Crowds enjoyed their beer sustainably at the Oak Park Microbrew Review on Aug. 20. Seventy breweries were represented at the event attended by 2,600 beer-loving revelers. Attendance, up from 1,800 in 2021, was near pre-pandemic norms for the 15-year-old event benefiting Seven Generations Ahead.
“The rain was minimal despite ominous forecasts and regardless, it just doesn’t bother the followers of this event who have a blast rain or shine,” said Gary Cuneen, executive director of Seven Generations Ahead.
(L to R) Zack Day, Rich Bloomfield and Greg Williams, energetically share their brews from their Funkytown Brewery with festival goers at the Oak Park Microbrew Review. The three are local graduates from the Oak Park River Forest High School, class of 2002. (April Alonso/Contributor) 
Co Founder & CFO of Moor’s Brewing Company, Jamhal Johnson (center) with Tijatta Williams (left) and Nyree Tribue (right) offer merch and their brews during the Oak Park Microbrew Review. (April Alonso/Contributor) 
Festival goers listen to The Instinct band who played at one of the music stages at the Oak Park Microbrew Review in downtown Oak Park. (April Alonso/Contributor) 
Oak Park Microbrew Review (Javier Govea/Staff) 
Co Founder & CFO of Moor’s Brewing Company, Jamhal Johnson with Tijatta Williams (left) and Nyree Tribue (right) offers merch and brews during the Oak Park Microbrew Review. (April Alonso/Contributor) 
Keith of local Oak Park Kinslahger Brewing Company serves festival goers of Oak Park Microbrew Review in downtown Oak Park, on Aug. 20. (April Alonso/Contributor) 
Oak Park Microbrew Review (Javier Govea/Staff) 
A local restaurant, Kyuramen, located on N. Marion St., offers some of their menu items for purchase. (April Alonso/Contributor) 
Raul Vazquez of Supreme Tacos at the restaurant’s vendor booth sells al pastor and carne asada tacos in the on and off rain as people attended the Oak Park Microbrew Review. (April Alonso/Contributor) 
Oak Park Microbrew Review (Javier Govea/Staff) 
Festival goers enjoy food, brews and music at the Oak Park Microbrew Review in downtown Oak Park, Aug. 20, 2022. (April Alonso/Contributor) 
A local restaurant, Carnivore, located on Pleasant St., offers some of their menu items for purchase. (April Alonso/Contributor) 
Oak Park Microbrew Review (Javier Govea/Staff)
One Lake Brewing, 1 Lake Street, Oak Park, took home top honors in the Iron Brewer competition with their Green Light Pilsner. This year’s Microbrew Review was also the inaugural event for Funkytown Brewery, one of four Black-owned breweries in the region and co-owned by a trio of OPRF graduates.
“We’re grateful for all of our sponsors, including our top-level sponsors: Lakeshore Recycling, Good Heart Work Smart, and Cross Function Flexible Workspace at the Boulevard Arcade,” said Cuneen.