Thank you for another year of celebrating craft beer! begyle brewing co. serving beer at beerhoptacular Samuel Adams booth at beerhoptacular 2012 beerhoptacular patron asking for another sample pretzel necklaces are a craft beer lover's best friend thank you for attending beer hoptacular 2012 2012 Beer Hoptacular Patrons Sampling Tasty Craft Beers beerhoptacular 2012 patrons enjoying a wide variety of craft beer Samuel Adams poured bottles of Utopias at 2012 Beer Hoptacular Hammerschlagen at Beer Hoptacular Beerhoptacular 2012 Homebrew Competition Entries Goose Island Staff Pouring Bourbon County Stout at Beerhoptacular 2012 Beer Hoptacular patrons sampling Founders and Dark Horse Craft Beers

Thank You Chicago for an Awesome 2012 Beer Hoptacular!

A big Beer Hoptacular thank you to all of the attendees, craft brewers, food pairing experts, vendors, musicians, volunteer staff and the seasoned pros at Jam productions and the Riverfront Theater for our most fantastic weekend yet of Craft Beer tasting, Home Brewing, and DIY fun. Everybody was simply amazing and we can't wait to have you all back next year for even more craft beers, more space, and more DIY fun at Chicago's own Beer Hoptacular!

Check photos from this year's craft brew event!

Welcome to beer hoptacular 2012 Bell's Brewing booth in a sea of craft beer fans revolution brewing brought anit hero ipa eugene porter among others to beer hoptauclar 2012 Goose Island brought Green Line, Black Mission, Bourbon County Stout and more to Beer Hoptacular Begyle brewing at Beer Hoptacular 2012 Goose Island running a special food and beer pairing seminar at beerhoptacular you can work up quite the appetite while drinking craft beer goose island staff puring bourbon county stout coffee Hammerschlagen at Beerhoptacular 2012 beer hoptacular patrons sampling a large selection of craft beers lake bluff brewing staff talks about their beer making process haymarket brewery sampled indignant an imperial stout at beer hoptacular beerhoptacular guests had a chance to win a car compliments of fiat of chicago goose island paired their beers with cheese and chocolate at beerhoptacular 2012 samuel adams poured utopias in honor of its 10 year anniversary at beerhoptacular Beer Hoptacular patrons sample Samuel Adams Utopias beer lovers unite at beer hoptaculars Rock for Kids and Stone Brewing teamed up to share craft beer for a good cause Victoria and Negra Modelo at Beer Hoptacular 2012 Brew and Grow Displays several types of hops and grains all beerhoptacular attendees had the opportunity to vote for their favorite beer beerhoptacular patrons passes his sampling glass to brewery for a taste of their craft beer beerhoptacular patron chatting with sixpoint brewery staff uncommon brewers sampled siamese twin ale at beerhoptacular 2012 Blue Moon at Beer Hhoptacular 2012

Beer Hoptacular Beer of the Year – 2012 Winners

First Place
5 Lizard
» 5 Rabbit Cerveceria – Bedford, IL
5 Lizard is a creamy and refreshing wheat beer with some spicy complexity and light touch of passion fruit for a delicious and slightly exotic flavor. In Aztec mythology, 5 Lizard (Macuilcuetzpalin) is one of the 5 Gods of Excess(Ahuiateteo) and symbolizes overindulgence and gluttony. 5 Lizard is also considered the deity of dance and sexual desire.

Beer Style: Latin style Witbier
ABV: 4.3%
Second Place
Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale
» Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company – Lexington, KY
Award winning Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is a unique sipping beer with the distinctive nose of a well-crafted bourbon. Kentucky Ale is aged for 6 weeks in freshly decanted bourbon barrels from some of Kentucky's finest distilleries. Subtle yet familiar flavors of vanilla and oak are imparted to this special ale as it mellow in the charred barrels.

Beer Style: American Strong Ale
ABV: 8.19%
Third Place
Art of Darkness Ale
» Brewery Ommegang – Cooperstown, NY
Art of Darkness Ale is deep, dark and magical, with champagne-like carbonation and rich maltiness from a complex recipe of multiple barley and wheat malts, as well as flaked oats. Using no spices or flavorings, Art of Darkness gains all its rich aromas,tastes , and apparent spiciness from the malts and Ommegang's proprietary house yeast.

Beer Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
ABV: 8%

How Beer Hoptacular works

Beer Hoptacular is all about celebrating craft beers, Chicago’s beer culture and having fun. For one flat fee you become part of Beer Hoptacular, receive your own souvenir sampling glass to keep after sampling the beers you want from a fantastic selection and cast your vote for your favorite Beer Hoptacular Beer of the Year! Compare beer notes with others, talk beer with friends, hear some music and eat great food too.