The Beeronaut

The Week in Chicago Craft Beer, July 13-16

As you might have figured, the Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison, WI, will not be taking place this August. The event’s organizers, the Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild, will be hosting a “Backyard Taste,” to make up some of the funds being raised for their local charity beneficiaries. They are taking pre-orders for a Steelys stainless steel pint cup at $20 each. The fundraiser will go forward if 1,000 pre-orders are received. The process will also involve local site pickups to be determined. Pre-order at this link.

Regrettably, some of the beer establishments that have re-opened under Phase IV of the “Reopen Illinois” plan have had to close, albeit temporarily, when one of their employees tested positive for exposure to COVID-19. This has happened on Saturday at the Werk Force Brewing tap room and Chicago Brew Werks in Plainfield. The employee had last worked there on July 5, and reported feeling ill afterward. Werk Force is closed while the rest of their employees get tested, and will reopen when they can. Sovereign in Plainfield is facing a similar situation.