Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Set to Open April 26 in Bolingbrook, Illinois

Bolingbrook, IL (March 30 2007)—Beer lovers in Chicago’s western suburbs will have a very inviting place to enjoy excellent food and their favorite handcrafted brew when Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant opens its doors this April 26 in the new Promenade Bolingbrook (639 E. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60440; phone 630-739-6036).

The Bolingbrook restaurant will be the first Illinois location for Gordon Biersch which was founded in 1988 and has 21 restaurants in 14 states, primarily in the West and Southeast.

The new venue will raise the standard for brewery restaurants in the Chicagoland area by offering quality globally-influenced contemporary American food which complements its award-winning signature beers. All Gordon Biersch beers are brewed on premises and have been recognized at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup Competitions.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant offers a relaxed and inviting atmosphere with a unique, sophisticated décor. Gordon Biersch is known for its attentive and friendly service that adds to the dining experience. The restaurant also offers excellent event facilities for social gatherings and private events. Groups as large as 500 people can be accommodated.

The professional team includes general manager David Ostrander and executive chef Chavez Rodriguez. Ostrander previously served as Area Director with Brinker International-Chili’s in Chicago, overseeing seven restaurants. Rodriguez was previously with the Cheesecake Factory in Chicago and earned his Master of Culinary Arts degree from Cornell University.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Reservations and private parties are accepted and encouraged.

Gordon Biersch is partnering with the Heart Haven OutReach for the events surrounding the opening.

About Gordon Biersch Beers
Gordon Biersch produces six authentic lagers on-site, under adherence to the 500-year old German purity law Reinheitsgebot (Rine-HEIGHTS-ge-boat). The beers are made from only four ingredients—barley, hops, water and yeast—and are known for their freshness and flavor.

• Golden Export. A smooth, refreshing lager, lightly hopped with a dry finish. The demand was so high when it was first brewed in the 1870s, that it was exported to other regions in Germany.

• Hefeweizen (hay-fa-VEIT-sen). Once reserved for Bavarian royalty it has a light, sparkling quality. Later, wheat beers were considered breakfast or after-church beers, a testament to their crisp, refreshing flavor.

• Czech Lager. A Bohemian-style pilsner. Golden hued, medium bodied, accented with a spicy character. Gold Medal winner at the 2004 Great American Beer Festival.

• Märzen (Maert-zen). A dry, auburn-colored Bavarian lager with a mildly sweet finish. It was originally brewed in March (März in German) and stored in caves to be drunk during warmer weather.

• Schwarzbier. Literally “black beer” in German. Schwarzbier has a fairly light body with a dry, roasted finish.

• Seasonal. Each season Gordon Biersch offers a special beer to embrace the season and add a unique flavor and spirit.

About Gordon Biersch
In 1987, Dan Gordon, one of the most sought-after brewers in the country, met Dean Biersch, a restaurateur and beer-lover, and the idea for Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant was born. From the very beginning the duo envisioned a restaurant where beer-lovers could enjoy freshly-brewed beer accompanied by a great meal. They opened the first Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in Palo Alto, California in 1988.

Gordon is the first American in more than 50 years to graduate from the prestigious five-year brewing engineering program at the world-renowned Technical University of Munich at Weihenstephan, West Germany. Before earning his brewing engineer's degree there in 1987,
he interned at Spaten Brewery in Munich and served as a technical translator at Lowenbrau Consulting.

A longtime restaurateur, Biersch is responsible for creating the look and feel of each brewery restaurant from graphic design and merchandise to the dining experience and atmosphere that sets Gordon Biersch apart from its competition. Biersch also develops and oversees the menu.

About the Gordon Biersch brand
The Gordon Biersch brand offers an eclectic, sophisticated décor that distinguishes itself from other brewery restaurant concepts. At the core of the company’s philosophy is a passion to produce and deliver the highest-quality and freshest products. On-site brewing and fresh, made-from-scratch menu items illustrate the company’s dedication to this principle. Gordon Biersch restaurants promote a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, where attentive and friendly service compliments the fresh food and beer.

On December 10, 1999 Chattanooga, Tennessee based Big River Grille & Brewing Works (“Big River”) purchased the Gordon Biersch brewery restaurant units and founded the Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group. Today, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group, Inc. continues the fast-paced growth of the Gordon Biersch brewery restaurant concept and has brewery restaurants in California, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Washington, DC and Virginia. For more information, visit www.gordonbiersch.com.

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