Chicago Craft Beer Week 2014
By Lauren Wulf
May 15th kicks off Chicago Craft Beer Week. Craft beer aficionados gather at events around the city to celebrate the best and latest on the craft beer scene. Check out the round up below for information and places to go. More information and a full schedule of events available on the official website: chibeerweek.com.
5th Annual Chicago Craft Beer Week
This year's theme: A City Of Neighborhoods
Where: Over 300 venues throughout the city
When: May 15th-May 25th
Cost: $4 tastings of rare beers available at participating locations
This year kicks off with the opening event, "Beer Under The Glass" at Garfield Park Conservatory on May 15th.
Events Around Town
The Bar on Buena
910 W. Buena
Chicago, IL 60613
baronbuena.com
5/14/14 at 7:00pm: If you can't wait until the kick-off, The Bar on Buena starts their festivities a day early on May 14th. The Bar on Buena's salute to Half Acre will feature $4 pints and a tapping extra special Half Acre offerings.
5/17/14 at 2:00pm: The celebration continues Saturday with rare beers from Against the Grain Brewery and Evil Twin Brewing, from 12% Imports. Most beers will be available all day but from 2 p.m.-4 p.m., guests can hang out with one of the brewers from Louisville, KY's Against the Grain.
5/20/14 at 7:00pm: The Bar on Buena welcomes Left Hand Brewing Company and Windy City Distributing for a Wake Up Dead Nitro Bottle Release Party.
5/21/14 at 6:00pm: With their last event, The Bar on Buena will host the Lakeshore Beverage Chicago Craft Beer Week Tavern Trolley Tour Pub Crawl. While the trolley only stops briefly, the beer will be pouring all night. Guests can enjoy brews from the special Local Option Bierwerker draft line and more.
Pizza Rustica
3908 N. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60613
5/17/14: Pizza Rustica, will celebrate Chicago Craft Beer Week with a Craft Beer Lunch featuring brews from Temperance Beer Company. Guests can sit and sip on free tastings with Head Brewer Claudia Jendron and nibble on small plates and lunch specials created by Chef Stefano Roman to pair perfectly with the beers. The afternoon event is a laid-back, fun opportunity to enjoy some incredible beers and delicious dishes. In addition, there will be games and prizes from Pizza Rustica and Temperance: The Grand Prize is a Temperance Beer Co. Tour for 10 people. No cover, beer & food available for purchase. Free samples of Temperance Beers will be available.
Division Ale House
1942 W. Division St.
Chicago, IL 60622
divisionalehouse.com
This Chicago Craft Beer Week event features a meet-and-greet with Scott Stepina from Colorado's New Belgium Brewing Company, limited and year-round New Belgium brews, chef Wally Rouse's beer-spiked specials and giveaways. The Ale House provides a raffle ticket for every New Belgium beer purchased between 7-10 p.m.; one lucky ticket holder will win a New Belgium cruiser bike. Beer-spiked specials include; Warm Bacon Helles Dip. Curried Atlantic Cod, Beer Can Pulled Chicken sliders, Applewood-smoked, bacon wrapped beer brats.
Bread & Wine
3732 W. Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL
breadandwinechicago.com
Bread & Wine will celebrate Chicago Craft Beer Week in style with a Sixpoint Brewery Tap Takeover & Beer Flight and a tasting menu with delicious Sixpoint suggested pairings.
5/15/14-5/25/14: Sixpoint Tap Takeover & Beer Flight
Chef Michael Dean Reynolds has created a 6-piece Cheese & Charcuterie plate to pair perfect with an amazing Sixpoint beer flight. The flight of four includes Mad Scientist Lichtenhainer (smoked Berlinerwiess), Mad Scientist Brunswick Mumme (high gravity export ale from Germany), Apollo (Bavarian Kristalweizen) and Seison (urban farmhouse ale). The flight with the pairings is $35.
5/20/14: Tuesday Tasting Menu
Every Tuesday, Chef Michael Dean Reynolds will pull together a 3-course tasting menu using Sixpoint brews. For $30, guests can enjoy a 3-course meal with suggested Sixpoint brew pairings. A rep from Sixpoint will be on hand to chat and answer questions.
Lauren Wulf, CBS Chicago
Lauren Wulf writes about living in Chicago on a budget on her website, A Poor Girl's Guide Chicago.
