Events & Social Updates: Blind Corner Coming Up
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The second of two new breweries from longtime Chicagoland beer professionals1 appears to be getting ready to launch.
Blind Corner Brewery, helmed by three former Solemn Oath/Hidden Hand pros, has a launch party scheduled for February 7th at Crafted1979 in Mokena. They’ll be rolling out not one, not two, but six new beers at this shindig. Worth putting on your radar.
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This Weekend:
My mistake! Last week I jumped the gun a bit on The Speakeasy Shuffle taking place Black Horizon, Imperial Oak and Skeleton Key. It’s happening THIS Saturday afternoon, with a free shuttle between all three breweries. Imperial Oak even has a blue Hurricane-inspired beer available. Sounds like fun.
Also on Saturday, the Off Color Mousetrap is hosting author Joel Geier who will be signing copies of his book about his many, many brewery visits, “Flights Across America.” Go pick one up.
On Sunday afternoon, head to Phase Three to drink their new West Coast IPA and a portion of the proceeds will go to support the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.
Next Week & Beyond:
Starting on the 27th, The Open Bottle celebrates turning ten years old in Tinley and the party goes through the 1st. That tap list looks excellent.
Celebrate eight years of Speciation Cellars on January 31.
Cruz Blanca’s latest Luchador Market takes place February 1. You can get a taste of their barrel-aged beers including the La Lucora that we loved at FoBAB.
Bundle up and head to the Beer Temple on Feb. 2 for their annual WinterFest.
If there’s a famous “beer cartoonist” it’s Em Sauter, and she’s appearing at Phase Three - Elmhurst on Wednesday, Feb. 5 for a beer+food pairing event.
Spiteful Brewing has been at it for a long time, so I’m a bit surprised to discover that they’re holding their very first beer dinner (with Beard+Belly) on Feburary 6th at their taproom.
On Feb. 7-8, Milwaukee’s Sugar Maple beer bar is turning the a Spongebob-themed “Bar-kini Bottom.” These winter events are getting weird, but I hope they work!
Goldfinger’s Dark Lager Day 2025 is set for February 8.
Madison’s Working Draft is hosting a Swedish beer celebration on the 8th. It’s the debut of their Swedish lager with an awesome name.
Also on the 8th: Eris Brewery & Cider House’s Goth Prom at Bottom Lounge.
February 9th is Hopleaf’s twelfth-annual Super Stout Sunday. Lineup TBD.
On February 15, the newly created American Craft Beer Hall of Fame will announce their inaugural inductees. You can watch the livestream at a few taprooms around the country; in Chicago, they’re viewing at Dovetail. And speaking of them…
Dovetail’s annual "Thank You for Smoking” gathering of smoked beers is set for Sunday, Feb. 16.
Tickets are now on sale for Destihl’s annual Dosvidanya Day, taking place on Feb. 22.
Never too early to start planning for this one: Bell’s Oberon Day is scheduled for March 24.
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The newest year-round beer from Half Acre is a pale ale called Slow Melt.
Three words from Solemn Oath: Malört Meringue Pie.
Saint Errant is back, and brewing out of Pipeworks now.
Virtue Cider’s Greg Hall went on the Joiners podcast to talk about his early Goose Island days, selling Goose to AB, starting Virtue and a bunch more. It’s a good listen.
Wondering where you can get Schlafly beer? There’s a new tool for that.
Dark Lord Day tickets go on sale on February 15th, with three tiers of ticket available: Deluxe, Standard and GA.
If you sell weird stuff, Lakefront Brewing wants you to be at their Rare Bird Market.
An English-style pale ale, naturally carbonated and served on cask? I’m on my way there for a pint of Pint, Roaring Table.
Today is apparently National Beer Can Appreciation Day, so I might swing by Middle Coast, draw my own can and fill it with beer. Seems fun.
Lots of people got lots of snow this week, but the Mitten Brewing location is no stranger to storms, as this picture from over a century ago proves.
Burke Beverage wants to remind us that Yuengling is just a few days away from launching in Illinois.
Congrats to BiXi chef and founder Bo Fowler who was named as a semifinalist for a James Beard award this week.
Also congrats to Scratch Brewing who emerged from the polar vortex to express their gratitude for their Beard Award semifinalist nod for being "Outstanding Professionals in Beverage Service.”
I think most of the Revolution news this week is focused on the new Deep Wood Series beers but I’m more psyched by their new oatmeal stout named for Motorhead’s Lemmy.
We love Roscoe Village’s Four Moon Tavern, and we wish them a very happy 26th birthday (and thanks to Dovetail for making us aware).
I wasn’t aware they were brewing anywhere else, but Old Nation now wants us to know that they’re only making beer at their home base in Williamson, MI as of February.
Condolences to the Laschet’s Inn team - former owner Ursula Kokott, who is the one who installed the kitchen in 2000, passed away. I have her to thank for so, so many great meals there.
Thank you all for being here! You made it through a cold, cold week. Have a great weekend. See y’all on Monday.
~Karl, a Guy Drinking something dark and comforting this weekend.
The first, of course, was Suncatcher, opened in November and helmed by some longtime Half Acre folks.