Great Scott! The 1980s were a pivotal decade for movies, music, and beer. Iconic films like Back to the Future, directed by Chicago native Robert Zemeckis, were released and etched into our American pop culture. Bands like Cheap Trick produced the tunes that keep us rockin’ today.  And in beer, the infamous Class of ’88, which included Chicago’s very own Goose Island Beer Company, set the foundation for the future of craft beer in the United States.

It’s the official kickoff to the 7th annual Beer Culture Summit and we invite you to gather with us at Piece Pizzeria and Brewery for a night inspired by the 1980s. Guests can enjoy a few totally tubular things at Piece for the celebration:

•  Beer! Once upon a time Goose Island Beer Company brewers – Jim Cibak (Revolution Brewing), Matt Gallagher (Half Acre Beer Company/Suncatcher Brewing), and Wil Turner (Hailstorm Brewing Company) – come together for a Goose super group reunion.  The foursome united for this unique occasion to make a special brew with Piece head brewer, Keil Weimer.

• Beer Icons! Goose Island Beer Company founder, John Hall, will be our guest of honor this evening. Come say hey to John!

• Pizza!  We know you’ll be hungry like the wolf so come enjoy a special pizza designed by Robert Zemeckis and family.

• Movies! Some of your favorite 80s movies, including Back to the Future, will be screening on TVs in the tap room.

• Music! Those beloved 1980s rock anthems, love ballads, and smooth tunes will be playing on the Piece airwaves throughout the night.

• You! You make the party! Get into the groove and don your raddest 1980s attire.  Those dressed for success will receive some special treats.

This event is free and no ticket is required, but we suggest you make a reservation (parties of 6+ only). A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the Beer Culture Center.

Small but mighty, mushrooms are key players on this planet. The fierce fungi help break down organic matter, recycle nutrients, fight disease, create unique habitats, and support biodiversity. They are magical reminders that regardless of species - all organisms - are instrumental in supporting the environment. We invite you to join us for an evening that brings together mushrooms and beer in celebration of the Earth.

The first portion of the evening begins with a private experience and tour at Four Star Mushrooms, a forward-thinking company building an integrated food ecosystem through the marriage of controlled-environment and regenerative agriculture. By growing quality gourmet and functional mushrooms that are distributed directly to restaurants, hotels, caterers, clubs, and grocers across Chicagoland, Four Star is a model for a vertically integrated food system powering the transition to a regenerative food system.

From there we walk down the Chicago brick road towards the wonderland that is the rooftop at Midwest Coast Brewing Company to explore the intersection of flavor and innovation and engage in an evening dedicated to the planet. Guests will enjoy:

• A Special and Fun(gi) Beer Release!
  MycoBrau, is a crisp pilsner infused with Lion’s Mane mushrooms grown at Four Star. The earthy and subtle yet complex flavors of lion's mane are expertly woven into a craft brew that pushes the boundaries of what beer can be. This beer is a collaboration between the Beer Culture Center, Four Star Mushrooms, and Midwest Coast Brewing.

• Burger Pop-Up by Ilixr headed by Chef Simon Davies
  Indulge in culinary artistry with a bespoke burger pop-up by Chef Simon Davies. Simon’s team will use various mushrooms from Four Star to serve up a special and select burger menu for the evening.

• Plants from Uncommon Plant Guy
  Surround yourself with the beauty of nature as Uncommon Plant Guy showcases a curated selection of unique and captivating plants available for sale.

• Spent Grain Cookies by Barry Sweets
  Satisfy your sweet tooth with delectable cookies crafted from spent grain, a testament to sustainable practices and delicious innovation from Barry Sweets.

• Mushrooms from Four Star
  All this mushroom talk will make you want to take some West Town grown mushrooms with you. And, lucky for you, Four Star will be on site to sell their delectable fungus.

• Learning about local environmentally focused community partners
  Want to know more about how you get involved in local environmental efforts? Community partners, including Urban Rivers, will be on hand to tell you a bit about their important work and share how you can volunteer and help make Chicago as green as can be!

• A groovy nature inspired set list and night of music from DJ K3V.

Four Star Mushroom Tour and Experience
5:30pm-6:45pm.
$30 ticket includes private experience, tour, talk, and a beer!
Extremely limited capacity for this portion of the evening.

Midwest Coast Brewing Rooftop Earth Day Party
7pm-10pm.
$20 includes access to the full rooftop party plus a pint of MycoBrau, a lion’s mane pilsner.

The Italian Renaissance has long been celebrated for its novel art and literature, shrewd political spirit, and economic innovation. This specific time and place are also tied to wine, a drink which fueled the artists, statesmen, and merchants who drove such grand cultural change. Wine was present at nearly every celebration, whether hosted by the wealthiest ruling families or modest peasants. Wine was used to heal the sick and fortify the weak. The grapes which yielded such precious wine were so valued that even the leftover skins and pulp were distilled into a spirit similarly consumed for celebration and cure: grappa.

In this presentation, culinary historian Dr. Sarah Kernan will consider the cultural history of wine and grappa in Renaissance Italy. She will focus on how and why these drinks were consumed, as well as their connections to wine and distilled spirits throughout Europe.

$45 ticket includes private access to the event, lecture, light snacks, three drink tickets (wine and beer), a whole lot of fun, and your incredible support of the Beer Culture Center.

Special thanks to St. Ignatius College Prep and Peanut Park Trattoria for supporting this event. Guests who dine at Peanut Park Trattoria before or after the lecture will be treated to a 10% discount off their bill. Just show your ticket!

Sarah Peters Kernan, PhD, is an independent culinary historian. Her research focuses on cookbooks and culinary activity in medieval and early modern England. With Helga Müllneritsch, she co-edited Culinary Texts in Context, 1500-1800: Manuscript Recipe Books in Early Modern Europe, just published by Amsterdam University Press in 2024. She is an editor of The Recipes Project and host of the podcast, Around the Table. Sarah teaches a variety of culinary history courses in continuing education and lifelong learning programs. Also through these programs, she presents virtual cooking demonstrations of historic recipes. Sarah collaborates frequently with the Newberry Library in Chicago, assembling modules on food history topics for Digital Collections for the Classroom and teaching programs on culinary history for teachers.