At long last, it’s back: the 11-day Chicago Craft Beer Week.
I know what you’re thinking: an 11-day week? What are you Chicagoans? Numerically challenged? Failing to grasp the intricacies of the calendar? No. We’re just thirsty.
Hundreds of craft beer events begin Thursday night, and there’s no way to attend them all, logistically or in the name of your liver and kidneys. What’s required is planning and prioritizing, and below are my picks for the week’s best bets.
I’m excluding the events that are already sold out, like Beer Under Glass (Thursday’s official kick-off event), Goose Island’s mini-golf event on Sunday and Half Acre’s Friday night party at Montrose Beach (those 325 tickets were gone in a day).
Also, I ignored events that sounded intriguing, but offered scant details on which beers would be poured and things happening every day of CCBW (though Nellcote’s “Lambic and Pizza Pairing of the Day” sounds delicious).
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For the entire list of events and details, including how to buy tickets, click here. For background on Chicago Craft Beer Week and how this year’s event — our city’s third — differs from last year’s, click here.
Happy drinking, Chicago. Remember: bananas are the best hangover food.
Thursday, May 17
Cheers to Local Beers (Monk’s Pub, 205 W. Lake St.) If you didn’t get a ticket for Beer Under Glass, here’s a back up plan, with taps pouring beers from Revolution, 5 Rabbit, Goose Island and others. (Fireside Restaurant and Lounge — 5739 N. Ravenswood Ave. — has a similar event this night, too, offering local pints for $4.) 5 p.m.
Three Floyds Tap Takeover (Village Tap, 2055 W. Roscoe St.) You probably know and love Three Floyds or wonder what all the fuss is about. Here is the chance to find out, as 12 FFF beers get tapped. (Hot Chocolate restaurant is also tapping a bunch of Three Floyds beers this night.) 5 p.m.
Against the Grain Tapping (Northdown Cafe, 3244 N. Lincoln Ave.) One of Louisville’s most impressive breweries, whose beers are rarely available here, gets two handles at this great bar. Yes, two beers aren’t many, but AtG owner and brewer Sam Cruz will be on hand to make sure you enjoy them. 6-9 p.m.
Friday, May 18
Greenbush Brewing Tap Takeover (Haymarket Pub and Brewery, 737 W. Randolph St.) Every beer I’ve tried from this Sawyer, Mich. brewery has been flavorful and memorable, so 12-plus options in one night could leave a trail of melted brains and happy taste buds. 6 p.m.
Solemn Oath Launch Party (The Bavarian Lodge, 1800 Ogden Ave., Lisle) Our newest addition to the Chicago area craft scene begins as Solemn Oath taps four beers. If you don’t want to drive to the ‘burbs, don’t worry — they’ll be in the city before long. If you’re in the ‘burbs already, enjoy your new brew. 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 19
Beerfly Alleyfight! (Haymarket Pub & Brewery) The sixth annual Beerfly Alleyfight is a pairing of home brewed beer, food and art. Each beer/food pairing is interpreted by a Chicago artist which could mean “an interpretive jazz dance to go with a wheat beer and peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” Based on audience votes, awards will be given for best beer, food and art. Tickets cost $35.00 online and $40.00 at the door. 12-5 p.m.
Craft Day Afternoon (Fizz Bar and Grill, 3220 N. Lincoln Ave.) Unlimited samples of more than 40 drafts will be available in a fundraising venture benefiting Hamilton Elementary School. The Map Room is helping to organize the event, and when The Map Room is involved, you can be sure the beer will be good. $60. 1-5 p.m.
Sunday, May 20
Macho Man Three Floyds Jolly Pumpkin (Farmhouse, 228 W. Chicago Ave.) This event is a salute to deceased wrestler Randy “Macho Man” Savage, and that’s fine for your fill of retro chic, but the real standouts are the taps: 16 Three Floyds beers and 10 from Jolly Pumpkin. 12 p.m.
Metropolitan Firkin and Rye Night (The Bavarian Lodge, 1800 Ogden Ave., Lisle) Doug and Tracy Hurst, owners of Metropolitan Brewing, will be on hand for tapping two beers made just for craft beer week: Arc Welder Dunkel Rye and a gravity-fed cask Krankshaft Kolsch infused with fresh lemon grass. 4 p.m.
Monday, May 21
Firestone Walker Collaboration and Takeover (Revolution, 2323 N. Milwaukee Ave.) Revolution brewer Jim Cibak once worked at venerable California brewery Firestone Walker, so the bond between the breweries runs deep. Their collaboration, an India pale ale called Dos Osos, will be on tap along with a handful of Firestone beers. 3 p.m.
Perennial Artisan Ales and Half Acre Night (Fountainhead, 1970 W. Montrose Ave.) Former Half Acre brewer Phil Wymore moved to St. Louis to start Perennial, which is great and all, but his well-regarded beers aren’t available in Chicago. They will be this night, though (along with those of his former employer) and I look forward to trying them. 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 22
Chicago Doet Belgie (Small Bar, 2049 W. Division St.) One of my favorite motifs for the week: a collection of Chicago-area breweries and their takes on Belgian styles. Half Acre, Three Floyds, Greenbush, Dark Horse, Goose Island and Haymarket will be represented. 6 p.m.
