Illinois Breweries On Tap For Great American Beer Fest 2020

ILLINOIS — For those looking for a unique way to relax and raise a pint amid the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Great American Beer Festival is going virtual.

The 39th annual event, planned Oct. 1-18, will feature more than 900 craft breweries, including 50 in Illinois. This year’s event includes a mix of online programming as well as in-person deals at Illinois breweries.

Online events are planned Oct. 16-17 for anyone who purchases event tickets.

Online programming for the festival will cover a variety of topics including tips and tricks to enhance beer knowledge and enjoyment, stories from standouts in the craft beer industry, and how to create the best flavors through beer and food pairings.

Online events kick off the night of Oct. 16 with the Great American Beer Festival awards ceremony, which is open to the public. The presentation will also be broadcast on The Brewing Network.

Here are the craft breweries from Illinois participating in this year’s festival:

350 Brewing Co, Tinley Park
Adams Street Brewery, Chicago
Art History Brewing Inc, Geneva
Ballast Point Brewing Company, Chicago
BBGB Brewery And Hop Farm, North Aurora
Black Horizon Brewing Company, Willowbrook
Brother Chimp Brewing, North Aurora
Buffalo Creek Brewing, Long Grove
Byers Brewing Company, DeKalb
Church Street Brewing Company, Itasca
Crystal Lake Brewing Co., Crystal Lake
DESTIHL Brewery, Normal
Elmhurst Brewing Company, Elmhurts
Evil Horse Brewing Company, LLC, Crete
Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery, Chicago
HailStorm Brewing Company, Tinley Park
Haymarket Pub and Brewery, Chicago
Holzlager Brewing Co., Woodstock
Horse Thief Hollow Brewery, Chicago
Light the Lamp Brewery, Grayslake
Lil Beaver Brewery, LLC, Bloomington
Maplewood Brewing Company, Chicago
Noon Whistle Brewing Company, Naperville
Noon Whistle Brewing, Lombard
Old Irving Brewing Co., Chicago
On Tour Brewing Company, Chicago
One Allegiance Brewing, Chicago Ridge
Oswego Brewing Co., Oswego
Pilot Project Brewing, Chicago
Pollyanna Brewing Company (Roselare), Roselle
Pollyanna Brewing Company (St. Charles), St. Charles
Pollyanna Brewing Company, Lemont
Ravinia Brewing Company, Highland Park
Revolution Brewing, Chicago
Scorched Earth Brewing Co., Algonquin
Sew Hop'd Brewery LLC, Huntley
Short Fuse Brewing Company, Schiller Park
Side Lot Brewery, Wauconda
Sketchbook Brewing Co. (Skokie IL), Skokie
Slauterhouse Brewing Co., Auburn
Smylie Brothers Brewing Co. - Evanston, Evanston
Smylie Brothers Brewing Co. - Production, Chicago
Stockholm's Restaurant & Brewery, Geneva
Temperance Beer Company, LLC, Evanston
Ten Ninety Brewing Co, Glenview
Tighthead Brewing Co, Mundelein
Twisted Hippo, Chicago
Whiskey Hill Brewing, Westmont
Whiskey Hill Brewing, Westmont
Wolfden Brewing Company, Bloomingdale

Festival organizers plan to publish the final list of breweries Sept. 15.

For those who choose to visit local breweries in person, many will offer in-house discounts during the festival.

To take advantage of the deals, you must purchase a $20 passport, which acts as a “digital savings book” and is valid throughout the festival. The passport also allows you access to online events.

See this year’s full list of discounts and specials.

The Great American Beer Festival is organized by the Brewers Association, a nonprofit organization that promotes American craft beer and brewers. This year’s event was initially scheduled for Sept. 24-26 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.