This Week's Beer News: CHI-de Project (okay that's a stretch)
Powered by a big STL brewery coming to town
Good news, Chicagoland: Side Project arrives soon.
Side Project has long been one of the most praised, awarded, beloved breweries in the Midwest (hell, the country), and their beers are finally about to hit the Chicagoland area. Even better: If you want to hang out and chat with owner/brewer Cory King, you’ve got a couple of chances to do so.
Per the above post from The Open Bottle, they’re hosting a debut event on Thursday, May 8th, and per their newsletter, The Beer Temple is also hosting an event on that same day. I’m guessing other gatherings and tastings will pop up that weekend, so keep an eye out for additions to our Friday emails.
This week’s question: What big-name breweries do you wish would hit store shelves that don’t currently distribute in Chicagoland/in your area?
Sound off in the comments! I’ll go first: Russian River, which is a gimme. And I’d love it if Half Acre would finally come to Michigan.
Block Club reported on the news that On Tour Brewing had announced its final day of operations, and all the plans they have for their closure before Links Taproom moves in.
Patch says that Joliet city officials reportedly have “promising news to share” about the former MyGrain Brewing location that they now are looking for a new tenant for.
Eater Chicago talked to Pilot Project about their plans for their soon-to-open Wrigleyville location, which will include a full kitchen and canned cocktails from their own Devious line of beverages.
The Plant got an ABC7 feature this week, which of course included a mention of Whiner Beer.
The state’s current legislation could cost Engrained Brewing hundreds of barrels a year of local production. The Illinois Times looks at the new bill (supported by the ICBG) that could raise the caps on self-distribution for small brewers. More here.
With 10,000 people attending, you’d think there’d be a bit more coverage of this week’s Craft Brewers Conference in Indianapolis aside from BA content, but I just see this Fox 59 story and this American Craft Beer blurb. (If you’re reading this from Indy right now, hi! Have fun!)
In advance of the grand opening of their sixth location in Merriam, In Kansas City looks at the beer-focused 30Hop bar and restaurant group.
Want to take a kayak-based beer tour of Traverse City? Paddles for Pints tickets are now on sale for this year’s paddlings.
It was a big week for Lift Bridge news - first, they announce that they’re discontinuing their first flagship beer (no more Farm Girl saison), and then they bring in former Leinekugel’s head brewer as their new Director of Ops.
“Craft brewery owners in the Twin Cities” - including from Back Channel Brewing and Fat Pants Brewing (good name!) - “are coming together today to ask for relief from President Trump’s tariffs.”
Chaotic Good Brewing is on the hunt for new investors in the hopes of reopening their brewery.
Boulevard is hosting a Brew & Renew tour all week for Earth Day.
Cleveland.com looks at what went into the merger between Terrestrial Brewing and The Brew Kettle.
Great Lakes Brewing Company is temporarily closing their brewpub for a couple weeks of renovations and menu upgrades.
“I'm terrified,” said the owner of Royal Docks Brewing Co. about the impact of the current tarriffs and the prospect of more.
Ghost Tree Brewing is moving - across the street. They’re taking over a former Brew Kettle location that will let them triple their space.
Coming soon to Appleton: A new taproom for Ope! Brewing, dubbed Ope North…
…while Appleton’s own Hop Yard Ale Works plans to open a new taproom in Menominee Falls.
OnMilwaukee talks with owner Nick Reistad about ten years of Raised Grain Brewing.
Stevens Point Brewing unveiled their new summer beer called Great Outdoors Adventure Ale. This should look familiar to Premium Subscribers, who saw it weeks ago.
For Vinepair, Joshua M. Bernstein looks at the cutting-edge new ingredients adding flavor and aroma to IPAs, including how Solemn Oath Brewing used an extract to amp up their Snaggletooth Bandanna.
Last week’s most-clicked link: The Chicago Reader piece about the 1855 Lager Beer Riot. Glad y’all enjoy beer history as much as I do.
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