What's brewing for Chicago Craft Beer Week in the suburbs
Mark your calendars, beer lovers. Chicago Craft Beer Week, the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild's annual celebration of the state's brewing scene, is May 18 through 25. You can check chibeerweek.com for a full list of the hundreds of events going on that week, including release parties, beer dinners and tap takeovers.
Here's a look at what some suburban breweries and bars have planned:
Alter Brewing Company, 2300 Wisconsin Ave., Downers Grove, (630) 541-9558, alterbrewing.com: For $15 you can try five-ounce pours of four beers paired with cheese on May 19. Enjoy free food for customer appreciation day on May 20. The Roaming Hog food truck comes to the brewery on May 21 for a $30 brunch buffet, which includes two beers. The brewery hosts live music for the first time on May 22, bringing in folk band Tank & the Beez. Show off your beer knowledge from 7 to 9:30 p.m. May 23 with a beer-themed trivia night, or just test your luck with bingo from 7 to 9:30 p.m. May 24. Games award beer and other prizes.
Chain O'Lakes Brewing Company, 3425 Pearl St., McHenry, (815) 331-8345, chainolakesbrewing.com: Stop in on May 19 for a special tapping of the brewery's I'm Bock cask-conditioned doppelbock.
Chances Bar & Video Gaming, 455 S. Route 45, Lindenhurst, (224) 372-7493, chancesbar777.com: Sample Hominy white ale and other beers from Tocayo Brewing Co. from 7 to 8:30 p.m. May 19. A local brewery tap takeover on May 20 lets you try beers from Tighthead Brewing Co., Only Child Brewing and Crystal Lake Brewing. Goose Island Brewery representatives will be on hand to answer questions and tap four of their beers from 7 to 9 p.m. May 24.
Church Street Brewing Company, 1480 Industrial Drive, Itasca, (630) 438-5725, churchstreetbrew.com: You'll find special tappings throughout the week with Devil's Advocate chardonnay barrel-aged Belgian golden strong ale poured on May 18, dry-hopped Heavenly Helles on May 23, a saison aged in a Lynfred Winery barrel available on May 24 and bourbon barrel-aged The Devil's Advocate on May 25. You can also stop in for live music from Dave Wolak and the Drastic Plastics on May 20 and $3 pints and half-growler fills on May 22.
Hopvine Brewing Company, 4030 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora, (630) 229-6030, hopvinebrewingcompany.org: A full lineup of events kicks off on May 19 with the launch of three new beers: Stolp Island IPA, a rye Russian imperial stout and a golden saison. Give beer-infusing a try at your table on May 20, adding ingredients chosen by the spot's brewmaster and head chef. May 21 brings a pairing of Hopvine beers and house-made charcuterie including summer sausage, jerky and pickled hop shoots. On May 23, you can take an intro to craft beer class that will give you the basics on the brewing process and what to look for when it comes to beer tasting and pairings. Show off your creativity on May 24 by working on a beer-inspired painting with instructions from an artist.
Miskatonic Brewing Company, 1000 N. Frontage Road, Darien, (630) 541-9414, miskatonicbrewing.com: Try three beers and guess what they've been infused with on May 20 for the chance to win prizes. Grumpy Gaucho food truck will be serving Argentine fare.
Old Town Pour House, 1703 Freedom Drive, Naperville, (630) 448-6020, or 8 Oak Brook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 601-1440, oldtownpourhouse.com: The beer-focused bar's Oak Brook location hosts a Half Acre Brewing tap takeover at 5 p.m. on May 18, pouring brews including Get Right Kolsch and Iron Brass Belgian tripel. The Naperville bar spotlights barrel-aged beers with its 5 p.m. May 18 tapping including Boulevard Brewing's Rye on Rye on Rye whiskey barrel-aged rye ale and Allagash Brewing Co.'s St. Klippenstein bourbon barrel-aged Belgian-style strong stout.
Prairie Krafts Brewing Co., 1310 Busch Parkway, Buffalo Grove, (224) 434-2189, prairiekrafts.com: All of the brewery's beers are $1 off at the taproom throughout Chicago Craft Beer Week.
Tighthead Brewing Co., 161 N. Archer Ave., Mundelein, (847) 970-9174, tightheadbrewing.com: The brewery releases its Go Go Wit in cans for the first time on May 18, bringing in the Pizzeria Deville food truck for the occasion. You can also enjoy $1 off pints for the whole week.
Tomato Bar, 6300 Kingery Hwy., Willowbrook, (630) 655-1555, tomatobarpizza.com: Celebrate the grand opening of the bar and pizzeria's new patio from 6 to 11 p.m. May 19 with a tap takeover from Lagunitas and Revolution featuring three beers from each brewery. Dine in and you'll get a free order of doughnuts.