Aurora's own Republican beer made its debut on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at an event hosted by the Aurora Republican Women's and Kendall County Women's organizations at Walter Payton's Roundhouse in Aurora.

The beer, a baltic porter, is brewed with qualities that embody Republican values. It's complex, smooth and well-rounded flavor gets its unique taste from Belgian sugar, coffee and toffee, among other ingredients, according to the Roundhouse's brewmaster, Mike Rybinski, who shared details of the brewing of Big Tent Brew. Rybinski came up with the combination of flavors after hearing from Republicans in March about the characteristics a GOP beer should embody.

The brewpub entered the unique blend in the Great American Brew Festival in Colorado in September, and offered samplings there. The event on Oct. 7 marked the beer's debut to area Republicans. Young Republican Andrew Skillicorn, whose wife Heather designed the beer label for the beer, gave the flavor a thumbs up.

"I'm a beer snob," Skillicorn explained, "and this has a great taste."

Over 200 people attended the event, which doubled as a fundraiser for the two women's organizations. 50th District State Representative Kay Hatcher was the featured speaker.

Candidates at Federal, State and Local levels gathered hundreds of signatures. Republicans in attendance left energized!