Midwest Brewers Fest: Our Story

The Plainfield Riverfront

To understand Midwest Brewers Fest, you have to understand Plainfield. On August 28, 1990, an F5 tornado—the only one ever recorded in the United States during August—struck the community. It killed 29 people, injured 353, destroyed 470 homes, and damaged another 1,000. The historic riverfront along the DuPage River was devastated. Recovery was slow and deliberate. The Plainfield Riverfront Foundation was formed to help rebuild and revitalize the area, turning a scarred landscape back into a place for community gathering.

The Inaugural Festival

The first Midwest Brewers Fest took place in 2011 at Riverfront Park (24321 W. Lockport St.), on the west side of downtown Plainfield, west of the DuPage River. The festival had a two-fold mission: to help revive the riverfront and to introduce people to craft beer. It was a relaxed, community-focused event—brewers and beer lovers gathering for a day of celebration without the chaos of typical street festivals. As one attendee wrote at the time, it was "a relaxed environment without anyone really getting out of control throughout the course of the day"—a rarity at Chicagoland beer events.

The inaugural fest drew an estimated 2,000 visitors and featured nearly 60 local and national breweries. Attendees sampled everything from hometown favorites to regional standouts, meandering between tents in no particular order, enjoying the company of friends and the weather.

Growing Into a Tradition

The festival returned in 2012 and beyond, evolving into a more polished event. By 2012, organizers had added a "Craft Beer 101" experience showcasing home brewing methods, a "Best of Show" beer competition judged by Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP)-sanctioned judges, and a bean bag tournament sponsored by the Friends of the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation. VIP passes offered early entry, special tastings, and commemorative gear. The festival typically ran from 1 to 6 p.m., rain or shine, with craft beers and artisan foods from local vendors like Whole Foods, Aurelio's of Plainfield, and Eric Gilbert Sausages.

Proceeds went to the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation and to charities like Pints for Prostates, a non-profit focused on men's health awareness. Sponsors included Whole Foods, Burning Leaf Cigars, and local media. The goal, as one organizer put it, was to create an "iconic" event for the village—to showcase the dedicated local businesses and landscapes of the community.

The Evolution

Over the years, Midwest Brewers Fest became a fixture of the Midwest beer calendar. It drew 50+ breweries and brewpubs, featured live music, and gave beer lovers a chance to sample 150+ craft offerings in a single afternoon. The Home Brewers Pavilion was always packed. The festival was a reminder that craft beer is as much about community as it is about flavor.

Today we have evolved into a digital journal dedicated to the business, operations, and culture of independent brewing. We cover brewery profiles, industry news, and beer reviews—carrying forward the spirit of those Plainfield gatherings in a new form. The same mission remains: to connect people with craft beer and the community behind it. The riverfront has been rebuilt. The festival lives on in memory and in the stories we tell here.