drawing of a bus on the highway driving away from the city of Chicago with the skyline in the background with a text overlay saying "GET ON THE BUS"

2023 Bus Trip to Great Taste of the Midwest

Join Chicago Beer Society for a fun-filled day at the Great Taste of the Midwest beer festival in Madison, WI!

On Saturday August 12th we’ll be riding in style on a comfortable luxury coach bus. Departing at 9:30 am from our starting point, the Goose Island Clybourn Brewhouse (1800 N Clybourn Ave), our bus will safely deliver you to & from the festival at Olin Park in Madison, WI.

Each package includes a seat on the bus and your festival ticket ($70 value) so you won’t have to worry about purchasing one separately. This offer is open to CBS Members, guests, and friends! All are welcome, but space is limited so purchase a ticket now to secure your spot!

Once we arrive at the festival, you’ll have the opportunity to sample some of the best beers, meads, and ciders from hundreds of producers in every corner of the Midwest. There will also be delicious food vendors and live music to enjoy throughout the day.

Don’t miss out on this amazing event! Book your spot on the bus today!


  • Bus will depart at 9:30AM exactly and will return around 9PM.
  • The bus waits for NO ONE. Wheels up at 9:30am, those not on board will be left behind.
  • No refunds.
  • Attendees must be 21 years or older.
  • Price includes festival ticket ($70) plus cost of the coach, tolls, and tip for the driver.
  • Tickets will be distributed on the bus just prior to arrival at the fest.
  • No smoking, no kegs, and no glass containers allowed on the bus.
  • Any carry-ons must fit below the seat.
  • Larger items will be stowed in the cargo hold and will only be accessible upon arrival.
  • Adult beverages and snacks will be permitted on the bus. Riders are responsible to clean up after themselves.
  • Please see the Great Taste website for list of permissible items.
  • This is a rain or shine event. Riders to the fest are encouraged to dress appropriately. There will be no access to the bus during the event.
attebdees enjoying beer outdoors at the hazy days of summer festival

HAZY DAYS 4

Chicago Beer Society presents…

Hazy Days 4
Saturday July 29th, 2023
1pm – 5pm

Space Stage Studios – Outdoor Courtyard
455 N Wolcott
Chicago, IL 60622

Finally seeing some sunshine here in Chicago, so you know what that means… these warm, lazy days call for some cold, hazy brews!

This outdoor festival & competition features around 30 local producers pouring everything from modern hop bombs to traditionally unfiltered & cloudy styles to experimental offerings. Attendees will sample and vote for their favorites to crown the champions in four categories:

MODERN
hop-driven styles: DDH IPA/DIPA, NEIPA, Hazy Pale Ale, etc

CLASSIC
traditionally unfiltered / cloudy styles; zwickel, weizen, saison, etc

EXPERIMENTAL
wild, fruit-driven, barrel-aged, milkshake/smoothie, etc

HAZE-FREE
clear, clean, crisp beverages of any style

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BREWERIES:

  • 18th Street
  • Around the Bend
  • Art History
  • Begyle
  • Brickstone
  • Church Street
  • Cruz Blanca
  • Dovetail
  • Duneyrr Fermenta Project
  • Dutchbag
  • Half Acre
  • Hubbard’s Cave
  • Ike & Oak
  • Illuminated Brew Works
  • Maplewood Brewery & Distillery
  • Misbeehavin’ Meads
  • Moderne Dune
  • MORE Brewing
  • Noon Whistle
  • Old Irving Brewing
  • Ørkenoy
  • Penrose
  • Phase Three
  • Pipeworks
  • Revolution
  • Trail’s Edge
  • Twisted Hippo
  • Une Annee

FOOD:
The Gilty Pig

MUSIC:
DJ Intel
Presto

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Tickets must be purchased in advance. There will be no walk-ups or sales at the gate.

GET TIX ASAP to secure your spot —-> chibeer.org/hazy

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  • This is an outdoor rain or shine event – sales are final
  • Attendees must be 21 years or older. Please leave kiddos & doggos at home.
  • Admission includes souvenir tasting glass & samples from each brewery
  • Food available for purchase separately
  • Small bags/purses allowed, but may be subject to search
  • We recommend public transportation for all our events
  • Brewer participation may change due to circumstances beyond our control
brewpub shootout attendees enjoying their beer and food pairings inside Metropolitan Brewery

BPSO XXIV – RECAP & WINNERS

On Saturday we welcomed around 300 of the most knowledgeable, dedicated beer enthusiasts in the area to crown the best beers, foods, and pairings around at the 24th annual Brewpub Shootout.

