1 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:12,480 This is Beer in Front, part of the Odd Pods Media Network. Sometimes 2 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:16,320 the beer in front of you is the best one yet. I'll talk about 3 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,440 some great beer, and I'll also talk to various people in and around the 4 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:25,839 beer industry to get their stories all about beer. That's Beer in Front, 5 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:33,960 and it's coming up now. Welcome to episode two hundred and five, the 6 00:00:34,039 --> 00:00:40,000 April sixteenth edition of Beer in Front. I'm your host, Daves Alatoris, 7 00:00:40,359 --> 00:00:45,759 and Beer in Front is a proud odd Pods Media Network member. May third 8 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,719 is the beginning of Illinois Craft Beer Week. This week is all about the 9 00:00:49,759 --> 00:00:53,840 great state of Illinois. I'm going to talk again to Race Stout, who 10 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:59,119 is the executive director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. Stay tuned for that. 11 00:00:59,119 --> 00:01:03,880 That'll be coming up in just a minute. Some other news my back. 12 00:01:03,799 --> 00:01:08,920 So I'm recording this Monday night, the fifteenth. I talked to Ray 13 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:18,840 earlier this afternoon. I had a procedure scheduled for the sixteenth, So I'm 14 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,040 rushing to get stuff done, rushing to talk to Ray. Gotta edit this. 15 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,640 I get a call now, the procedures supposed to be in like twelve 16 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,599 fourteen hours whatever. I get a call well, this was never approved. 17 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,680 You can't have it. So now what am I supposed to do. I'm 18 00:01:34,719 --> 00:01:40,640 supposed to sit around until my next appointment in May and be in pain and 19 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:47,519 not sleep. So I got another appointment with this jamoke on Wednesday and we'll 20 00:01:47,519 --> 00:01:53,120 see what happens. Now. I talk to my attorney and they're working on 21 00:01:53,239 --> 00:01:57,560 getting this scheduled. It's been a nightmare, but I can hardly sit. 22 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:04,159 I could hardly st and I could hardly walk, and I'm getting tired of 23 00:02:04,239 --> 00:02:08,479 it. So if you see, and thankfully the nice lady at the jewel, 24 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:15,879 I'm at the jewel just to pick up some stuff for dinner. I'm 25 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,439 walking with the cart because my back is killing me. I don't have a 26 00:02:19,439 --> 00:02:23,240 lot of stuff, but I need the cart, so I'm looking around because 27 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:29,400 I'm not that guy. I returned carts to the cart rack and the woman 28 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:31,639 saw me and she was like, oh, let me take that for you, 29 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:36,919 sir. So there are good people in the world who knew that I 30 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:42,039 would one day be sir. But thank you to the nice woman at the 31 00:02:42,199 --> 00:02:46,120 jewel this afternoon. Also be on the lookout. Last week I was on 32 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:53,319 PFM after dark and I gave these guys some lort so I'll include the link 33 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:58,120 there, but if you want to check that out, check out PFM after 34 00:02:58,319 --> 00:03:07,240 Dark. I didn't see a lot of beer news for the week, but 35 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:12,199 one thing that I noticed, and also when I was on my friend Rod 36 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:16,919 Jay's show last Thursday, he mentioned it, but North Coast is coming out 37 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:23,039 with a new barrel aged old Rass sputant. This is going to be aged 38 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:28,759 two years in barrels from Westward Whiskey. Check out my friend Rod j. 39 00:03:29,039 --> 00:03:31,240 He's been on the show before. I'm on his show every now and then. 40 00:03:31,599 --> 00:03:36,919 He's gonna do an unboxing video of that one soon. He was able 41 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,120 to score a bottle of that. I had this and I don't know what 42 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:46,039 bourbon company was. It was probably fifteen years ago. I mean I loved 43 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:51,000 old ressputant for twenty five years now. Friends of mine gave me for my 44 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:57,199 birthday a barrel aged old rassputant and it came with like a chunk from one 45 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:02,360 of the barrels that they used, and that was just outstanding. I asked 46 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,800 around. I went to my bottle shop during the week, Bottles and Cans 47 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:10,159 over on Lincoln Avenue, and asked if they were going to get it, 48 00:04:10,599 --> 00:04:14,879 and he didn't think they were, so I might have to check Binnie's or 49 00:04:15,479 --> 00:04:19,759 I'm going to live through Raja and hopefully this beer is as good as