2015 Day of the Living Ales

February 28, 2015
1:00 pmto5:00 pm
6:00 pmto10:00 pm

The Chicago Beer Society announces the Day of the Living Ales for 2015, featuring cask conditioned ales from Chicagoland, plus selected guests.  The home of the event since its inception, Goose Island-Wrigleyville, has closed, so join us on February 28th in Chicago’s new home for real ale: Bottom Lounge.  Located at 1375 West Lake Street, Bottom Lounge is located steps from the CTA Green and Pink Lines, several bus routes, a long walk or short cab ride to two Metra stations, plus the aforementioned cabs and street parking nearby.

At this new venue casks will still be handled by CBS’s experienced cellarmen, trained in the UK to care for and serve real ale. A properly served real ale is neither cloudy, flat, nor warm: rather  it is bright, with a gentle carbonation and served at cellar temperature. Food will be available for purchase. As always, public sessions are from 1-5 and 6-10PM.  When finished, the lively Randolph corridor offers ample entertainment options.

Attendees will select the 2015 Champion Real Ales of Chicagoland!

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Two Spirited Sessions!

1:00-5:00 & 6:00-10:00PM

Bottom Lounge, 1375 W Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60607

Chicago Beer Society members should have received ordering information in the mail.  DO NOT THROW THIS MAILER AWAY.  It will contain a unique password by which you can order your tickets.

Member-only ordering begins January 26 at 10AM. Ticket purchase quantities are limited.

General sale opens February 2.

All attendees must be at least 21 years old. No refunds. Admission includes: tasting glass & beer samples. Food, for purchase, will be available.

As usual, we recommend the use of public transit: Green or Pink Line ‘L’ to Ashland/Lake, and walk 3 blocks east along Lake Street.

Any questions regarding this event, membership status, or other queries should be directed to http://chibeer.org/contact/

 

2015 Brewpub Shootout (Recap)

Chicago Beer Society’s Seventeenth Annual Brewpub & Microbrewery Shootout at Zhou B Art Center is in the books, but the memories of delicious dishes and astounding ales linger on…A huge thanks to the participants and everyone who attended (and didn’t have to battle snow, for a change!).

Here are the winners:

Favorite Beer – Revolution
Favorite Beer – Goose Island
Champion Beer – Off Color

Favorite Food – BrickStone
Favorite Food – Revolution
Champion Food – Three Floyds

Favorite Beer & Food Pairing – 5 Rabbit
Favorite Beer & Food Pairing – Three Floyds
Champion Beer & Food Pairing – Flossmoor Station

Here are participant and menu details:

5 Rabbit Cerveceria – Bedford Park IL
http://www.5rabbitbrewery.com/
Brewers: John J, Hall (Brewmaster), Nate Chesser, Raul Heredia, Adam Stull, Mike Witkowski
Chefs: Team 5 Rabbit
Pairing Beer: 5 Grass Hoppy Ale with Juniper, Sage, White Sage, Rosemary and Tasmanian Pepperberry
Food Pairing: Tortas Ahogadas: “Drowned” sandwiches with slow- smoked pork shoulder in 5 Grass adobo seasoning on bolillo buns and salsa rojo, garnished with habañero-pickled onions and queso fresco.
Bonus Beers: 5 Vulture Oaxacan-Style Dark Ale with Fresh-Roasted Ancho and Mulato Chiles; Arroz Con Leche Imperial Rice Ale with Vanilla, Cinnamon, Cloves, Almonds and Sweetened Condensed Milk

BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery – Bourbonnais IL
http://brickstonebrewery.com
Brewers: BrickStone brewers
Chef: Chef Dino G.
Pairing Beer: Dark Secret Russian Imperial Stout aged with Dark Matter Coffee
Food Pairing: Dark Secret Coffee Braised Short Ribs with Creamy Polenta
Bonus Beer: HopSkipNImDrunk Double APA; BrickStone APA

DryHop Brewers – Chicago IL
http://dryhopchicago.com
Brewer: Brant Dubovick
Chef: Joel Pillar
Pairing Beer: Feeling That Surrounds Belgian Stout – This year’s winter stout was brewed with our house Belgian yeast strain, candy sugar,and orange peel, which impart notes of bubblegum, orange, and raisin to meld with the classic stout flavors of espresso and chocolate.
Food Pairing: Banana Bread Pudding – Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Marshmallow Crème
Bonus Beers: Shark Meets Hipster Wheat IPA – Light bodied American Wheat Ale featuring truckloads of Galaxy hops. Expect strong notes of passion fruit.

