f96h2 CBS Events, General CBS News

32nd Annual Fall Tasting & Dinner (Sold Out)

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.

f96h2 CBS Event Recaps, General CBS News

Results from the CBS Picnic and War of the Ribs/Chili/Salsa/Desserts

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.

f96h2 CBS Events, Past CBS Homebrew Events

Spooky Brew Review 2008 Homebrew Competition

The Spooky Brew Review homebrew competition is celebrating its 17th consecutive year.

Our host this year will be the famed Goose Island Clybourn brewpub, in what sadly may be the swan song at this venerable location. As usual, SBR will feature judging in all categories of the BJCP Style Guidelines. But the highlight is always the judging of the special Spooky (scariest) and Smashed Pumpkin (Worst of Show) categories – these should not be missed. For the second year in a row, we’ll also include Witches’ Brew, 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 unconsumable by the Competition Committee will be DISQUALIFIED.

So, please plan on entering, judging, stewarding, or just attending Spooky Brew Review 2008 — it definitely doesn’t get any crazier than this!

The competition announcement, entry forms, bottle labels, judge registration/waiver forms, and the latest BJCP Style Guidelines are all available in PDF (Portable Document Format).

Entrants, Stewards and Judges: if you have additional questions, contact competition organizers Roger Deschner (roger @ chibeer.org, 773-363-1407) or Brad Reeg (beej @ chibeer.org, 773-384-5888).

f96h2 CBS Events, General CBS News

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

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!
f96h2 CBS Events, General CBS News

Curds & Ale II: A Celebration of Beer & Cheese

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!