Local Cask Night (Fountainhead, 1970 W. Montrose Ave.) Fountainhead’s signature craft beer week event will feature cask beers from nine local breweries, including Half Acre, Flossmoor Station and Two Brothers. 4 p.m.
South of 80: A Celebration of Downstate Brewers (Green Lady, 3328 N. Lincoln Ave.) Still more beer we don’t often see in Chicago, including Six Row Brewing Company (St. Louis), Bent River Brewing Company (Moline) and Rolling Meadows Brewery (Springfield). 7 p.m.
Cans vs. Bottles: Blind! (Standard Market, 333 E. Ogden Ave., Westmont) So does beer taste better in bottles or cans? Find out for yourself in blind taste tests featuring Sierra Nevada, Goose Island and New Belgium beers. (In the tests I’ve done, cans usually win.) 5-8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 23
We Want Beer: The History of Brewing in America as Told through the Pin-Back Button (Busy Beaver Button Co., 3279 W. Armitage St.) You can’t only drink during these 11 days, so why not revel in some beer history with this private tour of the Busy Beaver Button Co., which will include memorabilia from “Pre-Prohibition era buttons to Spuds MacKenzie buttons to modern day brewery buttons.” Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to drink: Piece pizza and beer will be on hand. 5-8 p.m.
Faux BAB (Acre, 5308 N. Clark St.) A play on the Festival of Barrel Aged Beer (FOBAB), this is Acre’s mini-festival of barrel-aged beer, and the list is impressive, including Goose Island’s 2010 Vanilla Bourbon County Brand Stout and brews from Lost Abbey, Great Divide and others. 5 p.m.
Chicago Brewers Night (Haymarket Pub and Brewery, 737 W. Randolph St.) Yet another chance to show love for the local guys, and being at Haymarket (whose owner is helping to organize craft beer week), you can assume it will be done right. 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 24
An Evening with Sun King (Haymarket Pub and Brewery, 737 W. Randolph St.) This well-regarded Indianapolis brewery usually can’t be found in Chicago, but this day it will, and in a big way: 15 Sun King beers will be on tap. This is a private event that requires a Craft Beer Week map and stamps, details of which are here
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. 6 p.m.Division Street IPA Crawl (Bangers and Lace, 1670 W. Division St.; Jerry’s, 1938 W. Division St.; Small Bar, 2049 W. Division St.) All the hops you could want in a mere three blocks as Bangers salutes East Coast IPAs, Jerry’s taps a bunch of Midwest IPAs and Small Bar takes on West Coast IPAs. 6 p.m.
Allagash Tap Takeover (Simone’s, 960 W. 18th St.) Ten Allagash beers on tap, only one of which is its ubiquitous Allagash White. If White is the only Allagash brew you know, trust me, the rest are just as good or better. 7 p.m.
5 Rabbit presents cooking with Grayson Schmitz (Logan Square Kitchen, 2333 N. Milwaukee Ave.) At $125, this might be the most expensive event of the week, but how else will you get the opportunity to work for Top Chef contestant Grayson Schmitz? Schmitz will get her 25 sous chefs busy for a meal that will be paired with four 5 Rabbit beers, including its delicious Huitzi Midwinter Ale. 7-11 p.m.
Friday, May 25
Ommegang Night at Paddy’s (Paddy Long’s Beer and Bacon Pub, 1028 W. Diversey St.) Six taps will be dedicated to this Belgian-inspired New York brewery, plus the brewer will be on hand during happy hour. 11:30 a.m.
Stone and Victory Takeover (The Galway Arms, 2442 N. Clark St.) Three taps from Stone and three from Victory, most of which are hard to find offerings. 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 26
East Coast, West Coast, No Coast! (Fountainhead, 1970 W. Montrose Ave.) Another East -West-Midwest take (Midwest rules!!), but this time under one roof. Fountainhead will have 15 beers on tap from Allagash (East Coast), Stone (West Coast) and Jolly Pumpkin (Midwest). 1 p.m.
Firestone Walker Rare Beer Tapping (Northdown Cafe, 3244 North Lincoln Ave.) Five draft rarities from Firestone Walker? Yes, please. This brewery is worth the effort. 3-7 p.m.
Sunday, May 27
Half Acre Beer Brunch (Small Bar, 2049 W. Division St.) I know. Your liver is tired. What better way to repair yourself with brunch and … more beer!? The four Half Acre beers on tap (Chocolate Camaro, Baume Rye Stout, Ginger Twin and Meatwave) have limited availability, so it’s worth shaking off Saturday night to be here. All food and drink is available a la carte, so eat and drink as much as you want. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Now go drink some water.
Twitter @traveljosh