This Week's Beer News: Piloting to Wrigleyville
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Here’s some happy news, and something to look forward to in Wrigleyville: Pilot Project has just announced (via the Tribune) a new location a couple blocks from Wrigley Field on Clark Street.
No specific address was mentioned in the piece, and it doesn’t appear that they’ll be brewing on site, but it’d be fun if a beer maker ended up back in the same spot that Goose Island Wrigleyville once occupied. Pair that with Brewbound’s piece last month documenting their trip from 500bbls to 70,000 and you’ve got the makings of a new Midwestern brewery powerhouse.
I know a lot of people were really taking a “wait and see” approach to what Pilot Project was doing - especially after jumping into that massive MKE facility with both feet - but it appears to be working so far, in an industry where not much else seems to be. Good for them.
The opening of Diversey House got a fair amount of press for Moor’s Brewing Co. from Fox-32, Eater, CBS, Block Club and others.
Block Club also chatted with Spiteful Brewing on what the effects of a Canadian tariff would do to brewers. Short answer: Nothing good.
Other outlets chatted with brewers about tariffs as well, including NBC-5 and “Hop Butch” owner Jeremiah Zimmer.
Block Club also covered the new Wiener’s Circle collab pizza at Piece that we told you about on Friday. Bet it pairs well with their dunkelweizen.
WBBM-AM visited Sketchbook Brewing to chat about their coaster art program, their new West Coast IPA and what product of their mixes well with Malort.
A state representative introduced a bill that would allow people aged 18-20 to drink alcohol in the presence of a guardian. Sounds tough to manage but apparently that’s how it works in Wisconsin.
Here’s another update on that Tangled Roots project that’s been in the works in Peoria for a while.
Springfield’s State Journal-Register also has a story on the bill introduced proposing a change to the state’s alcohol rules.
Ivy Alley, “a social club featuring duckpin bowling, a restaurant and a microbrewery,” appears to be coming to South Bend this year.
WQAD reported on Lua Brewery vying for the title of Best Brewpub in the USATODAY 10Best readers choice awards.
Eastern Market’s paczki beer is back with raspberry, chocolate and even rose-petal versions this year. (Plus merch!) Coverage came from Fox-2 and WXYZ.
More on the expansion of Jamesport Brewing Company comes from the Huron Daily Tribune.
Due to a recent expansion, Ore Dock’s Angry Bear Festival is “hibernating” until 2026.
Waite Park’s Back Shed Brewing announced that they would be closing in March.
STLToday covered the announcement that Wellspent Brewing was looking for new owners.
Blue Jay Brewing is hosting their first beer dinner with the help of Good Time Kitchen.
Avon’s Railroad Brewing Company announced last week that their final day of operation would be on Friday the 7th.
Per Cleveland Scene, Two Friends Brewing would open in Collinswood on March 7.
It’s really starting to look like Great Lakes Brewing Company plans to build a new production facility on Cleveland’s Scranton Peninsula.
Asahi announced that they’d brought on Paul Verdu, formerly of Wisconsin Brewing Company, MolsonCoors, SABMiller and Constellation, to run their US operations at Octopi.
Beers from Badger State are now available throughout Wisconsin.
OnMilwaukee has a quick Q&A with the new ED of the Wisconsin Brewers Guild, Amanda Bruns.
Burlington’s Low Daily Beer has a new THC seltzer.
Job alert: Pilot Project is looking for a Director of Ops for their MKE facility.
Lakefront owner Russ Klisch talked to TMJ4 about how the tariff threats have already impacted their business.
Sweetwater announced that they were releasing a new light beer called Dive Beer. Did no one at Tilray think to Google that first? Lakefront started making their own Dive Beer a year ago.
Last week’s most-clicked link …was the story about the Watermark Brewery employee who spent all night in their famous vending machine for charity.
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