FOBAB 2024

According to https://www.facebook.com/FOBABofficial/ and https://bestbeerfestivals.com/fobab it's Friday Nov 22 and Saturday Nov 23. https://www.fobab.com/ doesn't seem to have 2024 listed yet.

 

Volunteer sign-ups for anyone interested. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWZIf1tczj8Z6ea8RP4wlpCtyuFRicXku_1Fc1fDWHztuHqg/viewform

 

Can anyone here speak to the volunteer experience? “A great time was had by all,” I assume!

 

I signed up for my fifth tour of duty, volunteering at the Roosevelt Halsted building in 2018-2019, and after skipping the jab/mask 2021 version, also in 2022-2023. I've poured all four sessions. Had good volunteers to work with 2018-2019. We were shorthanded in 2022 (Saturday) with two of our four in a 15-20 beer row volunteering the day before, and so committed to only an hour or two which put us in a bind. Was really busy and tired, not to mention the take down Saturday afternoon of the space after close, but we were rewarded with a few excellent take away bottles for our efforts.

I signed up for the same Saturday shift last year. One of the three volunteers at our already shorthanded row was terrible. She spent more than half the festival away from our area, thinking that asking us whether we wanted anything was sufficient to ditch her dutiest. I mentioned this to a coordinator, but they didn't really do anything about it. They also had tons of left over take aways beyond the kegs the organizers take, but weren't giving them out unless you stayed a few hours beyond 6 PM, so none for me as I was beat before the regular 11-6 shift ended.

Bottom line, it's a fun event, and I have enjoyed volunteering working with considerate volunteers. If you are interested and can give a good effort during your seven hour volunteer shift, you should enjoy the experience.

I returned to Friday PM volunteering, because I no longer have the energy (mid 50s) to volunteer the takedown shift Saturday afternoon. Really wish they still had three sessions, as I enjoyed volunteering Friday night and returning to attend with a long rest Saturday night. The quick turnaround is something to consider for people interested in volunteering and attending back to back. I have a much lower alcohol tolerance these days, so I stay about 2 hours as an attendee, which is enough for me in 2024, especially after volunteering and enjoying pours the night before.

 

We volunteered for several years back when FOBAB was so popular it would sell out multiple sessions and pouring was a good way to avoid getting shut out of (free) tickets. We'd pour then come back for our free session after. I think our last year was 2019 before Covid. As stated above, the experience can significantly vary. My first year I was assigned dump bucket/water jug duty. That sucked. If you can get assigned to a quieter area like Lager Lounge or sours, you'll be busy enough for time to go quickly but not so totally swamped that you can't enjoy chatting with your neighbors or grabbing a few samples here and there. Try to avoid getting assigned to tables with big-name stouts. It can be a non-stop shitshow and you're just hoping for your kegs to kick early so you can take a breath. I haven't volunteered since they moved to the arena, but I imagine it's a better working experience what with all the extra space. Final note is I wish they'd get better volunteer shirts. They're always so terrible. Still a great fest and I see people pouring that I volunteered with almost 10 years ago, so lots of folks still enjoy the experience, but now we just pay up for Imbibe membership and get the early entrance tickets instead.

 

Thanks @ChicagoJ & @Sparty93 for the detailed feedback. Although this isn’t a local festival for me, it is one that’s been on my radar for a while (thanks to the annual threads like this one, among other things). I’m not a festival-goer generally, but I have volunteered elsewhere and had some incredible experiences and good times with fellow advocates (lower case a, no idea if they were also BA Advocates).

I am a little surprised at the length of the shifts. Once I worked the line during a drizzly winter day and the end of my shift couldn’t come soon enough!

Given the staff shortages it seems like I have a little more time to mull over logistics to make it work this year. Or next year!

 

A few of these typically fall through between October and the Festival, but here is a list by state and for Illinois by city or town. Breweries and meaderies new for 2024 (vs. 2023) noted with a (New).

