Catching the Sun with Some Beer Events & Social Updates
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Last week we got to share news about the opening of two new taprooms in Chicago … I’m happy to report that we’re continuing that streak this week.
Suncatcher Brewing has been on our radar since they rolled out a few beers in May 2023 at a Beer Temple event. You might recall that those beers — a pale ale, a red ale and a sub-4% ABV brown ale — were brewed by Half Acre head brewer Matt Gallagher at no less than Hill Farmstead. Heck of a provenance there. Then, they went radio silent for over a year.
Until this week, that is, when they finally announced that their taproom would be opening on the near West Side this fall:
So that’s good news!
Also: Hey, remember when Chicago had a journalist who covered the beer beat around the area full time? That was fun, wasn’t it? Well, Josh Noel is still writing and it’d be great to see y’all out at some of these launch events for his new book: Malort: The Redemption of a Revered and Reviled Spirit.
Many of those events are even taking place at breweries (like Revolution and Sketchbook) but I bet that Violet Hour event is going to be pretty rad too. Go check ‘em out.
This Weekend:
Tonight, you can head to Nik & Ivy to help celebrate their 4th Anniversary.
Printers Row Brewing is hosting a Blondefest on Saturday from noon to close with multiple variants of their Bookbinder Blonde Ale plus other version on tap as well. Sounds like a fun end-of-summer beer drinking event.
MobCraft Woodstock is hosting their own WeirdFest tomorrow with some appropriately weird beers.
Following their fire, Stockholms is hosting a fundraiser in Geneva on Sunday with the help of Art History Brewing.
Here’s a new one: Tighthead Brewing Company is hosting an evening of original plays presented by the Kirk Players of Mundelein on Sunday night. Go have a beer and see some theater.
$2 oysters, cold beer from Goldfinger and Art History plus games outfront at the Publican’s Summer Beer Garden Bash on a hot Sunday afternoon? Sign me up.
Later This Month:
Starting on the 28th and running through early September: The Inaugural Werk Force Brewing World Class Fishing Tournament. Can’t say I’ve ever seen a brewery host one of those before.
Warm up those shoulders: In advance of Oktoberfest, Orange & Brew is hosting a Stiegl Stein Holding competition on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Head to Milwaukee on September 7th for this year’s Pilot Project Fest, featuring over two dozen beer and beverage makers.
Mark your calendar for September 18th, which is when Guinness Chicago finds out what a beer dinner would look like if it was hosted in 1910, which is when beers from Guinness first arrived in Chicago. A cool idea, and it’s hosted by the Beer Culture Center, too.
Is your brewery, beer bar or bottleshop hosting an Oktoberfest celebration soon? Want to be added to the list we’re building? Email me and I’ll get you on there.
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Skeleton Key’s grown-up book fair and picture day looked like fun!
This is just to remind you that the patio at Alulu looks like a lovely place for a beer or three.
If you love the non-traditional flavors of Around the Bend’s Oktoberfiesta beer, good news - it’s back.
Some sad news from Maplewood this week: Otto, the eponymous Fat Pug pictured on their label(s) “has passed away peacefully at home.” Our condolences to the team.
Nice fresh new parking lot, Goldfinger.
Downstate’s Big Muddy Brewing has entered the bourbon-making world, apparently.
Job listings we spotted: Pipeworks is on the hunt for a new Production Operator to join their team, and Solemn Oath has an opening for a new Market and Business Development Director.
Pipeworks is also releasing three barrel aged beers this afternoon.
And speaking of Solemn Oath, stock up on Snaggletooth Bandanna cuz’ it looks like it’s going on hiatus soon.
206 Brewing Company closed a few months ago, but apparently Wolfden Brewing loved their honey brown ale so much that they got the recipe and have brewed a new batch. Kind of a cool way to support a fellow brewer.
Literally hours after Wednesday’s email went out talking about the many things going on downstate at Destihl, I got a press release announcing two beers brewed in partnership with and in support of Fighting Illini athletics.
Wet hop season is approaching, and we’re excited to see what breweries like Mikerphone and Dovetail (who is making their very first fresh-hopped lager) can do with some fresh alpha acids.
If you’re looking for a new brunch destination, head to the Goose Island Pub at the Salt Shed on the 31st for some coffee kolsch and AM smashburgers.
Downstate’s Artesia Brewing is asking for people to support a local apiary after their beehives were smashed up (which also means no honey for their beers).
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Thank you all for being here! Have a great weekend.
~Karl