The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, the nonprofit trade association supporting and advocating for nearly 300 Illinois craft breweries, is bringing back its annual Illinois Craft Beer Week on May 3-10, marking the official kickoff to the summer craft beer season.

Illinois Craft Beer Week (ICBW) is a weeklong celebration of the state’s brewing community that comes to life through signature festivals, taproom and retailer events, one-of-a-kind collaborations, and exciting promotions to delight craft beer fans and drive support for the state’s craft beer industry.

“Illinois Craft Beer Week has always been the unofficial start to the craft beer season, and the timing of this year’s event is important as we emerge from the historically slow winter months,” said Ray Stout, executive director for the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. “This week is an opportunity to celebrate the resilience of our industry while hosting events and promotions that increase visits to our breweries, taprooms, retailers, bottle shops and craft beer bars and kick off a strong summer of sales for craft beer producers in Illinois.”

A reimagined Summer Passport program will launch during Illinois Craft Beer Week, featuring all-new opportunities for craft beer fans to win prizes for exploring Illinois breweries and hitting adventure milestones from May through August.

Participating breweries in the Tri-Cities area include Alter, Brother Chimp, Grainology Brewstillery, Obscurity, Penrose, Pollyanna and Sturdy Shelter.

More details about the 2024 Summer Passport, including rewards and participating breweries, will be released closer to Illinois Craft Beer Week.

Headlining Illinois Craft Beer Week is Beer Under Glass, a cornerstone festival and fundraiser that kicks off the weeklong celebration on Friday, May 3, at Chicago Union Station’s Great Hall.

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