There were 193 breweries last year, with a net reduction of 26 down to 167 participants including multiple brewery locations within an equal split from out of state and within Illinois, the latter mostly driven by net Chicago dropouts:

-13 Out of State
-11 Chicago
-2 Illinois beyond Chicago

https://www.fobab.com/2024-brewer-list

193 Total Breweries and Meaderies

• 92 Out of State
  • Ohio leads with 14
  • Colorado, North Carolina and Wisconsin with 9 each
  • California and Michigan with 8 each
  • Indiana with 6
• 20 Within Chicago
• 55 Illinois beyond Chicago

Chicago, Illinois Breweries & Meaderies (20)

• Cruz Blanca Brewery
• ERIS Brewery and Cider House (New)
  
• Forbidden Root
• Goose Island Beer Company
• Half Acre Beer Company
• Hopewell Brewing Company
• Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Company
• is/was brewing (New)
  
• Maplewood Brewery & Distillery
• Moody Tongue Brewing Company
• Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap
• Off Color Brewing - Production
• Old Irving Brewing Company
• Pipeworks Brewing Co.
• Revolution Brewing
• Revolution Brewing - Brewpub (New)
  
• Right Bee Cider (New)
  
• Second City Meadery
  
• Spiteful Brewing
  
• Twisted Hippo

Alabama (1)
Birmingham Cahaba Brewing Company

Arizona (2)
Phoenix Wren House Brewing Company
Prescott Superstition Meadery

California (8)
Anaheim Radiant Beer Co. (New)
Buellton Firestone Walker Barrelworks
Chico Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico (New)
Elk Grove Flatland Brewing Company
Marina Del Rey Firestone Walker Propagator
Paso Robles Firestone Walker
San Diego TapRoom Beer Co.
San Marcos The Lost Abbey

Colorado (9)
Aurora Milieu Fermentation (New)
Arvada New Image Brewing Company
Denver Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company (New)
Fort Collins (2) Crooked Stave; Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project - Fort Collins
Greeley WeldWerks Brewing Co. (New)
Idaho Springs Westbound & Down Brewing Company
Loveland Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project
Wheat Ridge New Image Brewing Company - Wheat Ridge

Florida (1)
Tampa Magnanimous Brewing

Georgia (1)
Alpharetta Cherry Street Brewing (New)

Illinois (55 + 20 Chicago = 75)
Algonquin Scorched Earth Brewing Company (New)
Bartlett More Brewing Company - Bartlett
Bloomingdale Wolfden Brewing Company (New)
Bloomington Keg Grove Brewing Company
Brocton Treehive (New)
Brookfield Imperial Oak Brewing-Brookfield (New)
Buffalo Grove Liquid Love Brewing (New)
Crystal Lake Crystal Lake Brewing
Darien Miskatonic Brewing Company
DeKalb Tangled Roots Brewing Company
Elk Grove Village Mikerphone Brewing
Elmhurst Elmhurst Brewing Company
Evanston Sketchbook Brewing Co - Evanston
Flossmoor Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery (New)
Galesburg Reserve Artisan Ales
Geneva (2) Art History Brewing; Penrose Brewing Company
Highland Park Ravinia Brewing Company
Homewood Homewood Brewing Company (New)
Huntley More Brewing Company - Huntley
Itasca Church Street Brewing Company
Lake Zurich (2) Phase Three Brewing Company; Roaring Table Brewing Co.
Lemont Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling - Lemont
Lombard Noon Whistle Brewing - Lombard
Mokena Brothership Brewing
Mundelein Tighthead Brewing Company
Naperville (3) Hidden Hand Brewing; Noon Whistle Brewing - Naperville; Solemn Oath Brewery
Normal (3) Destihl Brewery and Beerhall; Destihl Restaurant Brew Works; White Oak Brewing
North Aurora (2) BBGB Brewery (New); Brother Chimp Brewing
Oak Brook Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Oak Brook (New)
Oak Park (2) Kinslahger Brewing (New); One Lake Brewing
Plainfield Werk Force Brewing Co.
Saint Charles Riverlands Brewing Company
Savoy Triptych Brewing Company
Skokie Sketchbook Brewing Co - Skokie
Tinley Park (2) Hailstorm Brewing; Soundgrowler Brewing (New)
Villa Park (2) Lunar Brewing Company; More Brewing Company - Villa Park
Warrenville Two Brothers Artisan Brewing
Waukegan Nightshade and Dark's Pandemonium Brewing
Westmont (2) Whiskey Hill Brewery & Kitchen; Whiskey Hill Brewing Company
Willowbrook Imperial Oak Brewing - Willowbrook
Wilmington Rt.66 Old School Brewing (New)
Woodridge Ike & Oak Brewing Co.
Woodstock Kishwaukee Brewing Co.
Yorkville Fox Republic Brewing Company (New)