I 50 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:26,600 remember. In other beer news, I'm going to start another thing going, 51 00:04:27,079 --> 00:04:30,160 and this is called the Beer Media Group. There's a lot of people like 52 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:40,639 me were beer enthusiasts or advocates for craft beer. We're not influencers or anything 53 00:04:40,759 --> 00:04:45,040 like that, but we just like craft beer and can whether we talk about 54 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:49,560 it on podcasts like this or on video. Some people write, they do 55 00:04:49,759 --> 00:04:56,519 blogs. There's a group of people similar to me and what I do when 56 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,680 my friends do. So I think I'm going to start this group. I've 57 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,399 talked to a couple people when they're enthused that we could kind of kick around 58 00:05:04,439 --> 00:05:10,759 ideas with each other. I did secure the naming rights to the website, 59 00:05:11,079 --> 00:05:14,160 so I do have Beer Media Group. There's nothing on it right now, 60 00:05:14,639 --> 00:05:19,079 but I think this will be an avenue for you know, different beer companies, 61 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:25,120 different r reps who could reach out and see these are like minded people, 62 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,199 and you know, I'm going to try to keep it to just advocates 63 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:33,160 an enthusiasts. I'm not going to get into the influenza route. I mean, 64 00:05:33,519 --> 00:05:36,160 God, bless you. You do you, you know, you do 65 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:41,879 your thing. That's not for me because no one wants to see me in 66 00:05:41,959 --> 00:05:46,839 an Italian speedo holding up a can of beer. No one wants to see 67 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:51,879 that. So I think I'm just gonna make this for the people that are 68 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:58,199 advocates and enthusiasts of craft beer, and we'll see where that goes. But 69 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:06,839 I'll give you more details when I launched the website for that. Hey, 70 00:06:06,879 --> 00:06:11,040 this is Grabbing the Brisket podcast. Join us every Monday where we talk about 71 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,399 the latest trends in barbecue, interviews with world top pitmasters, celebrity cooks ooh 72 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:19,759 like we Man from Jackass, and musicians like rich O'Toole. So check us 73 00:06:19,759 --> 00:06:24,480 out. We do beer reviews, barbecue fails, so many fires do a 74 00:06:24,519 --> 00:06:27,079 lot of people just burn their houses down for no reason. We also talk 75 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,439 about cocaine, hippos versus Besgators, learn how to make some tailgate gravy, 76 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,480 altercations with Texas Rangers, people throw on recents peanut butter cups. Yeah. 77 00:06:33,519 --> 00:06:38,959 So check out grab the Brisket dot com for podcast info, viral social media 78 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,279 post and so much more. Well, it's the most wonderful time of the 79 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,839 year. I don't care what Andy Williams sayings. Illinois Craft Beer Wee twenty 80 00:06:46,959 --> 00:06:53,040 twenty four will be from May third through the tenth. The week will begin 81 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:58,160 with be always outstanding Beer under Glass, held this year once again at Union 82 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:01,519 Station in Chicago. Other events throughout the week will be the Summer Passport, 83 00:07:01,879 --> 00:07:05,959 this really cool looking pint glass for twenty twenty four, and much more. 84 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:12,639 Joining me now for his semi annual appearance. He is the executive director of 85 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,160 the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. Raced out Ray. Welcome back, brother. 86 00:07:15,199 --> 00:07:18,879 How you doing today. It's good to be back, and I'm doing okay. 87 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:23,240 We're getting ready for Illinois Craft Beer Weeks and lots of things in the 88 00:07:23,279 --> 00:07:28,920 hopper. I haven't been to Beer Underglass since it moved to Union Station. 89 00:07:29,199 --> 00:07:32,319 I know, like last year was like around my birthday. Year before was 90 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:36,920 my anniversary, So I'm psyched about it. What can I expect this year? 91 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:45,319 So this year is really an extension and the growth of where we are 92 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,120 as an industry is where we are as the guild, and so you know, 93 00:07:48,199 --> 00:07:53,519 right now you can anticipate well over one hundred breweries. I think we're 94 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:58,040 around one hundred and twenty five breweries each, you know, with two to 95 00:07:58,079 --> 00:08:01,920 three to four unique orders of beer or and so you know, in terms 96 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,040 of in terms of an event, you know, I keep going back to, 97 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:11,240 there's from a value proposition, you know, having the opportunity to sample, 98 00:08:11,839 --> 00:08:16,920 you know, two hundred beers for fifty bucks is really unheard of. 99 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:22,199 It's not ecotomy. Yeah, and they're not like your regular stuff. These 100 00:08:22,199 --> 00:08:26,600 are generally special releases too, where a lot of them are without a doubt. 