Beer seems to be absolutely everywhere these days. From craft breweries popping up in Chicago and its suburbs to homebrewers concocting specialty beers in their basements, Chicagoans seem to have an unquenchable thirst for beer.
Beer has always been a part of Chicago’s history. German immigrants established Chicago’s first brewery in 1833, serving its beer to the 200 early residents drinking in the city’s three taverns. That same year at one of these establishments—Sauganash Tavern—the Town of Chicago became official after a gathering and vote of 12-1. Beer has been a component of Chicago’s colorful fabric ever since, and its popularity continues to surge today with the emergence of a vibrant craft beer industry.
The Elmhurst Historical Museum is brewing up an exciting original exhibit to share Chicago’s beer, brewery, and tavern history. “Beer Chicago: The Refreshing History” opens September 19, 2015 through February 14, 2016, and taps into Chicago’s cultural and historical connections to what is arguably the Windy City’s favorite beverage.
A POPULAR SUBJECT MATTER
Elmhurst Historical Museum’s curator of exhibits, Lance Tawzer, is making no small plans to tell this story, and the timing couldn’t be better. “Interest in beer—from the flavors and ingredients to the people that make the beverage and the taverns that serve it—has elevated to an all-time high,” said Tawzer, who has earned numerous museum industry awards for creating engaging cultural history exhibits over the past few years. “We are always seeking ways to interpret history from different angles, creating interesting exhibits that provoke thought and captivate new audiences. I think Chicago’s beer history provides an ideal basis for an exhibit because it is one of those subjects that we can have a little fun with but also tell a serious story about a craft that developed into an industry that has impacted the city and its people since Chicago’s inception.”
Museum exhibit partner Liz Garibay, a Chicago beer and tavern historian and author, wrote the exhibit text and has led many a pub crawl and tavern tour in the city. “Her vast knowledge of Chicago’s beer and tavern history made Liz a natural fit for helping us to write the exhibit content,” said Tawzer. “She brings a fresh and lively perspective that I think visitors will appreciate.” Tawzer added that plans are already in place for the exhibit to travel to other institutions throughout the region in the coming years as part of the Elmhurst Historical Museum’s traveling exhibit program.
Garibay will be partnering with the museum in the coming months to present a number of beer-related talks and tours. “This is going to be a very interactive exhibit, and our programs are an important facet of the experience,” Tawzer said. “After all, drinking beer is a highly social activity, so our goal is to bring people together to learn about beer and appreciate its history.”
EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights of the “Beer Chicago” exhibit include: an interactive “bar” featuring a bartender who will share his knowledge of Chicago beer history with patrons, a science of beer-making hands-on activity station, profiles on Chicago breweries—names like Peter Hand, Lill & Diversey, and Schoenhofen—and a section on Elmhurst’s own beer brewing and tavern history. “Elmhurst has German roots, so beer brewers were present early in the city’s history,” said Tawzer. “Many people don’t know that Baderbrau was originally brewed here, and it’s exciting to note that the Baderbrau brand is being resurrected with a new brewery planned to open in the South Loop.”
Tap into a refreshing perspective on Chicago history with the new “Beer Chicago” exhibit, open to the public from September 18, 2015 through February 14, 2016. Elmhurst Historical Museum visitation hours are: Sunday, Tuesday through Friday, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Third Thursdays, 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. General admission and limited on-site parking are free. For the latest exhibit and program information, please like the museum’s Facebook page, visit www.elmhursthistory.org, or call (630) 833-1457.