Chicago Beer Society

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.

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).

• Get a copy of the Spooky Brew Review competition announcement, complete with entry form, mini-me BJCP Styles Chart, and bottle labels (PDF format)

• Get the full BJCP Style Guidelines (PDF format, updated for 2008) .

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).

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!

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!

Our annual picnic is always one of our most anticipated events, and with good reason:  Every year we supply an extraordinary beer selection (check out this year’s amazing beer list!) backed up by a seemingly endless feast of ribs, chili, salsa, and desserts that are whipped up by our amazing members who compete for trophies in hotly contested competitions. (Update: here are the 2008 results.)

Bring the family and your pals from the bowling league, running club, welding class, knitting circle, whatever - all are welcome and nobody ever goes home hungry or thirsty. The food is amazing - better than you’ll get in any restaurant. And the price? FREE to all CBS members and family who bring a food item to share, or $5 (fidollars) if you come empty handed. Nonmembers bringing foodstuffs pay $5; empty-handed nonmembers must pay $10, but what a deal!

So, grab your folding chairs, horseshoes, lawn darts, croquet sets, etc. and enjoy a great afternoon of phenomenal food, beer, and fun. If you’re interested in participating in the rib competition, contact Randy Mosher. If you want to compete for the chili, salsa, or dessert trophies, just bring along your entry and sign up on-site.

Location: LaBagh Woods, Grove 1 in the Cook County Forest Preserve just off the Edens Expressway on Chicago’s North Side (auto entrance on east side of Cicero Avenue, north of Foster). We’re about 1.5 miles from the Jefferson Park stop on the CTA Blue Line, where you can hop a 92 Foster Avenue bus. It’s also not far to the Forest Glen stop on the Metra Milwaukee District North line.

You are cordially invited to the annual celebration of the American Homebrewers Association’s Big Brew Day. Homebrewers all across the country will be brewing batches of beer at the same time, including some of us. There are even some standard recipes (which we rarely follow).

Brewers, if you’re planning on coming, contact Randy Mosher so he can save some room.

Of course, the party is mostly non-brewing participants, thank god, as we’d burn down the neighborhood otherwise. It functions as a warped open house event. Doors will be open from 8 am (brewers earlier by special arrangement). As far as food and drink, this is a pitch-in. We usually have a ploughman’s lunch midday, then get the smoker fired up (usually by Joe Preiser, Pitmaster) and eat a hot meat dinner later. We’ll have a grill available as well as the smoker. Don’t show up empty handed. Beer, meat, sides, snacks, and desserts are all welcome.

We will have a big pile of firewood for the firepit. You might bring a lawn chair with you if you care what you sit on.

Date & Time: May 3, 2008 8 am-until Roger leaves.

Location: Chez Mosher-Cline, at 1604 W. Lunt Ave, Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. (Lunt is 7000 north; that’s 4 blocks from the lake, 2 blocks east of Clark, about a 5 minute walk from the Morse Ave Red Line CTA stop.) 773-973-0240.

While this is not an official Chicago Beer Society event, this is an event that we as the Chicago Beer Society wholeheartedly support. The event is on Saturday the 22nd of March (a bit more than a week away!).

Come out and support our local Rock Bottom brewers! The following is an email from Pete Crowley announcing Rockfest to the Chicago Beer Society’s email list.

Hello all! I wanted to send out a reminder that if you don’t get enough beer this weekend with Stoutfest and St. Pat’s and all, please join me on Saturday the 22nd from 1 to 5, noon for brewers and those other important types like media and such, for the first annual Rockfest benefiting the MDA. We will feature over 30 of the finest beers from Chicago area Rock Bottoms. We will showcase some real ales, barrel-aged beers, winter warmers, I.P.A.s and session beers! It’s only 20 bucks and all the proceeds go to charity. Come on down and see how different us RB’s really are and check out the cool 40 deep trench that the city has dug around our building! Yes, we are still open! Thanks for the support-Pete p.s. tix are only available at area RB’s for purchase on a first come basis. Cheers!

Pete Crowley-Senior Brewer
Rockbottom Chicago
1 W Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60610

Come out and support some great Chicago area beers from some great Chicago area Brewers!

