Chicago is a haven for beer-lovers. Maybe it has to do with the lengthy, brutal winters, but Chicagoans are just known for loving good beer. During the Chicago Craft Beer Festival, at the end of July, you can sip and sample a variety of unique craft beers and appreciate their unique flavors. In order to attend this festival, you’ll need to select proper transportation and a convenient hotel. This guide can help you simplify a vacation that’s centered around the Chicago Craft Beer Festival.
Transportation to the Festival
Safety should be your top priority while attending the beer festival in Chicago. Luckily, the city has one of the best public transit systems in the country. The festival itself is located right between two stations on the Brown Line, Paulina and Addison, so it should be simple to get to whether you’re coming from the north or south. There’s also sure to be plenty of roaming Uber and Lyft vehicles around to take you and your friends there and back safely.
Hotels Close to O’Hare Airport
The Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago is a good place to stay during the festival because it’s only a few miles away from the event. If you book a suite, the amenities will make your stay more enjoyable. For example, at the end of a long day, you can kick up your feet and order room service, and if you sample a lot of beer throughout the festival, you could burn calories in the fitness center near your suite.
The Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile is another great choice. It’s newly-renovated and sits in one of Chicago’s most famous districts. It’s also a visually stunning piece of architecture that really makes you feel like you’re staying in the big city.
Chicago Craft Beer Festival Details and Attractions
In Illinois, there are thousands of microbreweries that produce amazing beers, ciders, and other potent potables. At the Chicago Craft Beer Festival, you’ll have opportunities to sample many of them. There are also tastings that involve specialty beers that are made by local, national, and regional vendors.
Chicago Food After the Festival
Ivar Seafood, open since 1938, serves tasty, iconic food that you may want to try after the festival. Seafood generally pairs quite well with beer, and it may be an even better meal to help soak up some alcohol if you’ve been indulgent. Ivar Seafood gets many customers because the menu features award-winning food like its clam chowder and salmon.
Beer Festival Strategies
When you sample different beers, some flavors may linger. In order to taste as many flavors as possible while sampling various beers, you’ll have to eliminate previous flavors by cleansing your palate with something light and mild like crackers.
If possible, bring a bottle of water to the festival because you may need it to rinse out your cup. You can also drink the water when you need help cleansing your palate.
At the Chicago Craft Beer Festival, you’ll find many beers that you can sample. And you won’t even have to live through one of Chicago’s famously cold winters to do it!
