Wheaton brewing up some summer fun

Ale is one of the oldest beverages, spanning thousands of years and cultures all over the globe, each using unique methods to brew this fermented and beloved concoction.

This August, Wheaton celebrates the rich heritage of beer with the fourth annual Brew Fest in downtown's Memorial Park.

The event, which takes place Saturday, Aug. 2, will feature more than 100 local and national brews, live music, food vendors and a lot of summer fun.

Participating breweries include Revolution, Dogfish Head, Brickstone, 51st Ward and Boston Beer.

“There are more and more beer festivals happening every year, but what makes ours unique is the setting; Memorial Park is the ideal location for this event,” said Brian Whitkanack, restaurant director at Arrowhead Golf Club. “We at the Wheaton Park District have been given a great opportunity to bring the beer community together, from newbies to home brewers to brew masters. I'm excited for people to come out and try some newer Illinois breweries like Penrose (Geneva), Destihl (Bloomington), and Tighthead (Mundelein), among many others.”

General admission, which is open from 1 to 4:30 p.m., is $45 and includes a commemorative pint glass and a lanyard with two taste passes for 16 2-ounce samples. VIP tickets are $75 and include a commemorative pint glass, VIP lanyard, taste passes, reserved VIP area with restrooms, access to limited edition craft beers (available only to VIP ticket holders), food buffet from 1 to 3 p.m. in the VIP area, and a Wheaton Brew Fest shirt.

VIP ticket holders also will be able to enter Memorial Park an hour early. Designated driver tickets are available for a reduced fee.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit CASA of DuPage and the Court Appointed Special Advocates of DuPage County, a nonprofit organization that provides advocacy and support for abused and neglected children.

For details on the Wheaton Brew Fest or to purchase tickets, visit wheatonbrewfest.com.