I was looking to attend the Chicago beer festival next week and was wondering if anyone went to this event last year? With so many beer festivals popping up some seem hit or miss. I am assuming they will just have flagship taps and nothing outside the norm . Just seeking out some feedback. Thanks. Here is the link if anybody is interested: http://thechicagobeerfestival.com
I went to one of these a year or two ago. You're right that most of the beers poured by the largest breweries were flagship-type beers; the fest was geared more toward the mainstream than the beer geek. But they also had a lot of local brewers, and there were more than enough good beers to sample (and a very good variety of them). Probably 2-3 beers per brewery. It was about as crowded as you'd expect, but the wait time for pours wasn't bad. I think a lot of the pourers were connected to the brewery they were pouring for. Food wasn't great--cash for pre-made bland burgers and dogs, and very few tables set up to eat them at. I don't remember what the water situation was like. All in all, I'd say it's a lot like most beer fests of the size. But if you're wanting to go to one of those fests, and if you're coming from the suburbs, you can't beat the location. It doesn't get any easier (or safer) than having the train take you right there and back.
So - am I the only BA going to this? I realize it's not an extreme barrel fest, but there's a bunch of fine breweries attending (Destihl, Greenbush, Dark Horse, Pipeworks, Big Muddy, Founders, etc), it's in a convenient-by-train location and it's beer. More for me, I guess....
Since there seem to be events like this just about every weekend these days, I talked to one of my beer friends who has been far deeper into the craft scene for far longer than I have and this is what I came away with... 'Festivals' worth going to: Great Taste of the Midwest - Sometime in early-mid August in Madison, WI (ticket info avail in April) Festival of Barrel and Wood Aged Beer (FOBAB) - November in Chicago (tickets in July?) Dark Lord Day - last Saturday in April at FFF (ticket sales were on Monday) Other than that, Chicago Craft Beer Week will have some great events happening at local bars and breweries. If you are looking for 'rare' taps and other just great beers, you are better off following craft focused local bars on twitter and facebook instead of going to these mainly generic festivals...IMO.
I don't quite follow your logic 100%, but that's ok. Especially considering two of the three you mentioned are extremely difficult to get tickets to. I try to go to as many beer fests as possible, not just two or three. They don't all have to be "rare" pour events. I do have my DLD tix, fwiw...
I guess I should have been a little more specific about what part of the post I was responding to... I have limited time and financial resources to devote to my craft beer obsession, so I wanted to make sure I was paying attention to the events I would get the most out of. It seemed like that was what the OP was after...
Seeing I didn't get tickets to DLD this event and stoutfest will have to suffice. I do agree that FOBAB is a really great event and the Great Taste is even better. I guess that te mortgage payment will have to be a little late this month... Who needs good credit when you have craft beer.
I've been to this fest a few times and have always had a good time and enjoyed good brews. There are plenty of great local breweries that I'm sure you haven't had everything from. It's great to interact with some of the locals too. Yeah it's not going to be anything super rare, although, my first taste of BCBS was at this fest in 2012. The food there is okay. I would just bring some pretzels and get food before/afterwards. Last fall they did have free bottles of water. Can't make it this spring though.
I usually go to Chicago Beer Festival (and had lots of fun) but I'm not attending this next one. I think I'm saving myself for the Soldier Field one, and Craft Beer Week.
Outstanding time at The Chicago Beer Festival at Union Station yesterday (03-22). We did the early session - 1 to 4 - and though the event was sold out lines were never an issue - except for the deplorable bathroom situation. And while there were plenty of session-style offerings I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of high abv beers, as well as a BA batch or two (thank you, Local Option!). Lots of very good brews/brewers - which began with Plead The Fifth from Dark Horse (who also had Fore and 4 Elf on hand) - generous pours, talkative reps and a very relaxed vibe. I would go next year without question...
