Chicago Homebrewers To Be Feted With Their Own Soiree
By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jul 25, 2014 8:50PM
Homebrewers have been a vital segment in the growth of Chicago’s craft brewing scene for years. Breweries like Spiteful, Pipeworks, 18th Street and Rude Hippo have made the jump to legitimate businesses after brewing as a hobby, and virtually every brewery in the area has ties to home brewers. Some home brew clubs like Homebrewers Pride of the South Side arguably make better beers than some of the nanobreweries in town.
Maria’s Packaged Goods and Community Bar has become one of Chicago’s best beer bars by diving into the local craft beer community with zeal and a single-mindedness that Chicago brewers and beer aficionados can appreciate. Marz Community Brewing, an offshoot of Maria’s proprietors Ed and Mike Marzewski, has roots in home brewing, as well. (You can currently taste some of Marz’s nascent brewing efforts at Maria’s.)
Ed Marzewski also publishes Mash Tun Journal, which focuses on brewing, brewing culture and history, through Marzewski’s Public Media Institute that also publishes the long-running art and cultural journal Lumpen.
Mash Tun Society and the Mash Tun Journal are hosting a “homebrewers ball” at the Co-Prosperity Sphere Saturday, Aug. 9, from 2 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The competition will feature tastings from all participating homebrew clubs, food from the Doner Men and Salsa Truck food trucks, samples of the new Marz Community Brewing beers, and a commemorative tasting glass and copy of Mash Tun Guide to Craft Beer in Illinois.
The homebrew club voted with the best beer will have their recipe made by Marz Community Brewing and served at Maria’s. Buy your tickets here. The Co-Prosperity Sphere is located at 3219 S. Morgan St.