Celebrate Leap Year in your long underwear with abundant beer at the 2020 Naperville Ale Fest Winter Edition Feb. 29 at Frontier Park in Naperville.
The fest is from noon to 4 p.m. “This is the seventh year for this outdoor event, and by the end of February people are looking to get out,” said Becky DelGeorge, vice president of operations for Lou Dog Events, which has organized the fest since its inception. “We are Chicagoans and we can handle the elements.”
With a focus on beers only available in winter, the festival offers the opportunity to sample brews and eat outdoors — in February.
“We will feature more than 150 craft beers and some of Chicago’s most beloved food trucks,” DelGeorge said. “This is an event to get people out and socializing in a new environment. We like to think it is something that people look forward to, and it might help with the winter blues.”
It’s also a chance for seasonal brews to take the limelight.
“There are not many festivals that happen in the winter, so lots of time certain styles of beer don’t get to shine because they aren’t a summer beer — porters, stouts, barleywines, etc.,” DelGeorge said. “This is our chance to highlight some of the beer styles that don’t always get the chance.”
That includes some barrel-aged beers, winter warmers and giant double IPAs.
“There is always a new beer on the scene that you can come and try,” DelGeorge said. “We will also have new flavor combinations at the infusion tent along with new cask-conditioned flavors. The ever-popular hot hard cider will be making its return as well. “
Some of the breweries scheduled include Alaskan Brewing Co. from Juneau, Alaska; Energy City Brewing from Batavia; Evil Twin Brewing from Copenhagen, Denmark, and New York City; Omnipollo from Stockholm, Sweden; Right Bee Cider from Chicago; and Sleepy Dog Brewing from Tempe, Arizona. Food trucks onsite include Allegory, Bricks Wood Fired Pizza, Cheesie’s Pub & Grub, Dinky Delights, Grumpy Gaucho, Happy Lobster Truck, Maple Leaf Farms, Mexi-Tacos, Pierogi Squad, Sausage Fest, Tailgate Caterers, and Yum Dum.
“Pre-entrance to the fest starts at 11:30 a.m., where you will be allowed to get food from the food trucks, use the facilities, and you can line up at a tent that has a specific beer you want to try,” DelGeorge said. “No beer will be poured until noon.”
At noon the large tents will open, and all beer will start pouring, and will continue for nearly four hours.
“At 3:55 p.m. the beer will turn off, and people will have a chance to grab a bite to eat and use the facilities as they make their way out,” DelGeorge said.
Tickets are $65 and include 18 3-ounce samples, a commemorative festival sampling glass as well as access to specialty beer tents, food trucks and firepits. Only those 21 and over with a valid government-issued ID are allowed.
“Eat a hearty breakfast, have someone drop you off and pick you up, and dress for the weather,” DelGeorge said. “This event will go on rain, shine, or snow.”
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There’s a good cause involved, too.
“We also make a donation to the Naperville Parks Foundation, which is our nonprofit partner,” DelGeorge said. “The donation helps cover those who are unable to pay fees associated with park district activities.”
The Naperville Parks Foundation’s aim is to make outdoor recreation more abundant and accessible to everyone in the community, regardless of socioeconomic circumstance, by working together with public organizations, private entities, other nonprofits and community members.
Naperville Ale Fest Winter Edition
When: noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 29
Where: Frontier Park, 3380 Cedar Glade Drive, Naperville
Tickets: $65
Information: napervillealefest.com
Jen Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.