It's Steve Miller's Time: He's Hailstorm Brewing's New Co-Owner

TINLEY PARK, IL — If you said beer saved Steve Miller's life, he'd likely say you're right. But years ago, beer also almost stripped life from him. The Tinley Park man has seen some dark days in the brewing business, but a big career step recently brought him the joy and stability he's sought for so long.

Head brewer at Hailstorm in Tinley Park, Miller recently inked a deal to become part owner of the brewery — a longtime dream come true for the 36-year-old who started brewing on his apartment balcony 15 years ago.

Several years later, he would start — and shutter — his own brewing company. He'd then struggle to find his place in the craft-brewing field. After years of bopping between breweries, he eventually walked into Hailstorm in 2018 and found a happy "home."

"This is just where I want to be," Miller told Patch at Hailstorm, a day after the deal was final. "Coming to Hailstorm changed everything. Once I came here, everything else fell into place."

Hailstorm Brewing Co., 8060 186th St., opened in 2014 under current majority owner Chris Schiller. Miller is now one of five other owners.

Miller stepped into the established brewery working alongside friends who were more like family in an industry where competitors often become collaborators.

He's come a long way from his first attempt at professional brewing, which he started with his brother eight years ago.

Giving SlapShot a Shot

After years of brewing from a balcony or garage, Miller and his brother opened their own brewing company in 2013, calling it SlapShot. No taproom, production only. Just two brothers who love beer giving the business a good go. Miller left behind his corporate, six-figure job with Verizon in pursuit of their passion.

"I was 27 when we opened," Miller said. "We didn't know s--- about running a business."

Their inexperience quickly caught up with them as financial issues arose, and Miller found himself struggling with his mental health while juggling business woes. Beset by anxiety and depression, Miller decided to prioritize his mental well-being and sell the business.

"Five years ago, the world was falling apart," Miller said. "If SlapShot hadn't existed, we wouldn't be where we are."

Patch readers first met Miller in 2016, when he shared his mental health battle, specifically how he had stood years earlier at the edge of a bridge, ready to jump. His awareness of the anxiety and depression that drove him to that point ultimately also nudged him to step back from his brewing dream in 2016.

His wife Liz remembers vividly.

"When he was starting SlapShot, everything was a big high, exciting and new. ... Toward the end, there were some dark days. But he had to be strong for everyone," she said, including their newborn and then-3-year-old sons. "In some ways, I was glad SlapShot was over."

Miller found himself adrift, with brewing stints at 5 Rabbit, Burnt City and Brickstone before ultimately landing the brewing gig at Hailstorm.

"He always wished he could work at Hailstorm," Liz said. "When he got the job, it was a sigh of relief. This was home. This was family. He got his dream job."

Still, his anxiety is always brimming just under the surface, a foe he works hard to keep at bay. As head brewer at an already successful business he no longer had to worry as much about the financials, but the pressure was thick. For instance, there's no room for failure. Any new beer he tries must work, he said.

"When breweries change their head brewer, if things go downhill, it's the brewer's fault," he said, laughing.

Then came the coronavirus pandemic, he said, shaking his head. The virus turned most breweries on their heads, but Hailstorm was spared due to its pre-established presence with distributors, such as Binny's, and loyal customers who know what they like. With delivery and curbside pickup, sales were up 25 percent in the pandemic's early months.

"We have established customers, a base, and we were able to release new beers that customers would pick up because they trust us," he said. "We were able to keep people excited about what we were doing.

"It's kind of a luxury being here."

But what about the pressure that comes with owning a business? What if that pressure set off his anxiety? Could he handle both? Both he and his wife worried, Miller said, but he's learned how to cope over the years despite some difficult days.

"It used to be more uncontrollable," he said. "Now, it's just triggers. I'm anxious because this beer had better not suck."

While Liz was initially concerned about the impact the added pressure might have on Steve, she ultimately trusted his judgment.

"Steve has a really good head on his shoulders," she said. "He was able to think straight, and make a good decision. We both felt it was the right step."

More Like Family

The craft beer industry is driven by innovation, creativity and camaraderie. Those within it who know Miller have celebrated his transition into ownership.

"Steve is not only an amazing person but an awesome brewer," said Jason Janes, of Metal Monkey Brewing in Romeoville. "When I heard the news that he was becoming one of the owners of Hailstorm Brewing I couldn't have been happier for him as a friend and also for our industry as a whole because having him be a part of it is definitely a must!

"He is beyond supportive of the industry and of the people within the industry, and I'm so happy that he's going to be around for the long term with Hailstorm Brewing and a part of the craft beer industry in Illinois."

His reputation reaches beyond the beer, though. Miller is known for his warmth, kindness and generosity toward those in the business as well as anyone in need. He even publicly extended via social media an offer of his Netflix password and pizza for families struggling during the pandemic.

"He always has an ear to listen, a shoulder to lean on and is always willing to help people in their time of need," Janes said. "The world definitely needs more Steve Millers around."

Miller is modest about his efforts, shrugging them off and looking nervously at the ground.

"I'm really fortunate," he told Patch, "and I like to help people."

Willingness to help is common among fellow brewers, the Millers said. The industry thrives from people with big hearts, giving spirits and lack of ego.

"The brewing community to me, is a family," Liz said. "Our kids grow up together, it's opened up a lot for us."

Still a Battle

Even walking into his dream job every day, Miller is open that he still struggles with his mental health. He advocates for mental health awareness and offers himself as a sounding board for anyone in need. He works daily to keep his anxiety and depression in check, turning to his coping mechanisms and forcing himself out of his isolated shell where dark thoughts dwell.

"There's not a single day that goes by, where multiple times a day I don't contemplate suicide," he said. "I just decide to stay. It's literally fighting with my own brain. It's deciding to live another day."

Hailstorm has helped him find his footing, and he feels like a different person.

"It's a relief," he said. "Everything over the last couple of years has just been ... happy."