cloudy blonde with a average white head. Aroma is sweet corn and pale malt. Flavor is more of a sweeter than average malt with some lime and even a bit of coconut. Did not start out so well but it came through in the flavor.
Tried
on 10 Aug 2022
at 23:30
7.2/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
16 oz. can from Orange & Brew. Poured it into a tall Stange glass for the heck of it. It pours out a bright gold, with maybe a bit of haze, and a big, rocky head. A sort of standard beer nose of light malts and light hop. Taste is a solid lawnmower type light lager. Solid malt, just a little sweet, and a backing of, my guess, all Noble hops. Nothing much in its way. And let's face it, this seems to made been made for the taste of bands during or after a late night show. It's a big thirst quencher.
Tried
from Can
on 13 Jul 2022
at 04:09
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Can. Pours a clear rich amber with a tan head that dissipates to the edges. Aroma has a strong bread note with some rye supporting and sweet grains underlying. Flavor has more of an earthy bread note with some rye in the finish and a hint of straw in the finish.
Tried
from Can
on 05 Jun 2022
at 22:22
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Can. Pours a slightly hazy dull gold with a white head that dissipates slowly to the edges. Aroma has light grass with a hint of mango and some sweet straw underlying. Flavor has light tropical fruits and sweet straw with a hint of grass underlying.
Tried
from Can
on 17 Apr 2022
at 03:59