- Anne Petersen
The behemoth Chicago Craft Beer Week saturates the city May 14-24, providing a multitude of excuses to drink more beer than anyone reasonably should. Now in its sixth year, CCBW offers a mind-boggling range of beer-centric happenings, including tap takeovers, brewer meet-and-greets, special releases, homebrew competitions, and fests within the fest. The 15 events below are good bets, but there are hundreds more listed at chibeerweek.com.
Fischman Liquors and Tavern pours Legends, Rarities, and Vintages (aka rare beers) from Colorado’s Avery Brewing, including several that are 17 to 18 percent ABV: Uncle Jacob’s barrel-aged imperial stout, Tweak barrel-aged imperial coffee stout, and a 2011 vintage of a strong dark ale called the Beast. Also on the roster are two beers informed by cocktails: Insula Multos Collibus, a strong sour beer fermented with cherries and aged for nine months in fresh bourbon barrels (inspired by the manhattan), and Fortuna, a sour ale aged in tequila barrels, with lime zest and sea salt added after the barreling process (inspired by the margarita). Andy Parker, who creates the brewery’s sours and barrel-aged beers, will be on hand to talk about his brews. 6 PM, 4780 N. Milwaukee.
Monday 5/18
Members of the Order of the Black Phoenix (aka former Rock Bottom head brewers) converge tonight at Haymarket Pub & Brewery, itself headed by former Rock Bottom Chicago head brewer Pete Crowley. Admission to this edition of Mini FOBAB (Festival of Barrel-Aged Beer) includes tastings of more than 20 barrel-aged beers from Three Floyds, Surly, Solemn Oath, Gigantic Brewing, and others, as well as bread, cheese, and house-made sausage. Doors open at 5 PM, event begins at 6 PM, 737 W. Randolph, $75.
Friday 5/22
Sunday 5/24
