FoBAB 2022

Not sure whether I'm shocked or surprised that an official announcement preceded the typical "when's fobab" posts. Does this mean interest has waned or was IMBIBE just on top of things way early?

 

FWIW, presale info was already emailed out on Friday to IMBIBE members, so you may want to contact them before purchasing if you're hoping to get in for this year.

 

Love that they kept the new venue! Can’t wait!

 

Been cutting back my beer intake as of late but scooped these up as soon as I could. FOBAB is still one of my favorite days of the year. Can't wait!

 

Really considering taking my sister this year as her Christmas present. She would likely take her friend if I payed for her. Would be kind of a cool daisy chain, so to speak. She likes sours. I like stouts. Nice natural compliment.

 

Update on this. Starting to consider strong plans. Question, how does the imbibe thing work? Could I purchase that this year and still get early access? Or would I have to do the imbibe this year in order to then only get access early next year?

 

It’s been a while since I’ve done Imbibe but members are allowed in an hour early. Typically they used to freeze membership sales after a certain point for membership. I agree with the comment above you’d probably need to email them. The membership is renewed annually and dues are owed prior to FOBAB ticket sales. The Imbibe membership is a separate group from FOBAB but this is one of the main perks of membership. There used to be discounts at certain other breweries in Illinois. One year of membership gets you one early FOBAB entry. They won’t let you double up and get this year and next year early entry.

I used to really feel like Imbibe was worth it, because beers used to kick before GA would get in. I feel like it’s been a couple years since that happened. Last year I did GA and tried all the top beers so I think possibly not as many folks are doing imbibe but who knows. The line for GA starts pretty early and that line gets long so I normally shoot to get there an hour before the event to lineup. It is now an annual tradition to go to Mannys deli before FOBAB. A great base layer and their Ruben/ pastrami is excellent. I’d recommend it if you go.

 

Thanks. Yea, there's two reasons I'm interested in the ImBibe. First, the early admission - but part of that is also the lack of lining up early process. The second is trying some of those beers we are most interested in early. I want this to be relaxing. I don't need 5 hours to drink. In fact, for someone that drinks relatively little (especially by BA / WBAYDN standards), I know that 5 hours is going to seem loooong, but given that there would be at minimum of my sister and I (and more than likely that friend as well), there will for sure be a lot of leisurely walking. She won't understand trying to hit the "big ones first". And the friend is the slowest moving person I've ever met in my life. He would love this, but it will be a slothfest. (For the record, he's a smoking, coffee drinking mountain goat that will out hike you all day long. Skinny as a rail. But in everyday life he just moves without any sense of urgency. I love him, but you have to plan for that.)

Really appreciate the feedback.

 

If I recall correctly weren’t there specific sessions for Imbibe to get in early? Or did they have access early to all three sessions? Could you bring your guest in early if you were a member and they weren’t?

 

The Imbibe tickets went on sale a couple days before the general sale and I believe the cutoff for membership was something like the Friday before. It's probably too late for this year, but you could always email them anyway just in case.

I started doing imbibe for the whalez and I agree it's probably not as necessary as it used to be. At this point I like getting the extra hour to try to help me pace myself better (sometimes it works!) and so it's easier to wait in the interminable Goose Island line later in the session.

100% agree on the Manny's recommendation. I didn't go to fobab last year though, and I'm still trying to figure out how the venue change is going to play into this since it's further away. I might just have to get it delivered to my office and eat there before I head over.

When there were 3 sessions, only the first two had early entry. Saturday evening did not. This year, both sessions allow it. Only imbibe members can buy the early tickets, and they don't let +1's in early

 

Since the question comes up every year. Yes, there are drink tickets. No one takes them and they don’t matter. You can sample till your heart is content. Some state law… at least that’s what has been mentioned as to why they have them.

 

There's very little that I'd consider "leisurely" about FOBAB. We didn't make it last year with the new venue, so hopefully more space = less shoulder to shoulder jostling, but I wouldn't have high hopes for a casual wandering around the venue, at least not around the stouts.

 

Having gone last year I thought the new venue was a big improvement, granted I think numbers were also lower than years previous because of covid. Still, having more than 2 bathrooms is a big W a few hours in

 

I went last year and the Imbibe/early entry lines were much shorter, possibly due to COVID. The venue was great and it was actually possible to have a fairly leisurely experience. Many of the stouts were on the upper concourse and others on the main floor so things were more spread out. Goose Island was in an outside train car and generally lines moved pretty quickly, much better than the never ending GI lines of years past.

The GI line did back up at one point for something or other, so I just went back a while later. Ventilation/odors, rest rooms and food were all better.

 

FOBAB 2022 Brewery List is up.

