LINCOLN PARK — Beer me, bear me. For the first time, the entire grounds of the Lincoln Park Zoo will be open for its third annual BrewLights beer extravaganza Thursday night, including the new Arctic Tundra exhibit and its polar bear, Siku.
For beer geeks, 21 and older of course, it's the high point of the annual ZooLights festival, which began Friday.
Tickets are $49 in advance, $60 at the door if it doesn't sell out, and include a dozen tastings of local craft, seasonal and international beers on tap throughout the zoo. Here's this year's roster, courtesy of sponsor Louis Glunz Beer.
• Brouwerij Huyghe – Delirium Noel – Belgian Dark Strong Ale (Alcohol by volume: 10.5 percent)
• Stiegl Brewery – Goldbrau Lager (ABV: 4.9 percent)
• Brauerei Hirt – Morchl – Austrian Dark Lager (ABV: 5 percent)
• Unibroue – A Tout le Monde – Belgian Style Saison (ABV: 4.5 percent)
• Temperance Beer Co – Freedive India Black Ale (ABV: 6 percent)
• Baderbrau Brewing Co – Red Velvet Bock (ABV: 6 percent)
• Anchor Brewing Co. – Anchor Christmas Ale (ABV: 5.5 percent)
• Begyle Brewing Co – Flannel Pajamas Oatmeal Stout (ABV: 5.2 percent)
• Berghoff Brewing - Oak Aged Stock Ale (ABV: 10 percent)
• Breckenridge Brewery – Christmas Ale - Strong Ale (ABV: 7.8 percent)
• Saugatuck Brewing Co – Neapolitan Milk Stout (ABV: 6 percent)
• Noon Whistle Brewing - Bernie - Milk Stout (ABV: 5 percent)
Food will be sold, and there'll be music in the Lion House.
Proceeds benefit the zoo's auxiliary board and help keep admission free 365 days a year. The first two BrewLights raised more than $250,000.
But the star this year figures to be Siku, who has brought polar bears back to the zoo after a two-year hiatus.
Perhaps the zoo can replace the floatation balls in his diving pool with empty beer kegs for the night — if the glass will hold.
Siku, new polar bear @lincolnparkzoo, launches a floatation ball. Exhibit opens to public in a week. pic.twitter.com/JBAZ6EsCQq
— Ted Cox (@tedcoxchicago) November 10, 2016
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