Chicago Beer Society

Day & Night of the Living Ales, the region’s largest celebration of cask-conditioned beers, was held on March 6. Twenty-one breweries from Chicagoland and beyond provided 43 different beers, while 500 attendees sampled the beers over two sessions and cast ballots to decide the 2010 Champion Real Ale of Chicagoland.

The winners:

1. Flossmoor Station Bourbon McElroy Imperial Stout
2. Goose Island Beer Company Oaky Rose Flemish Brown
3. Surly Brewing Darkness

In addition, the cellar staff (also consulting a list of nominees from the professional brewers session, held earlier) awards an annual Golden Tut Award to the brewery/beer that best exemplifies the overall cask ale experience. The winner for 2010:  Three Floyds Admiral Lord Nelson Strong Bitter.

Congratulations to the champions, and thanks to all the breweries and their brewers for supplying such an outstanding list of beers. Take a look at the event program to see what was featured.

DotLA/NotLA could not take place without our great volunteers, sponsors and supporters. Any beer event requires a lot of effort, but the logistics of a cask event are even more complex. And everyone who organized, set up/broke down, stillaged, spiled, tapped, served, sold, etc. was an unpaid volunteer. Many put in many hours and traveled great distances to help us – they all deserve your thanks.

We also owe a great debt to our sponsor, the Brewers Supply Group who also arranged the shipping of out-of-town casks. Thanks also to Goose Island, Marion Street Cheese Market, and Andy’s Deli for the great selection of appetizers, meat & cheeses.  Above all, we want to thank John Hall, Greg Hall and Goose Island Beer Company for their support of the Beer Society over the last 23 years. Goose Island Wrigleyville has been the gracious host of this event every year. Thanks to all GI-W staff for their assistance during the planning and functioning of this event, especially to manager Daria Olechowski.

Of course, events like this could not take place without the support of our members and guests who attend and make DotLA/NotLA so much fun. The two sessions sold out in record time and proved once again that the passion for real ales is growing every day.

Cheers!

The results of the 12th Annual Brewpub Shootout are in.

There were 14 participants this year, including the soon-to-open Revolution Brewing, recently-opened The Lucky Monk , and first-time participant, Half Acre. The area Rock Bottoms once again paired up into North/South and East/West teams, and the usual sellout of some three hundred CBS members gathered in the Irish-American Heritage Center‘s beautifully-remodeled Erin Room.

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 near the end of the event.

To see what you missed, check out the program (PDF) listing all of the featured beers and food items/pairings. Kudos to Three Floyds for providing a bonus beer & food pairing.

12th Annual Chicagoland Brewpub Shootout Awards:

Beer
1. America’s Brewing (Bourbon Fass Bavarian Gerste Wein)
2. Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery (Dry-hopped Panama Limited Red Ale)
3. Goose Island Clybourn (Frankenporter)

Food
1. Rock Bottom N/S (Lombard & Orland Park)
2. The Lucky Monk
3. Rock Bottom E/W (Chicago & Warrenville)

Pairing
1. Rock Bottom N/S (Lombard & Orland Park)
2. Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
3. BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery

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 IAHC for their assistance;  and, of course, thanks to our great members who continue to make the Shootout one of the best beer events in the world!

Approximately 120 members and guests attended one of the most memorable Fall Tastings in recent memory. Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro was our host for the evening, and wow – they were great. The room was beautiful, the staff couldn’t have been more helpful, and the food was both plentiful and delicious. And then there was the beer…

Thirteen outstanding beers were presented in a walk-around blind tasting, and after the ballots were cast, Older Viscosity, a wood aged Imperial stout from Port Brewing, San Marcos, CA was selected as champion beer. It narrowly edged out Claire’s Impure Thought, a Russian Imperial Chocolate Raspberry Stout from Rock Bottom Chicago. The voting was so tight there was a tie for third place between 1871, a pre-prohibition lager from Emmett’s Tavern & Brewing Company and Daisy Cutter Pale Ale from Half Acre Beer Company.

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

• Capital Oktoberfest (thanks to Louis Glunz Beer, Inc.)
• Lakefront Local Archer (Harvest Ale)
• Flossmoor Station Black Magic Black IPA
• Shoreline Batch 200 Black IPA
• Goose Island Clybourn Black Cat Export Stout
• Mickey Finn’s Gudendark Dunkelweizen
• Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel (thanks to Map Room)
• New Belgium Tart Lychee Wild Ale
• Lunar Darkside Dubbel

CBS thanks all of the brewers, distributors, and bar-owning friends who made such an incredible selection possible. We also owe a great debt to the organizers and volunteers who made this event possible and who did their hardest work behind the scenes.

To our members and guests and attended, it was great having you! Hope to see you at our next event, the 12th Annual Chicagoland Brewpub & Microbrewery Shootout, coming up in the new year. Make sure your membership is current to assure your exclusive opportunity for tickets.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 Chicago Beer Society Spooky Brew Review Homebrew Competition. We had 304 entries this year, the most ever! Thanks to all the brewers who entered beers in this year’s competition.

When the dust settled and judging was compeleted, Calvin Rowland of Bolingbrook and the Urban Knaves of Grain won Best-of-Show with a superb Applewine (BJCP category 28C); CBS’s own Dave Phillips and his team (Kyle Swansen, Tony Kline) were runners-up with their Specialty beer (category 23), a hoppy Belgian Pale Ale with brettanomyces; Ron Stazuk kept his streak alive by capturing the Spooky and Smashed Pumpkin awards again. After a post-event review revealed a clerical problem with the Witches’ Brew scoring, co-winners were named:  Cindy Pillar and Katie Quiter with “Scary Spice,” who brewed a pumpkin ale with cinnamon and clove,  and Stephanette Smith with “Inky Pawprint,” a very fine dry stout. Also, special kudos to Michael Shannon of the Midnight Carboys for earning 1st place honors in 4 categories and 9 ribbons overall. Well done! The complete results are available here.

The organizers owe a great deal of gratitude to brewers Ryan Clooney and Rob Hunter and all of the staff at Emmett’s Tavern & Brewing Company in Palatine for their incredible hospitality in hosting the event. Everyone on site was unbelievably helpful and patient; the lunch and beers were outstanding. We encourage everyone in the region to visit Emmett’s – great businesses like these deserve our support!

But even more, we really have to thank all of the Chicago area judges and stewards who stepped forward and did such a great job getting through our record number of entries.

Cheers,

Joe Preiser and Steve Hamburg, Organizers

Join us at Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro (3906 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago) on Saturday, November 14 for the 33rd 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 7 and pre-payment is required. Everyone must be 21 or older to attend. NO REFUNDS.

Mrs. Murphy and Sons specialize in contemporary Irish cuisine and they’ve prepared a great menu for us that includes:

• Irish Cheese and Meat Platter
• Field Greens, Toasted Walnuts & Cashel Bleu Cheese with Cider Vinaigrette
• Cider Braised Pork Loin -and- Irish Stew
• Roasted Red Skin Potatoes -and- Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage
• Irish Brown Soda Bread and Butter
• Apple Crumble with Whiskey Whipped Cream

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 14th!

The Chicago Beer Society emphasizes responsible consumption and recommends public transportation or the use of a designated driver for all our tasting events. Mrs. Murphy and Sons is located a short walk from  the CTA Brown Line stop at Irving Park and is convenient to multiple bus lines and easily accessible by cab.

Join us at Rock Bottom Chicago (1 W Grand Ave, Chicago) for the latest edition of the country’s oldest tasting of commercial beers. This will be a blind tasting – beers are served in souvenir CBS glasses to allow you to judge the beers strictly on their own merit. When the formal tasting ends, all the beers will be available for your enjoyment.

Renowned chef Charles Fegert has returned to RB Chicago and is preparing a great meal for us. Check out the official event flyer for all the tasty details, and use the attached form to reserve your tickets.

As of November 13, the Fall Tasting is sold out.

The Chicago Beer Society recommends public transportation or the use of a designated driver for all our tasting events. Rock Bottom is located directly above the CTA Red Line stop at Grand and State. It’s also within walking distance or a short cab ride from all Metra downtown stations.

