09/09/2026
We have some heartbreaking news to share. After more than 15 years in downtown Lake Bluff, we are saying goodbye to our current home.
Our annual Oktoberfest Block Party on Saturday, September 12, will be our last day open at this location.
This was not our choice. Our 15-year lease expired earlier this year, and the landlord rented the space to someone else. We were not even given a chance to counter. We were completely blindsided—especially given that our neighbor, Maevery, has been month-to-month for around two years.
Lake Bluff Brewing has been a labor of love, and we are so proud of what we have built here. But what makes this goodbye so hard is all of you—the people who made this brewery such a special place.
To our loyal customers, neighbors, and everyone who has walked through our doors: thank you.
You welcomed us into your lives through weddings, graduations, baby showers, after-work gatherings, new home celebrations, and everyday moments that became lasting memories. It makes us smile to hear how many people stopped in for a beer and left knowing they wanted to buy a home in Lake Bluff.
We are also grateful for the opportunities to work with the Lake Bluff Library, Lake Bluff History Museum, Abbott and AbbVie, fellow local small businesses, and charitable organizations on so many wonderful events. And to the talented local musicians who filled our taproom and summer block parties with music: thank you for giving this community so many nights to remember. Our summer block parties have become something our town truly cherishes.
And along the way, we brewed incredible beer. We are so proud of the national awards and recognition Mike’s beers have earned. He brings both science and art to every beer he brews, with so much love and care behind each batch. That same thoughtfulness goes into the beer list, always with the hope that you will find something you love.
For those asking how you can help:
Please take care of our bartenders. Our crew this summer has been so special, and we are deeply grateful for them. Please tip generously and show them some love during our remaining days together.
Help us find our next home. If you know of an available space in Lake Bluff, please reach out to [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.
Between now and September 12, we would love to see you. Come have a beer, share a favorite memory, and help us make our final Oktoberfest at this location a celebration of everything these years have meant.
With love and gratitude,
Mike and Megan Dorneker
