Was this a long week for the rest of y’all, or does it just seem like the Salt Shed opening date news came out forever ago? I know in my head that it was just last Friday because we have these poll results to look at…but it doesn’t feel like it:
A majority of “I’ll get there at some point” kinda sums up a lot about craft beer at the current moment, doesn’t it? Now on to some upcoming…
This afternoon, head to Hopleaf for a special happy hour with Timmermans, the world’s oldest lambic brewery, as they sample a couple beers new to the US. Say hi to their new sign while you’re there.
Tomorrow you can head to Albany Park for the Northwest Brewfest, with over a dozen breweries on hand starting at noon (for VIPs).
On the 19th, Mad Hatchet will be hosting their 5th Anniversary Celebration.
Burning Bush is hosting a Spring Fest all day on Saturday, April 20th. They’ll have live music, food vendors, family entertainment (including face painting and a bounce house) and, of course, beer.
If you’re in the ‘burbs on afternoon of the 27th, Church Street is hosting Fruhlingfest 2024, with about a dozen brewers on hand. This would be a great way to try beers from the likes of 206 Brewing, Wolfden Brewing, Nik & Ivy, Fox Republic and more, weeks before Beer Under Glass. Proceeds benefit the BSA Three Fires Council (where I earned my Eagle badge lo those many years ago).
Looking for something lager-focused on that date? How about the Legends of Lager festival on the 27th at Duneyrr Fermenta in collaboration with the Chicago Beer Society?
Also on the 27th, you can celebrate Arrowhead Ales’ eighth birthday.
…and since we mentioned it above, you should know that tickets are on sale now for Beer Under Glass, taking place at Union Station on Friday, May 3rd.
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Marz Brewing has a new line of THC-infused beverages that they’re calling Stupid Soda that they’re introducing at their Dank Market on (you guessed it) April 20th. Between this and Hopewell’s Choom, we are in a golden age of weed-drink naming conventions.
As of a few days ago, Demo Brewery reported that y’all had drank them out of six of their ten beers. Good work.
A new rewards program is in place at Corridor Brewery, Crushed by Giants and DryHop Brewers called HopHead Rewards.
The Brewers Association announced a new “online mental health tool” called Infinite Ingredient that’s free for all full or part-time brewery workers who are struggling with burnout.
BiXi Beer has the least-surprising “secret” menu item available now from Sunday-Thursday: Yes, it’s the Owen & Engine hamburger.
Wondering what’s the story behind the special is/was brewing house beer at Akahoshi Ramen? It’s a koji rice saison, and I bet it pairs beautifully with the now-famous miso ramen there.
Kinslahger is excited (and rightfully so) for their new neighbor, Milly’s Pizza in the Pan, to open their Berwyn location in a few weeks.
Adams Street Brewing welcomed their new brewmaster, Mark Duchow, formerly of Byway Brewing and a number of other places as well over his three-decade brewing career.
The winner of Goose Island’s BCS Bracket surprised me; I thought for sure it’d be Fourteen Stout.
If it’s spring, that means that the Dovetail/Begyle Mayfestiversary celebration is coming soon, and they are looking for volunteers.
If you’ve never worked at a bar and want to know how to cut an orange for your Oberon, Bell’s tells you how here.
If you want the most exclusive Pipeworks beer in town this weekend, you’ll have to get to Navy Pier for their special EXPO CHGO Kolsch.
I haven’t had a Vander Mill Totally Roasted pecan cider in quite a while, so I’ll allow this new label to serve as a reminder to grab some soon.
For the first time since shutting down for pandemic purposes, Upland Brewery’s Profile taproom in Bloomington has reopened.
Got a bunch of Pak-Tech carriers sitting around? You can trade ‘em for a beer at Midwest Coast.
Congrats to Penrose on ten years in business, and receiving the declaration of April 6th as Penrose Brewing Company Day in Geneva.
Sturdy Shelter Brewing canned some beers for the very first time this week.
Turning April Fools Jokes into real things makes it even funnier, so I find the fact that Alarmist actually brewed a “Le Jus Clear” pretty hilarious.
Photos from Big Muddy’s eclipse gathering were featured in the New York Times, while the eclipse apparently Raptured someone away from Nightshade and Dark.
Premium Subscribers knew of this beverage’s existence a couple weeks ago, but now Three Floyds has told the rest of the world about their new Dark Lord whiskey.
Wow. That’s a lot of stuff going on. If you found anything in this email informative, enlightening or entertaining, it’d be wonderful if you considered joining as a Premium Subscriber:
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Until then, see y’all on Monday! Have a great weekend.
~Karl