FAQ

The Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer is North America’s largest and most distinguished barrel-aged beer festival and competition. Hosted by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, FoBAB features samples from hundreds of craft breweries and a fierce competition for hardware and bragging rights. Now in its 20th year, FoBAB is a must-attend festival for anyone who appreciates the craftsmanship and complexity of wood-aged beer, cider, mead and perry.

FoBAB takes place on Friday and Saturday, November 3-4, 2023. This year, tickets are available for two tasting sessions: Session #1: Friday Nov. 3, 6:00 – 10:00 PM (ImBIBE and VIP entry at 5:00) Session #2: Saturday Nov. 4, 1:00 – 5:00 PM (ImBIBE and VIP entry at noon)

For the second year, FoBAB will be hosted at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago (525 S. Racine Ave., Chicago). The venue is spacious, includes stadium-style seating, and features a variety of food options for purchase. Breweries will be stationed throughout the venue as well as outdoors.

This year’s FoBAB is 100% in-person, giving craft beer fans a chance to celebrate 20 years of FoBAB together! There will be no FoBAB To Go component.

Prior to the public tasting sessions, a panel of industry leaders and certified judges evaluate all beer, cider, mead, and perry featured at FoBAB, awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals in 14 style categories as well as ‘Best in Show’ honors.

The award ceremony takes place during Session #2 on Saturday Nov. 4. The ceremony will be streamed live on FoBAB’s Facebook page and ICBG’s YouTube channel, with results published on www.fobab.com.

Prior to the public tasting sessions, a panel of industry leaders and certified judges evaluate all beer, cider, mead, and perry featured at FoBAB, awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals in 14 style categories as well as ‘Best in Show’ honors.

Each year, hundreds of breweries from coast to coast pour nearly 400 barrel-aged beers, ciders, meads, and perries at FoBAB. The full list of participating breweries will be available at www.fobab.com.

Anyone interested in information about volunteering for FoBAB should email volunteer@illinoisbeer.com. Volunteer positions are filled on a first come, first served basis.

FoBAB is the largest annual fundraiser for the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild (ICBG). Proceeds from FoBAB support the ICBG’s mission to support the development and expansion of the craft beer industry in Illinois through education, advocacy, and promotion.

Yes, we encourage you to share all your FoBAB experiences and photos with #FOBAB23 and #BetterInBarrels.

The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild (ICBG) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the development and expansion of the craft beer industry in Illinois. Founded in 1997, ICBG focuses its efforts on member and consumer education, legislative and regulatory advocacy, and the promotion of its member craft breweries.

Tickets are available at www.fobab.com or on the Universe ticket website.

General Admission tickets are $85 plus processing fees. All ticket holders must be 21 years of age or older and present a valid photo ID. All tickets include entry to the venue, 20 sample pours, and a commemorative 2021 FoBAB glass. Food is not included in the price of the ticket.

Pre-sale tickets will be available exclusively to members of ImBIBE, the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild’s enthusiast program. ImBIBE (I’m a Big Illinois Beer Enthusiast) members who purchased pre-sale tickets are granted one-hour early entry into the festival.

No. Only active ImBIBE members who purchased pre-sale tickets are eligible for early entry into FoBAB.

No, all ticket sales to FoBAB are final. If you are unable to make the event, we encourage you to share your ticket with someone who is 21 years of age or older. ImBIBE pre-sale ticket holders, however, are non transferable.

General admission FoBAB tickets may be transferred; the name on the ticket does not need to match the name of the ticket holder for entry into the festival. All ticket holders must be 21 years of age or older and present a valid photo ID. ImBIBE pre-sale tickets may not be transferred. ImBIBE ticket holders will need to provide a valid photo ID that matches the name on their ticket for early entry into FoBAB.

No, all tickets include access to barrel-age beer samples. As an alternative, attendees are encouraged to use public transportation or ride-sharing services to travel to and from FoBAB.

Only infants who can be worn or otherwise carried in an infant carrier are allowed on the festival floor. Absolutely no strollers are permitted inside the festival.

FoBAB is hosted at the Credit Union 1 Arena (525 S. Racine Ave., Chicago, IL 60607), with attendee entrance at Gate 3. Attendees are strongly encouraged to utilize public transportation or ride-sharing services to and from the venue. Credit Union 1 Arena is accessible by CTA (Blue Line UIC/Halsted Stop + #7 and #126 Bus Routes) as well as the Metra BNSF (Halsted stop). Additionally, there is parking in several nearby parking garages, including UIC Parking Lot 11 and the Harrison Street Parking Structure.

All attendees will enter the festival through Gate 3. There will be four lines: two for ImBIBE and two for General Admission. Please make every effort to find your correct line.

While we encourage guests to utilize public transportation, there is on-site parking in nearby parking garages including the Harrison Street Parking Structure and Lot 1B on 1139 W. Harrison and Lot HSPS on 1100 W. Harrison.

The health and safety of our staff, brewers, volunteers, and attendees is our top priority. FoBAB will adhere to any and all local public health guidelines for masks, testing, and/or vaccinations. Currently, there are no Covid-19 requirements for FoBAB, but we encourage folks to check back for updates as the event nears.

FoBAB organizers are committed to hosting a safe festival free from any type of harassment or inappropriate behavior, where all attendees, brewers, volunteers, and staff are treated with respect. All attendees, brewers, volunteers, and staff will be asked to abide by the FoBAB Code of Conduct; failure to do so will result in removal from the festival.

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.

In accordance with venue policy, backpacks, briefcases, and other large bags are not permitted inside the festival. Very small bags – no larger than 12”x6” clutch-size bags – will be permitted inside.

NO. There is no on-site coat or bag check this year. Attendees will be able to set their belongings down in seats throughout the arena, but they will be solely responsible for all their belongings, and FoBAB organizers will not be responsible for any items lost or stolen.

Yes. In accordance with venue policy, metal detectors will be in operation at all festival entrances. Patrons will be asked to remove their phones, keys, coins, wallets, etc. from their pockets prior to entering the metal detector. Weapons of any kind – including pocket knives - are prohibited at FoBAB.

The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Items remaining at Credit Union 1 Arena after the festival concludes will be handled by the venue’s Guest Services.

There is no dress code for FoBAB, but we encourage you to wear comfortable shoes and dress warm so you can take full advantage of the new outdoor space at FoBAB!

Any service animal must be wearing an identification vest and service animal registration ID must be provided. More information about the venue policy can be found here: https://policies.uic.edu/uic-policy-library/access-and-equity/service-and-assistance-animal-policy/

Smoking is NOT permitted inside the venue. This includes the use of vape pens and other electronic cigarettes. Smoking is permitted outside the facility.

Yes, there will be an expanded variety of concession-style snack food available for purchase at the festival. Water is available on the festival floor, and other non-alcoholic beverages will be available. Guests are permitted to bring an empty water bottle to FoBAB and encouraged to drink plenty of water during the festival.

No outside food or beverages are allowed at FoBAB (small pretzel and cheese necklaces are acceptable). Guests are permitted to bring an empty water bottle to FoBAB and encouraged to drink plenty of water during the festival. Outside alcohol is NOT permitted at FoBAB.

Yes! FoBAB tee shirts and other merchandise will be available for purchase at one of the concession stands on the mezzanine level of the venue.