This spring, DMC returned to Garfield Conservatory for the 11th annual Beer Under Glass! A joint venture between the Garfield Conservatory and the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, Beer Under Glass has long been one of the most popular activity fund events at DMC and this year was no exception. We had 31 employees and their friends and family come together to support these two great organizations and enjoy lots of fun and unique brews.
About Beer Under Glass
"Beer Under Glass is more than just great beer in a great atmosphere. It’s a festival with a purpose. Proceeds from the event support GPCA's mission to change lives through the power of nature and connect people to plants, and the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild's mission to support the development and expansion of the Illinois craft beer industry through education, advocacy, and promotion." - Illinois Craft Brewers Guild
DMC & Craft Brewing
DMC has a lot of experience with craft breweries, both consuming amazing products and helping them succeed from a manufacturing standpoint. We partnered with Siemens to develop a brewing template project that we have used to help breweries modernize their processes. You can read more about that on our Brewing Template and Founders Brewing Implementation case study. We even presented on this earlier in the year at the 2019 Craft Brewers Conference in Denver: DMC & Siemens to Present at the 2019 Craft Brewers Conference.
Brewing Template Overview Screen
With over 100 different local brews and limited time and liver capacity to try everything at this year's Beer Under Glass, we were happy to get some suggestions from one of our resident beer enthusiasts. Systems Engineer Keith Jason sent this in an email to all participants:
Mikerphone – Tied for best brewery in Chicago on Keith’s List (very reputable list) with Une Annee (unfortunately not at BUG). Worth going through the lines multiple times to get everything. If they have any version of their Bean Spirit, just get it.
Bonus hot take: Their taproom in Elk Grove is super legit and right next to a Lou’s, so you can bring in 'za.
Exit Strategy – If their “Boozy Peaches” is there, it's like drinking a peach cobbler that’ll get you drunk. Gram gram would be proud.
Kinslahger – Super small Oak Park brewery (represent) that has probably the coolest taproom in Chicago (super Prohibition-era vibes). Their Prohibition Pils is one of my favorites, its no-frills good.
Bonus hot take: If you end up liking Kinslahger, try out Church Street Brewing (at BUG as well). Tell them “Shrek’s Tiny Shripples” sent you.
Forbidden Root – feel like this brewery is the equivalent of Frank Reynolds saying “I’m going to get real weird with it”, but it somehow ends up super fancy and works.
Miskatonic – Out of my hometown (Darien), they did a series of D&D inspired beers that were dope.
Maplewood – Super unique and super tasty, right down the street from the office.
Noon Whistle – Out of the three breweries I frequent after my softball games (with Elmhurst Brewing Co. and More Brewing Co, I know you were DYING to know), this is the best. If you like NE IPAs, all of their “Gummy” beers are super juice bombs.
Pipeworks – You live in Chicago, you know already.
Short Fuse – This place always has new, off the wall stuff. Worth checking out, they can do some weird stuff.
Solemn Oath – Have never made a bad beer. They also do this cool thing in their taproom, where they have massive chalkboards where you can buy a buddy a beer, write it up on the board, then they just erase themselves off when they come in.
Bonus hot take: Natalie really likes Smylie brothers, and we all really like Natalie, so check it out.
Hidden Beauty in Garfield Park Conservatory
Garfield Park Conservatory is a beautiful setting for enjoying all this craft beer. Built in 1908, it's one of the country's largest greenhouse conservatories. Beer Under Glass attendees were able to wander the GPC's 4.5 acres of greenhouse space and gardens.
Thanks to everyone for coming out and making more memories with DMC!
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