General CBS News

Eddie C. Campbell Benefit

The Chicago Beer Society is saddened to hear that Eddie C. Campbell, Chicago resident and blues musician, has suffered a heart attack and stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side while on tour in Germany.  Eddie has performed on our Blues & Brews Cruises in the past.

In order to help his family get Eddie back to the States for treatment, Rosa’s Lounge has donated their venue to host a blues benefit concert this Sunday, February 17, 2013.  Rosa’s Lounge is located at 3420 W. Armitage Ave. Phone number is (773) 342-0452. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Cost is $25.00. Show time is 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  The lineup includes Eddie ‘The Chief’ Clearwater, Sugar Blue, Eddie Shaw, Lurrie Bell, Billy Boy Arnold, Jimmy Johnson, Sharon Lewis, Mathew Skoller, Deitra Farr, Bob Stroger, Zora Young, Rico McFarland and Scott Dirks. More information regarding this benefit event can be found here.

If you are unable to make the benefit event but would like to help him and his family out through this hard time, you can make a donation to his assistance fund ran by his wife and manager, Barbara Mayson Campbell, via paypal:

Eddie C. Campbell Assistance Fund

CBS Events, General CBS News

2013 Brewpub Shootout – Sold Out!!!

Come out and enjoy the best beers and food from the 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 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!

Sat Jan 19th, 2013
1-5pm
ZHOU B Art Center1029 W 35th St Chicago, IL

 

THIS IS A CBS MEMBER TICKETED EVENT ONLY!!!

NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT DOOR!!!

f96h2 CBS Events, General CBS News

36th Annual Fall Tasting at Goose Island Clybourn (sold out)

The Chicago Beer Society is pleased to announce that its 36th annual Fall Tasting & Dinner will be held from 6:30 to 10:30 pm at the Goose Island Brewpub, 1800 North Clybourn, Chicago, on Saturday, December 1, 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. As always, highly-coveted plaques will be awarded to the breweries that win top honors.

The Chef at GI-C will be preparing a variety of small plates of beer-centric food to complement the beers provided in the blind tasting. Attendees will be able to judge the specially procured beers strictly on their own merit, as well as with the menu items. When the formal tasting ends, the breweries and beer names will be announced and all beers will continue to be available for your enjoyment.

Note that as of the reservation deadline (November 26), the event is now sold out. If you have not yet mailed in your reservation or already contacted us directly, please don’t mail one in as it will be returned. Thanks to all of you for responding so promptly.

Tickets have finally been mailed, but if you do not receive them before Saturday you can check in at the event. To confirm that you are on the list, just send a query via the Contact Page.

The Chicago Beer Society emphasizes responsible consumption and recommends using a designated driver or taking public transportation. The closest CTA train stations are at North & Clybourn (Red Line) and Armitage (Brown Line). Taxis are also easily available in the area.

f96h2 General CBS News

35th Annual Fall Tasting Recap

The Chicago Beer Society’s 35th Annual Fall Tasting Dinner’s in the books. Thanks to our host and the staff at Klas Restaurant for a great meal, all the brewers and breweries, The Map Room, Paramount Merchants, Louis Glunz Beer Inc., and 10th & Blake for the excellent beers. Hope all those attending had a good time!

The 2011 winners were:

First Place (tie): Revolution Brewing Co. Rise (American hoppy stout)
First Place (tie):  Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. Big EddyRussian Imperial Stout
Third Place: 5 Rabbit Cerveceria Hibiscus Belgian Golden Holiday Ale

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

Regards,
Frank Patino
Fall Tasting Organizer

 

f96h2 CBS Event Recaps, General CBS News

2011 Spooky Brew Review Homebrew Competition Results

Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Chicago Beer Society Spooky Brew Review Homebrew Competition. Not only was this our 20th anniversary, but we also had 353 entries this year, the most ever! Thanks to all the brewers who entered beers in this year’s competition.

Congrats to BOS winner Ray Gonzalez, who grabbed the honors with an excellent Kölsch. Rodney Kibzey was BOS runner up with his now-famous Black IPA, Blackened Hops. First place in Samuel Adams Longshot, only Second Place at Spooky Brew 2011? What’s up with that?!

In our “special” categories, Alexis Jansky (Brixie’s Brewers) won the Witches’ Brew with a fine Berliner Weisse (also took 3rd place in Sour Ales with the same beer); Calvin and Tara Rowland (UKG) earned their second Spooky Brew ribbon in a row, following up their “delectable” Kitty Litter with a much-scarier Aunt Flo’s Ale; Robert Kay (UKG) grabbed the Smashed Pumpkin award with his repulsive Spider Spit Cider.

The complete competition results are available here.
Thanks to our great – and sizable – group of judges and stewards who plowed through our record number of entries so professionally and effciently. Special thanks to Pete Crowley and all the staff at Haymarket Pub & Brewery for their unbelievable hospitality. Pete’s beery expertise was displayed all day, and not just via the taps! Pete judged Belgian & French Ale, Belgian Strong Ale, and served on the Best-of-Show panel. Yay, Pete! Haymarket Manager (and Judge) Janna Mestan was particularly helpful, corralling all the drop-off entries and handling multifarious duties throughout the day of the competition. All right, Janna!

Looking forward to the next 20 years of the Spooky Brew Review,
Matt Mayes and Meghan Rutledge, Organizers