On the rainiest day in Chicago history, a dedicated crowd of approximately 75-80 members and guests crowded under the permanent shelter and a virtual village of E-Z Ups to sample eight commercial beers, homebrewed beer and root beer, and the food entries in our annual War of the Ribs/Chili/Salsa/Desserts.

Given the smaller attendance and the travel difficulties, we limited the beer list to those that were stored closest to the picnic site or brought by attendees (special thanks to Greg Brown of Mickey Finn’s for enduring a 3-hour drive from Libertyville!). This was half of those originally advertised, but proved to be the perfect quantity for our own “Barmy Army.” The menu: America’s Brewing Baltic Porter, Founders Centennial IPA, Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Märzen, Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale, Mickey Finn’s Hefe Weizen, Ommegang Rare Vos, Sprecher Hefe Weiss, and Southern Tier Phin & Matt’s Pale Ale.

Attendees voted in the featured food competitions and the winners were awarded attractive trophies. We also had separate blind judging for chili and ribs and awarded 1st place trophies to the champs. There were only 3 rib competitors this year, but remarkably we had 11 chilis, 13 salsas, and 7 desserts.

The Winners:

Ribs – Popular Vote and Blind Judging (identical results)
1. Randy Mosher
2. Paul Marvine
3. Pigsilicious

Chili – Popular Vote
1. Thomas Griffin
2. Robert Watts
3. Doug Lenzo

Chili – Blind Judging
1. Julie/David Rice, Fred Hersh
2. Robert Watts
3. Thomas Griffin

Salsa – Popular Vote
1. Ray Spangler (special guest Bloatarian)
2. (tie) Linda Maher
2. (tie) Camille Romero

Dessert – Popular Vote
1. Jennifer Caputo
2. Julie Rice
3. Nancy Cline

Thanks to everyone who braved the elements to turn doom and gloom into a wonderful afternoon of beer, food, and friends. While we hope for better weather in 2009, this year’s edition will stand as one of our most memorable picnics ever.

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 (5000) tickets sell out WAY in advance. This year is no exception – the event was declared a sellout almost as soon as tickets went on sale in early May. But – as has been the case for many years – CBS offers its members an exclusive festival package that includes a coveted ticket to the Taste and round-trip bus transportation from either Chicago or Warrenville. Tickets were sold via a members-only mailing. Not surprisingly, these soldout in record time.

Here’s the 411 for those who have scored tickets:

• City bus departs from Goose Island Clybourn (1800 N Clybourn) at 9:30 am, returns ~9 pm
• Suburban bus departs from Rock Bottom-Warrenville (Winfield Rd & I-88) at 9:30 am, returns ~9 pm
• No smoking or glass containers on the buses
• You must be at least 21 years old to attend
• Festival tickets will be distributed on the buses
• Don’t be late for the ride home – most hotel rooms in Madison are already booked!

Mark your calendars for Sunday July 27 when the Chicago Beer Society will present Curds and Ale, a Celebration of American Cheese and Beer.

This afternoon event will take place at Rock Bottom Chicago, and will feature a CBS-procured selection of American craft beer and American artisan cheeses. A number of the cheeses will come directly from the American Cheese Society Conference and Competition which will take place in Chicago July 23-27. A small number of cheesemakers will be invited to attend our event and sample cheese.

If you’re not already tuned in to beer and cheese as companions, this is one of the most exciting combinations going. With common origins in grain, similarities in flavors and huge range of characteristics, beer can reach heights with cheese wine can only dream of. Come and find out why beer and cheese is the hot pairing right now.

Tickets are now on sale, but space is limited and tickets are selling quickly. To book your place, print and mail this order form along with your payment (checks, cash, and money orders accepted only). The price is $30 members/$35 nonmembers. Don’t wait too long, or you’ll miss out on the area’s premier beer and cheese event!

Our annual picnic is always one of our most anticipated events, and with good reason:  Every year we supply an extraordinary beer selection (check out this year’s amazing beer list!) 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. (Update: here are the 2008 results.)

Bring the family and your pals from the bowling league, running club, welding class, knitting circle, whatever – 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!

So, grab your folding chairs, horseshoes, lawn darts, croquet sets, 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 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.