E-Malt.com News article: USA, IL: Horse Thief Hollow to use $25K award for production expansion

Neil Byers, owner of Horse Thief Hollow in Beverly, won $25,000 on June 9, DNAinfo reported the same day.

Byers, a Beverly native and resident, won the 2015 James Tyree Emerging Business Leadership Award from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. The award was presented at the chamber's annual meeting at Navy Pier.

In the wake of the award presentation, the owner of the brew pub at 10426 S. Western Ave., Beverly, said he plans to use the proceeds to expand his brewery and explore distribution of several seasonal brews.

The $50,000 expansion will require Byers to replace all five of his five-barrel brewing tanks with 10-barrel tanks. The larger equipment will give Horse Thief Hollow about 1,000 kegs per year to distribute.

As for the chamber of commerce award, he was surprised to be named the winner on June 9. Byers was one of four finalists, one of which was also a finalist on NBC's "Shark Tank" and received an offer from celebrity judge Mark Cuban.

"I think what put me over the top was community involvement," Byers said.

The award recognized a high-growth small business that "best represents the spirit and values of the late Chicagoland Chairman and business leader James Tyree," Byers said.

"Neil's genuine belief in his business and connection with community is real. I think the committee could see that and have invested in Neil's singular vision," Holland said.


10 June, 2015