CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Some people wait in line on Black Friday for TVs or designer clothing, and some wait hours for a special beer.
Hundreds of people woke up early and lined up at Binny's Beverage Depot, 1720 N. Marcey St., to celebrate Goose Island Beer Co.'s ninth Bourbon County Stout release. Doors opened at 7 a.m. for the rare beer, which brought over 800 excited beer fans, screaming with their IDs out to get their hands and mouths on the new stout.
The Binny's parking lot resembled a tailgate as people like Jane and Joe Stolp camped out to wait for the craft beer. The Stolps drove 10 hours from Minnesota through a snowstorm for the stout and waited in line for 23 hours.
"The carmels, the chocolates, the flavor, the thickness — it's very tasty," Joe Stolp said. "It''s like no other beer I have ever had."
Other people in line, some from nearby states and suburbs, said waiting for the stout beat out every other kind of Black Friday shopping. Many were beer aficionados like the Stolps who waited for hours until the doors opened.
He said the atmosphere brings all kinds of beer fans together and shows the dedication people have for high quality beer. The beer release is also a chance to get away from family, he said.
"Secretly, it's an excuse for people to get away from family on Thaksgiving," he said.