The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild will host the sixth-annual Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers on Saturday, Nov. 8. The festival, which takes place at the Stephen M. Bailey Auditorium in the West Loop, will feature beers from more than 40 mostly Midwestern breweries, including Chicago's Goose Island and Piece Brewery & Pizzeria, Schlafly Brewery & Tap Room from Missouri and Three Floyds Brewing out of Indiana.
Beer that has been aged in barrels (as opposed to stainless steel) often take on the characteristics of the wood, especially if the barrel previously housed wine, whiskey or bourbon for aging. Just like in wine tasting, these Belgian-inspired craft beers will have flavors of fruit, spices and other notes.
The event takes place in two sessions -- from 1 p.m to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. Only 500 tickets will be sold for each session, so you better hop to it. Reserve your spot through Brown Paper Tickets.
