A multitude of bottle shops and breweries are celebrating the entire Thanksgiving weekend with beer releases, special cellar finds and offering a host of indulgences. While the bulk of the activities will occur on Black Wednesday and Black Friday, one can find good beer from Wednesday through Sunday. And, although dark beer (notably strong, barrel-aged) reigns supreme this weekend, there are a few alternative beer choices, too. If we missed an event, by all means let us know — the idea is to make sure everyone knows where to go this weekend to satisfy their beer cravings. Without further ado, here’s the comprehensive 2022 Chicago Area Black Wednesday and Black Friday beer events guide.

This post was made possible with the support of Laws Whiskey House. In addition to their no-shortcuts approach toward producing world-class whiskey. They also have lent their barrels to some of the best barrel-aged beers in the country. Explore more at www.lawswhiskeyhouse.com

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Art History Brewing: Dark Czech Lager Beer Release Event

Black Wednesday

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Bavarian Lodge: Rare Barrel-Aged Event  — Opening up the cellar!

Black Friday

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The Beer Cellar Geneva: Hazy Wednesday

Black Wednesday

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The Beer Cellar Glen Ellyn & Geneva (Both Locations): Transient / Neckbeard Tap Takeover

Black Friday

Glen Ellyn Location Event Page | Geneva Location Event Page

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The Beer Temple: Happy Drinksgiving VERY Special Tappings Event

Black Wednesday

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Begyle Brewing: Black Friday Event

Black Friday

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The Beer & Now Bottle Shop & Taproom: Black Wednesday Event: Details TBA

Black Wednesday

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Brothership Brewing: Multi-Beer Release Week 

Black Wednesday & Friday (and more)

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BuckleDown Brewing: Nordic Plunge Release Event

Black Wednesday

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Crafted 1979 Bottle Shop with Mikerphone Brewing: Take the Barrel Back

Black Friday

Note: Bottle sales start at 9am on OZNR, Bottles in shop to purchase at 11am

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Crystal Lake Brewing 2022 Boathouse Reserve BBA & Rye-BA Release Night

Black Wednesday

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Exit Strategy Brewing: Black Wed & Friday Multi-Beer Release Events

Black Wednesday & Black Friday

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Flight Tasting Room & Bottle Shoppe & Art History:  Cask Beer Event 

Black Wednesday

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Goose Island BCS (BCBS) 30th Anniversary Releases

There are so many parties throughout the weekend, and so many locations for which one can purchase the bottle release, that’s it’s almost impossible to detail them all. 

One can find events & locations at the Goose Island BCBS page.

Here is our review:

2022 Bourbon County Stout Review | The 30th Anniversary

 

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Half Acre Black Friday Barrel-Aged (Benthic) Brunch 

Black Friday

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Hailstorm Brewing: Double Vlad BBA Release Event

Saturday

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Illuminated Brew Works: Blackest of Wednesdays — War on Xmas 2022 Release

Black Wednesday

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Illuminated Brew Works: Black Beer Friday — Buy beer, get access to something special!

Black Friday

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Iron & Glass, Romeoville & Minooka Locations: Special Tappings and Events

Black Wednesday – Saturday

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Miskatonic Brewing Dungeon Master’s Black Wednesday

Black Wednesday

Miskatonic Brewing: Barrel-Aged Black Friday — Rye BA Bell Witch Release

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The Open Bottle Lockport: Barrel-Aged Black Wednesday

Black Wednesday

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Orange and Brew: Black Friday Barrel-Aged Tappings

Black Friday

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Pig Minds Brewing: Eleventh Annual Black Wednesday (BA Beer Release)

Black Wednesday

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Riverlands Brewing: Tranquil & Grimoire Bottle Release

Black Friday

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Skeleton Key Brewing: Black Wednesday Party & Beer Release

Black Wednesday

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Solemn Oath (collab with Riverlands) — Chicago & Naperville Locations: Between Two Pillows Beer Release

Black Wednesday

Note: “Advance orders…available exclusively via the Oznr app now through Wednesday morning.”

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Werk Force Brewing: Thanksgiving Weekend Sleepy Bear Releases 

Black Wednesday – Sunday

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Zumbier: Black Out Wednesday — Five Barrel-Aged Specials

Black Wednesday

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