McLean County Times

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) is saluting Tangled Roots Brewery for its masterful showing in the recent Great American Beer Festival.

With 123 entries in the field, the Ottawa-based establishment, which produces its own hops and barley, recently nabbed the bronze medal in the fruit wheat beer category.

“Congratulations to Scott Struchen and TRBrewing for taking home the bronze with their Sunkissed Blonde in the Fruit Wheat Beer category,” Rezin posted on Twitter, of the company that also sources ingredients for the menus at its brewery and restaurants from local farmers and growers.

This year’s competition marked the largest in contest history with medals ultimately being awarded in 97 different beer categories covering 175 different beer styles.

Forbes.com reports the contest took place over 17 days and 34 sessions with 170 judges involved. The entries included 9,680 beers from 2,192 different breweries spanning all 50 states. The winners were feted during the Craft Brewers Conference that took place in Denver that was also showcased via livestream on The Brewing Network.

Rezin has recently been in the headlines over her support for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decision to sign off on Senate Bill 2408, which helps to keep the state’s nuclear power plants online and seeks to saves jobs.

“It’s official,” Rezin posted on Facebook. “This morning the governor signed Senate Bill 2408, which ensures that our state’s nuclear fleet stay online and preserves thousands of jobs that they provide to our local communities.”

WQAD reports Pritzker said that Illinois is the first Midwestern state to require 100% carbon-free energy by 2045.

"We can't outrun or hide from climate change," Pritzker said. "There is no time to lose. But what we can and must do, is fight to stop and even reverse the damage that's been done to our climate. As of today Illinois is a force for good, for an environmental future we can be proud of."