The 12th Annual Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers @ UIC Forum
The 2014 edition of the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers was the largest to date. An unprecedented event at UIC Forum which included 3 sessions over 2 days with nearly 5000 attendees. For the second straight year an American Wild Ale took home Best Of Show. In 2013 it was Bells’ LeBretteur, this year Veritas 013 from Port Brewing/ The Lost Abbey took home top honors.
On opening night lines formed immediately for Barrel Aged Abraxas (Perennial Artisan Ales) Raspe (Side Project) and GI who brought the entire lineup of this year’s Bourbon County variants as well all their sours.
Those lines were nuts, but it gave you chance to slide right up to brilliant offerings like Lake Effect Brewing’s Cerise De Michigan, Transient’s Bettsie and the Eisbock from Glacier Brewhouse. FOBAB is sexy like that, just an endless lineup of delight from near and far that you likely wont get to try on any other day of the year.
Chicago’s own Revolution Brewing continued its winning ways this year. They’ve won 4 medals in last 2 years, including 2 this year for Straight Jacket Barleywine & Fillibuster Double Pale Ale
Here’s a look at all the winners from this year, along with a complete list of every beer from every category.
* Just so you know. The only order to this list are Gold, Silver and Bronze. All the other beers are simply the other beers in that category..in no particular order. Cheers!
–Nkosi
Best Of Show
Veritas 013 – Port Brewing Company
Best Of Show Runner Up
Barrel-Aged Abraxas – Perennial Artisan Ales
Category 1: Classic Porter/Stout – 11 entries
Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout – Saugatuck Brewing Co. (GOLD)
Barrel Aged Yodo Con Leche -5 Rabbit Cerveceria (SILVER)
Lil’ Griz – Perrin Brewing Company (BRONZE)
Mega Milk Stout – Arcade Brewing
Turkey Run Camaro – Half Acre Brewing
Blackout Stout BBL Aged – Latitude 42 Brewing Co.
Barrel Aged Hipster Breakfast – Southern Prohibition Brewing
FEW Root Down – Temperance Beer Co
Sea Legs – Uinta Brewing Co
Jack Stout – Wild Onion Brewing Co
Kerfluffle – Wiseacre Brewing
Category 2: Strong Porter/Stout – 36 entries
The Jones Dog – Pipeworks Brewing Company (GOLD)
Barrel Aged Yeti Imperial Stout – Great Divide Brewing Company (SILVER)
Barrel Aged Bonafide With Cinnamon – 4 Hands Brewing Company (BRONZE)
Solitarty Confinement – 7venth Sun Brewing Co
Bo & Luke – Against The Grain Brewing
Odyssey – Allagash Brewing Co
Pump[KY]n Avery Brewing Co
Imperial Pajamas Begyle Brewing
Black Note – Bells Brewing
Ivan The Terrible – Big Sky Brewing
Harry Porter – Carson Brewing
Dosvidanya Russian Imperial Stout – DESTIHL Brewery
1920 Stout Imperiale – DESTIHL Brewery
K-Hole – Ei8ht Ball Brewing Co
2nd Anniversary Imperial Porter – Excel Brewing
Bourbon Ed Imperial Stout – Fitgers Brewhouse Brewery and Grille
Massive Barrel Retaliation – Flat 12 Bierwerks
Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star – Fremont Brewing
Vanilla Rye Bourbon County Stout Goose Island Beer Co
Indignant – Haymarket Pub & Brewery
Black Friday – Lakefront Brewery
MILF – Mothers Brewing
Meleagris Nevis Brewing Co
Dragons Milk – New Holland Brewing
Squeal & Deal – Pig Minds Brewing Co
Joe Daddy – Pig Minds Brewing
Pappy’s Ink – Rhinegeist Brewery