189 Listed on 10/20/22

• 98 Out of State (Ohio leads with 20; Michigan and California with 10 each)
• 27 Within Chicago
• 64 Illinois beyond Chicago

Chicago, Illinois Breweries & Meaderies (27)

• Begyle Brewing
• Cruz Blanca Brewery
• Dovetail Brewery
• Duneyrr Artisan Fermenta Project
• Forbidden Root Chicago
• Goose Island Beer Company
• Half Acre Beer Company
• Haymarket Pub and Brewery - Chicago
• Hopewell Brewing Company
• Horse Thief Hollow
• is/was brewing
• Lake Effect Brewing Company
• Maplewood Brewery & Distillery
• Metropolitan Brewing
• Middle Brow
• Midwest Coast Brewing Company
• Moody Tongue Brewing Company
• Off Color Brewing - The Mousetrap
• Off Color Brewing - Production Brewery
• On Tour Brewing Company
• Pipeworks Brewing Co.
• Ravinia Brewing Company - Chicago
• Revolution Brewing
  
• Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery - Chicago
  
• Second City Meadery
  
• Spiteful Brewing
  
• Whiner Beer Co.

Alabama (1)
Birmingham Cahaba Brewing Company

Arizona (4)
Gilbert O.H.S.O Brewery - Gilbert
Phoenix Wren House Brewing Company
Prescott Superstition Meadery
Tempe Four Peaks Brewing Company

California (10)
Anaheim Bottle Logic Brewing Company
Buellton Firestone Walker Barrelworks
Paso Robles Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Placentia The Bruery
Sacramento Urban Roots Brewing
San Diego (2) Modern Times Beer; Pure Project
San Marcos The Lost Abbey
Sebastopol Woodfour Brewing Company
Truckee FiftyFifty Brewing Co.

Colorado (8)
Arvada New Image Brewing
Boulder Uhl's Brewing Company
Denver (2) Cerebral Brewing - Aurora Arts; Cerebral Brewing - Congress Park
Fort Collins Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Idaho Springs Westbound & Down Brewing Company
Lafayette Liquid Mechanics Brewing
Loveland Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project

Florida (1)
Palmetto Corporate Ladder Brewing Company

Illinois (64 + 27 Chicago = 91)
Bloomingdale Wolfden Brewing Company
Bloomington Lil Beaver Brewery
Blue Island Blue Island Beer Company
Darien Miskatonic Brewing Company
DeKalb Tangled Roots Brewing Company
Downers Grove Alter Brewing Co.
Dwight Unpossible Mead
Elk Grove Village Mikerphone Brewing
Elmhurst Elmhurst Brewing Company
Evanston (3) Sketchbook Brewing Co.; Smylie Brothers Brewing Co.; Temperance Beer Co.
Flossmoor Flossmoor Station Brewing Co.
Galesburg Reserve Artisan Ales
Geneva (2) Art History Brewing; Penrose Brewing Company
Glen Ellyn Two Hound Red Brewing Co.
Highland Park Ravinia Brewing Company - Highland Park
Homewood Rabid Brewing
Huntley MORE Brewing Company - Huntley
Itasca Church Street Brewing Company
Joliet MyGrain Brewing Company
Lake Barrington Wild Onion Brewery
Lake Zurich (2) Phase Three Brewing Company; Roaring Table Brewing Co.
Lemont Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling - Lemont
Lisle Bubblehouse Brewing Company
Lombard Noon Whistle Brewing - Lombard
Millstadt Millpond Brewing and Incubator
Mundelein Tighthead Brewing Co.
Naperville (3) Hidden Hand Brewery; Noon Whistle Brewing - Naperville;
Solemn Oath Brewery
New Lenox Arrowhead Ales Brewing Company
Normal (3) DESTIHL Brewery; DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works;
White Oak Brewing
North Aurora (2) BBGB Brewery and Hop Farm; Brother Chimp Brewing
Oak Park (2) Cahoots Brewing; One Lake Brewing
Oswego Oswego Brewing Co.
Ottawa Tangled Roots Brewing Company
Plainfield Werk Force Brewing Co.
Rock Island Wake Brewing
Roselle Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling - Roselle
Saint Charles (2) Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling - St. Charles; Riverlands Brewing Company
Schiller Park Short Fuse Brewing Company
Shorewood (2) Mad Hatchet Brewing; Will County Brewing Company
South Barrington The Lucky Monk
Tinley Park Hailstorm Brewing Co.
Villa Park (2) Lunar Brewing Company; MORE Brewing Company - Villa Park
Warrenville Two Brothers Artisan Brewing
Westmont Whiskey Hill Brewing Company
Willowbrook Black Horizon Brewing Company
Willow Springs Imperial Oak Brewing
Woodridge (2) Ike & Oak Brewing Co.; Skeleton Key Brewery
Woodstock (3) Holzlager Brewing Company; Kishwaukee Brewing Co.; ShadowView Brewing

