College of DuPage adjunct faculty member, local brewery owner shifts gears from beer to hand sanitizer

When Church Street Brewing Company in Itasca had to close its taproom due to COVID-19, the owners, College of DuPage Business of Craft Beer adjunct faculty member Lisa Gregor and her husband got creative in how they could support their communities. Seeing the shortage of hand sanitizer in stores, they decided to manufacture their own.

With the brewery's state-of-the-art equipment, Church Street Brewing produces 900 gallons of medical-grade sanitizer in one batch. The sanitizer is then poured into 16-ounce beer cans and donated to first responders and local non-profits, including DuPage Pads, Meals on Wheels and food pantries.

"I never thought we would be in the sanitizer business," Gregor said. "But I feel that it is our duty to do what we can to keep as many people safe and healthy in our community."

Created by blending isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and food-grade glycerin in the brewery's fermenters, the sanitizer contains at least 80 percent alcohol, adhering to recommendations set by the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control. Each batch is third-party tested by a distillery in Kentucky using a gas chromatography machine to check for accuracy, Gregor said.

"Anyone can make hand sanitizer, but if it doesn't have a certain amount of alcohol, there is no certainty that it will kill any viruses," she said. "It was important for us to have testing measures in place before distribution to ensure we are a trusted source."

In addition to donating sanitizer, the brewery is selling gallons at a reduced rate to essential businesses in need, including hospitals, nursing homes, funeral homes, grocery stores and cell phone stores.

"By selling some sanitizer, as well as keeping up beer sales, we are able to keep our 12 staff members employed which is something I'm really proud," she said. "We are a tight-knit family and to know that we can continue to sustain all of our employees, while still giving back to the community, is special."

Amid COVID-19, Gregor's "Business of Craft Beer" class was moved to the fall. She said the rescheduling was a blessing in disguise.

"With my class getting postponed due to the inability to participate in the lab component, I'm able to give my full attention to the brewery and our new endeavor," she said. "When I do get back in the classroom, I will be able to share so much more with my students-how to adapt to circumstances, how to be creative in times of crisis and how to sustain a business in unprecedented times."

More about the "Business of Craft Beer" program at cod.edu/craftbeer.