Category 3: Barleywine/Wheatwine – 33 entries
Straight Jacket – Revolution Brewing (GOLD)
Volume 2 – 4 Hands Brewing Company (SILVER)
Abacus 2013 – Firestone Walker (BRONZE)
Volume 2 – 4 Hands Brewing
Rye Barrel Aged Old Dishevler – Atlas Brewing
Begyle Barleywine – Begyle Brewing
Powder Wagon – Big Sky Brewing
Ryeday The 13 – Excel Brewery
Woodford Barrel Aged 1100 Wheatwine – Fitgers Brewhouse Brewery & Grille
Sherry Cask Aged 1100 Wheatwine – Fitgers Brewhouse Brewery & Grille
No4 Barley Wine – Flossmoor Station
Bourbon County Barleywine – Goose Island Beer Co
Barrel Aged Coming Home 2012 – Grand Teton Brewing Co
Clare’s Right Hook – Haymarket Pub & Brewery
Arabian Date Night – MobCraft Beer
Pilgrim’s Dole – New Holland Brewing Co
The Murderous – Pipeworks Brewing
Angel’s Share 2013 – Port Brewing Co
Grampappy – Rhinegeist Brewery
The Departed – Rivertowne Brewing C. Pittsburgh
Funny Bunny – Rock Bottom Warrenville
Heavyweight Ticklefight Champion Of The World – Solemn Oath Brewery
One Rye Bitch – Stickmen Brewery & Skewery
Barleywine – Ten Ninety Brewing
Barrel Aged Old Kaya Dog – Tighthead Brewing
Bourbon Barrel Barleywine – Triptych Brewing
Bare Tree Weiss Wine – Two Brothers Brewing Co
Cockeyed Cooper – Uinta Brewing
Barrel Chested Barleywine – Upland Brewing
Daft – Urban Chestnut Brewing
Solstice Jo – Wild Onion Brewing
Snowbeard – Wiseacre Brewing
Madame Rose
Category 4: Classic Styles (not higher than 7% abv) – 32 entries
Reintarnation – Ei8ht Ball Brewing (GOLD)
Beam Marzen – Glacier Brewhouse (SILVER)
Soul Shakedown Party – Sun King Brewing Co. (BRONZE)
Tiny Pig – Ei8ht Ball Brewing
Lil Opal – Firestone Walker
Pullman Reserve – Flossmoor Station
St Anthonys Rye IPA -Flossmoor Station
Westland Whiskey Rye Saison – Fremont Brewing
Curieux – Allagash Brewing Co
William Wallace Wrestle Fest Scotch Ale – Arcade Brewery
Ansatz – Breakside Brewery
Frederick’s Reserve – Christian Moerlein Brewing Co
Oaked OTR – Christian Moerlein Brewing Co
Pipewrench – Gigantic Brewing
Barrel Aged Belgian Golden Ale – Grand Teton
Barrel Aged Swan Song – HailStorm Brewing co
Gin Barrel Aged Pony Pilsner – Half Acre Brewing co
Double Chin BBL Aged – Latitude 42 Brewing Co
Doppeloat – Metropolitan Brewing
Wood Wheel – Metropolitan Brewing
Kentucky Mountain – One Trick Pony Brewing
Goat Got Wood – Rock Bottom Lombard
Naughty Scot – Rock Bottom Orland Park
Saison Du Ble – Side Project Brewing
Cherrywood Cali – Smylie Brothers Brewing Co
Patron Saint Of Quality Footwear – Solemn Oath
Absinthe Barrel Aged The Sale Guy – Spiteful Brewing
Jaggery Tripel – Ten Ninety Brewing Co
Drunken Hippy – Triptych Brewing
Oak Aged Rauchbier – Upstream Brewing
Holy Candy – Wiseacre Brewing
Oak Aged Upheaval – Widmer Brothers Brewing
2014 saw the introduction of the Barricale project
Category 5: Strong/Double/Imperial Pale Beer – 15 entries
Filibuster – Revolution Brewing (GOLD)
Barrel Aged Mississippi Fire Ant – Southern Prohibition Brewing (SILVER)
Gin Blitz – Rock Bottom Chicago (BRONZE)
Barrel Aged IPL – AC Golden Brewing Co
BBL Aged Imperial IPA – Bent River Brewing Co
Spruce Tipped Imperial IPA – Blacklist Brewing Co
Buffalo Trace Eisbock – Glacier Brewhouse
Painful Splinter – Imperial Oak Brewing
Super Doozy – Mothers Brewing Co
Barrel Aged HopAnomaly – Nebraska Brewing Co
Demon Sweat – Rock Bottom Warrenville
