23-05-2025
Pale ale and spicy pickle beer: Beer bash returning to Peoria Heights for second year
In Peoria Heights, Bust'd Brewing is preparing to host its second annual Beer Bash.
Bre Henderson, taproom manager and event coordinator, said last year's inaugural event featured 13 brewers and drew around 150 event-goers. This year, she expects to see around 250 people turn out to try beers from at least 18 different breweries.
'It is so refreshing to us,' Henderson said of the growth. 'We've seen such a huge support from the community and such excitement to bring this event back again.'
Here's what to know about the second Bust'd Beer Bash.
The event will take place in the parking lot of Bust'd Brewing – located at 4408 N. Prospect Road in Peoria Heights.
Breweries will set up under various tents, and Henderson said a limited number of picnic and cocktail tables will be available for guests to use.
Visitors should park in public lots around Peoria Heights.
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The second Bust'd Beer Bash will be held on May 25 from noon until 4 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased in person or online at
The community can buy general admission tickets for $45 through May 17 as part of an early bird special. From May 18 to the day of the event, general admission will cost $55.
Designated driver tickets will be available at the door for $10.
Henderson said she expects many are waiting to purchase tickets until the forecast comes out, but she added that the event will take place rain or shine.
'The beer still tastes the same,' she said.
General admission tickets include a souvenir tasting glass from the Fox Pub and access to samples from all breweries at the Beer Bash.
'They'll be able to kind of walk around, talk to the brewers or the brewery rep - whoever's there - and get more information about the beer, talk to them about the process, talk to them about their business, their brewery, all of that stuff,' Henderson said. 'And then also get to try whatever beers they like.'
Not a fan of the beer in your glass? Not a problem, Henderson said.
'You can dump it out and you can move on to another one,' she said.
Henderson said The Wolves Den Pizzeria will also be serving pizza on site for an additional cost.
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Bust'd Brewing's Beer Bash will feature at least 18 different breweries, according to Henderson.
'Most of the breweries are bringing two to three different styles of beer,' she said. 'Anywhere from a nice pilsner to we even have some fruited sours, some hazy IPAs, regular IPAs – as wild as like a spicy pickle beer.'
Local breweries like Nightjar, Industry Brewing and Tangled Roots will make an appearance at the Beer Bash, Henderson said. Some of the other breweries listed on the event's website include:
Analytical Brewing
Keg Grove Brewing Company
Phase Three Brewing Company
Reserve Artisan Ales
Triptych Brewing
Unpossible Mead
White Oak Brewing
Go Brewing
'We've started announcing the breweries on our social media and people are super pumped to see breweries coming from a little farther outside of Central Illinois too this year,' Henderson said.
Bust'd Brewing plans to release its Summer Bash beer, Henderson said, the week of the event. She said the drink – which features orange puree and hops – earned second place on Untappd last year in the American pale ale category for Illinois.
'It was definitely a crowd favorite last year and (we) are excited to bring it back,' she said. 'People have been asking for it.'
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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Beer bash returning to Peoria Heights for second year
