1st Annual Chicagoland Beer Festival Awards, presented by BeerDownload and Chicago Beer Geeks (CBG’s version here).

The Categories:

Best for Beer Noobs
Chicago Beer Fest at Union Station
Held twice this year, 3/31/12 and 10/6/2012
Organized by Drink Eat Play

Best for Beer Geeks
Festival of Barrel Aged Beers (10th Anniversary)
At the Bridgeport Art Center on 11/17/12
Organized by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild

Best for Hooking Up
Beer Hoptacular
At the Chicago Riverfront Theater on 11/10/12
Organized by Jam Productions

Best Charity Festival:
Festiv-ale
At Carmichael’s Steakhouse – Warehouse on 9/14/12
Organized by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Best Neighborhood Festival
Oak Park Microbrew Review
Marion Street in Downtown Oak Park on 8/18/12
Organized by Seven Generations Ahead

Best Members Only Festival
Chicago Beer Society Picnic
Super secret location on super secret date (not really)
Organized by the Chicago Beer Society

Best Festival You Didn’t Remember Afterward
Brew Ho Ho
Secret event location (yes really) on 1/21/12
Organized by Chef Won Kim

Best Bar-specific Festival
Belgian Fest
At Goose Island Clybourn on 9/9/12
Honorable Mention: The Village Tap – Local Tap Takeover 9/6/12

Best New Festival
The Mash Tun Festival
Bridgeport Art Center – held twice – 5/19/12 and 10/5/12
Organized by Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar

Best Series Event/Festival:
Tap This
At Fischman Liquors – Thursday Nights, Summer 2012

Honorable Mentions

*) Best One Time Only Event/Festival
Revolution Brewing – Kedzie Brewery Grand Opening
Chicago Craft Beer Week Closing Party – 5/25/12

**) Best Outdoor Garden/Cocktail party without cocktails, just beer
Beer Under Glass
Chicago Craft Beer Week Opening Party – 5/17/12
The Garfield Park Conservatory