Bar Alert: Edgewater Update

See the original post here.

I spoke with a  person familiar with The Edgewater Lounge situation.  I was told the restaurant and bar were inspected by the City and given two weeks to shape up or face closure.  They were given a number of small violations to fix.  When the City returned the next week many were fixed and I was told the City found more violations.

Unfortunately, the City being so anxious to take tax dollars has not updated their inspection website since last summer so I have no way of confirming what I was told.  I am taking this story with a grain of salt until I can confirm this.

There is a sign saying they are closed for maintenance and apologizing for the inconvenience.  I am holding out hope the story above is wrong.  I doubt I will ever go back if they can not run a clean ship.  Crossing my fingers that there is not a disgusting explanation.

More information to come when I can get the office Health Department explanation.

Bar Alert: Edgewater Lounge

Hey Northsiders! Edgewater Lounge on N Ashland in Chicago is closed.  Closure was ordered by the Dept of Public Health.  Edgewater is known for their unusually large Rogue selection.  As of now no reason has been publicly disclosed for the closure.  I will update when more information is available.
More information available here.

Beer History: Medicine & Health

Beer has played a role in medicine and health since it was invented.  Everyone knows you are supposed to eat your grains daily, and early beer was a source of grain based nutrients.  It is even possible the first beer was consumed like porridge or gruel.  The recipe used by Ancient Egyptians contained tetracycline a powerful antibiotic.  (A cruel twist of fate- this site stole my thunder yesterday.)

It is also important to note the role beer played in preventing illness from E. coli and other bacteria.  People moved into cities and water supplies became contaminated.  The idea of pathogens had not been thought of.  People knew water could make them sick, but beer did not.  What many did not realize is the boil stage of brewing was killing bacteria.  Beer saved thousands if not millions of lives.  Everyone drank beer as it was the only known safe beverage in Europe.

While we do not think of beer as health food today, it was likely more nutritious back then.  Beer today lacks  nutrition and the filters and ingredients used by many brewers likely do not yield the same punch.  However, it is important to remember where beer played a role in history.