Oktoberfest Season Is In Full Swing: This Week's Beer Events & Socials
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It’s August now— which means Oktoberfest season is underway!
We saw the emergence of a very early version from 3 Sheeps back in late June (!) and Solemn Oath knows full well what you think about seasonal creep given the name of their Way Too Early Fest, which is where their Oktoberface just emerged a few days ago. Turns out it wasn’t really all that early.
Now that the three-month runway to Halloween is underway, breweries throughout Chicagoland are taking full advantage of this quarter of the calendar.
In the past week or so, we saw Marzen or Festbier announcements come from places including Alter Brewing, Off Color’s Waddle, Werk Force, New Oberpfalz, Miskatonic, both Three Floyds Munsterfest and their War Pigs brand (wonder if those two beers are any different at all…), Two Hound Red, Liquid Love, Mikerphone, Wild Onion, and according to Orange & Brew, Temperance has theirs in the world as well.
And just this afternoon, Bell’s posted about the return of their O’fest as did Penrose, and Half Acre just announced the return of their Lager Town marzen, this time in six-packs of 12oz cans.
Goldfinger has theirs in the tanks (where it’s been since March!) but is holding off until actual Oktoberfest, which, respect. Pollyanna announced their Oktoberfest party plans and there’s already plenty of checkins for their award-winning Fruhauf so that’s also apparently in the world.
Sketchbook’s celebration is already on their calendar as well, and while not a true Oktoberfest celebration, I think it’s worth mentioning that the Metropolitan beers from Short Fuse are getting a proper release party (with brats and schnitzel) one week from today. No Afterburner this year, sadly, but Flywheel and Krankshaft are on their way back.
We’ve long since stopped trying to police the serving of Fall Beers before Labor Day, so all of this is to say that if you love marzens and festbiers, the next 90 days are gonna be a great time for you. We’ll be out there with you.
The closure of Windmill Brewing was a big blow for the NWI beer scene, but there’s some good news: Brewer Jake Edwards has landed at Open Outcry, and they’re hosting a “meet the brewer” happy hour this evening.
Jake did a lot to pivot Windmill from a milkshake IPA and pastry stout destination to a place that could (and did) make delicious lagers, saisons and other less-hyped styles while also continuing that reputation for hazies and hefty beers. From Memes & Dreams to now hopefully brewing beers of his own dreams while keeping his creations close to the NWI region. Nice to see.
Okay. The busy brewery event summer continues this week. Here’s what we’ve rounded up for this week:
This Weekend:
Like Jam Bands? Like beer? You’ll want to be at this year’s Dancing in the Streets event on Aug 2-4, hosted by the Chicago Brewing District.
On Saturday, Liquid Love celebrates their 4th anniversary with (as we mentioned above) their Oktoberfest release.
Also on Saturday: Line dancing at Obscurity Brewing’s warehouse. You know you’re curious about that.
Mikerphone is hosting their annual Smells Like A Beer Fest tomorrow as well. Tickets appear to still be available at the moment, and for those of you who are attending, here’s their final list of breweries for the fest and here’s the map.
Later This Month:
Naperville’s Rib Fest may not be happening, but Solemn Oath has their own on August 10th, called Wolfie’s Mighty Fine Rib Fest.
On August 15th and the 29th, you can hit the water with Moor’s Beer and Bub City eats on a Wendella river cruise. Nice way to spend a Thursday, I think.
On August 16th, Spiteful Brewing’s Cheeseburger And a Pair of Dice event returns after a four-year hiatus! And for the first time ever, they’re hosting it at their space. Tickets are on sale now.
August 17th sees the return of the Oak Park Microbrew Review, now in its 17th year. Golden birthday!
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Orange & Brew loves beer. Orange & Brew also loves youth baseball (O&B owner Eric Schmidt has been a coach for years). They’re combining their love for these things by holding a contest to celebrate great youth baseball coaches. Do you know a coach who has gone above and beyond to help the kids on their team this season? Shout them out on their Facebook page here and the winning team could take home a $500 stipend for new equipment, with smaller stipends and free beer up for grabs for other finalists.
Stockholm’s Restaurant & Brewery in Geneva announced that they had suffered a fire this week, and “the damage is unfortunately rather extensive,” meaning that they will be closed until further notice.
Tapville is opening a new self-serve beer location at Yorktown Center on August 10, if you want to drink while you shop.
Goldfinger + is/was = this landbier unfilterered lager, available at both of their taprooms.
This is just a very pretty video of a side-pull beer pour at Beermiscuous Highwood, where they know a thing or two about foam and Lukr handles.
Noon Whistle may have walked away from their cicada Malort moment, but Jeppson’s merch store is now selling cicada and Malort pins together.
Valparaiso’s Blockhead Beerworks announced that their new head brewer is Rich Mendoza, formerly the head brewer of 18th Street Brewing.
Any time Pipeworks has to say “Yes, this is the name of this beer. No, spaghetti is not included.” in a post, you know it’s gonna be fun.
Happy 4th birthday to Goldfinger Brewing.
This video homage to the fight scene from Anchorman produced by Third Space Brewing featuring Ope Brewing, 1840 Brewing and Youngblood Beer Co for their IPA Fest is pretty great. No, it’s really great.
Skeleton Key’s release party for their new Korean rice lager featured calligraphy, music, snacks and … a new Korean rice lager.
Speaking of rice lager, Piece Pizza’s first post to Threads was this “announcement” of a collab with Maplewood on this rice lager. (Also, happy 23rd birthday, Piece!)
Black Lung Brewing partnered with the band Machine Head on a special “Burn My EyePA” to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their Burn My Eyes album, whose songs I covered in my high school metal band and I am now feeling like time has no meaning.
Looks like Alarmist is moving at least one beer into 12oz cans.
Available starting tomorrow from BuckleDown Brewing: Three different canned cocktails.
If you like Starbursts in your beer, you’re gonna love this forthcoming brew from Foreign Local.
Nice new taphandles, Grainology.
This is just to note that I love these stubby bottles that 1840 Brewing Company is using.
As One Trick Pony enters its final month in its current location, they’re bringing back some beers they haven’t brewed in a while, starting with a hoppy wheat ale not brewed since 2013.
Bell’s brought their beloved (by me, anyways) hazy IPA Official back to the Eccentric Store this week. There was a one-case limit so I’m guessing I’m not the only one who enjoyed and misses that beer.
The Beer Temple’s Sunday One-Day tappings have been serving up some amazing beers; here’s what’s coming over the next few weekends. (Including Jester King SPON!)
Half Acre teased a new line of “dispensary products” coming soon called Second Setting. If you follow the link from the new IG account, it looks like they’ve got some flower, gummies and pre-rolls in store for us.
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Until then, see y’all next week! Have a great weekend.
~Karl