101 00:08:26,639 --> 00:08:31,439 And so, you know, the line in the sand that we like 102 00:08:31,519 --> 00:08:35,639 to draw with our events compared to you know, any other brew festival you 103 00:08:35,639 --> 00:08:37,919 can go to, is that this is a festival for the brewers by the 104 00:08:37,919 --> 00:08:43,639 brewers. Right, so people are always going to bring their best or their 105 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:48,720 most hype releases or you know, their their new barrel program that they're working 106 00:08:48,799 --> 00:08:52,159 on. So you're gonna try beers here that you're not going to be able 107 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:56,360 to get at other beer festivals, and you know, won't be able to 108 00:08:56,399 --> 00:09:01,000 get through distribution. And so you know, my my favorite thing is when 109 00:09:01,039 --> 00:09:05,039 I walk into a brewery and all I see is crowlers. Yeah, because 110 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,320 you know or you are going to get up beer that you're not able to 111 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:11,480 get anywhere else, and this saves you driving all over the state of Illinois 112 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:16,320 to do that. I remember, I don't know, it was twenty seventeen, 113 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:20,360 twenty eighteen, like, and my friends and I always still talk about 114 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:24,000 this beer from Pipeworks. They did one was like Imperial End of Days and 115 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:28,440 we still remember this beer and like talk about it, like if you ever 116 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,120 seen that, you know, out in about I'm like, dude, I've 117 00:09:31,159 --> 00:09:33,639 never seen it. If I had, I would pick it up. And 118 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:39,039 that's exactly right. Is that. That's what one of the things that I 119 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:43,720 love about the craft brewing industry because it's all about innovating and it's all about 120 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:48,559 trying new things, and you know, and as a consumer, and that's 121 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:52,320 exactly what bug gives you. You're on the class spug we fectually call it 122 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:56,919 that, but it gives you the opportunity to explore breweries and explore styles of 123 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:01,639 beer that you might not order because you know, a pint of beer at 124 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,279 a bar or brewery is five six seventy eight dollars, and so you want 125 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,840 to make sure you're getting into something that you like. So the best the 126 00:10:07,879 --> 00:10:11,759 best thing I always tell people is, you know, just just ask for 127 00:10:11,799 --> 00:10:15,639 a sample. Yeah. Well, and if people are going this year, 128 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:20,639 I will be there. Look me up because I have a bunch of scorecards 129 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:22,840 that I could write down what I had. So if you want to remember 130 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:28,080 what you had, you know where to find it. Are there any plans 131 00:10:28,159 --> 00:10:31,960 to go back to Garfield Park after like their renovations are done? You know, 132 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:37,480 I think these events have really just really outgrown Garfield Park. Okay, 133 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:41,039 you know the one the one thing that I did love about Garfield Park is 134 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:46,200 the option to have an indoor setting in the event of inclement weather weather but 135 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,679 I've heard so many stories of people wading through knee deep water and mud just 136 00:10:50,759 --> 00:10:56,440 trying to sample beer. And you know, sometimes we have great, great 137 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,159 weather in May, but a lot of times it rains a lot, and 138 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:03,759 so have an indoor setting for this event moving forward is something that you know, 139 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,759 puts us in a position to be more successful because what I don't think 140 00:11:07,759 --> 00:11:13,799 people realize that this is the This is our second largest fundraiser for our non 141 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,279 profit organization, and so you know, we want to make sure that is 142 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:24,320 widely attended as possible. While still maintaining you know, intimate feeling as intimate 143 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:28,600 as you can get in station, but not over selling via. Yeah, 144 00:11:28,759 --> 00:11:31,080 I mean, and it's good too for people that aren't from the city. 145 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:37,080 It's right there in Union Station, so you could take a train right there. 