Flossmoor Station Brewery & Restaurant – Flossmoor IL
http://flossmoorstation.com
Brewers: Tom Nelson & Ryan Czaja
Chef: Edwardo Camerana
Pairing Beer: Shadow of the Moon Imperial Stout
Food Pairing: Chocolate Silk Tart – chocolate crust, SotM Imp Stout silk filling, ancho pepper chocolate liquor ganache, whipped cream, crushed pretzel
Bonus Beer: Barrel Aged Pullman Reserve

Goose Island Brewpub – Chicago IL
http://gooseisland.com
Brewers: Jacob Sembrano, Jon Naghski
Chef: Brad Sewell
Pairing Beer: Bourbon Barrel Aged Quad
Food Pairing: Golden Raisin Baklava, Duck Confit, Blackberry Shallot Syrup, Pistachios
Bonus Beer: Lincoln Park Lager – American Amber Lager

Haymarket Pub & Brewery – Chicago IL
http://haymarketbrewing.com
Brewers: Peter Crowley
Chefs: Christopher McCoy
Pairing Beer: Lucy’s Belgian Tripel with grapefruit
Food Pairing: Savory grits, braised pork belly, with fried pig ear and grapefruit slaw
Bonus Beers: Mathias Imperial IPA

Off Color Brewing / Northdown Café & Taproom – Chicago IL
http://www.offcolorbrewing.com / http://northdownchicago.com
Brewers: John Laffler, Dave Bleitner
Chefs: NDC’s finest!
Pairing Beer: Spots – Berliner-style weiss infused with tropical fruits & jaguar pelts
Food Pairing: Jerk Wings marinated and sauced with Pineapple-infused Off Color Fierce; Hellfire Hot Wings marinated and sauced with Off Color Coffee Dinos’mores; Beer battered and fried Off Color you Never Take Me Anywhere Nice fried pickles.
Bonus Beer: Tooth and Claw Pilsner

Revolution Brewing LLC – Chicago IL
http://revbrew.com
Brewers: Wil Turner
Chef: Charlie Eure
Pairing Beer: Civil Disobedience IPA
Food Pairing: Lambwich – Aged beef and lamb pate, naan bread, kumquat tzatziki, beef fat fries, Calabrian pepper & tomato relish
Bonus Beers: Straight Jacket – Bourbon barrel aged barleywine

Rock Bottom Restaurants & Breweries – Chicago, Lombard, Orland Park, Warrenville IL
http://rockbottom.com
Brewers: Hayley Shine, Ray Gonzalez, Jason Cook, Todd Britt, Jim Wolfer, Iain Wilson
Chefs: Pawel Marszalek, Shawn Murphy, Scott Rainman
Pairing Beer: The Mutiny – A big hop forward beer with pineapple and citrus notes that refuses to take orders from anyone (RB-C)
Food Pairing: Chicken and Waffles – Beer braised chicken thigh wrapped in brown sugar pepper bacon and served on top of corn bread waffle with maple beer glaze
Bonus Beers: Double Down IPA (RB-L); Lumpy Dog Brown (RB-W); Blitzen Belgian Tripel (RB-OP)

Rude Hippo Brewing – Chicago IL
http://rudehippo.com
Brewers: Karl Rutherford, Marilee Rutherford, Ian Denson
Chef: Won Kim
Pairing Beer: Beeting Heart – Ale Brewed with Beets – Roasted beets mingle gently with a citrusy, fresh ale in this gorgeous pink beer. Normal? No. Awesome? Absolutely.
Food Pairing: “Stew of Hearts” – Beef heart stew, Parmesan crisp crumbles, quick pickled beets, micro kale.
Bonus Beers: The Bee’s Sleaze – Honey Steam Ale – A big dose of honey gives a little bit of sass to a standard steam ale. This is a beer that plays well with others. Balanced, refreshing and fun; Wooden Nickel – IPA Aged on Oak – Surprisingly refreshing, this easy-drinking IPA is just the thing for folks hankering for a belly-up at the bar. Aged on fresh oak, our Wooden Nickel IPA is sure to have you asking for another round.

