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THE FESTIVAL OF WOOD BARREL-AGED BEER

returns to Chicago November 3-4, 2023 to defend its legacy as North America’s largest and most prestigious barrel-aged festival, competition, and fundraiser. 

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NOVEMBER 3-4

Hosted by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, FoBAB is a one-of-a-kind celebration of the innovation and craftsmanship that defines barrel-aged brewing. 

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Tickets will be available for two tasting sessions on Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4 at the UIC Credit Union 1 Arena on Chicago’s west side, giving attendees the opportunity to sample hundreds of barrel-aged beers, ciders, meads, and perries across 12 style categories, each hand-crafted and aged in contact with wood or wood barrels in breweries from coast to coast.  

 

A Lager Lounge will provide a reprieve from the traditionally higher ABV samples available throughout the festival, and the new Super Zero Lounge hosted by Revolution Brewing will showcase the brewery’s new Super-Zero Sparkling Hop Water. 

 

When you attend FoBAB, you’re participating in the largest annual fundraiser for the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild (ICBG), supporting our mission of education, promotion, and advocacy on behalf of our member craft breweries.

CREDIT UNION 1 ARENA  |  525 S. Racine Ave. | Chicago, IL 60607

SESSION 1 | FRIDAY NOVEMBER 3 

6:00 – 10:00 p.m. (ImBIBE entry at 5:00 p.m.)

 

SESSION 2 | SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4 

1:00 – 5:00 p.m. (ImBIBE entry at 12:00 p.m.)

 

General admission tickets are $85 plus processing, and tickets are on sale now!  

Festival space is limited, so purchase tickets quickly to reserve your spot!

THE COMPETITION

This year, hundreds of craft breweries from across the country will submit their most exciting wood and barrel-aged beer, cider, mead and perry for judging. A panel of expert judges and stewards will evaluate FoBAB entries, awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals as well as ‘Best in Show’ honors across 12 style categories.


The award ceremony will be hosted during Session #2 and livestreamed on the FoBAB Facebook page and the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild’s YouTube channel. The results will be published on www.fobab.com.

THE CATEGORIES

Prep your tastebuds for a variety of barrel-aged goodness! CLICK on a category* to learn more about that style.

 

*Categories subject to change

2023 AWARDS

Tune-in to the 2023 Fobab Awards, Saturday November 4 at 2p CT here and Facebook Live. Relive the thrills of last year's awards here!

Livestream

VIDEOS

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CODE OF CONDUCT

The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild is committed to making the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer a safe, respectful, and inclusive event for all. The following FoBAB Code of Conduct clarifies expectations for all organizers, brewers, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and attendees. Thank you for your support in building a festival environment of which we can all be proud.

Illinois Craft Brewers Guild (ICBG) is dedicated to providing a friendly, safe, supportive, and harassment-free event for all attendees and participants regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender expression, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion or group identity.

The code of conduct outlines Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer expectations for all event attendees and participants, including all organizers, volunteers, brewers, sponsors, media representatives, and judges. Cooperation is expected from everyone, and organizers will actively enforce this code throughout this event.

We will not tolerate harassment in any form. Anyone violating these rules may be asked to leave the event at the sole discretion of ICBG. Thank you for helping make this a welcoming event for all.

If anyone makes you feel unsafe or unwelcome or if you observe someone else in a situation of discomfort, please report it to a volunteer or organizer on site or through our anonymous Google Form found here

SPONSORS

Sponsors
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