Craft breweries (and microbrew sales) are red hot! Celebrating its third year in 2014,Green Mountain Gringo Chicago Craft Beer Festival has grown in wild popularity to become the Windy City’s hottest specialty beer gathering. This event draws an eclectic mix of upscale visitors including, of course, lovers of microbrews.
Highlights include tented tasting areas where visitors can (for a tasting fee) sample from more than 100 craft beers. Among the scores of showcased brews are those from Chicago’s Revolution and Half Acre breweries, Wisconsin’s Hinterland, Michigan’s Arcadia Ales and Founders Brewing, and Two Brothers in Illinois (to name just a few). There also will be music acts performing both inside and outside the tented areas.
This year’s fest is moving a few blocks north from its old location to new and expanded digs in the heart of DePaul/Lincoln Park. It’s also scheduled to be held on the same weekend and in tandem in the same neighborhood as the iconic annual Sheffield Garden Walk.
Advance tickets are $40 for 15 tickets (each ticket will get you 1 3-oz sample of the beer of your choice); day-of tickets (if available) are $45. All tickets give you access to the tasting area from noon – 4 p.m., a souvenir tasting glass, access to private tasting area, and live music and seating area between tastings. The festival runs on Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20, from noon – 10 p.m.
This year’s beneficiary is the Sheffield Neighborhood Association, whose goal is to improve conditions of life, work, recreation, health, and safety; to foster and develop a neighborhood plan; and to aid, assist, and sponsor programs and activities in the Sheffield neighborhood. The Association is to monitor the general condition of the neighborhood, both socially and physically, and to initiate any action deemed appropriate to further the general welfare of the Sheffield community.