Rillo Rye – Shoreline Brewery
Roble Tres – Smylie Brothers Brewing C
Barrel Aged Mississippi Fire Ant – Southern Prohibition Brewing
Southern Charred – Stone Brewing
Bastard In The Rye – Stone Brewing
Category 6: Strong/Double/Imperial Dark Beer – 32 entries
Louie’s Resurrection -Milwaukee Brewing Company (GOLD)
Sympathy For The Devil – Sun King Brewing (SILVER)
Buffalo Trace Eisbock – Glacier Brewhouse (BRONZE)
Downfall – 4 Hands Brewing Co
Rum Barrel Aged Intemporelle Quadruppel – Atlas Brewing
Maybe Next Year – Begyle Brewing
Coco Noir – Blacklist Brewing
Wizard Burial Ground – Brewery Vivant
Irresponsible – Buckledown Brewing
10-161 – Christian Moerlein Brewing Co
Wild Pontiff – Church Street Brewing
Shark Sandwich – Emmetts Brewing C
Very Owd Gordo – Flat 12 Bierwerks
Backwoods Bastard – Founders Brewing
Curmudgeon Old Ale – Founders Brewing
Bourbon Abominable – Fremont Brewing
Hungarian Imperial Stout – Glacier Brewhouse
Grimm Vicar – Goose Island Brewing Co
Barrel Aged Vlad The Impaler – Hailstorm Brewing Co
Mecha Hugs – Half Acre Beer Co
Petrichor RIS – MobCraftBeer
Attack Of The Brunette – Nebraska Brewing Co
Wishful Thinking – Nevins Brewing Co
Dino’snores – Off Color Brewing
Sherry Butt Got CHUBby – Oksar Blues
Working Mom – Revolution Brewing
Mastodon – Rhinegeist Brewery
Grand Cru – Rock Bottom Chicago
Curse The Goat Doppelbock – shoreline Brewery
Sybil’s Revenge – Solemn Oath Brewery
Sympathy For The Devil – Sun King Brewery
Cucre (New American Oak) The Bruery
Barrel Strength Kill Devil Brown Ale – Widmer Brothers Brewing
too funny
Category 7: Fruit Beer – 26 entries
Yuzu Er’d Og Begravet -Off Color Brewing Company (GOLD)
Cerise De Michigan – Lake Effect Brewing Company (SILVER)
Vainglorious – Goose Island Clybourn (BRONZE)
Tequila Barrel Aged 5 Lizard – 5 Rabbit
Black Forest Cherry – August Schell Brewing co
Pinot Kolsch – Bear Republic Brewing co
Blackberry Gin Wheat – Bent River Brewing Co
A Little Discipline – Big Shoulders Beer Co
Barrel Aged Noble Rot – Dogfish Head Brewery
Bruja – Excel Brewery co
Huckleberry Sour – Grand Teton Brewing
Barrel Aged Swan Song With Tart cherries – Hailstorm Brewing
Clare’s Thirsty – Haymarket Vieille Blonde Ave
Oak Aged Uncorked – Horse Theif Hollow Brewing Co
Mangosteen Saison – Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Vieille Blonde Avec Frambois – Lake Effect Brewing
Admiration – Mystery Brewing
Flanders Framboise – Oakshire Brewing
Imperial Double Date – Oskar Blues
MI Cherry Belgian Ale – Perin Brewing
Absinthe Barrel Aged Klutzy Buffoon w cherries – Spiteful Brewing
Stone Passion Project – Stone Brewing
Raspberry Sanguinaire Premiere – Une Annee Brewery
Cuvee De Peche – Urban Chestnut Brewing
Gentleman’s Club Brandy Barrel Aged – Widmer Brothers Brewing co
Sloe Belgian – Woodfour Brewing
Category 8: Experimental Beer – 32 entries
Barrel-Aged Abraxas – Perennial Artisan Ales (GOLD)
Aquavit Barrel-Aged IPA – Breakside Brewery (SILVER)
Boulevardier Barrel Aged Might Meets Rights – Temperance Beer Company (BRONZE)
Barrel Aged Whole Wheat Bock – AC Golden Brewing
Sauternes Barrel Aged T REx Hugs – Atlas Brewing Co
Imperial Wit w Kaffir Lime Leaves – Blacklist Brewing
Aquavit Barrel Aged IPA – Breakside Brewery
Chesters BBQ Ale – Champaign County Brewing
Dark Turkey – Emmetts Brewing Co
