11 Illinois Breweries Compete In 2024 Great American Beer Festival

CHICAGO — Eleven Illinois breweries will be competing in the Great American Beer Festival next month in Denver.

The festival is the nation’s largest for professional brewers and hands out some of the industry’s most sought-after accolades.

Bronze, silver and gold medals will be awarded for dozens of styles of beer and ciders in more than 100 categories from Oct. 10 to Oct. 12.

Beer is still the star of the competition, but organizers are casting a wider net with the addition of categories for ciders, canned cocktails, hard seltzer, hard soda, hard tea, hard kombucha, other malt-based beverages, and all non-alcoholic beverages.

The event also features competition in ciders, hard seltzers and, new this year, canned cocktails and hard teas.

Last year, seven Illinois breweries received medals at the festival, including golds for Sew Hop’d Brewery in Huntley and Horse Thief Hollow Brewing in Chicago, neither of which is listed as taking part in this year's festival.

The 11 Illinois breweries competing for medals this year in the Mile High City include:

Destihl Brewery at 1200 Greenbriar Drive, Normal, Illinois, offers a diverse selection of beers, including the Tourbus Hazy IPA, a juicy and hazy choice, and Dragonfruit Mango, which combines tropical flavors. Their Deadhead IPA caters to IPA enthusiasts, while Dosvidanya Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is a strong, bold option. They also have traditional choices like their Oktoberfest and a unique Dill Pickle Sour for an adventurous taste.

Excel Brewing Co located at 488 S Broadway Street, Breese, Illinois, brings a varied lineup featuring Buzzberry Honey Raspberry Ale, a fruity and sweet combination. They also present high-alcohol options like Black Breath and Bruja, as well as the non-alcoholic Lucky Club Cola for those who prefer an alcohol-free option.

HailStorm Brewing Company at 8060 186th Street, Tinley Park, Illinois, offers Key Lime Forklift Training with a hint of lime flavor, and Prairie Madness, an IPA with balanced bitterness. Their lineup also includes Chile Cumulus and Southside Irish Red, providing a range of flavors from spicy to malty.

Maplewood Brewing Company located at 2717 N Maplewood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, presents an impressive array of offerings, starting with Super Son of Juice Imperial IPA for hop lovers. The Fat Pug Oatmeal Milk Stout offers a smooth, creamy experience, while the Softcore Mutation: Tropical Foeder — American Oak Foeder Ale introduces tropical flavors. Fans of stronger beers can try the Barrel Aged Cuppa Imperial Stout, Rum Punch, or Whiskey Sour.

Moody Tongue Brewing Company, found at 2515 S Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, offers a variety of styles, including the Czech-Style Pilsner known for its crisp and clean taste. Other options include the Cold Kiwi IPA, Cassis, Brett Rye Saison, and the dessert-inspired Caramelized Chocolate Churro Porter.

MORE Brewing Company at 13980 Automall Drive, Huntley, Illinois, features high-ABV selections like Mehndi 2023, alongside their Oktoberfest for those seeking a classic lager. Morever and Mango Double Marbles round out their offerings with fruity and hoppy flavors.

Old Irving Brewing Co., located at 4419 W Montrose Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, brings award-winning beers to the table, including Della, which won a silver medal at GABF 2021, and Beezer, a gold medal winner at World Beer Cup 2024. They also offer Oktoberfest, Sonne and Doji.

Revolution Brewing at 3340 N Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, is known for its variety, featuring Cold Time for a lighter option and the West Coast-Hero for IPA enthusiasts. For those who prefer strong, complex flavors, they offer D.B.V.S.O.D. and V.S.O.J., along with a non-alcoholic choice, Super Zero.

Sketchbook Brewing Company located at 4901 Main Street, Skokie, Illinois, showcases beers like Orange Door and Catharina Sour. Their Celestial Figgy Pudding BA Imperial Stout is ideal for those who enjoy rich, strong stouts, and their Oktoberfest offers a classic seasonal option. The brewery has also received recognition for their Grodziskie and Beer for The Soul, both of which earned bronze medals at last year's World Beer Cup.

Tighthead Brewing Co at 161 N Archer Avenue, Mundelein, Illinois, features Scarlet > Fire Red Ale and Bear's Choice IPA for hop enthusiasts. Longsnapper IPA offers another hoppy option, while their Oktoberfest caters to fans of traditional lagers.

Une Année Brewery LLC, found at 6343 Gross Point Road, Niles, Illinois, has a strong lineup, including El Zacaton and Milk of the Murder Hornet. Their Framboise offers a fruity alternative, while Hubbard's Cave Fresh IPA and Le Grand Monde 2024 editions bring unique flavors. They also feature the Barrel Aged Vanilla Sout for a rich, dessert-like experience.