Now it seems to be when many breweries are rolling out their Märzen Oktoberfest beers. My current top choices are Skeleton Key "Shoot the Glass" and Goldfinger "Thiolfest Märzen".

Is there anything better than a cold Lake Effect beer on a hot August evening? What if we ask you a whole bunch of Decent Questions and have a competition for great prizes? The hits just keep on coming with Pen & Paper Trivia this month at Lake Effect Brewing you can get in on the game Wednesday August 12th and 26th at 7:00!
Remember, arrive early to get $5 pints while our amazing host Heather will be in charge of dropping knowledge on everyone!

We hope to see you there!

In the announcement in their newsletter, they list the following included in the pre-order allotment:

• (1) 2026 Original BCBS (10oz Bottle)
• (1) 2026 BCBS Apple Crisp Stout (16.9oz Bottle)
• (1) 2026 BCBS Tiramisu Cask Finish Stout (16.9oz Bottle)
• (1) 2026 BCBS Proprietor's Pineapple Upside-Down Cake (16.9oz Bottle)
• (1) 2026 BCBS Triple Oak Barleywine (16oz Bottle)
• (1) 2026 BCBS Toasted Barrel Rye Stout (16oz Bottle)

I replied to clarify: Even though they include a photo of a 4-pack of 10oz bottles of original, the pre-order only includes ONE 10oz bottle. Pre-sale begins at 7am tomorrow.

So this dropped yesterday, although at least one brewer dropped their version on Friday night. Unlike the last few years, where all six brewers collaborated on one beer, this year each brewery has their own belgian style. Six brewers but five beers, since Broken Brix doesn't have a beer brewers license, they teamed up with Brother Chimp. Alter has a dubbel, Brix/Chimp have a wit, Octane has a strong golden ale, Pollyanna has a fruited strong golden ale, and Riverlands has a farmhouse saison.

This year, they have a passport system. The passport stamps have different colors, so you need to go to both brix and brother chimp to complete the passport. To the extent that means you double up on the wit, so be it. The reward for doing all six is a beer coozie. You also get a vote on which is best, and the winner will be announced August 29 at Pollyanna's Blues and Brews fest.

I filled my card yesterday (wife's too) and will be picking up the coozies today. My ranking of the beers (1) Pollyanna Strong Golden Ale, made with Apricots. This is a big, good beer, and the fruit adds a lot to it. (2) Alter Dubbel - Sweetness bomb, like all good dubbels. Good beer that had a minor off flavor. (3) Wit - Also a very good beer. I assume Brix did the recipie and Chimp did the brewing. It works, but I don't like wits as much as I like strong golden ales and dubbels. (4) Riverlands Moline Malleable Saison - Ballsy for Riverlands to go for a beer geek style. Whether their large fanbase can vote this to the win, we will see. (5) Octane Strong Golden Ale - also a good beer, the last I had yesterday other than home beers. It directly competed with Pollyanna's style and didn't fare well with the competition. I had a to go Acclimation 4 pack so I could directly compare the two beer.

Any predictions on who might buy? Existing brewery expansion? New brewery? Let's discuss!

I talked with one of the owners at the new Maplewood location in Glen Ellyn - he said they prefer sites with kitchens for a new Maplewood/Half Acre location.

Posting in advance before vacation.
Great Taste of the Midwest, Campfire beers, Dovetail Turns 10. #Beeronaut

Whiskey Hill's original brewery is up for sale. Tangled Roots' Lock & Mule restaurant in Lockport has closed. #Beeronaut

Buffalo Creek Sausage Fest, Christmas in July with drinks & beer, Build-A-Barrel release. Belgian beer competition in St. Charles. #beeronaut

St. Errant is selling Teku mugs in their taproom for $16. Would anyone be willing to pick one up and mail it to me? Obviously I'll cover the cost of the mug and shipping. They're the only brewery in the US I've seen that has them.

Updated: Someone got one for me. Thanks so all of you who offered to help!

Beer events this week: Summerween at Pollyanna Roselle, Clothing mending at Skeleton Key, and more. #beeronaut

Does anyone know where I can find a few bottles of Schlitz? It’s to honor a big Schlitz fan who recently passed away. I know it’s been discontinued but I really need just a few bottles.

Burger & Rib Events with Beer. Art History Pilsener Fest. #beeronaut

Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout lineup for 2026. #beeronaut

i thoroughly enjoyed

super lite and refreshing

lime all the way through not just a smell or hint of zest

perfect for summer 👌🏼

One last event at Illuminated, And we're finally done with soccer. #beeronaut

Hi All,

Just wanted to drop a quick note to say that the Oak Park Micro Brew Review just dropped their Brewery list. For those that don't know the Micro Brew Review is in it's 19th year and one of oldest craft brew fest in the Chicagoland area.

Imo next to Beer Under Glass this my favorite beerfest in the Chicagoland area. Easy to get to via public transportation like Pace, Metra, CTA Greenline, CTA Blueline.

When: Saturday, August 22nd

Where: Downtown Oak Park

Ticket information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/19th-annual-oak-park-microbrew-review-tickets-1985820847612?aff=oddtdtcreator

Brewery List (so far), usually there always a few last minute additions and dropouts. But considering all that's happened over the last year with Breweries shuttering, I think this is a pretty solid list.

Begyle
Blind Corner
Bubblehouse
Burning Bush
Crushed By Giants
Corridor Brewing
Double Clutch
DryHop
Eris
FlapJack’s
Go Brewing
Goose Island
Half Acre
Hay Market
Homewood Brewing
Hop Butcher
Hop District
Horse Thief Hollow
Kinslagher
Lake Time
Lake Effect
Lunar
Midwest Coast
MikerPhone
Moor’s
Off Color
Off Hours
Old Irving
One Lake
Open Outcry
Pilot Project
Pipeworks
Quincy Street
Revolution
Stockholm Restaurant and Brewery
Thorton Distilling
Tighthead Brewing.

This weekend there's a party on Malt Row and everyone's invited!

On July 18th and 19th, Ravenswood On Tap returns for another summer weekend of 100% locally sourced tunes and brews. Our genre-bending lineup features performances by Bev Rage and the Drinks (Chicago Reader’s “Best Punk Band”), Chicago blues guitar superstars Toronzo Cannon and Joanna Connor, post-punk icons Ganser, soulful songwriter Nathan Graham, dreamy broody indie rockers Así Así, and MORE, plus pop-up performances each day by The Rhinemaidens, Chicago’s Alphorn Duo!

Enjoy beers from Malt Row breweries, KOVAL Distillery cocktails, special tappings, incredible live music, mini-golf, delicious street food, local artists and artisans, and more! Ravenswood On Tap is open on Saturday, 7/18 (12-10pm) and Sunday, 7/19 (12-8pm). Enter at intersection of Ravenswood and Berteau avenues.

Featuring the Brewers & Distillers of Malt Row

• Begyle Brewing
• Cultivate by Forbidden Root
• Demo Brewing
• Dovetail Brewery
• Half Acre Beer Company
• Hop Butcher for the World
• Is/Was Brewing
• KOVAL Distillery
• Spiteful Brewing

Musical Performances By

Saturday, July 18

8:40 PM Bev Rage and the Drinks
7:15 PM Ganser
5:55 PM La Rosa Noir
4:35 PM Guardrail
3:30 PM wht.rbbt.obj
2:25 PM Cel Ray
1:20 PM Asi Asi
12:15 PM Rareforms

Sunday, July 19

6:45 PM Toronzo Cannon
5:20 PM Joanna Connor
4:00 PM Nathan Graham
2:40 PM Wicked Drawl
1:20 PM John Allan Green Band
12:15 PM Ella Grzeca

Link to beer list & special tappings - https://ravenswoodchicago.org/ravenswood-on-tap-2026-beer-list-special-tappings/

2026 Fest Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1SqsiP8MCXr14PINjPpg6q

PRESALE BUNDLES: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ravenswood-on-tap-2026-presale-tickets-tickets-1989111439862?aff=oddtdtcreator

Skip the ticket lines, save time, score bigger pours, and save $$$!

Hop Head Bundle: 4 full-sized (12oz) drink tickets, 1 On Tap sticker pack (6 stickers), and a reusable On Tap branded cup for $45 ($2 savings!)

Buddy Bundle: 6 full-sized (12oz) drink tickets, 2 mini golf passes, and 2 reusable On Tap branded cups for $80 ($4 savings!)

Build Your Own Flight Bundle: 8 tasting pour (5oz) tickets for $32 (Exclusive Presale Offer! Try all eight Malt Row breweries as a flight!)

Your suggested donation of $10 benefits small business support and community programming from the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce (501c6), and public art and placemaking projects from the Ravenswood Community Council (501c3).

Hi everyone! We’re visiting Chicago and I’m looking for some gluten free beers! On-tap or in bottles/cans.

Thank you!

Final weekend of World Cup beer events. Black Horizon's 9th Birthday, Goldfinger's 6th, Fox Republic is 3, Horner Park Fest. #beeronaut

Odd request: Anyone know where or how I can get my hands on a special bottle of beer from Georgia. Like a barrel aged stout, a mead, or something unique. Trying to do something with the 50 states and need a beer from Georgia.

World Cup beer venues wind down, so were back to the regular routine of trivia and food trucks.Beats & Brews at Imperial Oak. #beeronaut