I have so much to write right now, that I’m just posting this quick list of the medal winners in the 2021 Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers, also known simply as FoBAB (but not FoWaBAB, which may be a good thing).

The 19th edition of the festival took place November 12 and 13 at Chicago’s Credit Union 1 Arena. Although attendance was limited and the event was kept to just two sessions, over 160 breweries from across the country have submitted their rarest, most exclusive wood and barrel-aged beer, cider, mead and perry for judging.

The event is held as a fundraiser for Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. Winning brews were determined by a panel of industry leaders and certified judges evaluate all beer, cider, mead, and perry featured at FoBAB, awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals, and Best of Show.

Medals were awarded in 11 categories, all featuring libations dispensed by gravity from casks, instead of force carbonation.

Best of Show

BEST OF SHOW Resident Culture Brewing (Charlotte, NC)Sympathetic BEST OF SHOW – Runner Up Revolution Brewing Co. (Chicago, IL)V.S.O.J.

Strong Porter Stout

GOLD Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (CA)Double Barrel ParabolaSILVER Hailstorm Brewing Co. Vlad vs Zombie vs SharkBRONZE Breakside Brewery (OR)Breakside Plunderphonics

Specialty Strong/Porter Stout 

GOLD Werk Force Brewing Co. Double Barrel Sleepy BearSILVER Short Fuse Brewing Co. Bourbon Barrel Aged Precious Little TreatsBRONZE Cerebral Brewing (CO)Mysterious Forces (Blend 1)

Barleywine/Wheatwine

GOLD Revolution Brewing V.S.O.J.SILVER Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project (CO)Double Oaked Cognac Grow Old With YouBRONZEMilwaukee Brewing Co. (WI)Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barleywine

Other Pale Beer 

GOLD 10 Barrel Brewing (Bend – West Side) (OR)Peach DefaceSILVER Pollyanna Brewing Co. – Lemont Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Orenda Volume 03BRONZE Black Horizon Brewing Co. Gin Barrel Aged Stand and Deliver

Other Strong Beer

GOLD Smylie Brothers Brewing Co.Rum Barrel Belgian StrongSILVER Taxman Brewing Co. (IN)Bourbon Barrel QualifiedBRONZE Mark Twain Brewing Co. (MO)A Wee Bit Foggy

Fruit Beer 

GOLD Cruz Blanca Cervecería BarbaroseSILVER Will County Brewing Co. Caramel Apple Tripel – Appleton Estate Jamacian RumBRONZE Alter Brewing Co. Vanilla Blood

Specialty/Experimental

GOLD Iowa Brewing Co. (IA)The Manhattan ProjectSILVER Sun King Brewery (IN)Soul Shakedown PartyBRONZE Taxman Brewing Co.Imperial Bean Counter

Wild Beer/Brett

GOLD Wolf’s Ridge Brewing – Pub (OH)Terre du Sauvage GreenSILVER Lupulin Brewing Co. (MN)Boris v.1BRONZE Blackberry Farm Brewery (TN)Foeder Classic

Wild Mixed Culture Beer (Acidic) Sours

GOLD Resident Culture Brewing (NC)SympatheticSILVER Hopewell Brewing Co. Arrow of Time (Blend 002)BRONZE Bhramari Brewing Co. (NC)Arcane Priestess

Wild Mixed CultureBeer (Acidic) Sours with Fruit

GOLD Whiskey Hill Brewing Co. Solar FusionSILVER Noon Whistle Brewing GimbelsBRONZE Penrose Brewing Co.Cellar Reserve: Boysenberry

Cider/Perry/Mead

GOLD Misbeehavin’ MeadsCaramel App`le Cider aged in bourbon barrelsSILVER Tin City Cider (CA)Earl SimmonsBRONZE Angry Orchard (NY)Still