Arts & Entertainment

Inaugural Outdoor Winter Beer Fest Held This Weekend in Naperville

The Naperville Winter Ale Fest will be held on Feb. 22 at Frontier Park.

Do you like trying new types of craft beer enough to brave an outdoor festival in February? 

If so, the inaugural Naperville Winter Ale Fest on Feb. 22 at Frontier Park, 3380 Cedar Glade Road in Naperville, should be right up your alley. 

As of Tuesday, tickets were still available — but going fast — for the festival, which will be hosted by Lou Dog Events, LLC, and will showcase over 120 American craft beers by 60 breweries from around the country, according to an update posted on the festival's website. 

Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Twenty-three of those beers are from Illinois, including local favorite Solemn Oath Brewery as well as Revolution Brewing, DESTIHL Brewery, Off Color Brewing, and Pipeworks Brewing, to name just a few. 

Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lou Dog Events, LLC organized the Naperville Ale Fest, which was held last summer.

The Winter Ale Festival will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Feb. 22 and will also feature a variety of food from food trucks including: cuisine from Indian, Mediterranean and Mexican; to hand-held pasties; gourmet grilled cheese; and pizza. The food truck vendors include:  OMango, Chicago Pizza Boss, The Calle Wagon, Toasty Cheese Mobile Eatery and Bridgeport Pasty.  

Cupcakes For Courage will provide the dessert as part of a fund-raising effort for  cancer research. 

Heated tents, a bonfire seating area and patio heaters will ensure visitors will be warmed by more than the beer. Four Star Brass Band, a Chicago-based New Orleans style brass band, will perform. 

The admission cost will allow guests to enjoy 3 oz samples of  IPA’s, Belgiums, Porters, Stouts, Lagers and Fall- and Winter-style ales from the 120 different craft beers available, said organizer Josh Seago,  who is excited to introduce fest-goers to new brewers, in the news release. 

“A craft beer festival is as much about the experience as it is the beer,” he said. “Don't get me wrong, a great craft beer festival must have great beer. But the opportunity to interact with fellow enthusiasts, meet the brewers and sample beer in a unique setting is what makes it an experience. ” Nonalcoholic beverages will also be available.

A portion of the proceeds from Naperville Winter Ale fest will benefit the Naperville Parks Foundation. 

Tickets for the Naperville Winter Ale Fest are $45 for tastings, a commemorative Winter Fest glass and Program Guide and $15 for Designated Drivers, and are available at www.napervillewinteralefest.com.  

No one under 21 will be admitted to the fest. The event will be held snow or shine, with free parking available at Neuqua Valley High School.

For tickets and information: www.napervillewinteralefest.com.

Source: Naperville Winter Ale Fest 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here