For over two decades, FoBAB has brought together the nation’s leading barrel-aged brewing programs—featuring brewers who masterfully blend art and science, wood and bourbon, timing and technique—for a one-of-a-kind showcase of craftsmanship and innovation. This year, more than 170 breweries from across the country have entered their rarest and most exclusive wood- and barrel-aged beers, ciders, meads, and perries for judging. Explore the list of participating breweries below.
2024 FOBAB BEST IN SHOW
Hidden Hand Brewery – Oaked Val d’Or – Naperville, IL
2024 FOBAB BEST IN SHOWRUNNER UP
More Brewing Company Villa Park – Mehndi 2023 – Villa Park, IL
STRONG PORTER + STOUT
GOLD – Breakside Brewery & Taproom – Somebody New in the Old West – Milwaukie, OR
SILVER – White Oak Brewing – Into the Thick of It – Normal, IL
BRONZE – Firestone Walker – ParAmburana – Paso Robles, CA
STRONG PORTER + STOUT
GOLD – Cahaba Brewing Company – Romulus – Birmingham, AL
SILVER – Old Irving Brewing Company – Champurrado Krampus – Chicago, IL
BRONZE – Half Acre Beer Co. – Benthic 2 x 4 – Chicago, IL
BARLEYWINE/WHEATWINE
GOLD – Verboten Brewing – Double Oaked Cognac Grow Old With You – Loveland, CO
SILVER – Kros Strain Brewing – Barrelywine Vol.12 Single Barrel – LaVista, NE
BRONZE – Brothership Brewing – Noble Cask – Mokena, IL
BLENDED BEER
GOLD – The Lost Abbey – Serpent’s Kiss Imperial Stout for the Rare Beer Club 30th Anniversary – Vista, CA
SILVER – Third Eye Brewing – Barrel Aged Private Consciousness – Hamilton, OH
BRONZE – Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project – Grow In Darkness – Loveland, CO
OTHER PALE BEER
GOLD – Bubblehouse Brewing – That Escalated Swiftly – Lisle, IL
SILVER – Forbidden Root – Well Positioned – Oak Aged Saison – Chicago, IL
BRONZE – Sketchbook Brewing – Tripel G – Belgian Style Tripel – Skokie, IL
LAGERS
GOLD – Elmhurst Brewing – BA Elevator – Elmhurst, IL
SILVER – Kros Strain Brewing – Barrel-Aged Czech Dark Lager – LaVista, NE
BRONZE – Solemn Oath Brewery – Foederface – Naperville, IL
OTHER DARK BEER
GOLD – Half Acre Beer Co. – Orin – Chicago, IL
SILVER – Loose Ends Brewing – NPN – Applejack Brandy Barrel Aged – Centerville, OH
BRONZE – Sun King Brewery – Diddy Muckle – Fishers, IN
FRUIT BEER
GOLD – Revolution Brewing – Cherry V.S.O.J. – Chicago, IL
SILVER – Sun King Brewery – Soul Shakedown Party – Indianapolis, IN
BRONZE – Cruz Blanca Brewery – La Locura – Chicago, IL
SPECIALTY + EXPERIMENTAL
GOLD – Black Horizon Brewing – From Earth To You – Willowbrook, IL
SILVER – G5 Brewing Company – Eternal Burning – McFarland, WI
BRONZE – Cruz Blanca Brewery – Tepache Cowboy – Chicago, IL
WILD BEER BRETT
GOLD – Off Color Brewing – Funky Beer for Tacos – Chicago, IL
SILVER – Benchtop Brewing Company – Baby – Richmond, VA
BRONZE – Boulevard Brewing Company – Foeder 7 – Kansas City, MO
WILD BEER MIXED CULTURE (ACIDIC)
GOLD – Milieu Fermentation Company – SMOL – Aurora, CO
SILVER – Ike & Oak Brewing – Cutbow – Woodridge, IL
BRONZE – Imperial Oak Brewing-Brookfield Blanc Brookfield, IL
WILD BEER MIXED CULTURE (ACIDIC) W/ FRUIT
GOLD – Pryes Brewing – Idyll Forest: 2024 Soirée – Minneapolis, MN
SILVER – Firestone Walker Brewing – Primal Elements with Pink Guava and Pineapple – Buellton, CA
BRONZE – Lupulin Brewing Company – Star Damage – Calamansi & Sabro – Big Lake, MN
CIDER/PERRY/MEAD
GOLD – Misbeehavin’ Meads – Clint’s Apple Pie – Valparaiso, IN
SILVER – Misbeehavin’ Meads – Stake in the Tart – Valparaiso, IN
BRONZE – Right Bee Cider – Barrel-Aged Clementine – Chicago, IL
KANSAS CITY, MO — In celebration of 35 years of brewing in Kansas City, Boulevard Brewing Co. has announced their latest collaboration: the 35th Anniversary Ale. Aged in Soft Red Wheat Bourbon barrels and Ben Holladay Bottled in Bond barrels provided by Weston, Missouri-based Holladay Distillery, the 35th Anniversary Ale boasts a hearty 12.5% ABV and a dark malt-forward balance perfect for celebrations.
DALLAS, TX – After 12 years, Lakewood Brewing Co. has filled its last bottle of Temptress. But don’t freak out, the beer that put the beloved Texas brewery on the map and reigns supreme as the best-selling craft stout in Texas, is now available in cans statewide!
Cleveland, OH – Saucy Brew Works (Saucy) is rolling out its wildly popular Stealing Signs beer, known as
Paso Robles, California: Firestone Walker’s mythic Wookey Jack is back for a limited seasonal release. Born more than a dozen years ago, Wookey Jack (8.3%) is a Black Rye IPA whose legend continues to grow. This latest edition is rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets in six pack (12-ounce can) and draft formats for a limited time, adding to the lore of this three-time gold medalist at the Great American Beer Festival.
“Wookey Jack has a hardcore following and we get asked about it all the time,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “It’s a beer for those in the know and those who want to discover something different. Everyone loves the visual trick of Wookey Jack—it’s as black as a stout but drinks like an IPA.”
The kinship between Firestone Walker and 
The Month of Murkey reached its thrilling conclusion with The Murkies, an industry bash and award show hosted at No Label Brewing. Twelve Houston-area breweries gathered to showcase their unique interpretations of Murkey Myers, the Double Dry-Hopped Hazy DIPA that has come to symbolize creativity and collaboration in the Houston craft beer scene.