19th Annual Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (FoBAB)

11 Nov 19th Annual Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (FoBAB)

NEW VENUE: Credit Union 1 Arena (UIC Pavilion) | 525 S. Racine Ave. | Chicago

FoBAB Tasting Sessions 

• Session I | Friday November 12: 6-10 PM
• Session II | Saturday November 13: 1-5 PM è Media entry begins at 12:00 noon

FoBAB To-Go: Assorted six-packs of FoBAB competition beer are sold out. FoBAB To Go ticketholders are able to pick up their six-packs Friday, Saturday or Sunday at Credit Union 1 Arena. More information on pickup is available at www.fobab.com.  SOLD OUT, sorry.

Website, Tickets, FAQs | www.fobab.com

image credit: FOBAB

Getting to FoBAB: FoBAB is hosted at the Credit Union 1 Arena (525 S. Racine Ave., Chicago, IL 60607). Attendees are strongly encouraged to utilize public transportation or ride-sharing services to and from the venue. Credit Union 1 Arena is accessible by CTA (Blue Line UIC/Halsted Stop + #7 and #126 Bus Routes) as well as the Metra BNSF (Halsted stop). Additionally, there is parking in several nearby parking garages, including UIC Parking Lot 11 and the Harrison Street Parking Structure.

Media Entry + Check-In: Media entry for Session II (Saturday November 13^th) begins at 12:00 p.m. CT. We invite all media to enter through Gate 2 labeled “Media, Brewery, and Sponsor Entry.” Please be advised that, per UIC policy, metal detectors will once again be utilized at the entrance. Upon entry, please visit the media check-in table to get your wristband, media badge, tasting glass, and program. Then you’ll be free to hit the festival floor.

FoBAB Award Ceremony: The FoBAB award ceremony will take place Saturday, November 13^th at approximately 2:00 p.m. Prior to the public sessions, a panel of industry leaders and certified judges will have evaluated all FoBAB entries, awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals across 11 style categories and naming “Best of Show” honors. The ceremony will be live streamed on www.fobab.com. We’re excited to share that PorchDrinking.com will once again be live tweeting the results, so we encourage you to follow along at @PorchDrinkingCo.

COVID-19 Protocols: Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours of the festival will be required upon entry for all staff, volunteers, and attendees. We encourage patrons to download their vaccination card on Vax Verify. A picture copy on a phone will also be accepted. For our out-of-town guests, please review Chicago’s current travel advisories for any applicable quarantine/testing requirements. Masks will be required in all indoor spaces, per local health guidelines.

A Safe Space for All: The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild is committed to making the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer a safe, respectful, and inclusive event for all. This year, we’re partnering with the app-based platform, #NotMe, to facilitate anonymous, on-site, and real-time reporting of any instances of misconduct by those who may experience it directly or those who may witness it. We hold a zero-tolerance policy for any violations of the Code of Conduct before, during, or after the festival. More information and the Code of Conduct can be found in the attached Media Guide.

FoBAB by the Numbers: The return  19^th annual Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer will not disappoint. Here’s what to expect.

• Beers, Ciders, Meads + Perries | 300+
• Participating Breweries | 180+

• States Represented | 30
• Judging Categories | 11

Website, Tickets, FAQs | www.fobab.com