146 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,159 You don't have to take an uber. You don't have to you know, 147 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:43,159 take a train or you know, the l or a cab or anything. 148 00:11:43,399 --> 00:11:46,440 That's like the perfect spot, without a doubt. It's there's nothing more 149 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:52,080 accessible in the state of Illinois or ross the state than Union the Station. 150 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:54,240 And also, you know, an important point that I'm talking to more and 151 00:11:54,240 --> 00:12:00,519 more brewers is that it now is one of the more sustainable beerau events in 152 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:05,720 the country in terms of environmental sustainability because most people are bringing reusable kegs, 153 00:12:05,759 --> 00:12:09,639 we're using glassware that is reusable, they're not thrown away, and we're encouraging 154 00:12:09,639 --> 00:12:16,120 people to arrive in public transportation, unlike any other beer event I think in 155 00:12:16,159 --> 00:12:20,000 this country. Yeah, No, I'm really looking forward to it. Are 156 00:12:20,039 --> 00:12:22,440 are tickets still available? Could people still pick up a ticket? Definitely, 157 00:12:22,519 --> 00:12:26,840 tickets are still available, you know, will we'll we'll sell tickets until we 158 00:12:26,919 --> 00:12:31,919 reach our magic number fifteen hundred's. That's our cap for this event, because, 159 00:12:31,279 --> 00:12:35,159 like I said before, we want to make sure that we're retaining, 160 00:12:35,279 --> 00:12:37,919 you know, an environment that you're not packed in and you're not waiting for 161 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,799 beer. We want to make sure people aren't waiting in lines for beer. 162 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,639 And so tickets are still available. There's two types of tickets. There's the 163 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,759 general mission ticket that gets you in at five thirty and you have from five 164 00:12:48,879 --> 00:12:52,600 thirty to eight thirty of you know, free reign of all the brewers. 165 00:12:54,159 --> 00:12:56,080 And then there's a VIP ticket which gets you in an hour early. And 166 00:12:56,159 --> 00:13:00,480 so when people ask me what ticket to buy, Iowa is in urge them 167 00:13:00,519 --> 00:13:03,679 to do the VIP ticket and so they could get the lay of the land 168 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:07,000 a little bit before it fills up a little more. But you know, 169 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,679 and that's that's that's only a ten dollars difference. So PIP tickets are sixty 170 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:13,559 bucks. Yeah, I mean it's a real pro move too. Yeah, 171 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,600 the VIP to get you in that first hour, not that you're gonna you 172 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:20,759 know, pound down beers for that extra hour, but the fact that you 173 00:13:20,799 --> 00:13:26,320 could get to like the release is before everyone else gets in there. Yeah, 174 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,679 that's definitely the pro move to do that's right, you know, get 175 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:33,320 the lay of the land, figure out who has the crazy barrel program beer 176 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,759 and who ask these one offs and what you know, and visit breweries that 177 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,440 you have been excited to get to that may not have gotten to yet. 178 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:45,159 Now, like at Paubab you had the Logger lounge and you had like the 179 00:13:45,519 --> 00:13:48,360 I think Revolution did the not the hop water. Are you going to do 180 00:13:48,399 --> 00:13:52,840 something like that? You know, we're still we're still figuring out the exact 181 00:13:52,919 --> 00:13:58,039 layout. We're definitely gonna have a food area, okay pretty quickly. Is 182 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:03,200 that people want to you know, fortify themselves during these events, So we're 183 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:05,200 gonna have some food, you know. We're also you know, I don't 184 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:09,679 want to spill the beans too much, but we're also talking to another organization 185 00:14:09,919 --> 00:14:15,759 that produced this alcohol that may want some of their members here as well, 186 00:14:15,879 --> 00:14:20,759 and so well more admission about that will be becoming sin Well, I'm doing 187 00:14:20,759 --> 00:14:24,039 a series, he said, I'm gonna let you be the judge on this. 188 00:14:24,559 --> 00:14:28,559 So I'm doing a series on drink Illinois beer for the podcast and videos. 189 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,480 Trying to feature is many different breweries from the state of Illinois. Now 190 00:14:33,559 --> 00:14:37,679 I see on your website, there was over one hundred different ones that are 191 00:14:37,759 --> 00:14:43,360 listed. If I check off on the third, do I still need to 192 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:48,600 hit their brewery up? Or am I good at Beer Underglass? In terms 193 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:52,919 of your your own success, I would I would count that as a check. 