Three Floyds Brewing Co – Munster IN
http://www.3floyds.com
Brewers: Three Floyds Brewing Team
Chefs: Pat Niebling, Scout Hughes
Pairing Beer: Alpha King
Food Pairing: Smoked beef rib, blue cheese grits, Thai chili hot sauce, sauerkraut puree, beef jus
Bonus Beer: Permanent Funeral

Two Brothers Brewing Co & Roundhouse – Warrenville & Aurora IL
http://twobrothersbrewing.com
Brewers: Jeremy Bogan and Brenden McGrath
Chef: John Schiver
Pairing Beer: Wobble IPA
Food Pairing: Spiced donut holes with peach ginger dipping sauce

38th Annual Fall Tasting

November 22, 2014
12:30 pmto5:00 pm

38th Annual Fall Tasting

The Chicago Beer Society is pleased to announce that its 38th annual Fall Tasting & Dinner will be held from 12:30 PM to 5:00 pm at Kaiser Tiger, 1415 W Randolph St, Chicago, on Saturday, November 22, 2014.  A great new venue with a fabulous view
of the Downtown skyline that was rated the #1 Beer Hall. 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. 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.

Ticket Information

$50 Members / $60 Non-Members
Ticket sales thru BrownPaperTickets.com only. Price includes beer glass, beer samples and food.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/898135

Everyone must be 21 years old to attend. No children, please. NO REFUNDS.

Transportation

The Chicago Beer Society emphasizes responsible consumption and recommends using a designated driver or taking public transportation. CTA Green or Pink Line to Ashland/Lake;
walk a half block east on Lake St, and then
a long block southeast on diagonal Randolph St.

Menu

~~Savory~~

Sausage Provencal
(Beer and bacon sausage
roasted with Fall veggies)

Bacon Bombs

Belgian frites with dipping sauces

Dressed green beans

~~Dessert~~

Bacon bread pudding
topped with a bourbon sauce

22nd Annual Spooky Brew Review

October 25, 2014
9:00 amto5:00 pm

Spooky Brew is back and better than ever!  This year we will be hosted at Goose Island Wrigleyville Goose Island Clybourn on October 26, 9a to 5p.  Location changed due to the unfortunate closing of Goose Island Wrigleyville on Sept 29th.

As usual, Spooky Brew Review 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. We are also including Witches’ Brew, which is 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.

Event Details

Please note that the actual competition is closed to the public and competitors.  Only judges, stewards, and event staff will be allowed at the actual competition. This helps ensure the judges can focus and do what they do best.

Entry Registration

http://spooky.chibeer.org/entry

Judging

Judges and Stewards – we need you! If you are interesting in serving as a judge or steward on October 25, please contact competition organizer Peter Sloan (peter @ chibeer.org). All general questions can also be directed to him.

You can also sign up via http://spooky.chibeer.org/register

Special instructions regarding payment

PLEASE NOTE UPDATED INSTRUCTIONS.  In order to streamline operations, we are only accepting payments via PayPal.  You do NOT have to have a paypal account in order to pay and it will accept most major forms of credit cards.

Changes and additional information will be posted here so please check back frequently.

2014 CBS Bus Trip: Beyond the Cheddar Curtain and Back

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July 12, 2014
9:00 amto8:00 pm

Chicago Beer Society presents:
The Next in a Series of Tasting Tours – “Beyond the Cheddar Curtain and Back”

On Saturday July 12, we will board a luxurious motor coach for a trip Beyond the Cheddar Curtain and Back. This journey will focus primarily on the Madison area with stops at landmarks like Great Dane Brewpub Eastside (for lunch) and Capital Brewery Beergarten, as well as the newish and exciting Karben4 Brewery. Once we are safely back on the Illinois side of the state line, we will also pay a visit to Pig Minds Brewing near Rockford. Of course our terminus destination will be one of our second homes, Goose Island Clybourn (the trip starts there, too, departing at 9 a.m.).  Yes, there will be cheese, and yes, we will make a quick stop at a Woodman’s or another off-premise retailer so that guests can pick up a six-pack or two of Wisconsin beer to bring home. We will also provide each guest with a can of beer on the bus, beer at each destination, plus lunch. 

