Author Archives: Stevie

36th Annual Fall Tasting at Goose Island Clybourn (sold out)

Leave a reply
December 1, 2012
6:30 pmto10:30 pm

The Chicago Beer Society is pleased to announce that its 36th annual Fall Tasting & Dinner will be held from 6:30 to 10:30 pm at the Goose Island Brewpub, 1800 North Clybourn, Chicago, on Saturday, December 1, 2012. The Fall Tasting is probably the country’s oldest beer event that allows the public to participate in a blind tasting of craft beers and then vote for their favorites. As always, highly-coveted plaques will be awarded to the breweries that win top honors.

The Chef at GI-C will be preparing a variety of small plates of beer-centric food to complement the beers provided in the blind tasting. Attendees will be able to judge the specially procured beers strictly on their own merit, as well as with the menu items. When the formal tasting ends, the breweries and beer names will be announced and all beers will continue to be available for your enjoyment.

Note that as of the reservation deadline (November 26), the event is now sold out. If you have not yet mailed in your reservation or already contacted us directly, please don’t mail one in as it will be returned. Thanks to all of you for responding so promptly.

Tickets have finally been mailed, but if you do not receive them before Saturday you can check in at the event. To confirm that you are on the list, just send a query via the Contact Page.

The Chicago Beer Society emphasizes responsible consumption and recommends using a designated driver or taking public transportation. The closest CTA train stations are at North & Clybourn (Red Line) and Armitage (Brown Line). Taxis are also easily available in the area.

Bus Trip to Great Taste of the Midwest (Sold Out)

Leave a reply
August 11, 2012
9:30 amto9:00 pm

The Great Taste of the Midwest at Olin-Turville Park in Madison, WI is always one of the country’s best beer festivals. It’s become so popular that the limited (now 6000) tickets sell out WAY in advance. This year is no exception – the event has already been declared a sellout!!  But – as has been the case for many years – CBS offers its members first dibs from our already-purchased block ‘o tickets. In fact, we’ll even bus you there and back, whether you live in Chicago or the suburbs.

CBS has booked two luxury coaches that will comfortably transport folks to and from Madison. The bus for City folk will depart from Goose Island Clybourn while the Country bus leaves from Rock Bottom Warrenville. Both buses will depart at 9:30 am and return around 9 pm the same evening.

Members were snail-mailed an official order form in early June. As of June 22 our entire ticket block was completely sold out. Tickets were sold on a first-come, first-served basis based on postmark. The 88 ticket holders will receive their bus tickets in the mail soon. All unfulfilled orders will be returned. As always, we’re sorry we can’t provide tickets to everyone, but space is extremely limited.

For those lucky enough to score tickets, here’s some important information:

  • No smoking; no kegs or glass containers on the bus
  • You must be at least 21 years old to attend
  • Festival tickets will be distributed on the bus, no exceptions. No refunds.

Blues & Brews Cruise

1 Reply
July 7, 2012
7:30 pmto11:00 pm

In celebration of the 35th anniversary year of the Chicago Beer Society, we bring you – for one night only – the triumphant return of the Blues & Brews Cruise.

Join us aboard the fabulous Kanan (Navy Pier) for an evening cruising Lake Michigan, with specially selected craft beers, a whole roasted pig dinner, plus live music and dancing against a backdrop of the beautiful Chicago skyline and summer fireworks. Performing for the evening will be Bloodshot Records recording artist Charlie Pickett (“…a trashed-out mix of dark, scuzzy blues and earthy country stomp…” UNCUT Magazine).

The all-inclusive price is $98 for CBS Members, $115 for nonmembers, paid in advance. Nonmembers who join the Beer Society at the same time can pay the member price. Tickets can be purchased by filling out and mailing in the reservation form (already snail mailed to current members) or online (nonmember price only) via Brown Paper Tickets. You must be 21 or older to attend.

Boarding will be from the Kanan Cruises dock at Navy Pier at 7:30 pm, with departure at 8 pm sharp (no stragglers!). Return is at 11 pm.

Directions, parking options, and public transit information are all available at the Kanan Cruises website.

Big Brew Day 2012

Leave a reply
May 12, 2012

You are cordially invited to the annual celebration of the American Homebrewers Association‘s Big Brew Day (albeit one week later since many of our guys were  at the Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego). Homebrewers all across the country will be brewing batches of beer at the same time, including some of us. There are even some standard recipes (which we rarely follow).

