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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SKETCHBOOK BREWING COMPANY
WHEREAS, Cesar Marron started home brewing in 2010 with the intention to “just learn a little,” but he found himself getting involved with local homebrew clubs and competitions. He partnered with fellow Evanston Homebrew Club member Shawn Decker, and their wives Amy Wilkinson and Alice George, as well as Sean Curry, Mike Ensdorf and Kathy Pilat, Matt and Tara Kosloski, and Ted Perez, who were passionate about starting a microbrewery in their hometown of Evanston, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Sketchbook opened its first Tap Room in April of 2016 at 821 Chicago Avenue in Evanston with an intimate space focused on conversation, weekly live music, and of course great beer and opened a long-awaited production facility in 2020 at 4901 Main Street in Skokie, totaling 15,000 square feet with a cavernous taproom and large beer garden that has become an inclusive community gathering space for everything from kids birthday parties to charity fundraisers and cultural events; and
WHEREAS, Sketchbook has been committed to decreasing their carbon footprint and being kind to the planet from the very beginning. From sustainable brewing practices to collaborations with local farms, Sketchbook aims to brew beer sustainability from the start of the brewing process all the way through to spent grain disposal via chickens; and
WHEREAS, in 2024 Sketchbook Brewing Company was one of six recipients of Cook County’s Businesses Reducing Impact on the Environment (BRITE) program providing technical assistance and grants to local businesses to help them reduce environmental impact through pollution reduction. Sketchbook will use these funds to purchase an electric vehicle (EV) to deliver the brewery’s spent grains to local farms to feed livestock and install two EV charging stations for customers and the public; and
WHEREAS, Sketchbook is a true community partner. They collaborate with breweries, nonprofits and community organizations to be part of the change. Sketchbook donates proceeds from some of our brews to local nonprofit organizations, and work with other breweries to brew collaborations to spotlight local and nationwide causes including a special brew for the Democratic National Convention in 2024 in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, after 10 years of business, Sketchbook is a 20 barrel brewery, with two taprooms (Evanston and Skokie) and distribution throughout Illinois and in southern Wisconsin with core beers such as Orange Door IPA, Insufficient Clearance Hazy IPA, Amistosa Mexican Lager and Pinky Sweater Pilsner; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the President and members of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County do hereby honor Sketchbook Brewery on its 10th anniversary and extend our best wishes for further growth and success for another 10 years, and beyond; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Sketchbook Brewing Company as a sign of the County’s appreciation for the company and its founders’ contributions, service and success.
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