The Great American Beer Festival is right around the corner, and since we're attending again this year, we're providing an audio guide to what to drink at the fest while also sipping on some previous medal winners. These aren't just any Illinois medal winners; our four choices here are a good drive from Chicago while also representing more traditional styles. For the GABF preview, we cover what Illinois breweries are pouring, which "new-to-us" breweries have us the most excited; whose familiar faces we can't wait to see; and which "steady hand" brewers can't be missed. Also, Ryan's sharing an irrational fear, we develop an open floor taproom concept to maximize turnover, and we both agree the judges are pretty good at what they do.

Beers Reviewed

Crystal Lake Brewing - Too Much Cologne (Kolsch)

Sew Hop'd Brewery - Alt 140 (Altbier)

Mickey Finn's Brewery & Pub - Dark and Down (Dark rye lager)

Tighthead Brewing Company - Scarlet > Fire (Irish red ale)