Not looking for BCBS bottle release info, just a list of what bars/breweries have cool events that day/weekend. Ideally looking to get BCBS and variants on tap all in one place. I know GI does a ticketed event at Clybourn that day as well, also would appreciate info on ticket sales for that.
I don't know if they do it every year, but Timothy O'Tooles had a 4 year vertical on regular Bourbon County and then one of the Props as well last year on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It made the parade the next morning a bit rough to say the very least.
Wednesday night there are usually a few bars that have all of the current year's variants on tap. Then there are more on Friday - you shouldn't have a problem. I don't think most events have been officially announced yet, though. I think the events will start to get figured out after the Binny's announcement, which I'm guessing will come in a couple weeks (last year it was announced exactly 3 weeks ahead of Black Friday, which would mean 11/3 this year).
Local Option is a decent bet. I don't think they had coffee, but they had the other 3 plus BA Jones and Hyper Dog plus some other cool stuff. The rest of the list is fuzzy, I don't remember a whole lot between my 3rd BA stout pour and waking up at home 5 hours later.
Whole Foods DePaul had Coffee on tap on that Friday/Saturday last year (plus other BA stouts). These forums will have people talking about where they're finding Prop on tap (Lincoln Park Binny's at some point). A great suburban event is the Transient bottle release of BA Neckbeard Nectar at The Beer Cellar in Glen Ellyn. It's during the day and near a train stop. Last year had bottle pours of Kentuckley and the Shut Up Nerds stout on draft too along with NN. A really fun party.
There will be tons of tappings so as long as you don't mind enduring a shit show of crowds, lines, and taps blowing instantly you be okay.
I went last year to a place with all variants on tap on Wednesday and it wasn’t a shit show. Busy...yes. Shit show...no.
I went to Warren's Ale House last Black Friday and got to try each Bourbon County. It was busy, but not a shit show. Actually found a table to enjoy the beers and got a BCBS glass to take home.
I can't remember where I went last year on Wednesday but got to try most of them. Place was a shit show though. Butts to nuts full. Left early before the prop 14 was tapped that was a bummer
Aside from the ticket event, Goose Clybourn also has trappings of variants throughout the day available at the bar.
