Lodi Tap House celebrates “Christmas in July” with popular Beer Advent Calendar pre-sale

The temperatures may be warming up outside, but it’s Christmas in July at the Lodi Tap House. The craft beer establishment has launched its third edition of the Lodi Tap House Beer Advent Calendar. The exclusive pre-sale takes place throughout July.

This one-of-a kind holiday gift for yourself, or others, contains 24 unique Illinois brews, made exclusively for the advent calendar by top Illinois breweries. 

Through July, customers can secure the calendar at last year’s price of $89.99, and no shipping fee. If a craft beer doesn’t tempt your palette, then perhaps the cider/mead version of the popular advent calendar will satisfy your taste buds.

To secure your 2023 Advent Calendars, visit loditaphouse.com.

For more information, you can email advent@loditaphouse.com.

Street Artz Alliance upcoming shows

7/15/2023: Crafts, Drafts & Curiosities SUMMER EDITION: Art Fair & Makers Market at Bubblehouse Brewing Co. in Lisle, IL. Over 20 hand makers and artists will be here, the patio will be open and a food pop-up will be announced. Expect a brand-new mix of expertly curated artists and new beers too!

7/23/2023: Flurry of Makers Artisan Market at Hailstorm Brewing in Tinley Park, IL — Artists will be inside and outside. Scratch Made Kitchen will be serving up food. You’ll find a wide variety of craft beer from the brewery and around 20 artists will be there. A relaxing sip-and-shop event.

7/29/2023: SUMMERWEEN Market at Soundgrowler Brewing in Tinley Park, IL. Mix summer, Halloween, tacos and artists and we bring you the first ever Summerween event at the brewery. Nearly three dozen artists will be on site, and these themed events are always a blast.

7/30/2023: Sunday Summer Market, part of the Brookfield Beats & Brews 2K23 at Imperial Oak in Brookfield. This weekend festival goes from Friday to Sunday, but the Streetz Artz Alliance is setting up about two dozen artists there on the Sunday of the event. Music, art and beer are always a great mix.

8/5/23: Artisan Market at Church Street Brewing in Itasca, IL. More than 20 artists will be set up inside the brewery, their kitchen will be open during the event, and now the brewery has mixed drinks in addition to beer and cider. Relax on the patio in between shopping and getting another beer.

8/20/2023: Makers Market at D&G Brewing in St. Charles, IL. A smaller but intimate market with more than a dozen local artists and makers. Food pop-up to be announced and brand-new beers to be released near the event. Need a new tie-dye? D&G has a plethora of them for sale!

Follow Streetz Artz Alliance on Facebook for more info and events.

Ravenswood on Tap July 22-23 

Malt Row in Chicago’s Ravenswood community is one of the most prolific craft brewing communities in the country – and they celebrate each summer with Ravenswood On Tap, a two-day outdoor festival that is all about local.

Enjoy beers from all the Malt Row breweries (Half Acre, Dovetail, Begyle, Hop Butcher, etc.), KOVAL Distillery cocktails, special tappings, live music, delicious street food, local artists and artisans, axe-throwing and more. 

July 22 12-10 p.m.
July 23 12-6 p.m.
Location: Ravenswood & Berteau Avenues in the Ravenswood Corridor
More info: Ravenswood.org

Gurnee Legions of Craft Beer Fest — Saturday, Sept. 9

The Gurnee American Legion Post 771 and the Friends of the Gurnee American Legion are excited to announce the return of the sixth annual Gurnee Legions of Craft Beer Festival.

The group’s primary goal of this fest is to raise money for the Legion Post and various activities for local veterans and their families. The secondary goal is to showcase local breweries and present the great craft beer options Lake County and Northern Illinois have to offer.

While there are many craft beer festivals in Illinois, what sets the Gurnee Legions of Craft Beer apart is that it directly benefits a veterans’ service organization. And you can’t beat that. 

Date: Saturday, Sept. 9 from noon-4 p.m.
Location: Gurnee American Legion Post 771
749 Milwaukee Ave., Gurnee, IL 60031
More details and ticket info: GurneeLegionsOfBeer.com

Sketchbook’s Oktoberfest celebration Sept. 22-24

Sketchbook, the popular craft brewery in Skokie and Evanston, will again host what they call “the finest Oktoberfest this side of Munich” at the Skokie location Sept. 22-24, and judging by past events and their plans for this epic weekend, who are we to argue? Expect three days of cold beer, live music, and delicious local food.

Enjoy costume and stein-hoisting competitions, Hammerschlagen, music each day, dancing, ample food options and plenty of liters of Sketchbook’s stellar Oktoberfest Märzen flowing freely all weekend. Think traditional — but with a twist.

Oktoberfest activities will primarily be held outside in the Skokie location’s spacious beer garden and in the east alley and back in the brewery’s loading dock. Look for their Oktoberfest in stores soon.

Located at 4901 Main Street in Skokie. (847) 588-0652. SketchbookBrewing.com