By Ray Stout
Executive director
Illinois Craft Brewers Guild

It’s a full slate of fun and great beer this spring and summer with Illinois Craft Beer Week, Beer Under Glass, the Summer Passport program and more.

The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild is excited to announce the return of Illinois Craft Beer Week May 3-10, 2024. This year we’re focusing our weeklong celebration on the enduring impact that craft breweries have on our communities and neighborhoods with unique opportunities throughout the week for our members, partners, fans, retailers and followers to experience and support our awesome craft beer industry in Illinois. Expect an assortment of festivals, taproom and retailer events, one-of-a-kind collaborations and exciting promotions.

This year, we’re opening Illinois Craft Beer Week with our cornerstone event, hosted where the State of Illinois meets the City of Chicago — under the glass at Chicago Union Station’s Great Hall. Please join us for an exploration of Illinois craft beer at our signature festival and fundraiser, Beer Under Glass, on Friday, May 3.

Beer Under Glass, nicknamed BUG, is a one-of-a-kind evening that pairs samples from more than 100 Illinois craft breweries with the history and architectural marvel of a venue that is uniquely Illinois.

This one-of-a-kind evening, nicknamed BUG, pairs samples from more than 100 Illinois craft breweries with the history and architectural marvel of a venue that is uniquely Illinois. Guests will go on a statewide craft beer adventure, mingling with brewers from their favorite craft beer spots, sampling timeless favorites and discovering new treasures. Right under the glass at Chicago’s Union Station, Beer Under Glass will celebrate the collaborations, partnerships and connections that define the Illinois craft beer industry and the brewers, suppliers and supporters who are instrumental to our community.

The single tasting session runs 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with one-hour early entry for VIP ticketholders beginning at 4:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $50 and VIP tickets are $60, and current members of the Guild’s enthusiast program, ImBIBE, will receive a complimentary VIP ticket upgrade with their general admission purchase. For more information and tickets to Beer Under Glass, go to www.illinoisbeer.org/ICBW

Illinois Craft Beer Week also marks the beginning of our Drink Illinois Summer Passport program. Coming off an amazing outpouring of support, we are excited to bring our physical passport back in 2024. Last year passport holders spent an estimated $200,000 at independent Illinois craft breweries, and we are ready to exceed that total in 2024. Most importantly, the Summer Passport program is about the experience and exploration it encourages. After all, there are around 300 breweries across our state!

As an introduction (or a reminder), here is how our Summer Passport program works: Starting during Illinois Craft Beer Week, swing by a participating Illinois craft brewery to pick up your passport — which are only available while supplies last. Breweries will not receive extras, so get yours early.

Then let the adventure begin by visiting participating breweries, taprooms and brewpubs across the state between Craft Beer Week and August 2024, and be sure to ask your beertender or server for a visa sticker to add to your passport. Then document your adventures with #DrinkIllinois for a chance to be featured on ICBW social media.

Passport holders who visit 25, 50, or even 75 participating breweries during passport season will be eligible for entry to a drawing for gift cards at each level to the passport brewery of their choice. To enter, complete the authorization forms in the passport, have it verified by a brewery employee and submit it to the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. You can find ALL the details about the Summer Passport program on www.Illinoisbeer.org/ICBW.

At its core, Illinois Craft Beer Week is a reminder of our duty to advocate in support of our industry. This year, we’re pushing to modernize Illinois liquor laws from the 1930s that make it harder for today’s breweries to open, operate and grow.

At its core, Illinois Craft Beer Week is a reminder of our duty to advocate in support of our industry. This year, we’re pushing to modernize Illinois liquor laws from the 1930s that make it harder for today’s breweries to open, operate and grow. During Illinois Craft Beer Week, we’ll mobilize our craft community, becoming one voice as we advocate for our future through direct contact with members of the Illinois General Assembly and through a high-impact social media campaign. Keep an eye on www.Illinoisbeer.org  for ways you can help breweries fight for the modernization of Illinois liquor laws.

Finally, do you know what makes visiting our Illinois Breweries even better? Buying the beer, keeping the glass, AND supporting the industry… all at once! Kicking off during Illinois Craft Beer Week, visit participating breweries to purchase our limited-edition 16-ounce pint glasses designed especially for Illinois craft beer drinkers. A portion of every sale supports the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild’s mission of education, promotion and advocacy. You can find a full listing of participating breweries at www.Illinoisbeer.org/ICBW

For a full lineup of events and activities for Illinois Craft Beer Week, please visit www.illinoisbeer.org/icbw and follow along at @ILCraftBeerWeek on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram.