For the sixth consecutive year, CBS will be sponsoring the region’s largest celebration of cask-conditioned ales, with some 40 casks of real ale from Chicagoland breweries and some very special guests. As always, this promises to be a spirited event for Chicago real ale enthusiasts. Attendees will be able to sample the beers and then vote for the 2010 Champion Real Ale of Chicagoland. Last year, Surly Brewing from Minnesota earned the title for the second consecutive year with their Tea-bagged Furious IPA. Will a local brewer take back the honor in 2010? You decide! As usual, the casks will be coddled and cared by CBS’s own nationally-renowned cellarmen.

The first casks arrive at the Goose Island Wrigleyville Garage

Day & Night of the Living Ales will be held at Goose Island Wrigleyville, 3535 N Clark St, Chicago, over two sessions: 1-5 pm and 6-10 pm (9:45 last call). Only 250 tickets per session will be sold. The price is $35 for CBS members, $40 for nonmembers.  Join CBS at the same time you book your tickets and you can pay the member price.  Admission includes a tasting glass, beer samples and appetizers (artisanal meats and cheeses). All attendees must be at least 21 years old.

As of Wednesday, February 17, the entire event (yes, both sessions) is completely sold out. Ticket orders that could not be filled will be returned; Brown Paper Tickets will no longer process orders. If you were unable to get tickets, your best bet is to post your interest on our CBS-HB listserv. There are inevitably some last-minute cancellations, and these are often posted here. Thanks once again to all of you for your enthusiastic support of this cask ale event!

As always, we recommend that you take public transportation or arrange for a designated driver (but because space is so limited, we cannot offer a discounted designated driver ticket). Goose Island Wrigleyville is located approximately 2 blocks west of the CTA Red Line Addison station (one-half block south of Wrigley Field). The CTA 22 Clark bus runs past the front door all night; taxis are also an easy option.

Here is our preliminary list of casks for 2010 DotLA/NotLA:

  • Emmett’s Tavern & Brewing Co.: Victory Pale Ale
  • Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery: Bourbon McElroy Imperial Stout, Thammy English IPA, Joppy Joppy Joy Joy Jalapeno IPA (pin)
  • Goose Island Beer Co.: Catwoman’ Black IPA, Oaky Rose Flemish Brown, Snow Leopard Mild, SupercalifragilisticCITRAalidocious, Traditional Honker’s Ale
  • Goose Island Clybourn Brewery: Belgian Blonde, PMD Mild
  • Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant (Bolingbrook): Coffee-Infused Schwarzbier
  • Half Acre Beer Co.: Ginger Twin India Red Ale, Over Ale American ESB
  • Lucky Monk Pizza & Beer Co.: Grale Amber Ale, IPA
  • Lunar Brewing Co.: Moondance IPA
  • Metropolitan Brewing Co.: Keller Krankshaft Kolsch, Zwickel Dynamo Copper Lager
  • Mickey Finn’s Brewery: Bighead APA. Legspinner Barleywine, R.K.’s IPA
  • Moylan’s Brewery and Restaurant: Wet Hopsickle IPA
  • New Belgium Brewing Co.: Ranger IPA
  • Piece Brewery & Pizzeria: Dynfunctionale, Roland the Headless Assistant Brewer
  • Revolution Brewing Co.: Willie Wee Heavy
  • Rock Bottom Chicago: Coffee Oatmeal Stout, Wooly Bear IPA
  • Rock Bottom Lombard: Argus’ India Brown Ale, iPale, Pritchard #4 American Stout
  • Rock Bottom Orland Park: Imperial Stout, Two Bags of Crystal IPA
  • Rock Bottom Warrenville: King of Hearts Imperial Red
  • Surly Brewing Co.: Darkness, Mild, Oak Aged Dry Hopped CYnic, Tea-Bagged Furious
  • Three Floyds Brewing Co.: Admiral Lord Nelson ESB, Blackheart English IPA
  • Two Brothers Brewing Co.: Cane and Ebel, Resistance IPA