Indiana (7)
Bargersville Taxman Brewing Company
Fischers Sun King Brewery - Fishers
Fort Wayne 2Toms Brewing Company
Indianapolis Sun King Brewery - Indianapolis
Munster 3 Floyds Brewing
Valparaiso (2) Four Fathers Brewing; Misbeehavin’ Meads

Iowa (2)
Bettendorf Adventurous Brewing
Creston Hot Air Brewing

Kentucky (3)
Covington Braxton Brewing Company
Fort Mitchell Braxton Brewing Company: Barrel House
Lexington West Sixth Brewing

Michigan (10)
Alpha Alpha Brewing Company
Bellaire Short's Brewing Company
Birmingham Griffin Claw Brewing Company
Bridgman (2) Haymarket Brewery and Taproom - Bridgman; Transient Artisan Ales
Decatur Final Gravity Brewing Company
East Lansing Ellison Brewing Company
Fennville (2) Virtue Cider; Waypost Brewing Co.
Union Pier Seedz Brewery

Minnesota (1)
Big Lake Lupulin Brewing Company

Missouri (2)
Saint Louis (2) Perennial Artisan Ales; Urban Chestnut Brewing Company

Montana (1)
Billings By All Means Brewery

Nebraska (4)
La Vista Kros Strain Brewing
Omaha (3) Brickway Brewery & Distillery; Jukes Ale Works; Upstream Brewing Company

New Jersey (1)
Hackettstown Czig Meister Brewing Company

New York (2)
Brooklyn Other Half Brewing Company
Walden Angry Orchard

North Carolina (6)
Asheville (2) Bhramari Brewing Co.; Wicked Weed Brewing
Charlotte (2) Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts; Resident Culture Brewing Company
Durham Barrel Culture Brewing and Blending
Mills River Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Mills River

Ohio (20)
Akron Akronym Brewing
Athens Jackie O's Brewery
Carroll Outerbelt Brewing
Centerville Lock 27 Brewing
Cincinnati (4) HighGrain Brewing Co.; Nine Giant Brewpub & Fermentorium; Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom; Streetside Brewery
Cleveland (2) Great Lakes Brewing Company; Masthead Brewing Co.
Columbus (7) Antiques on High; Derive Brewing Company; Forbidden Root Columbus; Pretentious Barrel House; Understory by Wolf's Ridge Brewing; Wolf's Ridge Brewing; Wolf's Ridge Brewing Production Operations
Dayton The Dayton Beer Company
Vandalia (2) Blackbird Meadery; Hairless Hare Brewery

Oklahoma (1)
Oklahoma City Prairie Artisan Ales

Oregon (3)
Bend (2) 10 Barrel Brewing East Side Bend; 10 Barrel Brewing West Side Bend
Portland Breakside Brewery

Pennsylvania (1)
Camp Hill Ever Grain Brewing Co.

Tennessee (1)
Maryville Blackberry Farm Brewery

Virginia (2)
Fort Monroe Oozlefinch Beers & Blending
Norfolk Benchtop Brewing Company

Washington (1)
Vancouver Victor 23 Craft Brewery

Wisconsin (6)
Baileys Harbor Hacienda Beer Co.
Beloit G5 Brewing Company
Grafton Sahale Ale Works
LaCross 608 Brewing Company
Milwaukee (2) Lakefront Brewery; Mobcraft Beer

25 States Not Represented:
Alaska; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; Georgia; Hawaii; Idaho; Kansas; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Mississippi; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Mexico; North Dakota; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Texas; Utah; Vermont; West Virginia; Wyoming.

 

I was gonna comment that you were like 2 weeks behind the times, but I love the per-state view. Thanks!

 

It wasn’t posted here, so thought it was relevant, and the geographic breakout helps me narrow which breweries I may want to try now and potentially visit.

Volunteered the two years prior covid, and it will be my first time at the new venue and also the first time attending first and volunteering the day after. I poured Chemtrailmix in 2018, and it kicked very quickly (perhaps before VIP session was over). I poured CW’s Black Gold in 2019 and was surprised at the lack of interest, though it’s been around for many years.

Sad that Central Waters and another 2019 favorite, Fremont Brewing, are not scheduled to attend this year. That said, excited to try several new to me breweries this year, with Seedz at the top of the list.

 

So how does that work if you are volunteering and your station kicks early on? Do they have other things for you to do or are you done once it's gone?

 

Each volunteer covered a few beers (say 8 covering 15-20 beers), so you remain at your spot. The shift captains help out with the hype beers (one filling pitchers, the other pouring samples). People would circle back for a second plus pour so the lines never end until they kick for several hype offerings.

They rotate people around as well for breaks, such as ticket takers who aren’t needed an hour into the session.

It’s a seven hour shift total (report an hour early before VIP entry, stay up to an hour later to clean/clear the areas) but it goes by quickly. You enjoy pours along the way, it was well organized, and the people you encounter are pleasant overall. When I’m assigned to pod, I’ll look over the offerings and pick my favorite option so I can enjoy throughout the event.