Whiskey Jack – Flat 12 Bierwerks
Forbidden Root – Forbidden Root Brewing Co
Nuthulhu – Goose Island
Barrel Aged Cheval Deux – Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Co
Ruben & The Bretts – Lagunitas Brewing Co
Lakefront Imperial Pumpkin Ale – Lakefront Brewing
Elf’s Lament – Milwaukee Brewing Co
Sasquash – Milwaukee Brewing Co
Squashed – Mothers Brewing Co
The White Queen Bids Farewell – Mystery Brewing Co
The Wrath Of PeCaan – Nevins Brewing Co
Flame Thrower – Pig Minds Brewing
Over The Line – Pipeworks Brewing
Lost Abbey Track #8 – Port Brewing
Wooden Nickel – Rude Hippo
Barrel Aged Neapolitan Milk Stout – Saugatuck Brewing Co
Gourd Damn – SlapShot Brewing
Manhattan Barrel Aged Might Meets Right – Temperance Beer co
Imperial Porter – Ten Ninety Brewing co
Chocolate Rain – The Bruery
Conquistador De Muerte – Three Floyds
Le Capitane – Golden Saison Regal – Trinity Brewing Co
Gin Barrel Aged Saison – Upstream
Sour Braggot – Woodfour Brewing
Upland Brewing, Bloomington, IN
Category 9: Wild Beer (Brett) – 19 entries
Papillon (AKA I Can Do This Too, Cory King) -Off Color Brewing (GOLD)
Easy Swinger Wild IPA – Trinity Brewing Company (SILVER)
Hermanne 1882 -Oakshire Brewing (BRONZE)
Brett Saison Extreme – 7venth Sun Brewery
Tall Tale – Against The Grain
Paris – Brewery Vivant
Barrel Aged Weekend At Brett’s – Horse Theif Hollow Brewing co
Persimmon Ship Saison – Jolly Pumpkin
Saison X – Jolly Pumpkin
Vieille Blonde – Lake Effect
Whos That Girl? – Middle Brow Beer co
Sophocles – Mystery Brewing Co
Hermanne 1882 – Oakshire Brewing
Wild V – Penrose Brewing
Savant Blanc – Perennial Artisan Ales
Hilda Ogden’s Wrinkled Stockings – Rock Bottom Orland
La Creme – Sun King Brewing
Big Tiddy Assassin – Three Floyds
Easy Swinger Wild IPA – Trinity Brewing
Oud Bruin – Triptych Brewing
Category 10: Wild Beer (Acidic) – 30 entries
Veritas 013 – Port Brewing Company (GOLD)
365 Day Sour – Trinity Brewing Company (SILVER)
Dark Kriek – AC Golden (BRONZE)
Dawn Of Aurora – August Schell Brewing
Cypress Blanc – August Schell Brewing
Rufus Corvus – Avery Brewing Co
Antonius Carmen – Avery Brewing Co
Wild One – Bells Brewing
New World Bruin – Breakside Brewery
Belgian Weisse – Brewery Vivant
Saint Dekkera Reserve Sour Excommunie Quatre – DESTIHL Brewery
Saint Dekkera Reserve Sour Apple Ale DESTIHL Brewery
Agrestic – Firestone Walker Brewing
Madame Rose – Goose Island
Oscar Worthy Coffee – New Belgium
NBB LOVE Cherry Felix – New Belgium
La Terroir – New Belgium
Oude Bes – Oakshire Brewing
Wild VII – Penrose Brewing
La Boheme – Perennial Artisan Ales
Dr Lacto – Perrin Brewing co
La Fosse – Side Project Brewing
Raspe – Side Project Brewing
Vinegar Strokes – Stickmen Brewery
Rueuze – The Bruery
Chevalier Bertrand du Guesclin – Three Floyds
Fathom – Two Brothers
Rambutan – Upland Brewing
Permission Slip – Upland Brewing
Mercator – Urban Chestnut Brewering
Sour Farmhouse – Woodfour Brewing
Category 11: Cider/Perry/Mead – 9 entries
Lapinette – Virtue Cider (GOLD)
Wyder’s Reposado Pear – Vermont Hard Cider Company (SILVER)
Champman’s Oaked – Vandermill (BRONZE)
Steel Town – Crispin Hard Cider
Finnriver Forest GINger Cider – Finnriver Farm & Cidery
Imperial Breakfast Magpie – New Day Craft Mead & Cider
Woodchuck Barrel Select – Vermont Hard Cider Company
The Mitten – Virtue cider
Percheron – Virtue Cider