Indiana (6)
Fischers Sun King Brewery- Fishers
Fort Wayne 2Toms Brewing Company
Indianapolis Sun King Brewery- Indianapolis
Michigan City Shoreline Brewery
Munster Three Floyds Brewing
Valparaiso Misbeehavin' Meads

Iowa (1)
Des Moines Confluence Brewing Company

Michigan (8)
Birmingham Griffin Claw Brewing Company
Bridgman Transient Artisan Ales
Decatur (2) Final Gravity Brewing Company; Final Gravity Brewing Company Production
Marquette Barrel and Beam (New)
Niles Niles Brewing Company
Troy Loaded Dice Brewery (New)
Union Pier Seedz Brewery (New)

Minnesota (4)
Big Lake (2) Lupulin Brewing Company; Scribbled Lines Brewing (New)
Minneapolis Idyll Forest Artisan Ales-Pryes Brewing Company
Rochester Forager Brewery (New)

Missouri (3)
Kansas City Boulevard Brewing Company
Saint Louis (2) Perennial Artisan Ales; The Modern Brewery (New)

Nebraska (3)
La Vista Kros Strain Brewing
Omaha (2) Jukes Ale Works; Upstream Brewing Company

New York (2)
Brooklyn other half brewing
Rochester Strangebird Beer and Barrel House (New)

North Carolina (9)
Asheville (3) Wicked Weed Brewing; Wicked Weed Brewing Funkatorium; Wicked Weed Brewing Funk House
Charlotte (2) Resident Culture Brewing; Resident Culture Brewing - Bland Street
Mills River Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Mills River
Raleigh (2) Brewery Bhavana; Trophy Brewing Company
Winston-Salem Incendiary Brewing Company

Ohio (14)
Akron Akronym Brewing (New)
Athens Jackie O's Brewery
Centerville Loose Ends Brewing
Cincinnati (2) Streetside Brewery; Wandering Monsters Brewing Company (New)
Cleveland Masthead Brewing Company
Columbus (2) Derive Brewing Company; Forbidden Root Columbus
Dayton (2) The Dayton Beer Company; Warped Wing Brewing Co.
Hamilton Third Eye Brewing Company - Hamilton (New)
Loveland Narrow Path Brewing Company (New)
Sharonville Third Eye Brewing Company - Sharonville (New)
Vandalia Hairless Hare Brewery

Oklahoma (1)
Tulsa American Solera (New)

Oregon (2)
Hood River pFriem Family Brewers (New)
Milwaukie Breakside Brewery & Taproom (New)

Pennsylvania (1)
Camp Hill Ever Grain Brewing Company

South Carolina (1)
Boiling Springs New Groove Artisan Brewery (New)

Texas (2)
Fort Worth Martin House Brewing Company (New)
North Richland Hills False Idol Brewing

Virginia (2)
Norfolk Benchtop Brewing Company
Richmond Benchtop Brewing - RVA (New)

Washington (1)
Seattle (2) Fremont Brewing (New); Reuben's Brews (New)

Wisconsin (9)
Baileys Harbor Sway Brewing + Blending (New)
Beloit G5 Brewing Company
Green Bay Badger State Brewing (New)
Greendale The Explorium Brewpub - Greendale (New)
LaCross 608 Brewing Company
Milwaukee (2) Lakefront Brewery; The Explorium Brewpub - Third Ward (New)
Sun Prairie Full Mile Beer Co. & Kitchen
Waunakee Humble Forager Brewery (New)

Parts Unknown (1)
NeuroNova Brewing (New)

26 States + DC Not Represented:
Alaska; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; District of Columbia; Hawaii; Idaho; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Massachusetts; Maryland; Mississippi; Montana; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; North Dakota; Rhode Island; South Dakota; Tennessee; Utah; Vermont; West Virginia; Wyoming.

