Greg Browne gives a cup of barley to the Beer School 101 class at Mickey Finn's Brewery to sample and pass around. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media

Various dried and roasted malted barleyis used in making the different ales at Mickey Finn's Brewery in Libertyville. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media

Mickey Finn's brewmaster Greg Browne of Mundelein talks about various dried and roasted malted barley used in making ales during a beer-making basics class for staff members and the public at theLibertyville microbrewery. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media

Bri Milka of Antioch inspects one of the ales before tasting during a beer-making basics class at Mickey Finn's Brewery in Libertyville. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media

Dick Cutler of Lake Villa, left, and Eric Kraus of Chicago talk about one of the various ales they sample. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media

Greg Browne shows some American hops used in making beer to a beer-making basics class as Dill Torrance of Vernon Hills watches. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media

Dick Cutler samples one of the ales at Mickey Finn's Brewery in Libertyville during a beer-making basics class last weekend. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media

Dave Turnbaugh of Libertyville inspects a container of fermenting ale. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media

Erica Siels of Antioch, left, and Sami Mack of Libertyville have a toast with some ale at Mickey Finn's Brewery in Libertyville. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media