Drink Well, Do Good

3rd Annual Festiv-Ale presented by Half Acre Beer Company 

Friday, October 02, 2009

6:30 PM - 10:30 PM

Chicago, IL

The event, at the newly opened Half Acre Beer Company in the Northcenter neighborhood, will bring together beer enthusiasts to sample hand crafted, high end beers from over 12 of the Midwest’s finest vendors. Tickets are $50 for regular entry and $75 for the VIP reception. Included in the ticket price are all you can eat heavy appetizers and unlimited beer tastings. This event also features silent and live auctions and Towers of Beer raffles.

Proceeds to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

To purchase tickets: www.chicagofestivale.com

For more information:

Name: Liz Burke

Position: Special Event Director

Email: eburke@cff.org

Phone: 312-236-4491

Fax: 312-236-2797

Binny's Beer Expo Recap

We went to Binny's Beer Expo last night and just wanted to quickly recap a couple of highlights.  People were pretty irritated with the general lack of organization surrounding the event, but that isn't really relevant.  There was a good mix of beer distributors and brewers represented at the event and plenty of time to speak to the reps and taste a huge variety of beers.

Tracy from Metropolitan Brewery in Chicago was at the event, so we made a beeline for her first and were able to try the new Kolsch style beer that we had heard about when we visited their brewery in July before she ran out.  It is currently on tap at some of the more beer-serious bars around Chicago, including Map Room and Delilah's.

My favorite beer of the evening was an odd choice for me personally, as I tend toward hop heavy and "big" beers.  I absolutely fell in love with Peak Organic's Maple Oat Ale.  It was such a unique flavor and stood out from most oatmeal beers, which are usually stouts.  It was light in color and body and definitely had a nice oaty, malty flavor.  Also, the maple was subtle...not disgustingly sweet.  I have already asked Dan if he will pleeeaaase brew something similar this autumn.

Final topic of note - I spoke to the rep from Half Acre about their plans for the new Lincoln Square location.  I found out that they will be opening a tasting room in October!  I added my name to their mailing list, so I will post a note about it when it finally opens.

Half Acre Beer Company in Lincoln Square

Chicago desperately needs a more local beer scene. We are so close to Michigan, which is brimming with beer in every corner of the state and Illinois seems sorely lacking in contrast. I do love Goose Island and I am ecstatic with Metropolitan Brewery (the two coolest people, Tracy and Doug Hurst, run this place! Look out for them at local beer festivals and make a point to speak to them). I love Three Floyds, though technically in Indiana, and I love Two Brothers, too. I still need to make a trip out to Flossmore Station to case my vote here.

In any case, I was so excited when I was driving down Lincoln Ave. last week and saw the new location for Half Acre Beer Co. Truth be told, I had my heart set on it popping up somewhere in West Town, as I often see the jeep parked around the Milwaukee/Grand Corridor. Regardless, it is good to see another brewery take root in the city. I know Half Acre has been around for awhile, but they used to brew outside of Chicago. I am not sure what is in store in this Lincoln Square location...a brewpub, I hope?!