Suburban bars fete Chicago Craft Beer Week with events, new brews

The craft beer industry continues its explosive growth, taking over taps and shelves nationwide. Whether you've already embraced the trend or want to get a taste of the excitement, Chicago Craft Beer Week offers the perfect opportunity to try something new. These are a few of the local breweries and bars that will be hosting events in honor of the annual celebration, which runs from May 19 to 30. For other events, go to chibeerweek.com.

<b>Alter Brewing Company,</b> 2300 Wisconsin Ave., Downers Grove, (630) 541-9558, alterbrewing.com: Take a $15 one-hour yoga class at 11 a.m. May 21 and you'll get a beer after. Bring a team for beer trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. May 24 and you can win up to $70 plus swag. The brewery also offers its Center Line golden ale and Mandarina pale ale for $4 throughout Craft Beer Week.

<b>Church Street Brewing Company,</b> 1480 Industrial Drive, Itasca, (630) 438-5725, churchstreetbrew.com: The brewery is releasing three new beers throughout the event starting with the Hauch von Himmel hefeweizen on Thursday, May 19 ($5). You can get a sample of their Devil Un-Corked, a sweeter and mellower version of their Devil's Advocate Belgian strong ale aged in chardonnay wine casks, on May 22 before its official release on May 25. Devil's Playground, made from Devil's Advocate aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels, launches on May 27.

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Miskatonic Brewing Company,</b> 1000 N. Frontage Road, Darien, (630) 541-9414, miskatonicbrewing.com: The brewery hosts a Pin Party from 3 to 11 p.m. May 20, tapping four varieties of cask-style ale with the Blue Street Market food truck on site. At noon May 21 they'll tap their new spring lager, The Wicker Man Maibock, and release a fresh batch of The Angry Mob English mild. The brewers show off their musical talents from 7 to 9 p.m. May 26, and from 3 to 11 p.m. May 27 you can put your taste buds to the test by ordering a flight of three beers and guessing what they've been infused with. For every ingredient you guess right, you'll get a raffle ticket.

<b>Nevin's Brewing Company,</b> 12337 S. Route 59, Plainfield, (815) 436-3900, nevinsbrewing.com: Brewmaster Marc Wilson creates 21 one-off beers to release for the fourth annual 21 Beer Salute from 6 to 10 p.m. May 21, with an emphasis on tart and funky beers and a flight of single-malt and single-hop brews. There's an $8 cover after 8 p.m. when SEMPLE will be playing classic and current rock and pop tunes.

<b>Noon Whistle Brewing,</b> 800 E. Roosevelt Road, Lombard, (630) 376-6895, noonwhistlebrewing.com: The brewery partners with Modern Artisan Cheese Company and River City Roasters for a cheese, beer and coffee tasting from 7 to 10 p.m. May 24. The event includes the tapping of a special coffee beer and samples of cheeses infused with both coffee and beer plus hot, cold-pressed and barrel-aged coffee.

<b>Pints,</b> 112 S. York Road, Elmhurst, (630) 833-4303, pintselmhurst.com: Order a pint from Revolution Brewing from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 19, and you'll get a souvenir glass you can paint. The event also features samplings, a raffle and swag giveaways. The sports bar hosts its second annual craft beer fest from 1 to 5 p.m. May 21, with more than 20 local breweries pouring samples and discussing their work. Tickets cost $30 before Sunday, May 15, or $40 after. From 7 to 9 p.m. May 25 the bar teams up with Two Brothers Brewing Company for a $25 four-course dinner including beer pairings. You can try a special cask tapping of Pollyanna Brewing Company's Summerly wheat ale with raspberries at 6 p.m. May 27, and the Lemont brewery also will be giving away pint glasses.

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Plank Road Tap Room,</b> 39W149 Plank Road, Elgin, (224) 238-3527, plankroadtaproom.com: Oskar Blues offers $4 cans and a special tapping of bourbon barrel-aged Death By Coconut porter at noon May 21, which you can pair with eats from The Roaming Hog food truck. From 4 to 10 p.m. May 26, the bar hosts brewers from Metropolitan Brewing and Destihl Brewery and serves beers from both spots on tap. Founders takes over the taps from 5 to 9 p.m. May 27, with the Toasty Cheese food truck providing dinner.

<b>Warren's Ale House,</b> 51 Town Square, Wheaton, (630) 462-5126, warrensalehouse.com: The operations manager of Evanston's Temperance Beer Company serves barrel-aged vanilla, coffee and coconut versions of their Might Meets Right imperial stout and chats about the brewery from 6 to 8 p.m. May 25. Warren's is also selling $4 pints of Lagunitas Pils throughout Craft Beer Week.