This Week's Not-Selling-You-Anything Beer News
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I appreciate you opening this email. I know it’s Cyber Monday and you’re receiving an onslaught of marketing slop today.
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Of course, ten minutes after I hit “send” on Wednesday, one more space announced a closure. Afterthought Brewing will shutter their taproom at the end of the month, but they will continue to brew and distribute their delicious saisons, thankfully.
In happier news, the Mount Prospect location for Whiskey Hill is finally open, so our number of Chicagoland breweries remains roughly static for now. I have some other updates to make to our area brewery map that are still pending - remember that we have less than two weeks remaining with the Revolution brewpub in our lives - but we currently sit at 220 beer makers per my count, which is right about where we started 2024.
For the year we’ve had, I’ll take that as a minor victory.
Lots of coverage of the new brand for Ravinia Brewing Company - Steep Ravine - and also the news of their plans to close their Chicago taproom came from Block Club, Fox32, the Chicago Tribune, the Record North Shore and others.
BeerCrunchers broke the news last week, and then Brewbound also confirmed the sale of Cruz Blanca to MolsonCoors.
Shaw Local reported on the closure of the Woodstock MobCraft location.
If you haven’t been to Mickey Finn’s lately, they have a new chef who has apparently spent time at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon and the Ritz Carlton, so that’s certainly something to check out.
I mentioned it a few weeks ago, but CB&B now has their Readers Choice list of the Best Beer Bars in the World posted, which includes Hop Leaf, The Beer Temple and Orange & Brew.
Smile Politely checks out Big Thorn Farm & Brewery. (Their sandwiches look quite good.)
Forbes has a feature on Tridentine Brewing, whose religious-themed beers are being made by Karben4 but the family brewing them are based in Kankakee.
Speaking of religion + beer, Shaw Local reports on Highway 20 Brewing Company in Elizabeth, IL, which operates in a former Presbyterian church built in 1875.
Triton Brewing Company announced they’d be closing in mid-December after 13 years in business.
8 Degrees Plato, Detroit’s decade-old bottle shop and beer bar, announced their closure at the end of the month. More here and here.
Outside Petoskey, the new Elder Piper Brew & Cider is getting some press from MLive.
Now that Greg Hall has full control and ownership of Fennville’s Virtue Cider once again, he’s got some big plans for the brand and facility.
Fresh Coast Beer Works in downtown Traverse City announced their closure as of last weekend, though they left the door open for another beermaker to take over the space.
Despite closure rumors, Back Shed Brewing has a lot going on.
Coming soon to Pryes Brewing for the winter: Saunas.
Schlafly’s Christmas Ale is back for the first time in seven years.
Now open in Cleveland: Royal Docks Brewing Co.
Opening in one week: Richfield Brewing Company.
Ohio Brewing Company has been sold, with any changes to the brewery and brand expected to start in spring.
Hey, Premium Subscribers - remember that Scut Farkus Winter Warmer label I showed you recently? Well, actor Zach Ward is coming to Cleveland to celebrate its release at Hoppin’ Frog.
OnMilwaukee looks at Pilot Project’s new house brand: Standard Goods.
This week, the Milwaukee record’s Meet A Brewer series features Ben Naus of Perspective Brewing Company.
The Milwaukee Business Journal chats with owner Russ Klisch about how Lakefront Brewery helped make Black Friday a nationwide specialty beer release day.
Speaking of Black Friday at Lakefront, hundreds lined up for this year’s annual release. Sounds like fun.
It’s not really beer related, but I can’t not share a story whose headline reads “Wisconsin bar shut down after chickens and cocaine found inside”
Tasting Table ranked 16 coffee beers with a lot of good showings from Midwestern breweries like Revolution, Perennial and Masthead.
The Houston Chronicle has an interesting story about how Karbach Brewing managed to stay true to themselves following their purchase by A-B back in 2016.
Most-clicked link in last week’s email: PorchDrinking’s roundup of all the FoBAB medal winners.
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