2017 Annual CBS Picnic

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 2017 picnic will be September 9, 2017 in the same *old* place on the North side. TICKETS ARE FREE AND REQUIRED. Anyone without a ticket will be turned away.

A flyer will be emailed to members of record around the end of July with a unique code to obtain your tickets.
Competition Categories

  1. Ribs
  2. Other Meats
  3. Salsa
  4. Chili
  5. Veggie
  6. Dessert

If you plan to enter one or more categories, you will need to fill out the competition form. The link to this form can be found when you purchase your tickets.

Any questions, email picnic a/t. chibeer.org

Summer Bus to Southwest Michigan

Join CBS for our annual summer bus trip to breweries outside of the Chicagoland area. For 2017, we return to southern Michigan to visit some of the new breweries that have opened since our initial trip in 2013.

The first stop is Bridgeman, MI, where we will be greeted by long-time friend of CBS Pete Crowley at his new Haymarket production facility and tap room. Here, we’ll be given a behind-the-scenes tour and private tasting. Lunch and beer is included. We’ll hang in Bridgeman for a few hours, giving you the opportunity to also visit Transient and/or Tapestry – both within walking distance – if you choose. From here, we head north to Benton Harbor, to visit both Silver Harbor Brewing and North Pier Brewing. Turning back south, we’ll stop at Watermark Brewing, before heading home. A beer, each, is included at Silver Harbor, North Pier, and Watermark Brewing. Join us for summer in Michigan (where it could be snowing by the next week.)

Get Tickets!

https://www.facebook.com/events/295026217609225

Great Taste of the Midwest 2017

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 likely to be no exception!!  As it has been the case for many years, Chicago Beer Society 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 start boarding at 9:00 am and return around 9 pm the same evening. Doors shut and buses depart at 9:30 AM SHARP. The bus waits for no one!

Members will be emailed an official flyer in early June with your unique password in order to receive the membership price. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. A limited number of tickets *might* be available to non-members if our members don’t gobble them all up! Don’t risk being left out and join CBS today!

Final details are being worked out and information here is currently subject to change.

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

  • No smoking; no kegs or glass containers on the bus
  • Cans and small lunchbox coolers OK.  Collapsible camp chairs OK.
  • You must be at least 21 years old to attend
  • Festival tickets will be distributed on the bus, no exceptions. No refunds. YOU MUST RIDE THE BUS SPECIFIED ON YOUR TICKET TO GET YOUR TICKET TO THE FEST!

Big Brew Day 2017

We are happy to host the CBS National Homebrew Day Celebration at our house once again this year.

As every year, you’re welcome to brew outside in the driveway/back yard, although there is somewhat limited space for brewing set-ups, so please call or otherwise get in touch in advance to “reserve” a brewing space. C’mon and bring some equipment over and set up in our driveway!

IF YOU PLAN ON BREWING, YOU MUST CONTACT RANDY BELOW TO RESERVE A SPACE.  Space is limited.

We expect, as in the past, that the party will be mostly non-brewing participants–thank gawd, as we’d burn down the neighborhood otherwise. Gates will be open starting at 8:30 AM (brewers can set up earlier by prior arrangement) and coffee and coffeecake will be available for early birds. C’mon and bring some equipment over and set up in our driveway!

Please note that THIS IS A 100% PITCH IN PARTY. We have a ploughman’s lunch (cheese, cured meat, pickles, bread, etc. again pitched in by YOU) midday-ish, then get the smoker fired up and eat a hot meaty dinner later (usually by Joe Preiser, Pitmaster). We’ll have a Big Green Egg available as well as the tin man smoker. Do NOT show up empty handed: beer, meat, cheeses, side dishes for dinner, snacks, and desserts, preferably homebrewed or homemade, are all welcome. Chicago Beer Society will supply plates, forks, cups, etc. As usual, we will be stopping at 5-ish for mint juleps with which to watch the Derby (mint and simple syrup provided by the Mosher-Clines, bourbon provided by ONE OF YOU).

This is an outdoor event and will be held RAIN OR SHINE.  Regardless of the predicted temperature, it can be considerably cooler by the lake especially if the sun is not shining so dress accordingly.  In case of rain, we’ll have EZ-ups and other shelters set up. We have limited seating, so portable/collapsible chairs are advisable if you want to be guaranteed a seat. We’ll fire up the fire pit after dinner, so we can Kumbaya around it at the end of the evening. Anyone who wants s’mores is welcome to bring fixin’s.

