More than 600 people were expected to attend Saturday’s Craft Beer Festival in Long Grove.
The four-hour event is almost a decade-long tradition that featured 26 breweries from Lake County and beyond.
The festival was held at a new location this year — Brothers’ Field. There were booths featuring assorted wares outside of the beer tent, and a food truck with a steady line of customers.
Dave Gayton, secretary of the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association, said, “The weather’s fantastic. It’s 75 degrees … (with) no rain in the forecast.
“I like our new location, although it’s only 100 yards from where we used to have it … in the parking lot of Stempel,” he said. “I think Brothers’ Field is a great addition to Long Grove. It represents everything that Long Grove represents. Family-friendly. It’s kid-friendly. It’s dog-friendly. It’s inviting you into our neighborhood. It’s just such a warm, inviting atmosphere here.”
Kendra Perri of Long Grove volunteered with husband David and said, “We’ve been doing this every year, and this is awesome weather so I’m so psyched.”
Ticket-holders were offered a keepsake of a small tasting glass.
Among the drinks available was a pineapple sour flavor offered by Christian Boduch of Elgin, a server with MoRE Brewing Company of Villa Park, Huntley, Bartlett and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
“I love doing this,” he said. “It’s an honor and privilege to be here. It’s beautiful outside, great people around me, great beer. You can’t ask for anything more. Everyone loves our beer.”
Scot Oglesby of Winthrop Harbor said, “I love coming for the beer. It’s nice to find the different beers — the ones that you don’t see in the stores; the ones they’re just trying out to see how people are enjoying them.
“Lake County, especially with their beer scene, has all kinds of small craft breweries,” Oglesby said. “You’ve got craft breweries in Fox Lake, and you’ve got little breweries down here by Long Grove. Everybody’s still trying to create the beer scene and push forward for new experiences.”
Mike Marr of Barrington Hills, the owner and brewmaster of Buffalo Creek Brewing of Long Grove, said of the event, “This is what I live for.”
Josh Grubbs, owner of Black Lung Brewing Company of Fox Lake and Round Lake Beach, poured a version featuring pistachio and rose water, with a hint of chocolate extracts.
“The Lake Country beer scene is one of the best in the country that I’ve been around,” he said. “We’ve got amazing breweries. Everyone’s brewing a wonderful beer, and we’re all good friends.”
Matt Willis of Lake in the Hills, brand ambassador of Sew Hop-d Brewery of Huntley, poured a German pilsner and a pomegranate sour hazy that is double dry-hopped.
Willis said there are, “a lot of good beers going on in Lake County. The more north and the more east you get, the more breweries you find for Lake County.”
Joe Salamone of Wheeling sat with family outdoors on an Adirondack chair, sipping beer with a cigar in hand.
“I love Long Grove,” he said. “This is a nice event. People are nice. You can enjoy a cigar. The beers are just phenomenal. Every vendor has been so friendly to us. It is a party.”
