Chicago's Revolution Brewing Announces Huge Beer Recall Due to ‘Quality Issue'

Revolution Brewing in Chicago, Illinois’ largest craft brewery, is recalling several batches of beers, including ones involving its popular Anti Hero IPA and Fist City Pale Ale.

According to the company, the beers pose no health risks to drinkers, but are being “withdrawn” because they do not meet the “brand specifications for taste and flavor.”

“This is strictly a quality issue,” Chairman Joshua Deth and Brewmaster Jim Cibak said in a statement on the company’s website.

The recall includes Anti Hero IPA, Fist City Pale Ale, Cross of Gold Ale, Mosaic Hero IPA, Eugene Porter and the Unessionable Imperial IPA.

According to Revolution, the affected beer “exhibit ester or phenolic flavors, which are more characteristic of Belgian-style ales, and which should not be present in our standard American ales.”

“We believe these off-flavors were produced by a wild yeast that has gotten worse over time and was not identified in time by our quality control methods,” Deth and Cibak wrote.

Deth told the Chicago Tribune he estimates more than 10,000 barrels of beer were affected by the recall, and though much of it was already consumed, up to 2,000 barrels of beer is still out there. 

Revolution is currently removing and destroying all questionable beer from its system, removing the brews from its distributors’ warehouses and asking its retail locations to return them.

Fresh beer is being packaged this week, the company said.

Affected batches of beer have the following package dates:

  • Anti Hero IPA 8-5-16 to 10-11-16
  • Fist City Pale Ale 8-11-16 to 9-26-16
  • Cross of Gold Ale 8-23-16
  • Mosaic Hero IPA 8-16-16 to 9-8-16
  • Eugene Porter 8-3-16 to 10-6-16
  • Unsessionable Imperial IPA 9-27-16 to 10-7-16

“Revolution maintains high standards for quality and integrity in our beers and these affected batches unfortunately do not meet those standards,” the company said. “Our goal is to always to have the freshest, best quality beer for you to enjoy.”

Consumers who purchased beer from the affected batches can exchange it for fresh beer at the Revolution Tap Room, located at 3340 N. Kedzie in Chicago.

Contact Us