Central Illinois brewery offers one-of-a-kind experience to customers

In what started out as a beer-and-pizza idea, OB's Cervezaria has become a place for friends and families to gather for an entertaining evening.

Dylan Cerda and Andrew Jolly came up with the idea because they wanted to brew beer and have fun. Dylan's father, Juan Cerda (he goes by John), provided some financial help and the three are equal partners in this venture on the east side of town.

The seeds of the business began after Jolly moved back to town after being in Asheville, North Carolina, which is among the highest breweries per capita in the country.

“Dylan and Andrew lived together and they had bought a brewing kit and thought they would play with it themselves and practice making beer,” Juan Cerda said. “I think they had beer fermenting in the bathroom, the basement, all around the house.

“I tried it one day and it was some of the best stuff I've tasted, it was so good. At that moment we decided we were going to try to get something to happen together.”

Location, location, location

The building they found, located at 917 E. Cemetery Ave., Chenoa, was originally owned by OB Streeper, a legendary figure in the Chenoa area who this business is named after. Streeper, who passed away in 2009, used it as a workshop where he created a number of emergency equipment items. After his passing, the building was rented out to Barlow's Furniture and as a SELCAS ambulance shed.

“This one definitely caught our eye because of the infrastructure — 8-inch water main coming into the building, fire suppression,” Dylan said. “Everything was already done.”

The main thing was having the room and plumbing for the beer making process. The birth of the idea of having a beer-and-pizza joint had taken place. The next step was making it work.

Adding to the menu

A kitchen was created with the idea to add pizza to the menu. After agreeing it may have been too much to take on, they rented out the space to a local food truck business. After that didn't work out, it opened up the idea to bring pizza back into the fold.

Steve Hoekstra of Joe's Station House Pizzeria in Pontiac was interested in providing the pizza.

“We went down and took a look at the place and fell in love with that location right a way," Hoekstra said. "It's an absolutely amazing facility.”

Joe's will begin operations at OB's the first part of October with dine-in and carryout. Eventually, delivery may become an option, Hoekstra said.

Joe's is the third business to be a part of OB's and is hoping for the same success as the other tenant, Iron Cave Golf.

This is a golf simulator business owned by Bobbi and Brian Ludwig, who say the family atmosphere is a key reason for the success at OB's.

“It's nice where people can go and there's food and drink and they can all gather together in one room and play,” Bobbi Ludwig said. “What's nice about being inside OB's is they will help you out if you need something. It's a good marriage between the three different businesses inside.”

Unique experience

Pizza and golf go with beer, which is why this whole thing started. But aside from that, OB's has a tap wall with 12 different types. Typically, at least half is brewed in house.

It is a unique wall in that a card is needed and customers serve themselves. This way they can try any or all the beers in any amount. It's one of the only self-pour breweries in central Illinois.

There are a lot of varieties that have already been born, including one whose name drew some criticism in town. It's called Chenoa Water, and it is a special kind of brew that Jolly said he likes to call a “Midwest IPA.” Jolly said it's a mix between an East Coast IPA and a West Coast IPA.

Homage to history

While the spacious business offers family fun, including board games, video games, TV's and more, customers will see a nod to history besides the name.

The décor is certainly down home with wooden tables made out of a tree that grew just outside of town before it had to be destroyed. There are also many items that show off Chenoa's past.

“History is the big thing with a lot of the stuff,” Juan Cerda said. “We were trying to pick a theme; history was kind of a theme with OB and some of the stuff he had.”

OB's Cervezaria is open Wednesday through Sunday.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to factually correct this brewery is not the only self-pour brewery in the state.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: OB's Cervezaria near Pontiac, Illinois serving up fun for everyone