Date & Time: Saturday, May 6, 2017 from 8:30 AM until Nancy has had enough and makes any stragglers leave.

Location: 1604 W. Lunt Ave, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. Lunt is 7000 north; we’re 4 blocks west of the lake, 2 blocks east of Clark, 1 block north of the Morse Red Line stop. Also easily accessible from the Metra UP North Line Rogers Park stop, which is just a block west of Clark on Lunt. Parking is on the street only, so good luck with that…

Contact: 773 973 0240 or randymosher@rcn.com if you plan to brew and need to reserve a space.  Otherwise, feel free to come with beer, meat, cheese, or side dishes in hand.

You can find more info about AHA Big Brew Day at:

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/events/national-homebrew-day

2017 Day of the Living Ales

Recap

The 2017 Day of the Living Ales was another successful showcase of 52 casks from Chicago area breweries. Two sessions were held and attendees voted on their 2 favorite above 6% and below 6% beers. See you at the next Day of the Living Ales!

Afternoon session of Day of the Living Ales is going great… Can't wait to see you evening session folks at 6pm,

A post shared by Chicago Beer Society (@chicagobeersociety) on

Results

Cellarman’s Awards

The Golden Tut award highlights the beers that best exemplify a cask beer based on condition, clarity, and quality as determined by the cellar staff.
Bronze – #33 – Revolution – Kazimierz (Grodziskie)
Silver – #2 – Alter Brewing – Alterior Motive IPA
Golden – #6 – BuckleDown Brewing – Copper Pot Brown Ale (English Brown Ale)

Under 6% ABV

Runner Up – #6 – BuckleDown – Copper Pot Brown Ale
Champion – #4 – Around the Bend – Vera Pistachio Cream Ale

Over 6% ABV

Runner Up – #41 – Spiteful – Mrs. O’Leary’s Chocolate Oreo Milk Stout
Champion – #42 – Temperance – Double Rye Barrel Aged Might Meets Right

The Chicago Beer Society announces the Day of the Living Ales for 2017, featuring cask conditioned ales from breweries around Chicagoland, plus selected guests.  Join us on March 4 in Chicago’s 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.

As usual, 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. Food will be available for purchase. As always, public sessions are from 1-5 and 6-10 PM.  When finished, the lively Randolph corridor offers ample entertainment options.

Attendees will vote for their favorites to select the 2017 Champion Real Ales of Chicagoland from around 50 cask ales provided by this year’s participating breweries:

  • Alarmist Brewing
  • Alter Brewing Co.
  • Around the Bend Beer Co.
  • Blue Island Beer Co.
  • BuckleDown Brewing
  • Cruz Blanca Brewery
  • Emmett’s Brewing Co.
  • Goose Island Beer Co.
  • Hailstorm Brewing Co.
  • Half Acre Beer Co.
  • Hand of Fate Brewing Co.
  • Hopvine Brewing Co.
  • Lakefront Brewery
  • Metropolitan Brewing
  • Mickey Finn’s Brewery
  • Miskatonic Brewing Co.
  • One Trick Pony Brewery
  • Radicle Effect Brewerks
  • Revolution Brewery
  • Revolution Brewpub
  • Rock Bottom Chicago
  • Rock Bottom Orland Park
  • Solemn Oath Brewery
  • Spiteful Brewing
  • Temperance Beer Co.
  • 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
  • Tighthead Brewing Co.
  • Two Brothers Artisan Brewing
  • White Oak Brewing

Non members may purchase tickets for $50/each

Members of record will be emailed with links to allow them to purchase tickets at membership prices on Jan 9th 2017. Please check your spam and deleted folders for a message with the subject “Chicago Beer Society Presents 2017 Day of the Living Ales” If you have any questions or are sure you did not receive a unique member code and should have, please Contact Us.

Please note that some breweries, just like guests on someone’s RSVP list, will end up having to back out due to unforeseen circumstances or technical challenges. We will do our best to keep this page up to date with expected participants.

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

Note: Sometimes a cask breaks and beer spills. Brewery participation can change at any moment for reasons beyond our and often the brewers control.