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44th Annual Fall Tasting & Dinner Recap

The 2021 Edition of our annual Fall Tasting & Dinner (our 44th!) was, as always, an enjoyable and enlightening event. Massive thanks to the brewers for providing us with so much delicious beer, all the attendees, our hosts Old Irving Brewing, and especially to their hard working staff who helped keep the food flowing and our plates full throughout the evening.

Thanks again – we’ll see you in 2022 for the 45th Fall Tasting!

BLIND TASTING WINNERS

CHAMPION: #15 – Old Irving ‘Grizzly Reaper’ Imperial Milk Stout 
FAVORITE: #2 – Duneyrr ‘Sauvyn Blanc’ Hybrid Ale
FAVORITE: #10 – Printer’s Row ‘Cannonball’ Robust Porter

FULL BEER LIST

BREWERYBEERSTYLEABV %
1) DovetailHefeHefeweizen4.8
2) DuneyrrSauvyn BlancHybrid ale Co-fermemted with Sauvignon Grape Must & Passionfruit5.5
3) OrkenoyBowski HamlinGolden Amber Lager4.5
4) Half AcreSouthern Hemi Double Daisy CutterDouble Pale Ale7.7
5) MetropolitanArc WelderDunkel Rye5.2
6) Midwest CoastEnglish Sporting BeerEnglish Pale Ale5.3
7) Cruz BlancaThree KingsHoliday Punch Ale8.5
8) Casa HumildeCampesinoSaison aged in Cabernet barrels4.7
9) MaplewoodCrushinatorSession IPA4.5
10) Printers RowCannonballRobust Porter7
11) Lake EffectGose Barrel Aged Program-TequilaTequila Barrel-Aged Gose4.8
12) Une AnneeLe Grand Monde 3 2021Wild Ale7
13) Imperial OakAdmiral AckbeerDubbel7
14) Old IrvingLeon’s Last StandFruited Sour6
15) Old IrvingGrizzly ReaperImperial Milk Stout10
Beer Hall at Old irving Brewing
Chicago Beer Society CBS Events, General CBS News

44th Annual Fall Tasting & Dinner

Sunday November 21st, 2021
4pm – 8pm

Old Irving Brewing
4419 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL

BUY TICKETS NOW!

* CBS Members may purchase up to 4 tickets at the discounted member rate of $60. Any remaining tickets will become available to the general public at noon on Friday October 29th for $70 each.

This year’s tasting will be our 44th — making it one of the oldest and longest running beer events in the country! After the pandemic forced us to skip the 2020 tasting, we are back better than ever with a very special tasting that you will not want to miss!

Attendees will participate in a blind tasting of over a dozen Chicagoland craft beers before voting on their favorites. This allows the specially procured beers to be judged strictly on their own merits. When the blind portion of the tasting ends, the beers will be revealed and will remain available for your continued enjoyment, so feel free to go back for repeated samples of all of your favorites!

The event will take place in the Beer Hall at Old Irving Brewing, and our menu for the evening features an amazing assortment of mouth-watering options from the talented crew at Old Irving:

APPETIZERS

  • Soft Pretzel Sticks

Della Kölsch beer cheese dipping sauce, spicy honey mustard

  • Calaufel

crispy housemade cauliflower-falafel balls, vegan remoulade

  • Reuben Fritters

panko-crusted, house corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, horseradish 1000 island dipping sauce

  • Crunchy Pork Rinds

jalapeño-cheddar cheese spiced, Valentina hot sauce, ranch

ENTREES & SIDES

  • BBQ Brisket Sliders

pulled roasted beef brisket patty, mole BBQ sauce, coleslaw, pickled Fresno peppers, brioche bun

  • Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken Sliders

crispy chicken thigh, Tokyo Hot sauce (Nashville Hot & Japanese spices), coleslaw, pickles, brioche bun

  • Beet Salad

roasted & pickled beets, goat cheese, ginger-honey & black pepper yogurt, grapefruit, avocado, candied sunflower seeds, frisee, watercress, honey beet vinaigrette

  • Crispy Garlic Fries

garlic, parsley, sea salt, garlic-vinegar aioli

  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts

cherry-Fresno glaze, goat cheese, pickled butternut squash, parsley, sesame seeds

SWEETS:

  • Key Lime Pie

graham cracker crust, lime crème, candied lime

  • Cannoli Chocolate Cheesecake

graham cracker crust, ricotta-cream cheese-chocolate-cinnamon ganache, raspberry whipped cream, chopped pistachios *Contains nuts

**Vegan / Vegetarian accommodations available upon request during checkout**

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  • 21+ to attend. No children. No refunds.
  • Ticket includes a souvenir tasting glass, food, and beer.
  • Full COVID-19 vaccination (or negative test within 72 hours of the event) required.
  • Chicago Beer Society recommends using ride share or public transportation. Old Irving Brewing is located at 4419 W Montrose Ave – a 3 minute walk from the Montrose Blue Line stop, and is also on the 78 Montrose bus route .
  • Imbibe responsibly. Anyone who is visibly intoxicated and/or causing problems for themselves, attendees, or event staff may be asked to leave.
BUY TICKETS NOW!

