Our Team
BRENT
Founder/General Manager/ Head Brewer
A jack of all trades and master of none. When he isn’t doing brewery things he is spending time with his wife and two young daughters, hanging out with friends, watching sports or cheering on the Washington State Cougars (Cougs by 20… at least). His favorite beers are Red Sea and Tree Wrestler.
ELISE
Taproom Manager
Prior to taking on the taproom manager role, Elise was service manager at Girl and the Goat in the west loop, having worked in hospitality for more than 11 years. When she’s not keeping the brewery running, she’s hanging out with her two dogs, Ralphie and Jameson, exploring new restaurants and bars around the city and playing board games with her weekly game night crew. So far, her favorite Burning Bush beer Tree Wrestler, but she knows there will be competition in the future.
SCOTT
Brewer/Assistant Manager
Scott has three true passions in this world - making beer, drinking beer and a lovely lady named beer. Scott is one of our brewers and knows how to have a good time! Scott loves all beer equally, but right now he prefers to spend his days with a Lion's Den hazy IPA, our flagship beer.
JEFF
Assistant Brewer/Bartender
Our newest member of the brewing team, Jeff gave up his day job to pursue brewing full time. When he’s not in the brewhouse or behind the bar, you can find him chilling with his girlfriend, Nina, and lab-American bulldog mix Red or staying active playing basketball, golf or dabbling with electronic music. His favorite Burning Bush brew is Holy Water kölsch.
ABBY
Bartender
You may recognize Abby from her time as a regular at Burning Bush before becoming a bartender here. Abby loves to chat, so much so she recently changed her career to speech language pathology. Abby is a lover of all things design, the elotes at Guaranteed Rate (Comiskey) Field, and days at the lake. Abby’s favorite beer to order is a flight. She just can’t commit to one beer when there are so many good brews to try!
AVIELLE
Bartender
Originally from St. Augustine, FL, Avielle has called Chicago home since 2023. When she’s not behind the bar, she’s studying social work in a graduate program at UIC. At home, she’s accompanied by her dog, Noemie, cats Nemo and Neptune, and tortoise Grandpa. She loves running, camping and catching live music in her free time. Her favorite Burning Bush Beer is Pearly Gates, followed closely by Heavenwisen.
COLLEEN
Bartender
When Colleen isn’t behind the bar, she’s usually at her day job as a special education teacher. Kindergarten and first grade students are a blast, but she is thankful to talk to adults when she’s pouring beer at the brewery. In her free time, you can find her looking to meet new dog/puppy friends, reading, or trying out new coffee shops or bars in the area. Her favorite beer changes, but she believes Walls of Jericho is always a great choice!
DAN
Bartender
Dan is a PNW native who traded sushi and mountains for deep dish and the Great Lakes. A proud WSU alum (Go Cougs), Dan now works at Northwestern University where he begrudgingly wears purple on occasion. When not behind the bar, Dan enjoys biking, ice skating, playing softball, and paddling the Chicago river in search of Chonkosaurus. Dan is a sucker for Burning Bush's seasonal beers, being particularly fond of Silent Pint Christmas Ale.
ENRIQUE
Bartender
Enrique believes few things can top sharing great beer with great people. He believed it so much that he decided he wanted to work at Burning Bush. When he’s not tending bar you can find him working as a licensed therapist, catching a White Sox game, perfecting the art of cooking a medium-rare steak, or waking up to bike the lake at sunrise. His favorite beer is always changing but believes you can never go wrong with a Lion’s Den.
ERIC
Bartender
Eric has been working with Burning Bush since May 2022, and when he’s not behind the bar, he is probably working his day job as a linguist or studying languages. Eric loves anything and everything outdoors, including but not limited to riding his bike around the city, hiking, and camping. He got his start with craft beer in 2016 when he began working in a taproom in Boulder, CO and decided to try home brewing (to varying degrees of success). His favorite Burning Bush beer is Smooth Serpent.
JED
Bartneder
Jed, a Colorado native has called Chicago home for the past 25 years. When he’s not at the Burning Bush, he’s busy with his family in Skokie and working in the electrical construction world. In his free time, Jed loves biking, working in the yard, traveling to Sweden, and all things being a dad and husband! He loves the community at the brewery, the new deck on river, AND the great beer!
JEN
Bartender
Have you ever heard the saying bartenders are like therapists? Well in this case you’re right! When Jen is not at her day job as a licensed counselor, she is serving up some brews behind the bar. As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of all things coffee, the National Hockey League, and sarcasm, she aspires to be anything but dull. Her favorite beer is the Jonah, what she considers the most delightfully perfect cream ale she’s ever had.
MADDY
Bartender
Maddy enjoys anything outdoors, beer and cake. You will find her mixing beers together and keeping her Untapped profile up to date. She is a pastry chef by day and a beer drinker (I mean bartender) by night. She also turns spent grain into cookies and dog treats sold at the brewery. Her favorite beer is Red Sea and Smooth Serpent mixed together.
MONICA
River Room Event Assistant/Bartender
They say everything is bigger and better in Texas, but Chicago won out when Monica moved to the Midwest to pursue her passion for adventure and following the best team in the MLB - the Cubs. When Monica is not behind the bar or assisting with events in the River Room, you can find her reading, biking, playing DND, and trying new breweries! Monica is the most generous friend you could ever have and shares her goodness with everyone - especially her dog Ciri. Her favorite Burning Bush beers are Pineapple Parable and Forbidden Fruit.
SASHA
Bartender
Sasha is new-ish to both Burning Bush and bartending, and loving both! On the daily you can find her enjoying her days as an elementary school counselor in CPS. For other fun, she is gaining skills as a crafter, cook and novice birder. And don’t be mad if you catch her rooting for a certain green and gold team slightly north of us. Her favorite BB brew is Pearly Gates or anything with fruit!
SARAH
Bartender
Originally from Buffalo Grove, Sarah now calls Chicago home. When not at Burning Bush, she is a PE/Health teacher at a junior high in Skokie. She also coaches soccer, is a ski instructor and teaches group fitness classes. Sarah loves Chicago and college sports and enjoys spending time with her dogs, exploring the city and trying new beers. Her favorite Burning Bush beer rotates, but some favorites include Pearly Gates, Tree Wrestler, Jonah and any of our sours.
SEAN
Bartender
Sean loves all things beer. When Sean isn't behind the bar serving he is teaching 5th grade, watching a spooky movie, checking out a local metal show or walking his rescue pittie Tater Tot. Sean's favorite beer changes, but Valley of Dry Bones and Smooth Serpent are up there.