Michael Pruitt likes “hoppy beers,” those with the strong flavor of the grain used to make the brew. He also likes hard ciders. Jack Richtman likes the hoppy beers, too, but he also enjoys India pale ales, which he said are bitter and an acquired taste.
No matter what beer lovers tastes are, they’ll probably find something to enjoy at the Grayslake Annual Craft Beer Festival to be held June 4, Richtman and Pruitt said.
Not only will participants be able to sample some of 250 different brews from more than 80 microbreweries, but they’ll also get to converse with other beer lovers about Scottish ales, Belgian tripels, Irish reds, brown ales and other locally made alcoholic beverages.
Pruitt, owner of The Vine in Grayslake, and Richtman, a Grayslake lawyer, help with the annual event. It’s sponsored by the Grayslake Exchange Club and the Grayslake Chamber of Commerce. Richtman, president of the Grayslake Scholarship Fund, said the festival has raised $100,000 annually for the past two years to give college scholarships to local high school students.
“Half of what motivates people to come to the festival is that they just really love beer,” Richtman said. “The other half is that it’s a really good party. We have live music. You get the fun of sharing something you love with 2,000 people.” Last year’s event drew 2,300 and it was a cold rainy day, he said.
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Already, it’s doubled in the number of breweries since it began three years ago. Local craft breweries just keeping popping up, said Pruitt. For example, this year, Side Lot Brewery in Wauconda just opened and will be at the festival, he said.
“They do small batches. They do an amber and an IPA (India pale ale). They’re just starting out. It will be something new for people to try.”
Empirical Brewery of Chicago is bringing a limited amount of its Third Law Belgian Tripel to taste, he said.
“There’s a lot of banana taste right off the front. It’s a different style of beer than people are used to drinking.”
Other newcomers include Ferro Farms, out of Lake Geneva, Wis., which offers hard ciders.
“They have that traditional English style dry, as opposed to sweet cider,” Pruitt said. “Lots of ciders are going dry, with a floral aspect to them.”
Drinking hard cider “is a change of pace from drinking beer. It’s like switching from liquor to wine.”
Hard ciders are also gluten-free, he said, adding not many gluten-free beers are available.
“Beer has been a passion for people from medieval days until now,” Pruitt said. “So many different cultures have different ways of doing beer. And these days, it’s easy to find what you need to make your own beer, and then you try other people’s brews, and then you open up your microbrewery.”
“Craft beer is easily more available now. People have better resources to home brew. If they go online, they can find recipes,” Pruitt said.
As a result, there’s much to learn about beer, its history and its flavors, and Pruitt said the festival is a great place to get educated.
“If you’re a newcomer, ask people what to try. A lot of people will guide you. If you ask them, ‘Hey what did you like?’ they’ll tell you, ‘Try this.’ That’s the fun of it all.”
The event also includes live music featuring rock and roll cover bands as well as food to purchase and pair with beers.
Designated driver tickets are $10 and include free soft drinks and water as well as a commemorative glass. A VIP tent will open at noon and includes free appetizers; admission is $65 and must be purchased in advance. Regular admission is $35 in advance, $45 at the door. Admission includes commemorative glass and tastings of any of the beers and ciders offered.
Pruitt advised participants to drink responsibly, and said some people rent coach buses and get dropped off, while others take the train, which is within walking distance of the event.
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.
Grayslake Annual Craft Beer Festival
When: 1 to 5 p.m. June 4
Where: Whitney and Center Streets, downtown Grayslake
Tickets: $10-$65
Information: 847-223-6888 or go to grayslakebeerfest.com
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