Coronavirus Won't Stop Joliet's 2 Microbreweries

JOLIET, IL — With Illinois bars and restaurants closed to guests amid concerns of spreading the new coronavirus, these next couple weeks will be trying times for the food and beverage industry. That's definitely the case for Joliet's two locally owned craft breweries.

MyGrain Brewing Company and Elder Brewing have each developed a faithful following of craft-beer lovers over the past few years.

MyGrain opened in September 2017 inside Joliet's historic Union Station, 50 E. Jefferson St. Just a few blocks away, Elder Brewing opened in November 2017 at 218 E. Cass St. MyGrain has attracted more than 6,200 fans on social media and a total of 8,639 people have checked into MyGrain Brewing, according to its Facebook page.

On Tuesday, the owners of MyGrain Brewing posted a message on social media expressing the obvious: "What a headache this has been."

But, MyGrain Brewing is looking at this ongoing challenge for Illinois restaurants and bars with a glass half-full mentality.

"THANK YOU for your patience with us and for continuing to support MyGrain from near and far ... with our establishment currently being closed we're offering our beer, gift cards and merchandise to-go! Our team will be available for pick up, walk-ins and over the phone orders delivered curbside starting on (Wednesday), March 18," its Facebook page proclaims.

For the time being, MyGrain Brewing will be open for curbside craft beer orders from:

• 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays
• noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

MyGrain Brewing's phone number is 815-345-3339.

The downtown Joliet microbrewery asks people to call ahead. For a full list of its many craft products, visit the website for MyGrainBrewingCompany.

MyGrain also says it's offering a special on its crowlers: buy two and get one half off.

As far its four packs go there's:

• Pilcher Pale Ale
• Iron & Steel Double IPA
• Statevillle Stout
• Service Dog Hazy New England IPA

There's also limited quantities of Lupulin City Variety along with their two-year anniversary Vingori Russian Imperial Stout.

"Our carryout menu is still in the works, and we will have more information to provide to you as soon as possible," MyGrain's reminded its Facebook fans.

ELDER BREWING Starts Curbside Pickups

Elder Brewing Company is run by Andrew Polykandriotis and his wife Melissa. Elder Brewing, which has attracted more than 3,300 Facebook followers, added a live music venue to its premises in March 2018.

Starting Thursday, March 19, "we are offering curbside pickup for new Howler fills, gift cards and any merch (sic) we have available" the Elder Brewing website reads.

Elder's regular business hours for craft beer pickup orders will be:

• 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday
• 3 to 10 p.m. Friday
• 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday
• 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday

Patrons are asked to submit their orders online and call Elder Brewing when they're out front. Elder Brewing's phone is 815-651-4200.

"We will accept your payment over phone and bring it out to you!"

The following craft beers made inside the confines of Elder Brewing will be available for curbside pickup orders for those purchasing a new howler:

• Keep of the Castle Cream Ale
• Helles Horseman Helles Lager
• Oatmeal Jay an Oatmeal Stout w/Sugar Cookies
• Nutorious A.L.E., an American Brown Ale
• The Stout Shaker, an American Stout
• Poly’s Revenge, an American Pale Ale
• Uncle Jack’s Gris Gris IPA
• West Park IPA
• HellJazz IPA
• Highland Park Hyzer, a Double IPA
• Two Fools Cider
• Tart Cherry & Dry Hard Apple
• Cold Brew Coffee on Nitro Intelligentsia

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