Naperville's Firkin Fest Will Offer Dozens of Craft Beers and Ciders

NAPERVILLE, IL — If you pride yourself on your extensive craft beer knowledge, or would like to be able to, then Firkin is the festival for you. What is a Firkin, you may ask? In short, it's a small barrel that holds one-of-a-kind and small batch brews.

Naperville's Firkin Fest on Sept. 9 will offer guests the chance to check out more than 60 unique beers and ciders, from more than 30 brewers and more than 30 Firkins. The 21-and-older event will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at CityGate Centre.

With live music, food trucks and the lively atmosphere that comes with any drinking festival, CityGate Centre will host a celebration of firkins and local brewers. Selections will include Chicago favorites like Goose Island and Two Brothers, Naperville's own Solemn Oath Brewery and 2 Fools Cider, and dozens more midwest-based breweries.

The firkin drinks will be the most unique."The beer that is housed inside the firkin is naturally carbonated by its resident yeast and its ingredients have not been processed in any way outside of simple fermentation resulting in a smoother mouth feel and creamer taste," according to the event website. These drinks have never been exposed to outside carbonation or pasteurization, and have never been cold-filtered.

To make sure you aren't drinking on an empty stomach, Naperville's Barcacao Chocolate, Dark Horse Pastries and the Grumpy Gaucho food trucks will be on site to fill you up.

Tickets for the event range from $20 for designated drivers to $65 for a "gold pass" and are available for purchase online.