194 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:58,720 But in terms of our our summer Passport program, which also starts to 195 00:14:58,799 --> 00:15:01,960 make third, you know, that's really we're really encouraging people to get out 196 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,720 and you get around the state and visit the brewery. All right, right, 197 00:15:05,799 --> 00:15:09,039 you drive a hard bargain. Talking about the passport, now, can 198 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:13,279 people pick that up? It Beer under Glass as well as participating breweries. 199 00:15:13,639 --> 00:15:16,039 So all of those are only going to be available at participating breweries. So 200 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:20,720 the whole point of the passport is, like I said, to get people 201 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,159 out and about what's so cool about it is last year some back of the 202 00:15:24,279 --> 00:15:30,480 napkin mat it helped generate over two hundred thousand dollars for Illinois breweries and so 203 00:15:31,279 --> 00:15:33,679 and the thing that I always like to remind people that these are these are 204 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:39,519 small, local independent businesses, so every single penny batters, and so you 205 00:15:39,519 --> 00:15:43,519 know, we encourage people to get involved in the passport, pick up their 206 00:15:43,559 --> 00:15:48,799 passport, and you know start exploring the state starting on May third. You 207 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:54,279 know, one thing we did do this year was we changed the points of 208 00:15:54,279 --> 00:15:56,720 the reward system. So you know, I got some feedback that if hey, 209 00:15:56,759 --> 00:16:00,039 fifty breweries is a good amount of breweries to visit over the over a 210 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,000 couple of month period. Yeah, well, plenty of people did it. 211 00:16:03,039 --> 00:16:07,200 You know, we had well over three hundred passports come in fully completed. 212 00:16:07,559 --> 00:16:10,519 You know, we wanted to get it more accessible and more exciting for for 213 00:16:10,679 --> 00:16:14,879 other people. And so now we have prizes, prize drawings, a twenty 214 00:16:14,879 --> 00:16:18,799 five stamps, fifty stamps, seventy five stamps, and one hundred stamps, 215 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:23,759 and you know, so as well as another another another prize for people who 216 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:27,159 are participating in the Pine Class program. So you know, we're kind of 217 00:16:27,159 --> 00:16:32,240 bringing all this together. But the ideas is is to go out and explore 218 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:37,360 the state. We're calling Adventure Crafted in Illinois. Yeah, you mentioned the 219 00:16:37,399 --> 00:16:40,480 Pine Class too, Like didn't you have like the last couple of years, 220 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:42,960 like you take a picture and use like a hashtag and then like winners can 221 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:48,559 get like a gift card to a in the Illinois brewery. That's exactly right. 222 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,200 So we're standing up the exactly the same program this year with a little 223 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:53,879 bit of a twist. So if you when you see our pine classes, 224 00:16:53,919 --> 00:16:57,879 and I really hope they sell it really quickly as they usually do, but 225 00:16:59,279 --> 00:17:03,399 all over the pint, lesser different, kind of lesser known Illinois. Yes, 226 00:17:03,519 --> 00:17:07,079 right, And so the idea is that you'll take your glass and travel 227 00:17:07,079 --> 00:17:10,400 around to those landmarks and take a picture with the glass in those landmarks and 228 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:15,559 tag ile my il beer. Okay, cool? What else throughout the week 229 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:22,200 is happening besides like beer underglass, the pine glass and the passport. You 230 00:17:22,279 --> 00:17:26,079 know, what makes Crap Beer Week such an important part of Illinois is that 231 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:32,039 it's the culture that it brings, right, and so it's it's all about 232 00:17:32,039 --> 00:17:36,640 getting people to breize bottle shops and retailers. And so you know, we 233 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:41,279 are putting it on our brewer members and not our retail partners to host events 234 00:17:41,319 --> 00:17:44,440 across the state, and we've given them the tools, the events, and 235 00:17:44,519 --> 00:17:51,319 so it's our hope to kind of bring that statewide excitement and statewide height around 236 00:17:51,319 --> 00:17:55,799 this week that goes well beyond you know a really great ad to beer underglass 237 00:17:56,039 --> 00:17:59,759 or you know some some some some kind of scheduled events like we did in 238 00:17:59,799 --> 00:18:03,880 the last years. This is really cool. It's fun to talk about festivals 239 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:10,400 and events. But eventually craft Beer Week in full bead. They helped the 240 00:18:10,599 --> 00:18:14,440 fund the guild and all the initiatives you do throughout the year. Correct, 241 00:18:15,079 --> 00:18:18,119 that's absolutely right. So you know when I when I referenced our nonprofit deal 242 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:22,480 in my craft Bruise Guild is the nonprofit trade organization that represents the craft breweries. 