A limited number of tickets are available via Brown Paper Tickets. The member price is $70 ($73.43 with service fee), nonmembers $75 ($78.62 with service fee). All current CBS members were sent an event flyer with a ticket purchase password. If you lost your copy and need to get the password, drop us a line via the Contact page to request yours. Tickets are Will Call only. You must be at least 21 y.o. to board. No smoking, no kegs or glass containers on the bus.

2014 Brewpub Shootout Results

We hope everyone enjoyed themselves at this year’s Shootout. Without a doubt, the brewpubs and breweries really outshone themselves with their fantastic beer and food offerings. The winners are listed below.
Chicago Beer Society
BPSO Organizers

Beer

3 – Gringolandia Super Pils – 5 Rabbit Cerveceria – Bedford Park IL — 5rabbitbrewery.com
2 – Permanent Funeral  – Three Floyds Brewing Co – Munster IN — 3floyds.com
1 – Dinos’mores – Off Color Brewing  – Chicago IL — offcolorbrewing.com

Food

3 – Three Floyds Brewing Co – Munster IN — 3floyds.com: Grilled beef bulgogi, wasabi mousse, bibb lettuce, cucumber, cilantro, candied sesame seeds
2 – DryHop Brewers – Chicago IL — dryhopchicago.com: Bubba & Babe Sliders: House-made Gulf Shrimp & Pork Sausage, Roasted Pineapple, Potstickers, & Mango-Habenero Mustard
1 – Rock Bottom Restaurants & Breweries – Chicago, Lombard, Orland Park, Warrenville IL — rockbottom.com: TOT ROAST!: Beer-braised chuck roast served over parsnip tots, topped with ancho chile cream sauce, pepper relish and a Mexican crema drizzle.

Beer & Food Pairing

T2 – Revolution Brewing LLC-  Chicago IL — revbrew.com:
Pairing Beer: Willie Wee Heavy
Food Pairing: 48 hr sous vide short rib, Willie braised shallot, Urban Till rocket, Chicago Smoke and plum demi-glace
T2 – Rock Bottom Restaurants & Breweries – Chicago, Lombard, Orland Park, Warrenville IL — rockbottom.com:
Pairing Beer: Barrel-Aged Happy Camper: Smoked Porter aged in a Woodford Reserve barrel
Food Pairing: TOT ROAST!: Beer-braised chuck roast served over parsnip tots, topped with ancho chile cream sauce, pepper relish and a Mexican crema drizzle.
1 – Three Floyds Brewing Co – Munster IN — 3floyds.com:
Pairing Beer: Permanent Funeral
Food Pairing: Grilled beef bulgogi, wasabi mousse, bibb lettuce, cucumber, cilantro, candied sesame seeds

2014 Day of the Living Ales

March 1, 2014
1:00 pmto5:00 pm
6:00 pmto10:00 pm

Note: Tickets are still available for both Afternoon and Evening sessions of Day of the Living Ales! Non-member General Admission tickets will go on sale  January 26 at 10 AM CST at afternoondotla.brownpapertickets.com (Afternoon session is SOLD OUT) and eveningdotlabrownpapertickets.com

A walk-around real ale tasting featuring the best cask conditioned ales from Chicagoland breweries as well as from specially selected guest brewers, plus fine meats, cheeses and assorted appetizers. Casks are handled by CBS’s experienced cellarmen, trained in the UK to care for and serve real ale. A properly served real ale is neither cloudy, flat, nor warm: rather  it is bright, with a gentle carbonation and served at cellar temperature.

Attendees will select the 2014 Champion Real Ales of Chicagoland!

Saturday March 1, 2014

Two Spirited Sessions!

1:00-5:00 & 6:00-10:00PM

Goose Island – Wrigleyville – 3535 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL

Only 250 Tickets Per Session Will Be Sold! Chicago Beer Society members will receive ticket ordering information in the mail soon.  DO NOT THROW THIS MAILER AWAY.  It will contain a unique code by which you can order your tickets.

Any questions regarding this event, membership status, or other queries should be directed to http://chibeer.org/contact/

 

2014 Brewpub Shootout (SOLD OUT)

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January 25, 2014
1:00 pmto5:00 pm

NOTE:  This event is SOLD OUT.  

Chicago Beer Society presents the 16th Annual Chicagoland Brewpub & Microbrewery Shootout, Saturday January 25, 2014, 1-5pm at Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W 35th St Chicago IL 60609.

