Goose Island Collaborates with Local Chicago Band

For the fourth year, Goose Island has teamed up with a band performing at the Pitchfork Music Festival to create a unique beer that represents the bands taste in beers. This year the brewery collaborated with Chicago’s own Twin Peaks to create Natural Villain, a garage/pilsner-style lager.

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Transient Artisan Ales | Pentameter Batch #2

Breweries are opening in and around Chicago with frequency, but few of them are making sour and wild ales the main focus of their efforts. Since its inception, Chris Betts of … Read More

Event Preview | Chicago Ale Fest

2nd Annual Chicago Ale Fest Buckingham Fountain (Grant Park), Chicago, IL Friday, June 17, 2016: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2016: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. $50 … Read More

Event Recap | CCBW: Chain O’Lakes Brewing Route 31 Series Collaboration

Three distinct breweries, one community. Three distinct beers, one collaboration.

Scorched Earth Brewing, Chain O’Lakes Brewing, and Crystal Lake Brewing are three breweries found along Route 31 in Chicago’s distant … Read More

Chicago Craft Brew Cruises | Brewers of the Western Suburbs

“The true history of the World is the history of great conversations in elegant rooms.” —Tyrion Lannister.

Similarly, the true history of craft beer is conversation, but in any room. Chicago Craft Beer week was a prime example, keeping me jabbing for 10 days straight. One stand-out event was the Brewers of the Western Suburbs Cruise hosted by BrewFest Partners, aboard the Mystic Blue.

It was a perfect spring day when we set sail from Navy Pier for a 3-hour long journey along beautiful Lake Michigan. With the renown Chicago skyline as our backdrop, we were catered delicious finger food, and served refreshing beer by Banging Gavel, Blue Nose, BuckleDown, Church Street, Exit Strategy, Flesk, Hopvine, Miskatonic, Nevins, Noon Whistle, Solemn Oath, and Spent Grain Society (homebrew club).
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Event Recap | CCBW: Nevin’s Brewing Company 21 Beer Salute

Few beer events can simultaneously appease both beer geeks and beer novices, but Plainfield, Illinois’ Nevin’s Brewing Company 21 Beer Salute did just that. As part of Chicago Craft Beer … Read More

Brewery Preview | Dovetail Brewery

Days before the craziness of Chicago Craft Beer Week (CCBW), I was offered the opportunity to tour soon-to-open Dovetail Brewery, which is co-owned, operated and run by Bill Wesselink and Hagen Dost. What better way to begin the beer week, than with a preview of the next chapter of Chicago’s burgeoning beer scene.

Dovetail is a reference to the carpenter’s joint of interlocking boards, it is famed for its resistance to being pulled apart. As Bill so elegantly expressed, “It’s coming together to make a stronger brewery. A mix of old and new, American and European to create what we feel is our interpretation.”
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Brewery Showcase | Pig Minds Brewing Company

It’s all about the liquid.

That may seem like an oversimplification, but as the American craft beer landscape becomes ever more infused with concerns of Big Beer – mergers, acquisitions, … Read More

Event Recap | Chicago Craft Beer Week’s Beer Under Glass

If it’s the clothes that make the man, then it can also be said that it’s the weather that makes the beer festival. For the first time in at least a few years, Beer Under Glass (BUG), the event that opens up Chicago Craft Beer Week, had perfect weather.

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Chicago Craft Beer Week: Miskatonic Brewing Co. | Mystery Infusion Contest

Would you like to play a game?

If so, Darien’s Miskatonic Brewing Company has a Chicago Craft Beer Week (CCBW) challenge for you. They explain, “We are infusing three Miskatonic beers with interesting ingredients. Order a flight and get a scorecard, for every beer and infusion ingredient you guess correctly, you get a raffle ticket for great prizes! Come out and test your palate!” If you fancy yourself a true beer aficionado and think you’re adept at judging and describing beer on Untappd or similar sites, this is the event for you. The party starts at 3 pm on Friday, May 27th at the Miskatonic Brewing taproom. Read More

Chicago Craft Beer Week | Navy Pier Beer Cruise: Brewers of the Western Suburbs

Chicago and its suburbs have been turning out quality beers left and right, North and South, East and West. Now it’s your opportunity to experience what the best of the Western suburbs have to offer with this one of a kind beer cruise. Read More

Event Preview: Delilah’s Sour Fest

Pucker up and give us some sugar sours. Delilah’s is hosting their annual Lambic and Sour event on Saturday, May 21st from 12pm-5pm during Chicago Craft Beer Week. For beginners and enthusiasts, this event will be one not to miss.

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Chicago Gears Up For 7th Annual Craft Beer Week

For eleven glorious days, the city of Chicago is one giant playground for craft beer drinkers. The seventh annual Chicago Craft Beer Week takes place from May 19th-29th and will feature about 400 different events in 100 different venues.

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Inside the Tank | Spiteful Brewing’s Jason Klein

Spiteful Brewing, started by Brad Shaffer & Jason Klein, has put out a lot of different beers since they began brewing back in 2012. The beers are well-known in Chicago for their unique labels and creative names. When we walked into their brewing space for the first time I was shocked at how small of an area they work with. In fact their current space is only 1,600 sq. feet, but luckily will be moving into a new space with nearly 7,500 sq. ft – a tremendous upgrade.

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Chicago’s Atlas Brewing is now Burnt City Brewing

Macrobreweries are buying craft breweries. Breweries are fighting over names and labels. All this “business talk”  may shock, annoy, and upset craft-beer aficionados, but let us not forget, that beer … Read More

Event Recap | River North Beer Fest

Beer – the elixir of life, a delicious treat and the ultimate unifier. No event has ever invoked this more than the River North Beer Fest. The beer fest was split … Read More

Chicago’s Largest Beer Festival Returns As Chicago Beer Classic

Once billed as the American Beer Classic, Chicago’s largest beer festival returns in May, but with a brand new name. Now re-branded as the Chicago Beer Classic, the Red Frog Events run festival returns to Soldier Field on May 7.

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Inside the Tank: Half Acre Beer Company’s Matt Young

Half Acre Beer Company is a mainstay for any Chicago craft beer enthusiast. A consistent array of year-round, seasonal and special-release beers make one of the oldest craft breweries in … Read More

Chicago Beer Festival Moves to The Field Museum

For the first time in the event’s history, the Chicago Beer Festival will not be taking place in the Great Hall at Union Station. The festival, which will take place on March 26th will be held at Chicago’s iconic Field Museum.

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$10,000 raised for family of well-known beer industry volunteer

Rich Reynolds never earned a dime in the craft beer industry, but when he tragically and suddenly passed away, Chicago’s craft beer community came together to help his family.

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