Chicago Beer Society

Join us at KLAS Restaurant (5734 W Cermak Rd, Cicero, IL) on Saturday, November 19 for the 35th edition of the country’s oldest tasting of commercial beers.

This will be a blind tasting to allow you to judge the specially procured beers strictly on their own merit. When the formal tasting ends, all the beers will be available for your enjoyment. There are a limited amount of seats available. Reservations are due by November 12 and pre-payment is required. Everyone must be 21 or older to attend. NO REFUNDS.

KLAS, established in 1922, is the oldest operating Czechoslovakian restaurant in the country. This famous Chicago landmark is renowned for its one-of-a-kind atmosphere and hearty, Old World cuisine. The Fall Tasting menu will include:

• Goulash Soup, Tossed Salad
• Roast Chicken, Roast Polish Sausage, Breaded Pork Tenderloin
• Roasted Baby Red Potatoes with Rosemary, Green Bean Almondine, Sauerkraut, Bread Dumplings
• Kolacky

Of course, you can count on over a dozen superb craft beers to sample before, during, and after your meal. As always, we aim to get a few choice surprises!

Tickets are $45 for CBS members, $55 for nonmembers. As always, nonmembers who sign up for CBS when making reservations get to pay the member rate. Check out the official event flyer for all the tasty details and use the attached form to reserve your tickets. We look forward to seeing you on the 19th! Note that the event is sold out as of November 12. Thanks!

The Chicago Beer Society emphasizes responsible consumption and recommends public transportation or the use of a designated driver for all our tasting events. KLAS  is only a 10-11 minute walk from the CTA Pink Line station at 54th and Cermak; the CTA 21 Cermak bus also stops right outside the restaurant door.

The Chicago Beer Society Spooky Brew Review homebrew competition is now celebrating its 20th year!

Our host this year will be the Haymarket Pub & Brewery at 737 W Randolph Street (SE corner of Randolph and Halsted) in Chicago, conveniently located in the West Loop where all roads, trains, and buses converge.

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 fifth year in a row, we’ll also include Witches’ Brew, an open category for beer, mead, and cider brewed only by women.

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 2011. After 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 10-21 at Haymarket, The Brewer’s Coop in Warrenville, Brew and Grow on Kedzie (Chicago), and The Homebrew Shop in St. Charles, the regular CBS First Thursday gathering on October 6 at Goose Island Clybourn, or the UKG Picnic on October 8.

Judges and Stewards – we need you! If you are interesting in serving as a judge or steward on October 29, please contact competition organizer Matt Mayes (matt @ chibeer.org). All general questions can also be directed to him or co-organizer Meghan Rutledge (meghan @ chibeer.org).