TagaBrew USA - Illinois Trail

09/20/2026

Story time Sunday -

About five years or so ago Jan and I visited a new brewery in Southeast Michigan as part of a fundraiser we were doing. The brewery was Loaded Dice Brewery and we were selling tee shirts where all the profit went back to local breweries. Our way of helping the industry during COVID.

We set up shop in the cozy & boisterous taproom and quickly were drawing a crowd and having some fun. The owner (Jef Smith) is a friend of ours and it was great to be visiting his brewery. There was a good size crowd and it was a Saturday evening so the place was jumping.

I naturally opened up a tab for Jan and I and then proceeded to spend the bulk of my time walking through the bar and meeting people and swiping stories and drinking some amazing b**rs with the new friends I was making.

Jan at some point without my knowledge walked up to the register and asked the young bartender if he could change the name on our tab to Jackass. The bartender was confused but Jennifer Smith (owner) laughed and told him to just go with it. This is going to be good at some point.

I kept working the crowd and having fun as my mug was going through multiple refills. Little did I know that Jan was following up behind me with each group I stopped in and visited. She would tell them if they wanted a free b**r, just go up to the counter and put it on Jackass’ tab.

I never caught on. Even after a couple of hours. As closing time approached we started taking down our tee shirt display table and getting ready to leave. The crowd was cheering for us and wishing us well and laughing about something. I just thought I had made a bunch of new friends and it was a great night out at Loaded Dice.

I went up to the counter to close out my tab. As I looked at our bill, I was shocked. I turned around to ask what was up and the whole place shouted back at me, Thank you Jackass.

Wow, Jan really got me with that one. Always a fun story to retell.

The gang inside the taproom wished us well and asked if we would be back next Saturday. I said most definitely, but that night the tab would be under Du***ss.

09/17/2026

If you know this brewery’s logo, then you know which brewery we are working with to hopefully join the TagaBrew trail.

If interested, stop in and pay them a visit. Let them know you enjoy the TagaBrew program and would like to see them participating.

Enjoy their taproom because they make some great b**rs 🍺❤️🍺

09/17/2026

An amazing b**r from our friends at Urban Forest Craft Brewing. And $1 from every pint is donated to the ALS Therapy Development Institute.

Do your part by drinking this fabulous b**r 🍻

If you saw us at Screw City B**r Festival you were one of the first to try this b**r! Now on tap, "Ale for ALS". A West Coast Style IPA brewed with an exclusive hop blend from Yakima Chief Hops just for Ales for ALS! This year's blend has Simcoe, Citra, Ekuanot and Columbus hops which all combine here for a modernized West Coast IPA. It has that signature crisp piney and resinous bitterness, but with tropical and citrus fruit complexity layerd in. $1 from every pint sold will go to the ALS Therapy Development Institute.

09/17/2026

Let’s hear how many tags & charms you have collected from these five breweries 🍺❤️🍺

09/15/2026

Shout out to our awesome friends at Soundgrowler Brewing Co. They just placed another reorder and are on 🔥🔥 with their TagaBrew chain sales.

Thanks to their entire team for being great hosts to the TagaBrew community. Make sure you visit this brewery 🍺❤️🍺.

The taproom plays heavy metal music, giving it a loud, energetic, and distinct personality compared to typical local pubs.

An on-site taco counter serves highly rated Mexican street food and tacos 🌮 that pair directly with their b**r menu.

09/08/2026

Always something fun happening at Treehive Meadery. Definitely add them to your travel plans when. Isiting Central Illinois.

As traditions go, this is 3 years and counting this group orders one of everything on Labor Day Weekend. Thanks for stopping in again and again and again. We love repeat our repeat customers. 😊 🍯🍷🥂

Also, we are 25 days away from Broctober Fest! 👀
We have Oat, Clockwork Soul, and Josh Holland playing that day. 🎤🎶 I can't wait to celebrate with you all.

Have a great day!!

09/02/2026

Jan and I love a good b**r festival. One of the best parts of our business.

Please reply in the comments with Illinois b**r festivals you have enjoyed and would recommend. We would like to make sure we get some included in our 2027 festival plans.

Our festival tent is awesome . Let’s make sure it gets some visits in to Illinois.

09/02/2026

This is amazing. Two Oktoberfest parties to celebrate on September 12th. Stop into Hailstorm Brewing Co. and Soundgrowler Brewing Co. and collect their event sticker and get your ticket for an amazing prize drawing.

09/02/2026

Thanks to our friends at Mikerphone Brewing for placing another TagaBrew reorder. You guys are on 🔥🔥🔥.

We appreciate your support and can’t wait to visit your taproom again.