Bacon and beer…I can’t think of a better pairing than that. Can you? So you bet I was thrilled when Bacon and Beer Classic asked if I could take over their official Instagram page for Fab Food Chicago, this past weekend, and share my experience with everyone!
I attended the brunch session, which went from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Soldier Field right in Chicago’s Museum campus. Even with 4 hours, I felt as if it wasn’t enough time. I could have spent all day eating bacon and drinking beer.
Check out the fun recap and some of my favorites from the Bacon and Beer Classic below!
Bacon and Beer Classic // Photo: @chelsias
Soldier Field was all set up and ready to go for the Bacon and Beer Classic! The food and drink booths were arranged around the entire perimeter of the stadium. You could also wander into the seats to sit and eat or to simply soak in the sun.
There were 44 beer booths and most booths had two different beer samples that you could choose from. I loved that they not only included beers but also hard ciders as well. Hard ciders are one of my absolute favorites!
As you walked in, you got a little glass beer cup to use for samples. For me, this was the perfect sample size because I was able to get a taste of all the various beers at different booths.
Bacon and Beer Classic // Photo: @chelsias
There were food booths stationed all around the stadium as well. Each dish offered included bacon in some way, shape, or form. It was amazing to see the creative ways in which bacon was incorporated into different dishes. My favorite sweet treat by far were the donuts from Firecakes. The bacon added a touch of savory to the sweet donut while the pineapple created a new dimension of flavor, with its subtle tang. I wanted to eat more.
Firecakes Donuts at Bacon and Beer Classic // Photo: @chelsias
It was a little overwhelming at times with all the booths and people. The lines for food were long but definitely worth it! One thing I wish I had brought was a purse to put menus/cards/stickers from the different booths. Luckily, I had a pocket or I would have run out of hands to hold things. There were also fun activities around such as giant Jenga, pin-the-tail-on-the-piggy, a photobooth, and more. I loved that you could keep yourself occupied while you enjoyed your food and drinks!
A savory favorite of mine was the pork belly BLT from David Burke’s Primehouse. It had roasted pork belly with macerated tomatoes, bacon, greens, and béarnaise mayo…all on top of a toasted crouton. I obviously grabbed more than one as I walked around the stadium. It was the perfect savory bite to enjoy with the beer.
David Purke’s Primehouse Pork Belly BLT at Bacon and Beer Classic // Photo: @chelsias
Another fan favorite was the Hormel Black Label Bacon tables. There were multiple Hormel Black Label Bacon tables throughout the stadium. Each table offered three different flavors of bacon. I stuck with the traditional flavor because you can never go wrong with the original, right? They were cooked perfectly and represented everything good about bacon. The demand was high and the lines were long throughout the entire brunch session. In fact, a couple of the tables ran out of bacon. I could see why these tables were so popular. These strips were delicious!
They had a bacon-eating contest at the event and the winner received Hormel Black Label Bacon as their prize.
Hormel Black Label Bacon // Bacon and Beer Classic @chelsias
Hormel Black Label Bacon at Bacon and Beer Classic // Photo: @chelsias
Hormel Black Label Bacon at Bacon and Beer Classic // Photo: @chelsias
One of my favorite beers was the Neapolitan Milk Stout from Saugatuck Brewing Company. I loved it because it was so unique. I’ve never had anything like it before. You could taste the different layers of flavors at first sip and the creaminess made it more like ice cream than beer. It was awesome to see so many unique flavors at the beer booths. It gave me a chance to try out a lot of things I normally wouldn’t have tried.
Another food favorite of mine was the pulled pork bacon sandwich from Epic Restaurant. I am a huge sucker for anything with pulled pork and this bite-sized sandwich did not disappoint. The additional meatiness from the bacon was the perfect addition to the sandwich.
EPIC Restaurant Pulled Pork Bacon Sandwich at Bacon and Beer Classic // Photo: @chelsias
One last favorite of mine was the Kona Brewing Company’s Big Wave Golden Ale! It was milder in flavor than most beers and smooth to drink. It lived up to its name because it made me think of big waves and warm sandy beaches.
Bacon and Beer Classic // Photo: @chelsias
Bacon Mac & Cheese and Bacon Chili at Bacon and Beer Classic // Photo: @chelsias
Bacon Bits at Bacon and Beer Classic // Photo: @chelsias
All-in-all the Bacon and Beer Classic was incredible. I had so much fun going around and trying all the different food and drinks that Chicago had to offer. It was the perfect day to sit in the stadium and eat, relax, and drink until you were full. I will for sure come back next year!
Make sure you check out the Beer and Bacon Classic’s Instagram to see my full takeover and let us know what your favorite bacon dishes are below!
Eat on!
Chelsia
Note: The tickets to the event were complimentary. However, the views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.
