Wet weather didn’t stop people from attending the third Craft Beer Festival on Saturday in Grayslake.
Celebrating the art of brewing, hundreds of beer aficionados traveled from station to station, sampling a variety of beers from more than 65 breweries, both local and out-of-state.
Considering herself more of a wine drinker, Keri Bergenson attended the beer fest in search of new flavors that she might enjoy, she said.
Accompanied by her friend Chelsea McCurry, the two Antioch residents agreed they found a favorite in the Peach County Cider, made by the Wisconsin-based brewery Ciderboys.
“It’s crisp and sweet,” Bergenson said.
The two added they would be back again next year because the atmosphere was “friendly” and there were “nice-size samples” of beer.
Performances by four bands with different styles of sound entertained the mostly tipsy crowd, and food vendors did their best to settle the stomachs of the inebriated with their fare.
Silliness did ensue as claps and cheers were elicited any time a glass fell to the ground, and a seesaw in the middle of all the action begged to be used.
The two who took on the silent challenge were Grayslake mother and son, Eileen and Connor Falson, who decided to play on it while rain fell.
“It’s all in good fun,” Eileen Falson said. “This is helping to raise funds for the kids.”
Owner of Shear Genius hair salon and member of the Grayslake Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Eileen Falson said all of the net proceeds from the festival will be used for college scholarships for Grayslake high school students.
The chamber and the Exchange Club of Grayslake were the Craft Beer Festival sponsors.
“Half of the scholarships get awarded by the exchange club and half by the chamber,” said Mike Pruitt, business owner and beer fest committee member.
Pruitt said more people attended the event this year than last year and that the number of breweries represented almost doubled.
“This is an event that everyone works really hard to organize,” Pruitt said. “I think we’ve been successful.”
Pruitt said last year’s event raised $75,000.
Some of the people who have been to the festival in previous years, like Grayslake’s Ed Welty, have noticed positive changes.
“I’ve seen it grow,” Welty said. “There’s a good mix of breweries, more bathrooms and more rinsing stations this year. You really get a taste of which (beers) are popular and what might be popular in the next few years.”
Like a veteran festival-goer, Welty, like many others, also went prepared. A yarn necklace with pretzels, and a cheese and meat stick hung around his neck, just in case the mix of beers made his stomach feel queasy.
“I almost tied a thing of mustard to it, but that would’ve been too over the top,” Welty said.
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