Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer

The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild invites you to the Seventh Annual Festival of Wood and Barrel-aged Beer, spotlighting beer that has been aged in a wooden barrel or in contact with wood. Enjoy a sampling from our selection of beers, which may or may not be available commercially from breweries Coast-to-Coast. You will be treated to a vast array of exotic flavors from some of the rarest beers you will ever find!
Enjoy beers aged in new or used wine, whiskey or Bourbon barrels that take on many of the characteristics of that libation. Brewers of traditional or not-so-traditional Belgian-inspired beers often prefer used barrels so different resident microorganisms will impart a refreshing tart and acidic character. Fruit, spices, coffee and syrup may compliment the already complex character of wood-aged beers.
Long before the advent of stainless steel, the use of wooden barrels imparted many unique characteristics to beer. In many ways, the U. S. craft brewer has come full circle, returning to the roots of brewing while demonstrating a creativity unmatched anywhere in the world!