Depending on where you are at the moment, Eclipse Day is almost certainly over. (Do we have any readers up in northern Maine or Nova Scotia?) It’s also the final day of relevancy for the many eclipse-themed beers that have emerged over the last few months. See ‘ya in 2044, all you beers named Path of Totality!
Publications like Food & Wine and Forbes and even Space.com have roundups of eclipse beers from around the country; I would point you towards our Preferred Subscriber archives of label emails over the last few months for all of my picks. Tomorrow’s probably a good day to get some discounted pricing on all of those, assuming that thirsty crowds don’t drink them all this afternoon while looking skyward.
Speaking of random celestial events (yes this is a stretch), how about Kings & Convicts announcing the shutter of their original location last Monday — and then we bookend the week on Friday by learning about the opening date for Goose Island’s new brewpub location at the Salt Shed?
Two kinda monumental announcements, in their own way — one giant beermaking orbital mass, blotting out news about a tiny yet notable brewery satellite. (Seriously, no news outlets other than us have noticed the K&C closure yet, so far as I can tell. And yes, I’ve finally accepted that it’s not an April Fools prank.)
As we just mentioned, Goose Island announced the opening date for their Salt Shed brewpub: May 3rd. Eater and Block Club posted stories.
Dovetail Brewery leads the way in this Punch “Who’s Who of Beer Cool” piece, citing their “passion for traditions” like kolsch beer service, treberwurst and house-crafted syrups for their Berliner weiss — but mostly their years-long push to raise the profile of smoked beers.
From a Michigan farm to a Tinley Park brewery: Banging Gavel is working with Mick Klug Farms to offer a CSA program pickup spot.
What’s going on at the Belleville Hofbrauhaus? It was apparently shut down over a year ago over a copyright/trademark dispute between the franchisee and the parent company, and apparently the local owner broke the franchise agreement, too. Court documents state “that the Belleville restaurant had sold domestic beer and had installed arcade games and pool tables in violation of the franchise agreement.” Apparently that’s verboten.
Sauce Magazine posted a little info about Millpond Brewing, which operates from a 1940s-era service station, and looks pretty rad based on the huge photo they included with this partner content.
The Current covers the opening of the new Noblesville Bier Brewery taproom.
The owner of Four Day Ray Brewing “isn’t on social media,” which is apparently why he was surprised to find that an event at his brewery featuring Chaya Raichik/Libs of Tiktok as a speaker got a ton of pushback from locals.
The Daily Nonpariel has an extensive feature on Keg Creek Brewing Company and the retiring owners as the decade-old brewery goes up for sale.
This year’s Iowa Beer Bracket came down to beers from Big Grove and Singlespeed. Who won? Well, it’s a repeat winner, which might help you guess.
MLive has more on the recently-renovated Founders Grand Rapids taproom and restaurant.
The Detroit News talks to Dax Shepard and his childhood buddies who, all now sober, just released their own NA line of beer called Ted Segers, aka “the beer made by alcoholics, for alcoholics.”
Racket has a story about the unionization efforts at Indeed Brewing Co., led by a bartender that originally led the efforts at Surly Brewing that lost by one vote.
A nice head of foam on a beer is an important thing, as this Sauce Magazine piece explains - with comment from brewers at Rockwell Brewing, Earthbound Beer and Narrow Gauge.
What does a canning day look like at Forbidden Root in Columbus? Well, with the help of a mobile canning service, it looks like this.
Polka, pierogi and a lot of pilsner: This year’s Dyngus Day in Cleveland looked like a lot of fun (like always).
More on the vote to authorize a strike at City Beverage comes from the Wisconsin News. The current contract ends on May 8.
Leinenkugel’s and Johnsonville announced a new Summer Shandy bratwurst which honestly sounds delicious. Kinda like a Wisconsinized version of a loukaniko.
Leinie’s is also releasing a new beer at the Barrel Yard for 414 Day: A Berliner weiss from brewer Corinne George.
More on the announcement that Eagle Park would be opening a MKE Brewing taproom comes from the Journal-Sentinel and OnMilwaukee; they’re moving into the old Tonic Tavern space.
The Milwaukee Record’s Meet a Brewer series introduces us this week to Tyler Killips of Enlightened Brewing. Ever meet a brewer that dabbles in bonsai? You’re about to.
“_______ has too many breweries!” is a story from two cities this week, weirdly enough: Readers of Denver’s Westword say they’re oversaturated, while some recent closures have people wondering what’s up with Charlotte’s craft beer scene.
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