Pints By The Pond Returns: 16 Brewers To Participate

BATAVIA, IL — The Pints by the Pond Craft Beer Festival is coming back for the third annual year Sept. 21 to downtown Batavia.

Hosted by Batavia Park District, the festival returns to Peg Bond Center, 151 N. Island Ave., from 2-5 p.m. for an afternoon of small-batch beer sampling, food trucks and live music.

More than a dozen breweries are slated to participate this year. Here's a look at them:

• 93 Octane Brewery
• Around the Bend Beer Co.
• Art History Brewing
• Brother Chimp Brewing
• Bubblehouse Brewing Co.
• Energy City Brewing
• Foxes Den Meadery
• Golden Fox Brewing
• Grainology Brewstillery
• Maplewood Brewery & Distillery
• Penrose Brewing Co.
• Second City Meadery
• Sew Hop’d Brewery
• Skeleton Key Brewery
• Stockholm’s Brewery
• Sturdy Shelter Brewing

Prairie Station Acoustic Duo, a band that covers country favorites as well as hits from the '80s and '90s, will perform live, while Fernando's Street Kitchen and Billy Bricks Pizza will sell delicious dishes at their food trucks.

"The advantage of a smaller event is that it’s a more relaxed atmosphere," Nathaniel Jarosz, Batavia Park District Athletic Supervisor and event organizer, said in a statement. "You’re not constantly waiting in line to sample beer, you can enjoy it at a leisurely pace and there’s even time to talk to the brewers and like-minded beer lovers about the samplings.

Organizers said the event is likely to sell out, and if tickets sell out online, none will be sold at the gate. Admission costs $10 for a designated driver, $50 for regular entry and $65 for VIPs, who get to enter the fest an hour early. Festival-goers receive a 5-ounce commemorative beer glass and 20 tasting tickets with each ticket.

The event, which sold out last year, draws attendees not only from Batavia but from surrounding towns as well.

"It's really cool to see folks from outside of Batavia see what our great town has to offer," said Oliver Bulley, general manager of Sturdy Shelter Brewing. "The Riverwalk is such a beautiful space and we just love sharing it with people we know and love meeting other beer drinkers and brewers."