Short Fuse Brewing Company

Short Fuse Brewing Company Taproom and restaurant located near O'Hare in Schiller Park. Now open!
(1965)

Permanently closed.

Come in and enjoy our taproom and restaurant, which hosts 23 unique beers and is open for lunch and dinner!

So glad we all got together for one last hurrah.Seeing current and past staff together meant more than I can say. This c...
02/17/2026

So glad we all got together for one last hurrah.
Seeing current and past staff together meant more than I can say. This crew cared — about the place, about each other, and about the friendships they made along the way. That kind of heart doesn’t go unnoticed.

What we built mattered.

Thank you to our regulars that came out today too! We love you!

My last post as General Manager

Cheers 🍻

-Courtney T.

02/16/2026

It has truly been a pleasure serving you all these years — from the slammed Saturdays to the random Tuesday afternoons, to the “we’re just stopping in for one” that somehow turned into three. Thank you for showing up, for supporting us, and for making this more than just four walls and a bar.

There were so many people over the years who poured their heart and soul into this place and helped make it truly great. To every staff member, past and present — thank you. You built this.

And to my ride or dies — the ones who showed up early, stayed late, covered the shifts, fixed the problems, and held it down no matter what, and stayed till the very end:

Marilynn
Charli
Marc
Ryan
Meg
Bri
Jerimiah
Gustavo
Manuella
Salvador
Fidel

You are the backbone of this place. This wasn’t just a job — it was long nights, inside jokes, chaos, pride, and a whole lot of heart. I could not have done this without you.

And of course, Hillary & Nick — thank you for taking the leap and giving all of us a place to call home.

Short Fuse was never just a brewery. It was a team. It was regulars who became friends. It was hustle, laughter, stress, and memories I’ll carry with me forever.

— Courtney Topolinski

P.S. to my staff: I hate you all. (You know I mean that in the most loving, dysfunctional-family way possible.)

02/15/2026

It’s our LAST DAY OF SERVICE!!!

One more day to eat, drink, laugh, hug, and celebrate everything we’ve built together. We still have plenty of beer flowing, the kitchen has plenty of food, and there’s some merch left if you want to grab a little keepsake before we close the doors tonight.

No sad goodbyes - just full plates, full glasses, and all the good vibes.

Come spend this final day with us and let’s go out the only way we know how… with a beer in hand! ❤️

See you soon!

02/15/2026

Y’all showed UP tonight!
We’ve been so busy we don’t even have time to stop and take a photo.
The bar was rocking, the kitchen humming, and we are so incredibly grateful. Don’t forget we have one more day of service left. One last chance to hang with us, grab a drink/merch, and send this place off! 🍻

See you tomorrow!

Alright friends… it’s time.This Sunday night we’re closing the doors one last time. 💔🍻I pulled all the canned beer out o...
02/13/2026

Alright friends… it’s time.
This Sunday night we’re closing the doors one last time. 💔🍻
I pulled all the canned beer out of the coolers — whatever is out is what’s left. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Let’s send this place off loud, proud, and bone dry.
The neon signs are officially for sale — about eight of them — $300 each, or best offer. Courtney is willing to haggle. 😉 First come, first served.
We also found some throwback pint glasses hiding in the back — $10 each. Take one home and remember all the questionable decisions fondly.
Come raise a glass. Tell your favorite story. Stay a little too late.
Let’s drink us dry. 🍺✨

01/31/2026

Friends,

10 years ago, we signed the lease at 5000 N. River Rd. in Schiller Park and began the journey of building our craft brewery and restaurant. To borrow a line from the Grateful Dead, “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” Through the highs and lows, a global pandemic, and an ever-changing craft beer landscape, it’s been an incredible ride—one we truly enjoyed because of you. Thank you for being part of our story.

As our 10-year lease comes to an end, shifting trends in craft beer and dining, along with rising rent costs, have led us to make the difficult decision to close our current location. While this chapter is ending, it’s not the end of our story. We do plan to find a new, more suitable location, though that process will take time.
Our final day of service will be February 15, with a farewell celebration planned for Saturday, February 14. In our remaining weeks, we invite you to stop by, help us empty the kegs, and take home the last of our remaining cans as we close out this chapter together.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for 10 unforgettable years.

It’s snowing and we’re bored — so we’re bringing back a favorite.🐟 Fish & Chips🦑 Fried Calamari w/ marinaraAvailable whi...
01/30/2026

It’s snowing and we’re bored — so we’re bringing back a favorite.
🐟 Fish & Chips
🦑 Fried Calamari w/ marinara
Available while supplies last after 5pm tonight!

Better late than never 🍎🍻Them Apples is officially kegged and ready to go. Sometimes good things take a minute… and this...
01/28/2026

Better late than never 🍎🍻
Them Apples is officially kegged and ready to go. Sometimes good things take a minute… and this one was worth the wait!
See you soon!

01/23/2026

Mother Nature chose violence today, so we’re adjusting accordingly.
Because of extreme cold and windchill, we’ll be opening at 3 PM.

See you for happy hour!

12/27/2025

We’re aiming to open by 1:00 PM today. Thanks for your patience—we’ll keep you posted!

12/27/2025

When the plumbing quits, we do too. We’re closing early today due to plumbing issues. Thanks for your understanding—we’ll be back up and running ASAP.

Address

5000 North River Road
Schiller Park, IL
60176

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