Organizers of Long Grove’s Craft Beer Festival have learned the importance of timing after the first two years of hosting the event.
In July 2016, the summer weather was too hot for festivalgoers, while the second festival was pushed back to October the following year and attracted about 300 people from the area, said David Gayton, treasurer of the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association, which has hosted the event each year.
“By October, everyone is craft-beered out by then,” he said.
But for the third annual beer-tasting gala, the timing appeared to be right for consumers of craft beer after the festival April 28 ended up attracting more than 600 people to an outdoor beer garden at Buffalo Creek Brewing, a Long Grove brewery that was a featured host.
“Once again, it’s the time of year and doing everything a little better each year,” Gayton said. “You’re constantly changing to find the best fit.”
In all, 24 area breweries, including ones as close as Buffalo Grove and Lake Barrington and as far as Tinley Park, as well as two wineries, UnWined and Blue Crane Imports, provided samples for attendees to taste.
Several food vendors also were on hand, while bands provided guests with some live music alongside their food and craft beer, Gayton said.
The festival not only exposes residents to area breweries, but it also highlights downtown Long Grove, which is known for its history but also has added additional bars, restaurants and other entertainment in recent years to keep up with the times, Gayton said.
Like with Strawberry Festival and the many other community festivals that happen in Long Grove throughout the year, the Craft Beer Festival tries to encourage more visitors to the village, he said.
“We have these festivals to bring people into town and, for those who haven’t been here lately, we hope to re-introduce them to a new Long Grove that’s different from before,” Gayton said.
Mike Marr, owner and brew master at Buffalo Creek Brewing, which opened last year, said Long Grove’s Craft Beer Festival gives him an opportunity to showcase his brewery alongside many others.
And unlike some other craft beer events, where no one talks to customers about their products, Long Grove’s festival encourages brewers and owners to attend, Marr said.
“And they’re knowledgeable about the products they are serving,” Marr said.
tshields@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @tshields19
