FoBAB is turning 20 this year, and the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild invites you to join in on the celebration!
FoBAB’s 20th anniversary will honor the history and legacy of the North America’s largest and most prestigious barrel-aged festival, celebrate the innovation and craftsmanship that defines barrel-aged brewing, and honor the pioneers and industry leaders who have guided the craft beer industry through two decades of growth and expansion!
Twenty
Years
Celebrating
The
Festival
November 4+5
FoBAB 20 returns to Credit Union 1 Arena for two in-person tasting sessions, Friday November 4 and Saturday November 5, at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago.
Festival attendees will have the opportunity to sample hundreds of barrel-aged beers, ciders, meads, and perries across 12 style categories (subject to change), each hand-crafted and aged in contact with wood or wood barrels in breweries from coast to coast. An ‘Oasis’ lounge will provide a reprieve from the traditionally higher ABV samples available throughout the festival. Once again, all of the entries will be pouring throughout the main floor, around the concourse, and outdoor. Food will be available for purchase throughout the arena.
We’re putting everything we’ve got into crafting a 20th anniversary celebration you won’t forget, so there will be no FoBAB To-Go option this year. We hope you’ll join us in person!
CREDIT UNION 1 ARENA | 525 S. Racine Ave. | Chicago, IL 60607
Session 1 | Friday November 4th
6:00 – 10:00 p.m. (ImBIBE entry at 5:00 p.m.)
Session 2 | Saturday November 5th
1:00 – 5:00 p.m. (ImBIBE entry at 12:00 p.m.)
General admission tickets are $85 plus processing and go on sale Friday, August 26. 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 (categories subject to change).
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 here under on the Hall of Fame Page.
Competition
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
Tune-in to the
2022 Awards
Awards take place Saturday November 5 at 2p CT here and Facebook Live. Relive the thrills of last year's awards here!
Videos
Health and Safety
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild is committed to making the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer a safe, respectful, and inclusive event for all. In support of this commitment, we’ve developed the FoBAB Code of Conduct to clarify expectations for all organizers, brewers, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and attendees. In short, we expect all interactions (verbal, physical, or otherwise) at FoBAB to be courteous, consensual, appropriate, and respectful. The ICBG has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or misconduct of any kind. Thank you for your support in building a festival environment of which we can all be proud.
Code of Conduct
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.
COVID Safety at FOBAB
The health and safety of our brewers, volunteers and attendees continues to be a top priority. FoBAB will adhere to all local public health guidelines for masks and vaccinations at the time of the event. Currently, there are no mask, testing, or vaccination requirements. Please check back for updates as the event approaches.
SPONSORS