 

So what the data is showing me is that Fobab should be moved up to early November to make it a political destination for presidential candidates since it looks like many swing states brewers have come out in force to FOBAB.

 

Wow, fantastic work there @ChicagoJ

Unfortunately, this appears to be one based on this thread.

 

Serious question. Fobab has been on my bucket list for a while and the only reason I haven't gone is because of the all high octane brews. For those of you who go every year, how do you guys navigate the tasting without getting absolutely smashed? Do you have a game plan as to what you want try, or do you just take small sips, lots of water breaks?. Just curious to know.

 

I stayed pretty sober in my only visit. I smelled a ton of farts, got grossed out & left after about an hour.

 

Ugh, that's brutal.

 

At least a quarter to a third of the offerings are lower ABV (4-7%) beers you can find in categories such as Lagers, Other Pale Beer, Fruit Beer, Wild Beer Brett, Wild Mixed Fermentation and Wild Mixed Culture.

That said, many go primarily for BA Stouts. I find these strategies help no matter what styles / ABVs you plan to enjoy:

Pre-FOBAB:

• Make sure to have a solid meal before going. I try to hit Pompei before each session. There are plenty of other nearby solid food options.
• Bring an empty water bottle and pretzels and snacks. There are plenty of water stations throughout the arena. There are also arena food offerings.
• Similar to a buffet, your ticket is a sunk cost, so go in with the attitude it’s all you should drink vs. all I can possibly drink and not pass out or puke.

During FOBAB:

• Take your time navigating through the event. Outside of say a dozen “whales”, these beers will last the entire session.
• Use the dump buckets often. No need to drink the full sample unless you like/love it.
• Use the beer list to focus on beers / styles to make sure you hit everything first while your palate is still fresh.

Also, the UIC Pavilion is a much larger and better venue than the small cramped space @GuyFawkes and others including me experienced last decade. There is plenty of space to spread out and chill seated, 2-3X the number of bathrooms, a large outdoor space for fresh air (and BCBS pours) also equipped with heating lamps.

Hope this helps those considering attending.

 

I pass around this link every year especially if we have first timers joining us: https://www.porchdrinking.com/articles/2022/11/02/tips-to-have-a-great-time-at-fobab/
It's a good reminder for everyone though.

 

• Plan to get absolutely smashed.
• Go with as many friends as possible.
• Know how you're getting out of there and to the next destination before you go.
• Dump out anything you don't like, and when you do fill your taster to the top with water (the dump buckets are next to the water stations).
• Ramp down as you go, you're gonna be mesmerized by how much you want to try, so get it out of the way in the first hour.
• You're not going to sober up as you go but at least the high octane stuff is making its way through your system.
• Don't pre-game

 

I’ll reiterate most of the advice above.

* Take a break halfway through - some people walk the floor during the Saturday medal announcements because it can be less congested but we tend to stay put and listen. It’s about 30-45 minutes of down time.
* Eat something beforehand & drink plenty of water during the fest
* Same as others wrote, dump what you don’t like. You can also ask for shorter pours - the volunteers sometimes get heavy-handed with the volume in your glass.
* Mix it up - I wouldn’t recommend walking the Strong Porter/Stout table from start to finish right from the get-go. You can make your way from high ABV style to lower ABV style sections pretty easily.

 

You’ll need something to soak up some of that alcohol at the halfway point. My recommendation is to bring a stale demi-baguette and smuggle it in the front of your pants. It has the added benefit that if you are in line and repeatedly bump into the person in front of you with the demi-baguette in the front of your pants they will get weirded out and leave the line so you have a shorter wait.

 

Don't be afraid to pour out beers you don't like or don't feel like finishing. They have dump buckets and water stations all over. Dump & get some water.

 

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I wonder how many Fobabs they could have put on with just the dumped beer.