Beer 2UP Highlights New Breweries And Allows You To Play Pinball Against Them

By Melissa McEwen in Food on Apr 23, 2014 4:00PM

"Blahblahbeer's Eric Woodruff and Flesk Brewing Co.'s Will O'Brien get set for the Pinbrawl finals.” - Photo Credit Subbeerbia.

Love craft beer, but missed out on Dark Lord Day tickets? Or you’d prefer not to have to wait in line for your beer? Beer 2UP has crafted their own celebration of beer for April 26, featuring 13 craft breweries and plenty of classic video games at Emporium Arcade Bar (1366 N. Milwaukee Ave.) on April 26 from 12 p.m to 4 p.m.

The event started last year as Beer 1UP, which Chicago beer bloggers Jeremy Teel of SubBeerBia, Natasha Godard of MetaCookbook and Blah Blah Beer's Eric Woodruff teamed up to organize. They couldn’t get tickets to Dark Lord Day, but their misfortune has become a boon for beer lovers. It’s an opportunity to try beers from breweries that haven’t been around long. “All of the breweries are new to the scene since they've all been brewing for less than two years, some even less than a year,” Teel said about the Chicago breweries taking part, like Begyle Brewing and Ale Syndicate. An updated list is available on their Facebook event page.

Attendees can compete against brewers in a pinball tournament called Pinbrawl, and there will also be a contest for the best beer-themed or video-game-themed shirt.

You don’t need tickets for this free event, but you will have to pay for your own beers.