Come on out and enjoy the best beers and the best food from Chicago-area brewpubs and microbreweries. Sample a bunch of beers as well as each brewpub’s food item and then vote for your favorites. Winners will be announced at the end of the event.

Come and 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.

SEE YOU THERE!

TICKETS IN ADVANCE FOR CURRENT MEMBERS ONLY – $55 ea.

Use the eight character, Case Sensitive code above your name on the envelope to purchase tickets.

Single members can order 1 ticket. Couple members can order 1 or 2 tickets. The code can only be used one time.

Ticket sales begin Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 9am 

ONLINE ONLY at www.bpt.me/521583.

Admission includes all beer samples and one food sample from each brewery/brewpub.

You must be 21 years or older to attend. No children. No refunds.

We recommend public transportation for all our events.

21st Annual Spooky Brew Review

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Spooky Brew is back and better than ever!  This year we will be hosted at Revolution’s Kedzie Brewery on October 26, 9a to 5p.

As usual, Spooky Brew Review 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. We are also including Witches’ Brew, which is 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.

Event Details

Please see http://spooky.chibeer.org/ for up to date details.  Please note that the actual competition is closed to the public and competitors.  Only judges, stewards, and event staff will be allowed at the actual competition. This helps ensure the judges can focus and do what they do best.

Entry Registration

Entries will be accepted can be dropped off starting October 1st.  To register and enter, please go to http://spooky.chibeer.org.  All entries must be registered and dropped off by Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 5:30 PM CDT.  For more details please see http://spooky.chibeer.org/entry  BJCP entries are $8.  Spooky, Smashed Pumpkin, and Witches Brew are $2.  Please note the special instructions regarding payment if you are entering both BJCP and Spooky categories.

Judging

Judges and Stewards – we need you! If you are interesting in serving as a judge or steward on October 26, please contact competition organizer Peter Sloan (peter @ chibeer.org). All general questions can also be directed to him.  You can also sign up via http://spooky.chibeer.org

Special instructions regarding payment

PLEASE NOTE UPDATED INSTRUCTIONS. This year, in order to streamline operations, we are only accepting payments via paypal.  You do not have to have a paypal account and it will accept most major forms of credit cards.  Please note, due to the limitations in the software, if you want to enter a Spooky, Smashed Pumpkin, or Witches Brew and receive the discounted rate, you must register and pay the full $8 per entry.  Upon receiving payment, your entries will be reviewed and if you have one or more Spooky, Smashed Pumpkin, or Witches Brew entries ($2), the difference in price will be refunded to you ($6/entry). We have already processed quite a few transactions this way and it is working quite smoothly.  Unfortunately, the discount code was not working as intended and thus had to be disabled.

37th Annual Fall Tasting

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November 2, 2013
6:30 pmto11:00 pm

37th Annual Fall Tasting

The Chicago Beer Society is pleased to announce that its 37th annual Fall Tasting & Dinner will be held from 6:30 to 11:00 pm at Reza’s Restaurant, 432 W Ontario, Chicago, on Saturday, November 2, 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. 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.

Ticket Information

$45 Members / $55 Non-Members
Ticket sales thru BrownPaperTickets.com only.
Sales begin soon. [Date Pending: 9/30/13, 10am]
http://37falltasting.brownpapertickets.com/

Everyone must be 21 years old to attend. No children, please. NO REFUNDS.

Transportation

The Chicago Beer Society emphasizes responsible consumption and recommends using a designated driver or taking public transportation. The closest CTA train stations are at Chicago (Brown Line), Grand and Halsted (Blue Line), and Grand and State (Red Line). Taxis and buses are also easily available in the area.

Menu

~~Appetizers~~

Grilled Mushrooms
Baba Ghannouj
Herbed Roasted Feta Cheese

~~Entries~~

Filet Mignon Shish Kabob
Broiled Salmon
Lamb Shank (Seasoned Baby Spring Lamb Shank Simmered in Homemade Tomato Sauce)
Chicken Fessenjan (Boneless Chicken Breast Simmered in S&S Pomegranate Sauce with Crushed Walnuts)
Fresh Baked Bread
White Rice & Dill Rice

~~Dessert~~

Baklava and Bamieh (Deep Fried Dough Covered with Honey)