* CBS Members may purchase up to 4 tickets at the discounted member rate of $60. Any remaining tickets will become available to the general public at noon on Friday October 29th for $70 each.

Hazy Days Festival
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HAZY DAYS: PART DEUX

Saturday July 31st, 2021
1pm – 5pm

Space Stage Studios – Galaxy Courtyard
1844 W Hubbard (enter courtyard at 455 N Wolcott)
Chicago, IL 60622

It’s been an incredibly long & difficult year for so many, but as things begin to settle into the new “normal” we’re excited to get back to hosting the types of events we’ve been known for over the past 40+ years. With that in mind… these warm, lazy days call for some cold, hazy brews!

Everything from modern hazy hop bombs to traditionally unfiltered zwickels & weizens to more experimental stuff with lactose & fruit, wilds, sours, and milkshake/smoothie styles will be featured at this festival & competition celebrating all things haze.

Attendees will sample and vote for their favorites to crown the champions of Chicagoland from each of three categories: Modern Haze, Traditionally Unfiltered, and Experimental.

A limited number of discounted earlybird tickets are available now. EARLY BIRD SOLD OUT!

Limited GA Tickets remaining…. do not sleep on this one!

UPDATE: HAZY DAYS 2021 IS OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT!!!

NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE GATE.

If you didn’t get tickets, your best bet is to sign up for the Eventbrite waitlist at chibeer.org/hazy – if tickets become available due to refunds or cancellations you’ll receive an email notification and then have 2 hours to finalize purchase of the ticket.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hazy-days-of-summer-outdoor-beer-festival-competition-tickets-156977129821

BREWERIES:

FOOD:

MUSIC:

  • photo credit: Frank Osako
  • photo credit: Frank Osako
  • photo credit: Frank Osako
  • photo credit: Frank Osako
  • photo credit: Frank Osako
  • photo credit: Frank Osako
  • photo credit: Frank Osako
  • This is an outdoor rain or shine event – sales are final
  • Attendees must be 21 years or older
  • Admission includes souvenir tasting glass & samples from each brewery
  • We recommend public transportation for all our events
  • Brewer participation may change due to circumstances beyond our control
  • Chicago Beer Society strongly recommends that all attendees be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID test no more than 3 days prior to attending an event

keeping together collage
Chicago Beer Society CBS Events, General CBS News

First Thursday: Keeping Together Edition ft. Averie Swanson

In light of the social distancing measures necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, we are once again going digital for this month’s First Thursday meetup. Join us online at 7pm on Thursday September 3rd to see a few friendly faces & chat about beers we’re enjoying during these crazy times… This month will feature a very special guest; Averie Swanson.

Averie is a beer lover and mixed fermentation enthusiast. She is the Founder and Beermaker of Keeping Together in Chicago, IL, and co-owner and former head brewer of Jester King Brewery in Austin, TX. Averie is one of nineteen people to have earned the certification of Master Cicerone®, and is recognized world-wide for her contribution to farmhouse brewing.

Averie will join us for a tasting & discussion of her two most recent releases:

At the Still Point of the Turning World
Saison made with Buckwheat and Rye | 5.6% abv

I Am Because We Are
Lavender-smoked Saison with Honey | 5.7% abv

Both of these are available for online ordering and curbside pickup at Half Acre’s Lincoln Avenue taproom. Get those orders in ASAP if you’d like to taste along with us as we discuss these truly remarkable beers from an incredibly talented recent addition to the Chicago brewing scene.

We’ll get things going around 7pm so place your orders, pick up the beers, and join us for what is sure to be a great discussion.

cheers!

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Chicago Beer Society General CBS News

2020 Events Update

Greetings,

We are writing today to provide an update on the remaining events we had in the works for 2020.

The COVID-19 crisis has created an unprecedented situation for all of us. Due to the (necessary) restrictions in place to prevent further spread of the virus large gatherings have been banned which makes it impossible to host our typical slate of in-person events.

We’d been holding out hope that things might take a dramatic turn for the better but recently received official word from the Cook County Forest Preserve that all remaining 2020 permits for more than 50 persons have been canceled, which unfortunately means that the 2020 Umpteenth Annual picnic will not happen.

In addition to the Picnic, we’ve also been forced to cancel Hazy Days of Summer (July), Spooky Brew Homebrew Competition (October), and the annual Fall Tasting (November). We are beyond disappointed that we won’t be able to gather with everyone over the coming months, but  there isn’t much we can do until the situation improves enough for Illinois to enter Phase 5 or restrictions around the phases are relaxed.

We understand that many of you look to these events, particularly the annual picnic, as the primary reason for your membership. We also understand that times are tough financially right now. With all of this in mind, anyone who would like a refund for a membership renewing between March 2020 – March 2021 can request it by forwarding the PayPal receipt (must include the transaction ID) for their renewal to covidrefund@chibeer.org. Requests sent to other addresses might not get processed.

NOTE: this will NOT cancel your membership – it simply provides the option for a one-time refund of membership fees as recompense for fewer events happening this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are exploring possibilities for virtual events and will keep everyone updated should those plans come together, but either way we hope to be back with more amazing events sometime in 2021.

Thank you for your support.

Stay safe,
Chicago Beer Society