Chicago Beer Society

After a record number of entries in 2009, our annual Spooky Brew Review homebrew competition tries its luck in Warrenville as we celebrate its 19th consecutive year!

Our host this year will Rock Bottom Warrenville at 28256 Diehl Road in Warrenville, IL, located minutes from the Winfield Road exit on I-88. As usual, SBR will feature judging in all categories of the BJCP Style Guidelines. But a highlight is always the judging of the special Spooky (scariest) and Smashed Pumpkin (Worst of Show) categories, which definitely should not be missed. And for the fourth year in a row, we’ll also include Witches’ Brew, an open category for beer, mead, and cider brewed only by women (and last year was judged by women, too!).

NOTE: All entries for the Spooky and Smashed Pumpkin categories must be drinkable. Anything deemed otherwise by the Competition Committee will be DISQUALIFIED, and that’s very hard to do.

So, please plan on entering, judging, or stewarding Spooky Brew Review 2010. After almost 20 years it’s still here and we’re damn proud of it!

The competition package (including rules & regulations, entry forms, bottle labels, and a style chart) is now available for download here in PDF format. The entry fee is $7 per standard entry (2 bottles) and $2 for Witches’ Brew, Spooky Brew, and Smashed Pumpkin (1 bottle). Entries with fees can be dropped off from October 8-23 at Rock Bottom Warrenville, The Brewer’s Coop in Warrenville, and The Homebrew Shop in St. Charles, Brew & Grew Chicago (Kedzie north of Addison), or at the regular CBS First Thursday gathering on October 7 at Goose Island Clybourn.

Judges and Stewards – we need you! If you are interesting in serving as a judge or steward on October 30, please contact competition organizers Steve Hamburg (stevie @ chibeer.org, 312-401-0513) or Keith Stocker (keith @ chibeer.org, 312-523-7660). All general questions can also be directed to the organizers.

The results are in from the latest food, beer, and fun-filled picnic that was attended by another record crowd. Here is the rundown on total entries:

Salsa: 34
Chili: 23
Ribs: 10
Other Meat: 13
Dessert: 26

The Winners:

Ribs – Popular Vote
1. BBQ-tioners (#6)
1. Bogyo’s Mojo (#7)
3. Pigsiclicious (#2)

Ribs – Blind Judging
1. BBQ-tioners (#6)
2. Zemo Holat (#9)
3. Dan Luksetich (#8)

Chili – Popular Vote
1. Thomas Griffin (#12)
2. Dmitry Shub (#15)
3. Jason Arrigo (#6)

Other Meats – Popular Vote
1. Fish Team (#52)
2. Pigsiclicious (#51)
3. Planet Tim (Norris) (#56)

Salsa – Popular Vote
1. Linda Maher (#24)
2. Bryan Welsh (#7)
3. Dori Kaminski (#21)

Dessert – Popular Vote
1. John Warnik (#3)
2. Livia Glatz (#13)
3. Lowell Defrance (#19)

Thanks to all who prepared food, donated beer, set up, broke down, and cleaned beer taps and lines, schlepped kegs and/or soft goods, coordinated the competitions, DJ’d, checked in members and guests, and did whatever else was necessary to pull off such a major undertaking. Above all, we thank all our members and guests for taking part in one of the best beer and food events in the region.

We know we can always improve our events and thank everyone who has taken the time to offer suggestions here, on the listserv, and in emails. You can be certain that the Board will address your concerns and ideas to assure that the CBS Picnic remains a great time for all who attend.

Congrats once again to the winners! See you next year.

Our annual picnic is always one of our most anticipated events, and with good reason: Every year we supply an extraordinary beer selection backed up by a seemingly endless feast of ribs, chili, salsa, and desserts that are whipped up by our amazing members who compete for trophies in hotly contested competitions (view results).

Last year we bribed Tom Skilling and every other local meteorologist to predict bright sunshine and warm temperatures, and sure enough, we had perfect weather and a record crowd. Not only that, we had 15 superb craft beers and a cider, 8 rib entrants, 20 chilis, 24 salsas, countless desserts, and possibly our greatest picnic ever!

So, plan on bringing the family and your craft beer lovin’ friends – all are welcome and nobody ever goes home hungry or thirsty. The food is amazing – better than you’ll get in any restaurant. And the price? FREE to all CBS members and family who bring a food item to share, or $5 (fidollars) if you come empty handed. Nonmembers bringing foodstuffs pay $5; empty-handed nonmembers must pay $10, but what a deal!

Grab your folding chairs, horseshoes, lawn darts, croquet sets, wiffle balls and bats, etc. and enjoy a great afternoon of phenomenal food, beer, and fun. If you’re interested in participating in the rib competition, contact Randy Mosher. If you want to compete for the other meats (new for 2010 – see flyer below) chili, salsa, or dessert trophies, just bring along your entry and sign up on-site.

Location: LaBagh Woods, Grove 1 in the Cook County Forest Preserve just off the Edens Expressway on Chicago’s North Side (auto entrance on east side of Cicero Avenue, north of Foster). We’re about 1.5 miles from the Jefferson Park stop on the CTA Blue Line, where you can hop a 92 Foster Avenue bus. It’s also not far to the Forest Glen stop on the Metra Milwaukee District North line.

To view the official Picnic Flyer mailed to everybody on our mailing list, click here (PDF).