The 2018 version of Chicago’s greatest traveling beer festival saw a celebration of local beer in a motherfucking helicopter hangar adjacent to Little Italy. Two years ago, Lou Dog Events took over this party that was created by Jam Productions back in 2011.

Josh Seago and crew push the envelope by hosting in spaces around town we’ve never been to or even heard of. Vertiport Chicago is the largest helicopter landing facility in North America. The Homebrew Competition has been a constant over the years. 11 local clubs were given Munich Malt from Country Malt Group in South Holland, IL...after that you could produce any style you wanted. Consensus was that the three finalists offerings all were salable beers that the judges would order again in a retail setting.

1st Place - Double IPA- C.H.A.O.S (Chicago Homebrew Alchemists of Sud

2nd Place - International Dark Lager, Chicago Homebrew Group

3rd Place - Saison, Spent Grain Society (Plainfield,IL)

150 options in celebration of Chicagoland beer

You can add the awe inspiring, open-air backdrop of a world-class heliport to the list of venues that includes Lacuna Artist Lofts, Aragon Ballroom, Cinespace Film Studios and Riverfront Theater (a 20,000 sq. ft. temp controlled big top along Chicago River)

Alarmist Brewing Hazy IPA Gold Medalist, Le Jus

The VIP experience included a commemorative artist t-shirt, upper level treats Founders KBS, Pipeworks Port BA Abduction, Prairie Artisan Ales Consider Yourself Hugged, Imperian Stout w peanut butter + roasted coffee and more.

Downstairs offered 140 options and the chance to sip Le Jus from Alarmist Brewing. Just hours before BeerHop doors opened, this beer won a Gold in GABF competition. The Juicy Hazy IPA category of the country’s oldest beer event debuted this year with a record 391 entries.

This is a tremendous event, we’re lucky to live in a town where Lou Dog is committed to a quality festival experience every month in Chicagoland.

Ran into the Fest Yeti and one of my IG friends blackandbrewchicago

Other Notes

- A portion of the proceeds from today’s fest will benefit the Chicago Brewseum

-The other homebrew competition contestants were

IBRU: Iliana Beer Rackers Union (Crown Point, IN)

Evanston Homebrew Group

Urban Knaves of Grain (Dupage County, IL)

Aurora Brew Crew

PALE (Plainfield Ale & Lager Enthusiasts)

Chicago Beer Society

Joliet Brewers Club

Silverado Homebrew Club (St. Charles, IL)

-Word is that Brewseum’s Liz Garibay and Metropolitan Brewing Tracy Hurst took a 5 min helicopter ride.. they got so close the Sears Tower you could see people waving.