The Chicago Big Brew Day will be held Saturday May 12 at Camp Norris/Phillips, 3717 N. Kenneth, Chicago.  Randy Mosher, Nancy Cline, and their long-time friends will be on hand to help host. Tim Norris and Dave Phillips will be here too, unless Tim is called in to work. There will be room for brewing outdoors, there will be water, perhaps filtered. A smoker will be set up, etc.  All attendees can bring beer and food as usual. The big differences are that there is an alley for drive by unloading, and more grass/dandelions to frolic around in.

Of course, the party is mostly non-brewing participants, thank god, as we’d burn down the neighborhood otherwise. It functions as a warped open house event. Doors will be open from 8 am.  As far as food and drink, this is totally a pitch-in. We usually have a ploughman’s lunch (cheese, cured meat, pickles, etc.) midday, then get the smoker fired up and eat a hot meaty dinner later. We’ll have grills available as well as the smoker. Don’t show up empty handed.  Beer, meat, sides, snacks, and desserts are all welcome. The club will supply plates, forks, glasses. etc.

You might bring a lawn chair with you if you care what you sit on.

Date & Time: May 12, 2012, 8 am-until Roger leaves.

Location: Camp Norris/Phillips, at 3717 N Kenneth Ave,  Chicago, just north of Milwaukee Ave. The site is easily accessible via public transit. The Metra Milwaukee District North line train stop (Grayland) is just around the corner, and the CTA #56 Milwaukee bus stops there, too (Kilbourn). The closest CTA train station is Irving Park on the Blue Line, less than a mile to the east and easily walkable. 773-545-4004.

14th Anniversary Chicagoland Brewpub & Microbrewery Shootout Results

Leave a reply

How could the area’s greatest beer & food event get any better?

Well, for starters it could be in a larger venue so more people and breweries could attend; then the brewers and the chefs could top almost everything they’ve served for the last 13 years.  Amazingly, for the 14th edition of the Chicagoland Brewpub & Microbrewery Shootout, that’s exactly what happened!

The Zhou B Art Center in Bridgeport provided much greater room for breweries and patrons alike. There was more seating and it was definitely a lot easier to move around. Attendance was at an all-time high, and there’s still room for more people next year.

There were 15 participants, including a few first-timers: Finch’s Beer Company/City Provisions, Limestone Brewing Company, and the Goose Island Fulton Brewery (paired up with Urban Belly). As always, awards were presented in three categories (Best Beer, Best Food, Best Beer/Food Pairing) , with the top three in each taking home an attractive trophy. The attendees cast their ballots and the awards were presented towards the end of the event.

Flossmoor Station, Revolution, and Three Floyds all garnered multiple awards this year, but clearly there were no losers – everything was outstanding, so congratulations, all!

To see what you missed, check out the program (PDF) listing all of the featured beers and pairings.

14th Annual Chicagoland Brewpub Shootout Awards:

Beer
1. Goose Island Beer Company (Fulton Street)
2. Revolution Brewing Company
3. Three Floyds Brewing Company

Food
1. Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
2. Three Floyds Brewing Company
3. The Lucky Monk Burger, Pizza, and Beer Company

Pairing
1. Revolution Brewing Company
2. Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
3. Three Floyds Brewing Company

As always, this was an unbelievable event. Thanks to all of the Brewpubs, Brewers, Chefs and their Assistants for making this possible; to the staff at the Zhou B for their assistance;  to our sizable crew of volunteers who assisted with set-up and break-down; and, of course, to our great members who continue to make the Shootout one of the best beer events in the world.

 

2012 Day of the Living Ales (Sold Out)

2 Replies
March 3, 2012
1:00 pmto5:00 pm
6:00 pmto10:00 pm

For the eighth consecutive year, CBS will be sponsoring Day of the Living Ales, a walk-around real ale tasting featuring the best cask conditioned ales from Chicagoland breweries and some very special guests. We’ll also be serving fine meats, cheeses, and other appetizers to help you consume responsibly.

As always, DotLA will feature the region’s largest selection of real ales (40+ casks), all of them coddled by our own staff of experienced cellarmen, trained in the UK to care for and serve real ale. Remember, a properly served real ale is neither cloudy, flat, nor warm; rather, it is bright, with a gentle carbonation and served at cellar temperature. Accept no substitute!

Attendees will be able to sample the beers and then vote for the 2012 Champion Real Ale of Chicagoland. Last year’s winners were:

  1. Goose Island Beer Company Skully (saison aged in oak barrels with fresh strawberries, honey, and Champagne yeast)
  2. Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout
  3. Three Floyds Zombie Dust

Will a local brewer earn repeat honors in 2012? You decide!