243 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:26,519 You know, we do education, we all conferences, and we make 244 00:18:26,559 --> 00:18:29,880 sure that the beer in the state is the best the best beer it can 245 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,039 be. We do a lot of marketing or promotion, you know craft Beer 246 00:18:33,039 --> 00:18:37,359 Week for example, but we also do a lot of legislative advocacy, whether 247 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,519 that's in Chicago around the state, you know, most regionally. One of 248 00:18:41,519 --> 00:18:47,519 our accomplishments to Chicago is the extension of the outdoor dining program for all breweries 249 00:18:47,559 --> 00:18:51,440 in the city. You know, people didn't realize that breweries were left out 250 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:56,359 of the extension of outdoor dining because they operate in manufacturing districts. So you 251 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:00,680 know, we went to we went to the city all and advocated lobby for 252 00:19:00,839 --> 00:19:03,440 the extension and you know, we won that for our members. So, 253 00:19:03,079 --> 00:19:07,319 you know, piece there's a couple of pieces of legislation that we're working pretty 254 00:19:07,319 --> 00:19:14,839 hard on. One would allow for rewards programs as well as mud clubs to 255 00:19:14,839 --> 00:19:18,079 be formally legalized in the state of Illinois. You know, these are programs 256 00:19:18,079 --> 00:19:22,440 that are essential to the craft we're in community. It's actually how a lot 257 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:26,720 of them fund their very lean months of January and February is through those those 258 00:19:26,759 --> 00:19:30,799 pip sales up pipe, you know, of mud clubs, and so you 259 00:19:30,799 --> 00:19:34,079 know, it's just become incredibly more and more important, and you know, 260 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:41,079 advocating for Brogers to maintain those sports programs and is essential to their survival. 261 00:19:41,799 --> 00:19:45,440 You know, there's lots of other great things happening in Springfield, some some 262 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:51,200 we agree with and some we don't. You know, we are fighting twenty 263 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:53,279 four hours a day, two undred sixty five days a year to help this 264 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:59,400 industry, you know, recover and grow and reach consumers because you know, 265 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:03,519 once you get in Illinois craft beer in somebody's hand, they you'll see a 266 00:20:03,559 --> 00:20:06,680 light turn up. So we're making great beer. We're making great beer in 267 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:11,400 the state. We're employed thousands of people, contribute about three billion dollars to 268 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:17,160 the Illinois economy, and it's just a no brainer from a Springfield and Chicago 269 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:21,920 like to support support our initiatives. You were just talking about the omnibus bill. 270 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,319 What about Senate Bill twenty one ninety three? Now did they had ever 271 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:29,240 passed? I was trying to find info online a couple hours ago. That 272 00:20:29,279 --> 00:20:33,960 was the shipping go Yeah, so shipping was met with pretty intense opposition from 273 00:20:34,039 --> 00:20:38,680 distribution tier. Okay, you know a lot of what we're able to get 274 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:44,160 done in Springfield is based on getting agreement between you know, all the affected 275 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:47,839 parties, and you know, they they were able to stand up an argument 276 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:52,200 that looks something like, hey, if you allowed for the shipping of beer, 277 00:20:52,319 --> 00:20:55,799 it would replace the need for people to go to the store and buy 278 00:20:55,839 --> 00:21:00,119 beer, which is just bunk. Yeah. I think most people realize that, 279 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:04,359 but it resonated with enough legislators to to to derail this. There there 280 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:10,039 is a bill this this session which would allow for the for the a third 281 00:21:10,079 --> 00:21:14,279 party delivery of alcohol and so that's more of like a door dash kind of 282 00:21:14,279 --> 00:21:18,640 situation, and that's something that we are working on and hopefully trying to get 283 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:25,200 brewers included. And that because right now they are purposefully excluded again because of 284 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:30,599 you know, the topsy turvy world of Springfield, where people can convince legislators 285 00:21:30,599 --> 00:21:33,839 that it might not be in the best interest of the entire market to lots 286 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:37,359 to happen. But you know, there's there's lots of data on our side 287 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:41,720 that show that it doesn't derail the retail market at all. It actually helps 288 00:21:41,759 --> 00:21:45,519 it grow. And look at the case of wine, right there'll be no 289 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:49,160 wine on the shelves at Target if shipping up wine to ruin the three ger 290 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,480 wine system. Yeah, and you know, I don't know, I can 291 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:56,680 only speak for myself, but shipping beer and I know from sending beer out 292 00:21:56,680 --> 00:22:00,799 to friends, that's not