Mundelein`s Tighthead Brewing Company hosts craft beer festival

Mundelein Craft Beer Festival
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 8
Where: Parking lot of Tighthead Brewing Company, 161 N. Archer Ave.
Info: 847-970-9174
Twitter: @TightHeadBrew
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TightheadBrewing
Mundelein’s Tighthead Brewing Company hosts craft beer festival
BY KATLYN SMITH ksmith@pioneerlocal.com June 3, 2013 11:58AM
Updated: June 5, 2013 10:46AM
Bruce Dir hasn’t forgotten his roots.
A craft beer festival is returning to his Tighthead Brewing Company, nearly two years after he launched the Mundelein hotspot. Crowds are expected to swell to 1,500
craft beer enthusiasts tasting beverages from 30 Midwest breweries.
All that buzz started with a simple gift: His wife Molly gave him a home brewery kit.
“I’m kind of living every home brewer’s dream,” Dir, 48, said.
Now, the Mundelein man is spotlighting a handful of home brewers in the festival, along with fixtures like Libertyville’s Mickey Finn’s Brewery and Cleveland’s Great
Lakes Brewing Company. Tighthead partners with Mundelein Community Connection, a nonprofit group promoting the downtown, to host the trendy bash, featuring a
popular food truck and music.
Dir describes a friendly dynamic among breweries of all sizes. He says he can just call up a fellow brewer about exotic ingredients. And he developed his own
knowledge of the exploding industry by assisting a local brew master.
“It’s a great time to be in craft beer,” he said.
But it took him years to open the brewery and name it after — of all things — his rugby position (Dir played for the Chicago Griffins club for nine years).
“It’s not an easy thing to start,” Dir said. “It’s for the love of the job and the love of the beer.”
The former human resources professional was reorganized out of a job about eight years ago. He decided to go back into the corporate world, but then he was let go
again. That was the final push he needed.
“I wanted to be my own boss and do what I love,” Dir said.
At the festival Saturday, June 8, Tighthead will offer at least five varieties and even some special releases. For craft beer novices, Dir recommends Chilly Water, a
wheat-based pale ale.
“It’s a very good summer beer,” Dir said. “It’s been gaining a lot of traction.”
Despite sweltering temperatures last year, the inaugural event drew roughly 850 people.
“Everyone was very surprised at how many people attended,” Mundelein Mayor Steve Lentz said. “We are all looking forward to this year to see how much it grows.”
In case of heat, organizers have added a covered seated area this year.
“We went into this one a lot better prepared hopefully,” Dir said.
Ticket holders receive a commemorative pint and 2 oz. pours from breweries. New this year is the Raging Kitchen food truck, joining Lauretta’s Italian bakery and cafe
and Luke’s of Mundelein. Two bands, Samadhi Vibe and Private Drive, will perform.
Dir envisions the event becoming a regional destination in a busy festival circuit. Tighthead appears at about 20 festivals a year.
“It’s still a great craft,” he said.
Advance tickets, $35 each, are available through Friday, June 7, at the Tighthead taproom or at Tightheadbrewing.com. Tickets purchased the day of the event are
$40.
Proceeds support Mundelein Community Connection.
Attendees must be 21 years and older.
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