Monday, April 15, 2013
Karl Hagglund's Quigley's Pale Ale won the Besley's Homebrew Competition held at last year's Wine, Beer, Cigar, and Food Festival benefiting the Save Brainerd organization. The Ale will be featured at an event Wed., April 17 from 6-9 p.m. in the Amber Roo
The Besley's Home Brew Contest was created to shine a spotlight on the efforts of the Save Brainerd Project and help spread the word about better beers throughout Lake County. The 2nd annual competition was held during the Northshore Wine, Beer, Cigar and Food Festival last summer. Now the winning beer is being brewed on a larger scale so it can be enjoyed by a wider audience at the Best of the Fest Event to be held on Wed. April 17th at Mickey Finn's in Libertyville. Karl Hagglund, the winner of the 2012 Best of Fest Home Brew Competition, has been brewing his winning recipe, Quigley's Pale Ale, at Mickey Finn's, with the help of brewmaster Greg Brown, using hops grown by Hagglund himself. “I’d never brewed a vat of beer this big,” he …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Check out the top 10 rated restaurants in Libertyville, based on Yelp reviews. Did your neighbors get it right?
Websites like Yelp have empowered the everyday eater to become their local neighborhood's food critic, praising and damning behind the anonymity of a computer screen. So what do your neighbors have to say on Yelp? Based on Yelp's highest-rated star ranking, here are the top 10 restaurants in Libertyville. Do you agree or disagree with the Yelp top 10 list? Let us know in the comments' section.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
"The Best Three Days You'll Never Remember" kicks off March 15 at the downtown Libertyville brewery.
- BUSINESS
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Sunday, March 10
Mickey Finn’s Brewery’s “The Best Three Days You’ll Never Remember” St. Patrick’s event March 15-17 not only is the largest such extravaganza in Lake County in support of a worthy cause but a final, unforgettable celebration of the renowned microbrewery’s move to a bigger Libertyville location a block south after nearly 100 years in the same location. “After serving generations of Lake County residents so many years; spending the last 19 as a microbrewery making, serving, and bottling more of our own beer than anyone else in the area; and hosting special events that our generous customers have supported and helped raise over $300,000 for those in need, we are poised and ready to rock this place one last time,” said Brian Grano, owner. The…
Monday, February 25, 2013
Polarcode will be one of three bands to perform at Mickey Finn's in downtown Libertyville March 2.
A Chicago-based band whose keyboardist starred as Jerry Lee Lewis in "Million Dollar Quartet" will take the stage with two other bands at Mickey Finn's in downtown Libertyville Saturday night. Polarcode will play the first set at Mickey Finn's, 412 N. Milwaukee Ave., at about 9:45 p.m. March 2. They will be followed by Waukegan-based band Minor Rites and Chicag-based Molehill. Eric Stang, Polarcode's keyboardist, formed the band with drummer Mario Cerutti in 2010. Stang, who grew up in Highland Park and has recorded for artists like Kanye West and Twista, said he had been in a version of the band while in college. The band went through a lot of changes, including different people and styles, before finding the group of musicians who fit …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Help the Libertyville non-profit by dining at two local restaurants—Casa Bonita and Mickey Finn's—Oct. 9 and 12, respectively.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Korrina Grom
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Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Each day, the staff and volunteers at Maristella in Libertyville receive about 15 calls from people who need help paying their rent or finding housing. "Our goal is to prevent the homelessness," said Fran Forys, one of the founders of the non-profit organization. These days, though, meeting that goal has become tougher with a tighter cash flow. Forys said grant money from the state is running three months behind. "I pray every day, 'Lord, please bring us some big bucks,'" said Forys. "The government money is very scarce. But we have survived. We're trying to keep up good spirits." Next month, the community will have a chance to help Maristella bring in some money to help meet the needs of its clients. Two local restaurants—Casa Bonita and …
Monday, August 13, 2012
The restaurant and brewery is set to open in a new Libertyville location in September 2013.
When Mickey Finn's owner Brian Grano learned that a nearby building was on the market, he jumped at the chance to finally own his own space for his restaurant and brewery. "I've always wanted to own my own space," said Grano, noting that the existing space for Mickey Finn's — including the parking lot — is rented. "It's a great time to buy, so we got a great deal." "At the end of the day, it was a no-brainer," said Grano. Thirteen months from now, customers will get to experience a new Mickey Finn's, which will be located in the building that encompasses 345 and 347 N. Milwaukee Ave. It's just down the street form the current location. "We couldn't be happier," said Grano. "We're definitely out of space. We can't brew all the beer that we …
Friday, August 10, 2012
The ninth annual event will celebrate the brewery's 18th anniversary.
Readers, you've got a big task ahead of you. If you're planning to attend Mickey Finn's Brewery's "Backlot Brewfest 12" tomorrow, Aug. 11, you'll have the chance to sample up to a dozen varieties of ribs and help choose the best. The annual Brewfest will feature a rib cook-off starting at 1 p.m., with the winner — chosen by popular vote — announced around 3 p.m., said Mickey Finn's owner Brian Grano. Prospective judges can purchase a ticket to sample the ribs and enjoy a beer, Grano said. The nine to 12 contestants expected to make ribs for the cook-off will all start with the same ribs and then use their own spices and sauces. This year's Brewfest will be the ninth annual event, said Grano, and will celebrate the 18th anniversary of the …
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Where there's smoke, there's ... ribs.
As Libertyville Days planner Dee Cox says, prepare to see some "smokin' firemen." This year's Libertyville Days festival will feature a rib cook-off that will pit firefighters from four local firehouses against each other. The Libertyville Fire Department's Andy Yarc will take on firefighters from the Countryside, Lake Bluff and Lake Forest fire departments. The rib cook-off is slated for 1 p.m. June 16 in the beer garden. Dee Cox, who is in her ninth year planning the Libertyville Days festival, said Mickey Finn's is underwriting the event and supplying the ribs. The ribs will be judged on a variety of criteria, including smokiness and taste. Cox said the panel of "celebrity" judges will include Libertyville Mayor Terry Weppler and Mickey…
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
David Reuter's Lap Dog Robust Porter won Best in Show at the Besley's Homebrew Competition. Now his recipe is brewing at Mickey Finn's Brewery in Libertyville and will be featured at an event supporting the Save Brainerd Foundation on April 25.
It’s a home brewer’s dream come true to have your recipe brewed by a master brewer at a successful microbrewery, and that is what happened to home brewer David Reuter. His Lap Dog Robust Porter was named Best in Show at the first annual Besley’s Homebrew contest held during Brainerd’s Wine, Beer, Cigar and Food Festival last August. The production batch of Reuter’s “Best of the Fest” beer will be available for purchase at Mickey Finn's Brewery and Pub. A biologist, Reuter found himself in the unique position of having some free time at work. Since he likes to know how things work he began researching the process in which yeast turns sugar into carbondioxide and ethanol, also known as the art of brewing beer. “Being able to brew on a …
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Libertyville's brewery celebrates St. Patrick's Day.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Dr. Mark Solomon
1:58 pm on Monday, April 15, 2013
Top 10 restaurants for what? Certainly not for eating, drinking or having a good time without the inclusion of 545 North. "Yelp!" - Indeed. more ›