cheap. So no one's going to sit in order, 293 00:22:02,599 --> 00:22:07,960 you know, a six pack of Halfbeaker when I could just drive ten 294 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:11,920 minutes and go pick it up without without a doubt. It's not it's not 295 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:17,039 a replacement. It's just an enhancement right of access. And you know, 296 00:22:17,079 --> 00:22:19,279 it's all about reaching consumers and all about access. And you know, at 297 00:22:19,279 --> 00:22:23,599 this point consumer access is still stymied by by Illinois law. And that's why 298 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:29,319 it's so important to help funder an organization because you know, these are the 299 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:33,279 fights that were we're having, and you know, legislators don't get elected to 300 00:22:33,319 --> 00:22:38,319 Springfield to go there to you know, fix alcohol policy, right, and 301 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:42,839 so keeping that on in the front of minds of legislators is something that takes 302 00:22:42,839 --> 00:22:48,559 the full Court Press twelve months a year to realize because you know, when 303 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:52,000 if you talk to the average consumer, they must say, hey, everything 304 00:22:52,079 --> 00:22:53,920 must be great with craft breweries. I see them all over the place, 305 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:59,160 and there's beer everywhere. But the fact is that there's laws written in nineteen 306 00:22:59,279 --> 00:23:02,960 thirty four and the state that we are working modern ice every single day. 307 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:07,039 Yeah, yeah, I mean so far. I mean, granted, the 308 00:23:07,079 --> 00:23:11,440 weekend was gorgeous here. I know, driving by a couple of places, 309 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:17,400 like I'm closest to Burning Bush and they had that place was packed over the 310 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:22,039 week so that's good. I know. I was over at the Newest One 311 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:25,880 demo on their opening day and there was a line, you know, a 312 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,000 block long to get in there when they opened. So I mean, it's 313 00:23:29,039 --> 00:23:30,359 good to see. It's good to sease. You know, some of these 314 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,960 breweries, you know, recover or in demos case start out, and I 315 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:38,720 know it's you know, it's definitely an industry that's still continuing to grow, 316 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,279 the past two years were marked by a lot of closures, right We lost 317 00:23:44,279 --> 00:23:49,319 some forty to fifty breweries in twenty twenty two and twenty twenty three. You 318 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:52,160 know, for a couple of reasons. Number one is that you know, 319 00:23:52,319 --> 00:23:57,200 consumers did not come back to tap brings at pre pandemic levels. It's starting 320 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,599 to trickle up a little bit, which is great. But the other is 321 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:04,200 that a lot of breweries took on an meant amount of debt to stay viable 322 00:24:04,279 --> 00:24:11,720 during the pandemic. And you know that mixed with increased increases in price in 323 00:24:11,799 --> 00:24:18,559 operation. You know, I think breweries UH opted to close rather than continue 324 00:24:18,599 --> 00:24:22,480 to weather those storms. But things have looked to sell down a little bit. 325 00:24:22,559 --> 00:24:26,200 We you know, had a couple of breweries open. You know, 326 00:24:26,319 --> 00:24:30,599 Industry Ls is another good one right downtown that just opened in Chicagoland. And 327 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,400 so you know, we're we're starting to see we're starting to see the recovery. 328 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:37,119 And you know, I will give a plug for for buddies of Burning 329 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:41,599 Bush. I know they've been victim of a couple of pieces of vandalism and 330 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:45,720 break ins and you know, and that's such a sad story. But you 331 00:24:45,799 --> 00:24:48,759 to see go out there, people out there supporting them, and I encourage 332 00:24:48,759 --> 00:24:52,880 you guys to support them, Brent. They're doing beer the right way and 333 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,599 it's a really cool space. Yeah. And actually Demo got hit with the 334 00:24:56,599 --> 00:25:00,000 same thing. They put a thing out. Somebody broken into their like glass 335 00:25:00,039 --> 00:25:02,640 as yeah, you know, yeah, yeah, it's a shame. So 336 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:04,799 I know Birding Bush just you know, they have a sign up on their 337 00:25:04,799 --> 00:25:10,240 window yesterday like they're just going to credit card only now because you know, 338 00:25:10,279 --> 00:25:12,720 in case people are trying to break in the rob them. Yeah, yeah, 339 00:25:12,799 --> 00:25:17,960 shame. No, it's it is and and and breweries operating. My 340 00:25:18,079 --> 00:25:19,880 favorite breweries are in those areas. And not to stay either one of these 341 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:23,039 breweries are in these areas that are kind of like you know, growing, 342 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:27,359 