The Chicago Beer Society was founded in 1977 as a nonprofit educational association dedicated to the appreciation of beer. We are one of the country’s oldest, largest, and respected beer organizations. Our membership includes a diverse group of people united by a love for craft beer and the art of brewing.

CBS is member-supported and run exclusively by volunteers. There is no paid staff. If you would like to assist with any of our activities or even suggest a new one, we definitely want to hear from you!

The Society is governed by a non-elected Board of Directors. Members are chosen by existing Board members from the general membership based on regular and significant volunteer work for the organization. Every year in December the Board members elect a President to convene and preside over its meetings during the following year. He or she does not have executive power - each board member’s vote has equal weight. By tradition, the President is limited to a single term. Board members do not receive any exclusive benefits: all pay annual dues and the standard member price for each event.

How do you get named to the Board? Volunteer! Step forward to work on an event or in a support capacity, and do so with regularity. Your effort will definitely be noticed and a Board appointment may soon follow.

Chicago Beer Society Board of Directors

Mark Linsner has been chosen as CBS President for 2008. Since joining CBS, Mark has been a fixture and tireless worker at our events. Thanks to Luann Fitzpatrick for all her amazing work during her groundbreaking term as President in 2007.

President for 2008: Mark Linsner, mark @ chibeer.org
Treasurer (for Life!): Bob Lifka, bob @ chibeer.org
Tony Babinec, tony @ chibeer.org
Ray Daniels, ray @ chbeer.org
Roger Deschner, roger @ chibeer.org
Luann Fitzpatrick (immediate Past President)
Tom Fitzpatrick
Steve Hamburg, stevie @ chibeer.org
Zemo Holat, zemo @ chibeer.org
Jonathan Levin, crazylev @ chibeer.org
Randy Mosher, randy @ chibeer.org
Tim Norris, tim @ chibeer.org
Frank Patino, frank @ chibeer.org
Dave Phillips, dphillips @ chibeer.org
Joe Preiser, joe @ chibeer.org
Brad Reeg, beej @ chibeer.org
Glenn Rice, glenn @ chibeer.org
Jonathan Surratt, jonathan @ chibeer.org
Jeff Sparrow, jeff @ chibeer.org

How do I join CBS?

We will soon have an online store that will make it easier than ever to join CBS or renew your current membership. Until it’s available, however, you must mail in this membership application (PDF) with your payment (cash or a check/money order payable to the Chicago Beer Society) or join whenever you order event tickets (registration forms always contain a membership option). Don’t trust the mail? Sign up at any of our events at our registration or merchandise tables (when applicable) or give your application/payment to any Board member. If you can’t view and print PDF, send an email to membership@chibeer.org and a copy of the application form will be mailed to you. Please make sure to include your name and full street address.

Membership runs for 12 months from the month of your initial sign up. The fee is $25 for individuals, $40 for couples. Save five dollars ($20/$35) whenever you renew. Renewal notices are mailed a month prior to your expiration date. You must be of legal drinking age (21 or older) to join.

Our members receive significant discounts to all events and exclusive advance notice and priority for ticket sales for our most popular ones. Ever been shut out of the Brewpub Shootout or the Bus Trip to the Great Taste of the Midwest? If you’re a CBS member, you’ll get first dibs on tickets, well ahead of the general public. Membership definitely has its privileges!

Other CBS Resources

The CBS-HB Internet Mailing List

A great way to keep up on all of the region’s beer and brewing events is to subscribe to CBS-HB, our very own e-mail list. Topics must have something to do with Chicago Beer Society and broader beer community events, homebrewing, or the beer world at large. Membership in the list is open to everyone, not just CBS members. Subscription is by application. Just e-mail to: listserv @ listserv.uic.edu and include the following one line as the body of your message:

SUBSCRIBE CBS-HB Your Name

The system will determine your address automatically from the “From:” line of your e-mail. For complete information on using CBS-HB, including how to post, change options, or unsubscribe, please check out the CBS-HB FAQ.

Perpetual Beer Line

Call our 24 hour-a-day telephone line if you need any information about membership or events that you can’t find on this website. Just call 773-905-ALES (2537) and leave a message. A real person will reply to you ASAP.