Chicago Craft Beer Week (CCBW) is quickly approaching (May 18 -25), and that means loads of good beer, piles of good eats, and a ton of kick-ass events. Are you ready to watch brewers chuck balls at each other? Maybe you prefer open fire and smoked meat? Or maybe bar hopping on a bus is your jam. Either way, CCBW has you covered. The 158 metro-area breweries will spend a week offering special releases, showcasing beer collaborations, tapping firkins, handing out swag, providing music, and offering good deals. Prepare your liver because it’s going to be a wild ride.

May 18 | 6:30pm-9:30pm
Beer Under Glass (B.U.G), Garfield Park Conservatory
Cost: $60

Akin to the week’s opening ceremonies (although there are many concurring events that night), the 8th Annual Illinois Craft Brewers Guild and Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance B.U.G. event allows participants to roam the Conservatory’s eight indoor display houses after-hours. Guests can choose from 200 beers served by 100 breweries, all poured into a souvenir glass. Even better, most brewers have prepared something special for B.U.G.

Food trucks will also be available. For details on tickets, breweries, food pricing, cash v credit information, and more, please see: https://garfieldconservatory.org/event/beer-under-glass/

May 18 | 4pm-10pm
Half Acre Bags Tournament, Beer House Chicago (Lombard)

If you can’t make B.U.G., or you prefer your vegetation in hole-form, head to the Beer House in Lombard for some corn hole. Half Acre notes, “We are looking for 16 teams to join our bags tournament where you can win some pretty kick-ass prizes: 2nd & 3rd place winners will receive Half Acre swag bags; 1st place grand-prize winner will receive a custom Half Acre bags and board set, and more swag!”

Obviously, there will also be a wealth of Half Acre Beer on-hand. I mean, throwing bags makes you thirsty, right?

Contact: joe@beerhousechicago.com
For details, see: https://www.facebook.com/events/1388940721163897/

May 19-21
Putt Putt (21 and over), hosted by Revolution Brewing (Kedzie Facility)
Cost: $40 for foursome & 30 minutes of golf + Revolution Sun Crusher

Forget windmills and clowns, try navigating a 9-hole course situated inside the Revolution Brewing Kedzie location. Each hole enjoys a Rev-brew theme and guests will also receive a Revolution Sun Crusher Hoppy Wheat Ale.

See: https://revbrew.com/events/revolution-ccbw-putt-putt

May 20th | 12:00pm-11:00pm      
“Mystery Infusion?!” by Miskatonic Brewing, Darien, Il

Are you ready for an open-menu challenge? Miskatonic will take three beers listed on its daily menu and infuse them with three mystery ingredients. Your challenge, if you choose to accept, is to a) name the beer and b) name the mystery ingredient. Each correct guess puts you in the pool for a fun prize. Guess all six and your odds increase. Fun, huh?

If that’s not enough, you can channel your inner-Jim Gaffigan because Grumpy Gaucho Food Truck will also be there serving Argentinian treats, including the original hot pocket!

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1904012729817819/

May 21 | 2pm-6pm
Dodgeball: 32-brewery battle, hosted by Goose Island (Barrel House)
Cost: $25 (All proceeds go to the Special Olympics)

What goes well with beer and food? Violence, of course.

Goose Island’s 4th Annual Sunday Funday invites 32 local breweries to whip balls at each other outside Goose’s Barrel House. For $25, you can watch brewers take a pounding, snack at the food trucks, and use your six beer tokens on such beers as 2012 BCS Cherry Rye, 2013 Lolita, 2014, BCS Proprietor's, 2014 BCS Vanilla, 2015 BCS Rare, 2016 BCS Coffee and beers from the guest breweries. And, it’s all for a good cause.

Tickets and info: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2910220

May 23 | 7pm-11:30pm 
Bonfire: Four Chicago breweries, hosted by Illuminated Brew Works (IBW), Chicago
Cost: Free (Limited to 200 RSVPs)

Fire, meat, beer, and music...and it’s free!

Sit around the fire with four breweries (IBW, Maplewood, Around the Bend, and DryHop), who will serve a mix of familiar beers and a few special concoctions. Meanwhile, the Columbine's will provide the music and Arman will be smoking some pork shoulder. All you have to do is get on IBW’s email list (see below) and be one of the first 200 people to RSVP when the notice arrives on May 21.

Sign up to IBWs email list: http://www.ibw-chicago.com

May 25 | 6pm-12am
Northwest Side Craft Beer Ride: 9 Bars / 9 Bus Stops
Cost: $20 bus ticket (does not include beer).

Sing it: “The wheels on the bus go bar to bar, bar to bar, all through the town.”

Three beer-barrel looking busses will run continually from 6pm to midnight, carrying beer geeks from one bar to the next–nine stops in all. Each bar showcases a separate brewery, so catch the bus (at any stop) and begin the tour! Participating breweries include Aleman, Old Irving, Lake Effect, Pipeworks, Begyle, Bold Dog, Bucketlist, Brickstone, 5 Rabbit, Marz, Twisted Hippo, Illuminated, and Maplewood.

For tickets, see: http://www.lakeeffectbrewing.com/shop/guhloj2yu6wa3ugeekbasvsdnvci5c