Photos: 815 Ale Fest draws sold out crowd to Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley

February 1, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Rock River Current, 815 News, Rockford, Trending, Eat & Drink, Photo Gallery
Christi Letsinger of Dead Man’s Hand performs on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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CHERRY VALLEY — A sold out crowd of more than 500 people filled the Tebala Event Center on Saturday for the annual 815 Ale Fest.

The sixth annual festival is put on Mid-West Family Broadcasting radio stations — B103, 95.3 The Bull, 100FM and 104.9 The X.

This year’s winners were:

  • Best Brew: Urban Forest Craft Brewing
  • Judge’s Choice: Hairy Cow Brewing Co.
  • People’s Choice: Pig Minds Brewing Co.

Check out images from this year’s event below:

Kat Bloomquist of Jax’s Pub in Loves Park receives a sample from Matt Hall on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
815 Ale Fest
Alex Cando, brewmaster and co-owner of Urban Forest Craft Brewing, hands a guest a sample on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Dipal Skolrood laughs as she takes a sample on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ray Chemello, left, and Keon Paden pose in the photo booth on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Guests move through 815 Ale Fest on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Kelly Bloomquist of Jax’s Pub in Loves Park laughs with Matt Yates of Rockford on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Emily Granath takes a drink on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during 815 Ale Fest at the Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Aaron Sleger of Big Grove Brewery and Jon Lambert of Hairy Cow Brewing Co. chat on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Heith Gruner and Dead Man’s Hand perform on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Matt Hall of 104.9 The X talks with Jon Lambert of Hairy Cow Brewing Co. on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

John Lambert of Hairy Cow Brewing Co. talks with guests on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ryan Sartori of 95.3 The Bull interviews Jackie Prusinski and Kristine Cloyd on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jarrell Merrifield of Rockford takes a drink on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at the Lena Brewing Co. station of 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Dead Man’s Hand performs on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Adrian Penney of Dead Man’s Hand performs on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at the Tebala Event Center. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Bryan Encinas of Dead Man’s Hand performs on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jaime and Matt Yates pose for a photo on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Bryan Encinas of Dead Man’s Hand plays guitar on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Chris Andresen of Maplewood Brewing & Distillery in Chicago pours a drink on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at the Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Aaron Sleger of Big Grove Brewery and Jon Lambert of Hairy Cow Brewing Co. cheers on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Colt Vaughn, from left, Tonya Morton, Nicole and Nick Sansone of Rockford Liquidation Warehouse, which sponsored an event scavenger hunt, pose for a photo on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Dead Man’s Hand performs on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during 815 Ale Fest at the Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Kyle Stern plays a game with Ryan Sartori of 95.3 The Bull as Kevin Wood of 104.9 The X records on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Emily Granath and Kim DiGiovanni pose for a photo on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ryan Sartori of 95.3 The Bull interviews Dipal and Gregory Skolrood on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A drink from Lena Brewing Co. on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at the Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Sarah Hass, brand rep for Lena Brewing Co., hand a guest a drink on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Nick Sansone of Rockford tastes a sample at the Lena Brewing Co. tent on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Glasses and punch tickets are lined up Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Guests pose for a photo on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jon Lambert, from left, Ryan Sartori, Alex Ortiz and Steve Summers pose for a photo as Lambert and Ortiz of Hairy Cow Brewing Co. accept the Judge’s Choice Award on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Sarah Hass, brand rep for Lena Brewing Co., laughs with guests on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Matt Bryden of Dead Man’s Hand performs on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 815 Ale Fest in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Chris Langguth, head brewer at Pig Minds Brewing Co., poses for a photo with Ryan Sartori and Steve Summers of 95.3 The Bull after Pig Minds won the People’s Choice Award at 815 Ale Fest. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas