Firkin Fest!

This past Sunday Headquarters Beercade in River North hosted their 3rd Annual Firkin Fest. Now you may think to yourself "What in the world is a Firkin?" A Firkin is a cask-condition beer that is unfiltered and unpasteurized which is conditioned (including secondary fermentation) and served from a cask without additional nitrogen or carbon dioxide pressure. Also known as Real Ale, according to Headquarters.

Craft beer enthusiast got the pleasure to taste 40 unique brews from 40 different breweries. Some of the featured breweries from our own backyard in Chicago as well as many Suburbs. Other Brew-Masters traveled across the country all the way from California and New York.

The Brew-Master of Penrose Brewery, Geneva,IL.

Even though a Firkin is classified as an Ale there was a great selection of brews other than Ales, mapped all around the two story beercade. There was a section of Stouts & Porters, Scotch/German/Real, Lager/Pilsners/Wits, Ambers/ Belgians, Double/Imperial IPAS, and IPAS/Pales.

Brew-Master pouring Pollanna's "Alt Who Goes There?", Lemont, IL

Firkin Fest also offered two packages; standard admission with just the beer tasting, and a VIP admission which had access to a spectacular build your own nacho bar. The nacho bar was a great compliment to all the beer tasting going on so tasters could attempt to try all 40 brews. Also with each admission tasters received a custom tasting glass.

The Firkin Fest custom tasting glass.

Even if you did not get the chance to go to Firkin Fest, you should still check out Headquarters Beercade. The mix of retro gaming along with craft beer and cocktails offers an alternative experience to a night out. And don't worry about breaking the bank playing dozens of rounds of pinball, all of the games cost the breaking the bank cost of... free! And this location is just a quick walk from the Chicago Brown Line stop.