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 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

Details are still being worked out. Please check back for updates.  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

Information coming soon

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.

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.

More information will be available as details are finalized.  Please check back soon.

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)

2013 CBS Bus Trip To South West Michigan

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July 27, 2013
8:00 amto9:00 pm

Michigan Bus Trip – SAT, JULY 27th

There have been some epic Chicago Beer Society trips, just ask around at Thirst Fursday or Third Wednesday, but it’s been awhile, so we believe it’s time for a bus tour to The Left Side of the Mitten. We’ll charter a coach and motor around that Great Lake the natives called Michi Gami for a day of Beer, Food and Fun — All Inclusive!

On Saturday, July 27, 2013, we’ll depart from Goose Island – Clybourn at 8 AM, arriving in Grand Rapids, MI around noon (ET) for approximately three hours. Afterwards, we’ll work our way back down the shore of the Lake of the Stinking Water, with leisurely stops in Holland, Saugatuck and Sawyer. We’ll arrive back at Goose Island – Clybourn around 9pm.

Itinerary (Saturday, July 27, 2013)

8 AM CST
Bus will pickup members from Goose Island Clybourn and depart at 8 AM (Chicago Time). Each member will receive 2 “Revolution Road Beers” for the drive to Grand Rapids.

12 Noon EST
We will arrive at Founders Brewing Co. at approximately noon (Michigan Time). Each member will be provided Lunch and Beer. (Sandwich pre-order forms will be sent to ticket holders after sellout).

1:15 PM EST
Bus will leave Founders at 1:15 PM (MI Time) to Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids.  Each member will be provided a beer at Vivant.  Members can choose to stay at Founders or visit a neighboring brewery or pub (Hopcat, Grand Rapids Brewing, etc)

2:30 PM EST
Bus will return to Founders at 2:30 PM to pickup anyone that stayed at Founders or visited a nearby pub/bar.

3:00 PM EST
Bus will depart from Founders to New Holland Brewing Co, New Holland.

3:30 PM EST
Bus will arrive at New Holland Brewing Co.  Each member will be provided a beer.

4:45 PM EST
Bus will depart from New Holland Brewing Co to Saugatuck Brewing Co.

5:15 PM EST
Bus will arrive at Saugatuck Brewing Co. Each member will be provided a beer.

6:15 PM EST
Bus will depart from Saugatuck to Greenbush Brewing, Sawyer MI.

7:15 PM EST
Bus will arrive at Greenbush Brewing.  Each member will be provided a beer.

8:30 PM EST
Bus will depart Greenbush and head back to Goose Island – Clybourn, Chicago, IL.

9:00 PM CST
Arrive back in Chicago at Goose Island Clybourn.  Each member will be provided a beer.

Beers Included With Ticket

  • 2 Road Beers from Revolution Brewing
  • 1 Beer and Lunch from Founders Brewing
  • 1 Beer from Brewery Vivant
  • 1 Beer from New Holland Brewing
  • 1 Beer from Saugatuck
  • 1 Beer from Green Bush
  • 1 Beer from Goose Island

Most breweries are offering discounts on merchandise for members while on site. Note: Dinner is not included but folks would be able to pick up a quick dinner at one of the scheduled evening stops.

Ticket Details

Effective at 12 noon, June 24, Non-Members can purchase tickets for $75 each. Limit 2 tickets / order, please. Members can still use the mailed password to purchase their tickets at the member price.

»»» Please go to http://cbsbustoswmi.brownpapertickets.com/ to purchase tickets. «««

Tickets for members are $70 each and includes some beer and food.  Single members can purchase only ONE ticket.  Couples members can purchase one or two tickets.  Tickets will be available for sale ONLINE ONLY and instructions will be sent to current members.

You must be 21 years or older to attend. No smoking and no kegs or glass container of any kind on the bus.

Goose Island Collaboration Brew with Chicago Beer Society

On April 2nd, 2013, Goose Island and Chicago Beer Society teamed up to brew a collaboration beer to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Goose Island.  The beer will be released May 2nd and samples will be available during our monthly First Thursday homebrewers meeting.  Nick Barron, head brewer for the Goose Island brewpubs, will talk about the beer and the process.  The beer is not yet named but we will update here as soon as it is decided.

The Brewing Team

Chicago Beer Society and Goose Island

Chicago Beer Society and Goose Island

Front Row (from left to right)
Kevin Segna, Nick Barron (GI Head Brewer), Peter Sloan, Chris Schwigen, Dave Philips, Tom Gustafson, Steve Mastny, and Jacob Sembrano (GI Brewer)

Back Row (from left to right)
Tim Norris, John Hall (GI Founder)

The beer at a glance

  • Style: American Black Ale
  • Starting Gravity: 1.068
  • Targeted Final Gravity: 1.016
  • Targeted IBUs: 33
  • Grist: 80% Canada Pale, 13% Aromatic Malt, 6% Midnight Wheat
  • Hop Schedule: Chinook @ 60, Cascade @ 30, Cascade @ 5, Centennial @ 0
  • Dry Hopping: To be determined…

Images

2013 Annual CBS Picnic

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September 7, 2013
12:00 pm

Our “Umpteenth” annual picnic is always one of our most anticipated events, and with good reason:  Every year we supply an extraordinary beer selection backed up by a seemingly endless feast of ribs, chili, salsa, and desserts that are whipped up by our amazing members who enter into hotly contested competitions.

The 2013 picnic will be September 7, 2013 in the same old place. TICKETS ARE FREE AND REQUIRED. Ticket request forms will be mailed in June July to members of record as of May 31. Single Members can request up to 2 tickets, Couples Members can request up to 4 tickets. (Minor children are welcome and do not require tickets.) There will be a limited number of free tickets so do not delay mailing in your request.