Naperville Winter Ale Fest

The hottest event in the Chicagoland Winter season is back. The Naperville Winter Ale Fest, the only full-scale outdoor winter craft beer fest in Illinois, returns on Saturday, February 28th to Naperville’s Frontier Park and will showcase over 130 unique American craft beers from 67 different breweries, including Revolution, Solemn Oath, Perennial, Schlafly, and Upland.

New to the fest this year is an Infusion Tent, offering infused beers with unique flavor components like coffee, chocolate, vanilla bean, fruits, peppers, nutmeg and other spices. Organizers are working with brewers to infuse beers based on traditional holiday recipes, such as Christmas Pudding, Hot Toddy and Mexican Hot Chocolate as well as Gingerbread Cookie Hard Cider. Two Brothers Coffee Roasters will also return to offer fresh brewed coffee. Nonalcoholic beverages will be available.

The fest, held from 12 to 4 pm, will also feature seven popular truck food offerings including returning favorites Toasty Cheese gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, Bridgeport Pasty’s savory hand-held pies, and OMango’s authentic healthy Indian foods, as well as Aureilo’s Pizza, PIKO modern Asian street food, The Slide Ride gourmet sliders, and the Calle Wagon with its popular Mexican specialties.

Four heated tents, a local nut roaster, fire pit seating areas and patio heaters will ensure visitors will be warmed by more than just the beer. Guests can also enjoy cigars from Bull & Bear Cigar Shop, and expand their knowledge of facial hair by visiting with Windy City Beards, promoting facial hair growth and care and serving the beard and mustache community of Chicagoland. Adding to the sizzle is the Four Star Brass Band, a Chicago-based New Orleans style brass band that will heat up the party atmosphere throughout the fest. The live ice sculpting demonstrations are sure to entertain.

One price admission will allow guests to enjoy 18 3-oz samples of stouts, porters, barleywines, and IPA’s, according to organizer Josh Seago, who is excited to introduce fest-goers to new brewers. “A craft beer festival is as much about the experience as it is the beer,” he says. “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.”

A portion of the proceeds from Naperville Winter Ale fest will benefit the Naperville Parks Foundation for program and camp scholarships. Tickets for the Naperville Winter Ale Fest are $45 for 18 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.