BFFs, Oktoberfests, a Homebrewers Ball & a Garage Sale: Beer Events & Socials
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If you haven’t taken a look at this weekend’s local lineup for Oktoberfest celebrations, you should do yourself a favor and check it out. There are so many Oktoberfest celebrations going on this weekend and next. We’ve been added a bunch more since that post first published, so even if you’ve already made plans for this very busy weekend, doublecheck it just to be safe.
Feeling like something a little different? Tomorrow night is the very first Home Brewers Ball at Ramova Chicago, hosted by CHAOS Brew Club. It looks like a very cool place to showcase some beers by not-yet-professional brewers and at a venue that you probably haven’t been to yet. Should be a lot of fun. (Don’t forget to stop by the Other Half brewpub while you’re there.)
Tickets appear to still be available here and in case you’re not fully convinced yet, the beer lineup is here.
And speaking of tickets: FoBAB passes went on sale this morning. Go ahead and snag a couple now.
On to even more …
This Weekend:
Brewery Vivant has put together three things we love in one place for their BFF Fest: Barrel-aged beers, firkins and farmhouse ales. If you’re in the vicinity of Grand Rapids tomorrow (Sept. 14) you should try to check it out.
And while you’re in Grapids, City Built is having a garage sale where they’re selling old tap handles, signage, random merch, kitchen and office supplies and so on. Might be worth swinging by just to see what they’ve got.
Oysters and Dovetail kolsch? Swing by their taproom on Sunday to pair these two things together, repeatedly.
Did I mention that you should also check out our Oktoberfest roundup post?
Later This Month:
Mark your calendar for this Wednesday, which is when Guinness Chicago finds out what a beer dinner would look like if it was hosted in 1910, which is when beers from Guinness first arrived in Chicago. A cool idea, and it’s hosted by the Beer Culture Center, too.
Phase Three celebrates their Bushel of Apples Fall Fest on the 20th-22nd.
On September 21st, Illuminated Brew Works celebrates their 3rd anniversary at their Norwood Park location, so go celebrate with some tarot readings, a witchy collab release, metal bands, and more.
The 28th is a big day for birthday parties:
On September 28th, Midwest Coast turns five and will be partying accordingly.
Also on the 28th, Marz Brewing turns ten years old (!) and is hosting their Liquid Dreams festival at the Mothership.
Hammond’s Foreign Local hosts their BURN THE BARREL event to celebrate their 2nd birthday on the 28th as well.
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Hopewell Brewing just released the two newest options in their THC-infused Choom brand: the pineapple-citrusy Solar Choom and Solar Choom Lite.
Monochrome Brewing offers a N64 Mario Kart tournament every Tuesday which is a great reason to get out and drink some Tuesdaybeers.
Cool new pint glass, Maplewood.
Laschet’s Inn is doing an amazing job bringing in new and interesting German beers for the season, including Weihenstephan Festbier served from a wooden barrel and this only-one-in-Chicago keg of Mahrs U from Bamberg.
Releasing a helles lager for Oktoberfest is an interesting decision for Guinness OGB Chicago to be making, but I’m really posting this to tell you that I’ve recently learned (during a little reporting for a piece in a separate publication) they’re apparently planning to brew a Czech dark lager for this year’s Lager Lounge at FoBAB. Again, go get your tickets.
GLBC’s Dortmunder Gold has a new look. It’s … fine.
If you’re single and the idea of meeting your new significant other at a brewery is appealing, then the upcoming speed dating events at District Brewyards should be on your calendar.
This new Chugtoberfest tshirt from Marz Brewing is rad and I want one.
Premium Subscribers saw news about this on Wednesday, but everyone should be aware that the new Art History Brewing beer celebrating The Green Lady’s 13th birthday is now available at the bar. Here are some tasting notes from brewer Carolyn Stephens.
Destihl pushed back their Dosvidanya Day celebration … to February.
Cheers to Hinterland for participating in the “988” beer movement “to raise awareness and initiate vital conversations during National Suicide Prevention Week, September 8 to September 14.”
Every Pollyanna 10th anniversary beer is now available at all their taprooms.
Suncatcher posted a few pictures of their construction process at their forthcoming Humboldt Park taproom.
Well, this sucks: Weathered Souls, the Texas brewery that created the Black is Beautiful initiative in 2020 and helped raise funds for charitable causes around the country, announced that they would be closing next weekend.
Dives of Wisconsin has a cool little history about how Jerry Lee Lewis, the Great Chicago Fire, and Bud Selig all helped make Milwaukee “America's center of beer and the greatest beer-brewing city in the world.”
If you’ve ever been interested in the beers from Florida’s Cycle Brewing and you live in or near Indiana or Ohio, good news - their distro is expanding to those states. (Thanks for the tip, Tino!)
We also want to note that today is a BIL High Holy Day - Dear Leader Alex Kidd / DontDrinkBeer’s birthday - so even though it’s hot out, go ahead and crack a barleywine.
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Thank you all for being here! Have a great weekend.
~Karl