This content was originally published by The Hop Review, a digital magazine that joined the Hop Culture family in March 2020.
This piece was written by Jack Muldowney.
We’re back with our weekly Hoplinks, for your beer news reading pleasure. And again, much has happened in the world of craft brews. This week’s recap includes big CCBW news, another new North Side brewery opens, two Michigan breweries announce big plans, Dark Lord Day woes, and a “craft beer champion” is crowned tourney style.
LINCOLN SQUARE, CHICAGO – The Illinois Brewers Guild announced the new location for CCBW’s closing fest: Lincoln Square’s Welles Park – for the “1st Annual Welles Park Craft Beer Fest.” We’ll miss ending CCBW in the West Loop, which inevitably turns into Au Cheval burgers…but we know we’re looking forward to the little more user-friendly venue. [DNAinfo]
LAKEVIEW, CHICAGO – Goose Island has announced plans to resurrect their Wrigleyville brewpub on Cubs Opening Day (Easter Sunday, April 5th). This is a surprisingly quick turnaround since their ‘former’ landlord offered up a deal just in time for baseball season, only a few weeks ago. We’ll see how this lease deal pans out… [Crain’s]
ALBANY PARK, CHICAGO – The city’s newest taproom opened this week, thanks to Breakroom Brewery. The long-awaited North Side setup is finally ready to share some of their massive new space. And just in time, also, to celebrate their new show on the Discovery Channel. [Eater]
MUNSTER, IN – Three Floyds cuts off packaged sales on Dark Lord Day. The April 25th event ran into some permitting issues that does not allow for carry-out sales. Word is area liquor stores will be well stocked with 3 Floyds offerings, to counteract the situation. Something tells me this may not go over so well with Floyds fanatics. [Chicago Tribune]
ALGONQUIN, IL – Suburban Scorched Earth Brewery is adding a beer garden to the works. The new space will allot for 50 seats and focus on a “hop farm theme.” We welcome another excuse to make it out to Algonquin. [Daily Herald]
LOMBARD, IL – In an effort to crown a “true” local champion of beer styles, suburban bloggers Ale to the Burbs are presenting The Chicagoland Suds Cup Championship on April 11th. A field of 16 local American IPAs will go head-to-head in a bracket-style, blind tasting competition to be decided solely by attendees. [Ale to the Burbs]
ANN ARBOR, MI – Craft production continues to grow on the east side of the Great Lakes State, as Wolverine State Brewing Co. announces plans to expand. The 2006-founded brewery will break ground on a new 6,000 sf on-site expansion. Ann Arbor is starting to carve out a serious craft beer niche. [MLive]
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – Grand Rapids area brewery, Perrin Brewing just announced its sale to Colorado’s Oskar Blues. The Longmont, CO brewery will now own 100% of the MI brewery. This deal has been on the heels of a collaboration brew the two did back in December. Just another purchase in the seemingly trendy list of brewery buyouts. [MLive]
BOULDER, CO – The Brewers Association released their annual list of the Top 50 Craft Breweries in the U.S. (for 2014), based on sales volume. There’s a somewhat surprisingly No. 1; at least not someone we’d considered. Unsurprisingly, Lagunitas made the list. But no Goose Island?… [brewersassociation.org]
USA – USA Today‘s version of a March Madness beer bracket has announced it’s “Ultimate Craft Beer Champion.” We’ve seen many iterations of this type of beer tourney. But this one might surprise you. [USA Today]
Photo from Breakroom Brewery’s Facebook.