How a Former Fast Food Joint Became Peoria's Favorite Taproom - The Story behind Bust'd Brewing

PEORIA, Ill. - Rezul -- Midwest Microbrew has released a new interview with Brian Buss, co-owner and brewmaster of Bust'd Brewing in Peoria Heights, Illinois. The conversation explores how Buss and his wife transformed a former Subway restaurant into a thriving, community-driven craft brewery taproom in just three years.

Bust'd Brewing opened in May 2023 inside a converted fast-food building in Peoria Heights, operating a three-barrel brewing system with a 35-seat taproom. Buss, who began homebrewing in 2009, credits a passion for both the science and artistry of craft beer with driving his path from hobbyist to co-owner. "I liked what it did — the artistic nature of it plus the science," Buss said, "and just kind of the overall vibe of homebrewers in general."

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The brewery's community involvement sets it apart in a crowded Midwest craft beer market. Bust'd Brewing holds two annual collaborations with the local Kiwanis Club, including a fundraising beer for the Bar Stool Open, a nine-hole mini golf bar crawl, and a winter release called "Peanuty Purpose," a peanut butter porter sold at area bars. The brewery has also hosted charity events benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Make-A-Wish. "We didn't start this to just sit in our corner," Buss said. "We wanted to give back and be a lot more community involved."

On the brewing side, Bust'd Brewing's top seller is Citra Crash, an all-Citra-hopped West Coast IPA that consistently sells through in weeks. Other taproom staples include Trailblazer, a Pilsner-based blonde ale; That One Coach, a crowd-pleasing brown ale; and Heights Heritage, a 3.7% American light lager developed as a nod to Pabst Blue Ribbon's historic Peoria Heights presence. The brewery also offers a customizable house-made seltzer program called Blank Space, featuring a rotating syrup bar. Bust'd Brewing hosts an annual beer festival — the only one currently held in Peoria — each spring, with tickets available at bustedbrewing.com.

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"Our absolute best attribute is our staff," Buss said. "They were trained from day one to be engaging with the customer and help them figure out what they like."

To find out more about Bust'd Brewing, check out the full article here: https://midwestmicrobrew.com/bustd-brewing-peoria-heights-craft-beer-success-story/.

About Midwest Microbrew: Midwest Microbrew is a media platform dedicated to celebrating the people, places, and pints shaping the craft beer culture of the American Midwest. Through in-depth interviews and brewery spotlights, Midwest Microbrew connects beer enthusiasts with the stories behind their favorite local brews. Visit midwestmicrobrew.com to learn more.