Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

An Outdoor Beer Fest in This Weather? New Fest Has 30 Beers, Heated Tent

By Ariel Cheung | February 19, 2015 5:25am
 Knecht Chiropractic Clinic, 3444 N. Halsted St., participated in last year's Soup Walk.
Knecht Chiropractic Clinic, 3444 N. Halsted St., participated in last year's Soup Walk.
View Full Caption
Northalsted Business Alliance

BOYSTOWN — If nothing else, Frost Fest participants will prove they've got plenty of Chicago grit as they brave the cold to sip craft beers and snack on soup in Boystown.

Organizers hope careful planning and a tantalizing lineup of events will draw chilly locals to Boystown for a celebration of "all things cool."

"There hasn't been an outdoor festival like this in the dead of winter," said Christopher Barrett Politan, executive director of Northalsted Business Alliance. "But we have any number of ways in which people will be sufficiently warmed up."

The new festival — an expansion of Northalsted's Soup Walk — falls between Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day in the hopes of attracting visitors during what is normally a lull in business, Barrett Politan said.

 A winter beer festival is coming to Boystown.
A winter beer festival is coming to Boystown.
View Full Caption
Shutterstock

The main event is Brisk Brews, which will close the festival Feb. 28. Fifteen breweries will share more than 30 craft beers, ranging from Urban Legend's "Sweet Lacey's Revenge" citrus ale to a dehydrated tangerine cacao wheat beer from Chicago-based Moody Tongue.

"We wanted to get craft brews that were mostly locally or regionally sourced," Barrett Politan said. "Hopefully people will see this is a great way to spend an afternoon, sampling some really groovy beers."

The two beer tastings, from 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m., will take place under a "very well-heated" tent at Waveland Avenue and Halsted Street, he said. Tickets are $40 and include 15 3-ounce samples.

Frost Fest will begin this Sunday with a familiar event for Northalsted enthusiasts: the returning Soup Walk. From 2-4 p.m., five retailers are partnering with local eateries and will offer free samples of soups like cauliflower curry and chicken tortilla.

"I know sometimes we need an excuse to leave the house in the wintertime, so any reason is always a good one," said NoteworthyNotes owner Cindy Rudman. "It's a great opportunity to get people out and mingling a little bit."

NoteworthyNotes, a stationery and personalized gift store, will have potato leek soup from Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club. The Leigh Gallery, 3306 N. Halsted St., is the farthest south soup spot and will have DS Tequila Company's chicken tortilla.

Last year, NoteworthyNotes, 3629 N. Halsted St., had more than 200 people stop by for the Soup Walk, Rudman said. The shop will again offer gift certificates and specials for Soup Walk visitors this year.

For Warm-Up Wednesday, a dozen Northalsted bars will have a hot beverage competition with $5 samples starting at 6 p.m. Tasters can vote on their favorites on Northalsted's Facebook page, and the winning bar will get a Frost Fest prize.

From Monday through Thursday, select restaurants will accept a Nights at Northalsted coupon for $10 off a $25 purchase after 5 p.m. The coupon can be found on Northalsted Business Alliance's Frost Fest Web page.

"It's a great way to get folks out during the cooler months and offer an opportunity to check out the retail environments," Barrett Politan said. "Frequent some small businesses while getting some really great soups and brews from terrific restaurants."

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: