After years of focusing its annual May celebration on Chicago and its suburbs, the Illinois Craft Brewer’s Guild now includes events across the state. Accordingly, it’s changed the name of the event to Illinois Craft Beer Week.
Ultra Fresh All the beer served at this festival from the Hop Review (an online beer journal that focuses on Chicago and the midwest) will have been packaged within the past five days, making it—as the name would suggest—very fresh. More than two dozen local breweries will bring pale ales and IPAs (expect lots of those) along with a few lagers and the odd saison or hefeweizen. Sat 5/19, 5-9 PM (4 PM entry for VIP ticket holders), Right Way Signs, 2333 N. Seeley, $45, $55 VIPFunkpocalypse Tiki Prom The theme of Burnt City Brewing’s annual Beer Prom this year is funk: funky beer, funky music, funky costumes. Penrose, Illuminated Brew Works, Hopewell, Middle Brow, Light the Lamp, and Whiner will be on draft, along with some Burnt City creations made with brettanomyces; tiki cocktails and traditional (nonfunky) beer will also be available. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Sat 5/19, 8 PM-1 AM, Burnt City Brewing Pub and Bowling, 2747 N. Lincoln, no cover
