A Brew And A Walk: Beer Garden Opens At Forest Preserve

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The beer garden at Independence Grove has opened with several craft beers from Lake County brewers on tap. Forest Preserve officials in recent months decided to close the beach at the popular forest preserve due to declining interest and revenue and open the beer garden in its place.

The beach house was repurposed to make way for beer taps and the new beer garden, which is serving up beers from Mickey Finn's Brewery in Libertyville, Half Day Brewing in Lincolnshire, Tighthead Brewing Company in Mundelein and Light the Lamp Brewing in Grayslake.

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The beer garden opened over Memorial Day weekend and will be open from 1 p.m. to a half-hour before sunset on Saturdays and Sundays. Starting on June 22, the beer garden will be open every Tuesday for the forest preserve's outdoor concert series.

• Independence Grove Concert Lineup Released

"The beer garden will be a fine new amenity which will accommodate people who use the trails," Angelo Kyle, Lake County Forest Preserves District Board of Commissionerst president, told the Lake County News-Sun. "After a walk on the trails, it's a perfect opportunity to sit down, have a beer and get something to eat. They can enjoy a beer while they walk. One amenity can roll into another."

The entrance for the new beer garden is on Buckley Road/Route 137 east of Milwaukee Avenue/Route 21. In addition to beer, packaged snacks will be available to buy.

More information on the Independence Grove Forest Preserve, the new beer garden and the beer garden menu is available online.