expanding out and you know, sprawling. But but yes, it's a it's 343 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:32,039 a very it's a very sad state of affairs that you know, businesses are 344 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:34,799 being batalized and broken into and you know, more and more I hear about 345 00:25:34,839 --> 00:25:41,319 breweries moving into you know, cart only options just because for for the safety 346 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:45,559 of their their their employees and yeah, and their business. Well Ray, 347 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:49,400 I appreciate you coming on again. I'm looking forward to seeing you and getting 348 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:55,000 in person at Beer Underglass. You could pick up tickets head over to Illinoisbeer 349 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,960 dot org. You could get the regular ticket for fifty or the VIP ticket 350 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:06,319 for sixty bucks Union Station. You could take Metra right downtown and you're in 351 00:26:06,359 --> 00:26:08,559 there. You don't have to worry about anything. Always a great event. 352 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:11,000 Ray, Thank you so much again. Brother. I'll see you in a 353 00:26:11,039 --> 00:26:14,519 couple of weeks. Thanks so much. And I want one of those tied 354 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:17,160 T shirts. I'll look you up. What size are you, I'll hook 355 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,920 you up double X good guy, I got you, gotcha. I'll see 356 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:30,160 you. See you on the third for you there, Paul. Right after 357 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:34,799 talking with Ray, I need to drink a beer from Illinois, so I'm 358 00:26:34,839 --> 00:26:38,720 gonna have one from Sketchbook. They have two locations, one in Evanston, 359 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:45,880 one in Skochy. This is Hop Thirsty Lloyd. This is a double IPA. 360 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:52,200 This has V nine mosaic and Cryo pop El Dorado hops in the air. 361 00:26:52,599 --> 00:26:56,440 So I'm looking forward to it. I'm a big fan of Sketch Book. 362 00:26:56,839 --> 00:27:04,119 Let's Crack open the Hop. Steve Void Poors nice has a really good 363 00:27:04,519 --> 00:27:08,000 faum on it here, nice color, you know, it's hazy ipa. 364 00:27:08,599 --> 00:27:15,000 Smells really good. I get a big like whiff of melon in the aroma. 365 00:27:15,079 --> 00:27:19,119 I think it smells fantastic. Now this really tastes good. Get big 366 00:27:19,279 --> 00:27:23,400 melon notes in here. Now. According to the can, this says that 367 00:27:23,559 --> 00:27:30,720 it's a tropical stone fruit and citrus. I'm getting more melon. But we'll 368 00:27:30,759 --> 00:27:33,519 see as I drink this if those other notes come through. But I think 369 00:27:33,559 --> 00:27:38,359 the taste is really good. This is seven point six percent alcohol. I 370 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:41,839 think it's just a great you know, double ipa, double hazy IPA. 371 00:27:42,759 --> 00:27:48,799 I think this is really good. You know, I could see maybe some 372 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,559 of the stone fruit now, but now this is outstanding. I mean, 373 00:27:52,599 --> 00:27:56,279 Sketchbook puts out such great beer. I haven't been to the Skulkie location. 374 00:27:56,359 --> 00:28:00,279 I've only been to the one at Evanston, and that's one of my bab 375 00:28:00,519 --> 00:28:06,359 tap rooms in Illinois. So if you see anything from Sketchbook, it's great, 376 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:10,359 You're not gonna be disappointed. Put it in the cart and remember to 377 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:23,279 drink Illinois beer. All right. That's gonna wrap things up for this edition 378 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:27,359 of Beer in Front. I thank you very much for listening. I want 379 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:33,680 to thank once again, raced out, the executive director of the Illinois craft 380 00:28:33,759 --> 00:28:38,000 Brewers Guild. You could check out their website and get tickets for Beer Underglass 381 00:28:38,079 --> 00:28:45,599 at illinoisbeer dot org. It's a great, great festival. I've been to 382 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:49,799 it before for fifty bucks. Like we were talking about, you're not going 383 00:28:49,839 --> 00:28:55,559 to get a better deal easy around Chicago. You're right there at Union Station, 384 00:28:56,119 --> 00:29:00,119 so check out illinoisbeer dot org. You can get a ticket. You'll 385 00:29:00,119 --> 00:29:03,119 see me there. I've got scorecards, so if you will see me there. 386 00:29:03,759 --> 00:29:06,200 Okay, yo, Dave, how about a scorecard. I want to 387 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:11,279 write down one ahead so you're not going to be a drunken idiot on untapped 388 00:29:11,279 --> 00:29:14,440 at eight o'clock trying to remember what you drink. You could just write it 389 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:18,880 down and then try to read your own writing after ten samples. But look 390 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:22,440 for me at Beer Underglass. Have a great week, every one. I 391 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:26,880 will talk to you next week, and remember sometimes to beer in front of 392 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:29,839 you is the best one yet.