Casks settling prior to a past event

Day of the Living Ales will be held at Goose Island Wrigleyville, 3535 N Clark St, Chicago, over two sessions: 1-5 pm (4:45 last call) and 6-10 pm (9:45 last call). Only 250 tickets per session will be sold. Admission includes a tasting glass, beer samples and appetizers (artisanal meats and cheeses). All attendees must be at least 21 years old.

The event is now completely sold out. Any orders received after the sold out was reached will be returned/refunded. Thanks for the overwhelming response to the event, and apologies to all of you who could not get a ticket.

14th Annual Chicagoland Brewpub & Microbrewery Shootout

2 Replies
January 21, 2012
1:00 pmto5:00 pm

Come out and enjoy the best beers and best foods from Chicago area brewpubs and microbreweries as CBS presents the Chicagoland Brewpub & Microbrewery Shootout for the 14th consecutive year. Sample a bunch of beers and each brewery’s food item and then vote for your favorites (beer, food item, and beer-food combination). Winners will be announced at the end of the event. Support your favorite brewery or brewpub – or discover a new favorite. Either way, you get to taste the very best beer and food that Chicago has to offer.

The Shootout runs from 1-5 pm at a completely new venue, the Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W 35th St, Chicago. An event flyer and ticket order form for this members-only event was mailed in December. Orders were processed beginning on January 5. As this is a larger venue, we still have a limited number of tickets available to valid CBS members. If you are still interested in attending and did not already order tickets, contact us immediately via the Contact Us page.

Important note: it appears that the event tickets have last year’s date (January 22). The Shootout is definitely this coming Saturday, January 21.  Please make sure to come on the correct day!

While the Zhou B Art Center has a large free parking lot, we encourage everyone to take public transportation to and from the event. The center is located approximately 1 mile west of the CTA Sox-35th Red Line station. The CTA’s 35 bus offers regular service directly to and from the venue. If traveling westbound (from the Red Line or Green Line stations or the Metra Rock Island stop at 35th), exit at Morgan. If traveling eastbound (from the CTA Orange Line stop at 35th and Archer), exit at Aberdeen.

35th Annual Fall Tasting Recap

Leave a reply

The Chicago Beer Society’s 35th Annual Fall Tasting Dinner’s in the books. Thanks to our host and the staff at Klas Restaurant for a great meal, all the brewers and breweries, The Map Room, Paramount Merchants, Louis Glunz Beer Inc., and 10th & Blake for the excellent beers. Hope all those attending had a good time!

The 2011 winners were:

First Place (tie): Revolution Brewing Co. Rise (American hoppy stout)
First Place (tie):  Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. Big EddyRussian Imperial Stout
Third Place: 5 Rabbit Cerveceria Hibiscus Belgian Golden Holiday Ale

Filling out the rest of the impressive field were (in alphabetical order):

Regards,
Frank Patino
Fall Tasting Organizer

 

2011 Spooky Brew Review Homebrew Competition Results

Leave a reply

Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Chicago Beer Society Spooky Brew Review Homebrew Competition. Not only was this our 20th anniversary, but we also had 353 entries this year, the most ever! Thanks to all the brewers who entered beers in this year’s competition.

Congrats to BOS winner Ray Gonzalez, who grabbed the honors with an excellent Kölsch. Rodney Kibzey was BOS runner up with his now-famous Black IPA, Blackened Hops. First place in Samuel Adams Longshot, only Second Place at Spooky Brew 2011? What’s up with that?!

In our “special” categories, Alexis Jansky (Brixie’s Brewers) won the Witches’ Brew with a fine Berliner Weisse (also took 3rd place in Sour Ales with the same beer); Calvin and Tara Rowland (UKG) earned their second Spooky Brew ribbon in a row, following up their “delectable” Kitty Litter with a much-scarier Aunt Flo’s Ale; Robert Kay (UKG) grabbed the Smashed Pumpkin award with his repulsive Spider Spit Cider.

The complete competition results are available here.
Thanks to our great – and sizable – group of judges and stewards who plowed through our record number of entries so professionally and effciently. Special thanks to Pete Crowley and all the staff at Haymarket Pub & Brewery for their unbelievable hospitality. Pete’s beery expertise was displayed all day, and not just via the taps! Pete judged Belgian & French Ale, Belgian Strong Ale, and served on the Best-of-Show panel. Yay, Pete! Haymarket Manager (and Judge) Janna Mestan was particularly helpful, corralling all the drop-off entries and handling multifarious duties throughout the day of the competition. All right, Janna!

Looking forward to the next 20 years of the Spooky Brew Review,
Matt Mayes and Meghan Rutledge, Organizers

 

35th Annual Fall Tasting at KLAS (sold out)

2 Replies
November 19, 2011
6:30 pmto10:30 pm

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.