Ever wonder what a beer from Belgium or Australia tastes like? Beer lovers will be able to find out this weekend in Lemont as a wide variety of imports and microbrews can be had at the first annual “Beer Festival.”
Jerry Kulhanek and Ondrej Zak, owners of Bottles, a unique liquor store in Lemont offering wine, beer and spirits not normally sold at other chain stores, are hosting the fest this Saturday. The festival will showcase a collection of the 150 beers the store has to offer.
Bottles gives patrons the opportunity to mix and match varieties of beer into packs, allowing them to sample, sip and settle on a favorite beer.
“This place is pretty neat,” said Kulhanek, a Lemont resident. “We try to keep new stuff coming in and keep it exciting.”
“We have some customers who have went through and tried all our beer,” added Zak, also a Lemont resident.
Kulhanek said his favorite beer in the store is “HopDevil,” which is made in Pennsylvania. Zak prefers “Arrogant Bastard” from Stone Brewing Company in California.
“People might be scared of it,” Zak said of his favorite, described as an “aggressive ale.” “It’s a really tough one to find.”
Friends Kulhanek and Zak opened Bottles, 439 Talcott Ave., in October 2008. Walking inside, the upscale liquor store has darker lighting and coolers of beer lit up to accentuate the selection. Wood tables and chairs built by the two owners for customers to sit and have a drink grace the store as well.
Zak is from the Czech Republic and has traveled most of Europe. He traveled there last year to visit and sample other beers.
“It’s such a better product (in Europe),” Kulhanek said. “It’s not the same as here.”
Kulhanek said he has also traveled around Europe on vacation as well, and to sample beers from other countries.
“We have a love of beer and that’s how it all started,” Kulhanek said. “There was nothing in Lemont to get a variety of beer.”
The duo will have a selection of about 10 import and microbrews out for sampling at Beer Fest. Each beer will cost about $3 or $4, or those in attendance can purchase four beer tickets for $15.
Not all of the 150 beers will be out for tasting, but since the festival is located in front of Bottles, patrons can purchase beers from the store to sample.
Zak said there will be three bands performing at Beer Fest as well — Vinyl Jacket, The Myth and Mock Star. Kulhanek and Zak’s custom-made wooden benches will be in the parking lot for sitting.
“We do everything ourselves,” Kulhanek said. “We set everything up ourselves.”
Bottles is the sole business hosting the festival this weekend.
“I think people are looking for something downtown,” Zak said. “There isn’t much happening downtown so it might be pretty successful.”
Kulhanek said they are hoping to have about 1,000 people come out for the event.
Zak and Kulhanek said they are hoping to expand knowledge of their business through the Beer Festival.
Bottles, open from 2 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, is located behind the central downtown area so the owners are hoping the festival may bring in more business if people know where they are located.
This summer the owners want to appeal to all interests in town by hosting multiple fests. Bottles will be throwing a SummerFest in July, an Ultimate Outdoor Dance Party in August, a Country Fest in September and OctoberFest in October.
Jerry Kulhanek and Ondrej Zak, owners of Bottles, a unique liquor store in Lemont offering wine, beer and spirits not normally sold at other chain stores, are hosting the fest this Saturday. The festival will showcase a collection of the 150 beers the store has to offer.
Bottles gives patrons the opportunity to mix and match varieties of beer into packs, allowing them to sample, sip and settle on a favorite beer.
“This place is pretty neat,” said Kulhanek, a Lemont resident. “We try to keep new stuff coming in and keep it exciting.”
“We have some customers who have went through and tried all our beer,” added Zak, also a Lemont resident.
Kulhanek said his favorite beer in the store is “HopDevil,” which is made in Pennsylvania. Zak prefers “Arrogant Bastard” from Stone Brewing Company in California.
“People might be scared of it,” Zak said of his favorite, described as an “aggressive ale.” “It’s a really tough one to find.”
Friends Kulhanek and Zak opened Bottles, 439 Talcott Ave., in October 2008. Walking inside, the upscale liquor store has darker lighting and coolers of beer lit up to accentuate the selection. Wood tables and chairs built by the two owners for customers to sit and have a drink grace the store as well.
Zak is from the Czech Republic and has traveled most of Europe. He traveled there last year to visit and sample other beers.
“It’s such a better product (in Europe),” Kulhanek said. “It’s not the same as here.”
Kulhanek said he has also traveled around Europe on vacation as well, and to sample beers from other countries.
“We have a love of beer and that’s how it all started,” Kulhanek said. “There was nothing in Lemont to get a variety of beer.”
The duo will have a selection of about 10 import and microbrews out for sampling at Beer Fest. Each beer will cost about $3 or $4, or those in attendance can purchase four beer tickets for $15.
Not all of the 150 beers will be out for tasting, but since the festival is located in front of Bottles, patrons can purchase beers from the store to sample.
Zak said there will be three bands performing at Beer Fest as well — Vinyl Jacket, The Myth and Mock Star. Kulhanek and Zak’s custom-made wooden benches will be in the parking lot for sitting.
“We do everything ourselves,” Kulhanek said. “We set everything up ourselves.”
Bottles is the sole business hosting the festival this weekend.
Kulhanek said they are hoping to have about 1,000 people come out for the event.
Zak and Kulhanek said they are hoping to expand knowledge of their business through the Beer Festival.
Bottles, open from 2 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, is located behind the central downtown area so the owners are hoping the festival may bring in more business if people know where they are located.
This summer the owners want to appeal to all interests in town by hosting multiple fests. Bottles will be throwing a SummerFest in July, an Ultimate Outdoor Dance Party in August, a Country Fest in September and OctoberFest in October.
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