Chicago’s annual Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers is changing shape for 2020, as many others have during the pandemic. However, the beer competition will proceed, as will a new promotion involving mixed sixers of FoBAB beers.
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild says it expects more than 160 breweries from across the country to submit more than 300 beers for the highly regarded competition, which awards medals in 12 style categories plus Best in Show. The judging is scheduled for November 12 and 13 in Tinley Park, southwest of Chicago, with the award ceremony to be live-streamed on November 14.
Participating breweries have the option of donating extra beer to fill out the six-packs, which will be for sale to members of the Illionois guild’s enthusiast program, ImBIBE. The guild says that 100 percent of the proceeds support its efforts to promote and protect Illinois breweries. For ImBIBE members, the sixers cost $60 each and include a FoBAB tote bag and tasting glass. Besides access to the FoBAB six-packs, those who register for ImBIBE membership also receive a FoBAB T-shirt and face mask.
“While we wish we were able to celebrate FoBAB in person this year, we are very grateful to our participating breweries for helping us to get their creations into the hands of the people who appreciate barrel-aged beer most,” says Danielle D’Alessandro, the Illinois guild’s executive director, in a news release. “The FoBAB festival is a significant source of revenue for our nonprofit organization, and this fundraiser will provide a critical infusion of funds to support our work the remainder of this year.”
For more information about FoBAB and ImBIBE, visit the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild website.