Review: HOPS! Oktoberfest

Every year the rag tag group of homebrewing enthusiasts known as the Homebrewers Pride of the Southside (aka HOPs! gathers at a VFW hall in Bridgeport for their annual Oktoberfest celebration. The group ranges in experience from novice beer makers to notable brewmasters like Mat Van Wyk of Flossmoor Station and Wil Turner of Goose Island's Clybourn brewpub. This year HOPs! members created 56 different beers, sodas, wines and liqueurs for those attending to taste. The constant "light rain" that fell Saturday turned the VFW's beer garden into a scale model of Woodstock '99, but didn't dampen the enthusiasm of those in attendance to sample the wares. Here are some favorites.