The quality on offer this year represented the most impressive spread we’ve had in many, many years and the tight results of the vote reflected that; everyone involved truly brought their “A game” and we can’t thank enough all of the brewers and chefs who made it possible.

Special thanks also go out to our devoted attendees, our hosts Metropolitan Brewing, and the CBS volunteers and board members who put in many hours of work to make this event so special once again.

With all that being said, here are the winners:

BEST PAIRING

Champion: Eris Brewery and Cider House

Favorite: Off Color Brewing / Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings

Favorite: Flipside Brewing

BEST FOOD

Champion: BrickStone Brewery

Favorite: Half Acre Beer Company

Favorite: Revolution Brewing

BEST BEER

Champion: Off Color Brewing

Favorite: Double Clutch Brewery

Favorite: Flipside Brewing

collage of images from past Brewpub Shottotu events featuring attendees enjoying food and beer at the event

24th Annual Brewpub Shootout // BPSO XXIV

Saturday February 18th, 2023 // 1pm – 5pm

Metropolitan Brewing

3057 N Rockwell S, Chicago, IL

Come out and enjoy the best beers paired with the best food from Chicago-area brewpubs and microbreweries. Attendees will sample a wide variety of beers as well as each brewpub’s food items and vote for their favorite beer, food, and pairing. Winners will be announced at the end of the event and presented with their hard earned awards.

Come out and enjoy the best beers paired with the best food from Chicago-area brewpubs and microbreweries. Attendees will sample a wide variety of beers as well as each brewpub’s food items and vote for their favorite beer, food, and pairing. Winners will be announced at the end of the event and presented with their hard earned awards.

We are very excited to again partner up with our old friends at Metropolitan Brewing which offers a beautiful & unique space that provides for an amazing BPSO experience.

Current CBS members will be able to purchase tickets beginning at 10AM Central on Friday January 13th 2023 for $75.00 each. Use the the code or link you received via email to purchase tickets. If you have issues, please email info @ chibeer.org for fastest resolution

Individual members can purchase up to 2 tickets. Couples memberships can purchase up to 4 tickets. Your unique code can be used to purchase tickets one time only.

Non-members will be able to purchase any remaining tickets starting at 10AM Central on Friday January 20th 2023 for $85 each.

Come to support your favorite brewery/brewpub or discover a new favorite – either way, you get to taste the very best beer and food that Chicago has to offer.

PARTICIPATING BREWERIES:

SEE YOU THERE!

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– Ticket sales are final

– Attendees must be 21 years or older (no children, no pets)

– Admission includes all beer & food samples from each brewery/brewpub

– Brewery and chef participation is subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control

– We recommend public transportation for all our events

– Visit our website for information: www.CHIBEER.org

45th Fall Tasting & Dinner Recap

The 2022 edition of our annual Fall Tasting reminded us how much fun sampling blind can be!

The venue was incredible (BIG shout-out to Double Clutch Brewing and their amazing staff), the food was tasty, and the wide variety of beers on offer kept tasters on their toes!

While there were many excellent options pouring throughout the night, the top 3 favorites (voted on blind by attendees) were:

CHAMPION: Goose Island (Clybourn Brewhouse) – Big News 1 (Imperial Stout aged on coconut & pecan – 13%)

FAVORITE: Revolution (brewpub) – Party Britches (Rye Dunkel – 6%)

FAVORITE: Ike & Oak – Woollysicle (Milkshake IPA w/orange, vanilla, lactose – 6.3%)

Many thanks once again to our host venue, and the volunteers & board members who helped with everything from hauling kegs to check-in to draft system maintenance to cleanup and tear-down! See you again next year!

FULL BEER LIST:

BREWERYBEERSTYLEABV %
1) Revolution (Brewpub)Party BritchesRye Dunkel6
2) Ike & OakWoollysicleMilkshake IPAw/orange, vanilla, lactose6.3
3) HaymarketOscar’s PardonBelgian Pale Ale4.5
4) Off ColorBeer for the Top ShelfVienna Lagerw/maple syrup5.5
5) TightheadWe Be Yammin’Sweet Potato Ale6.9
6) DuneyrrScarlet WynterRosé Vineyard Aleco-fermented w/ riesling grapes, blood orange, red currant & elderflower4.8
7) Double ClutchHellesHelles Lager5.1
8) Goose IslandBig News 1Oatmeal Stoutaged on toasted & raw coconut, and roasted pecans13
9) MaplewoodModified ConceptDDH IPA7.2
10) Casa HumildeMesita C2CMixed-FermentationTable Beer3.4
11) Half AcrePretty StreetsLime Lager4.8
11) Roaring TableAccordanceCzech Dark Lager4.6
13) Printer’s RowDark AdaptationStout w/ Cacao Nibs & Peanut Butter8.6