Illinois Craft Beer Week Returns May 3-10, Marking Statewide Kickoff to Summer Craft Beer Season
Cornerstone festival and fundraiser, Beer Under Glass, opens Illinois Craft Beer Week at Chicago Union Station on Friday, May 3
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, the nonprofit trade association that supports and advocates for nearly 300 Illinois craft breweries, announced Illinois Craft Beer Week will return May 3-10, marking the official kickoff to the summer craft beer season.
Hosted annually in May, Illinois Craft Beer Week (ICBW) is a weeklong celebration of the state’s brewing community that comes to life through signature festivals, taproom and retailer events, one-of-a-kind collaborations, and exciting promotions to delight craft beer fans and drive support for the state’s craft beer industry.
“Illinois Craft Beer Week has always been the unofficial start to the craft beer season, and the timing of this year’s event is important as we emerge from the historically slow winter months,” said Ray Stout, executive director for the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. “This week is an opportunity to celebrate the resilience of our industry while hosting events and promotions that increase visits to our breweries, taprooms, retailers, bottle shops and craft beer bars and kick off a strong summer of sales for craft beer producers in Illinois. There’s never been a more pivotal time to support the Illinois craft beer community.”
Headlining Illinois Craft Beer Week is Beer Under Glass, a cornerstone festival and fundraiser that kicks off the weeklong celebration on Friday. May 3.Hosted on where the State of Illinois meets the City of Chicago — under 200 feet of glass at Chicago Union Station’s Great Hall — Beer Under Glass convenes approximately 100 Illinois craft breweries for a unique tasting event in one of Chicago’s most iconic venues while raising money to support the Guild’s mission of education, promotion, and advocacy.
Now in its 14th year, Beer Under Glass offers attendees the opportunity to taste nearly 200 Illinois craft beers — enjoying timeless favorites and discovering new treasures. The single tasting session runs 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with one-hour early entry for VIP ticketholders beginning at 4:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $50 and VIP tickets are $60, and current members of the Guild’s enthusiast program, ImBIBE, will receive a complimentary VIP ticket upgrade with their general admission purchase. Tickets are on sale now at www.illinoisbeer.org/icbw.
Illinois Craft Beer Week also invites fans to solidify their place in Illinois craft beer history by securing the 3rd annual ICBW Pint Glass. This limited-edition commemorative pint glass, available for purchase at participating breweries exclusively during Illinois Craft Beer Week, raises funds for member breweries and the Guild. The theme of this year’s pint glass is “Adventure Crafted in Illinois,” and the glass features several hidden gems and landmark destinations situated near Illinois craft breweries.
Finally, a reimagined Summer Passport program will launch during Illinois Craft Beer Week, rewarding craft beer fans for grabbing their ICBW Pint Glasses and crafting their own adventure all summer long. The physical Summer Passport will feature all-new opportunities for craft beer fans to win prizes for exploring Illinois breweries and hitting adventure milestones from May through August. More details about the 2024 Summer Passport, including rewards and participating breweries, will be released closer to Illinois Craft Beer Week.
For a full lineup of events and activities for Illinois Craft Beer Week, please visit www.illinoisbeer.org/icbw and follow along at @ILCraftBeerWeek on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram.