Night of the Living Ales, the region’s largest celebration of cask-conditioned beers, was held on March 1. Twenty breweries from Chicagoland and beyond provided 40 casks of real ale, while over 500 attendees sampled the beers and cast ballots to decide the 2008 Champion Real Ale of Chicagoland. After spirited voting, Surly Brewing’s Tea-bagged Furious (Hoppy) emerged as the champion. Goose Island-Fulton captured second place with its Imperial Stout with Chicory, while Rock Bottom-Orland Park took third with its unusual M&D Peanut Butter Brown. Congratulations to the champions, and thanks to all the breweries for supplying such an outstanding list of beers.

NotLA IV simply could not take place without the support of CBS members and guests. We also owe a great debt to the Siebel Institute of Technology and World Brewing Academy and the Brewers Supply Group for their sponsorship this year; Roth Kase USA for supplying the fabulous cheese for the fourth straight year; above all, we want to thank John Hall and Goose Island Beer Company for their unstinting support for CBS over the last 20 years. Goose Island Wrigleyville has been our gracious host every year. Thanks to Reggie, Minda, Daria, and all their staff for their help.

We realize that this year’s event was much more crowded than it should have been. We’re sorry that we oversold tickets, but can assure everyone that we will substantially limit capacity in future years. We know that this may exclude some of you, but this will definitely provide a more comfortable environment and a better experience for all who attend.

Here’s the full list of breweries and their beers:

Goose Island Brewpub - Clybourn Avenue
1. Debbie’s Special Bitter
2. Pub Stout

Goose Island Brewery - Fulton Street
3. Matilda w/Juniper Berries & Branch Tips (pre-brett)
4. Honker’s Ale (dry-hopped)
5. Matilda w/Lime & Orange Peels (pre-brett)
6. Imperial Stout w/Chicory (Bourbon County pre-barrel)

Piece Brewery & Pizzeria
7. Big Black Moriah Smoked Porter
8. Mooseknuckle Barleywine

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery - Chicago
9. Blitzen Belgian Strong Golden
10. Siegle d’Houblon de Moineau Belgian Rye-P-A
11. Who Are You Wit?

America’s Brewing Co - Aurora
12. Rex Grossman’s Big Play Barleywine
13. Kyle Orton’s Statistically Strong Scotch Ale

Brass Restaurant & Brewery - Lake Barrington
14. Anticipation Pale Ale

Emmett’s Tavern & Brewing Co - West Dundee, Palatine, Downers Grove, Oswego
15. McCarthy Red Ale

Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery - Flossmoor
16. Bitter Harvest American Pale Ale
17. Milky Way Stout
18. X-IPA

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant - Bolingbrook
19. Schwarzbier

Govnor’s Public House - Lake in the Hills
20. Randall Road IPA (dry-hopped)

Lunar Brewing - Villa Park
21. Kind Ale IPA
22. Orion’s Oatmeal Pale

Mickey Finn’s Brewery - Libertyville
23. Rye Stout
24. Irish Red Ale

M.T. Barrels - West Dundee
25. HopHead Heaven IPA

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery - Orland Park
26. King of Hearts Imperial Red
27. M&D Peanut Butter Brown
28. Naughty Scot
29. Hopbomb IPA

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery - Warrenville
30. Belgial Dubbel
31. English IPA

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery - Yorktown
32. Valentines’ Double IPA
33. 630 Suburban Wheat
34. McCoy’s Pomegranate Stout

Two Brothers Brewing Co. & Taphouse - warrenville
35. Cane & Ebel

Lagunitas Brewing - Petaluma, CA
36. Old Gnarlywine

Three Floyds Brewing - Munster, IN
37. Decimator Doppelbock
38. Blackheart English IPA

Surly Brewing - Brooklyn Center, MN
39. Oak-aged Bender (Malty)
40. Tea-bagged Furious (Hoppy)

The Tenth Annual Brewpub Shootout is over!

There were 15 Chicago area Brewpubs invited and they served beer paired with a dish of food for more than three hundred CBS members. The awards for the CBS Brewpub Shootout are awarded based on popular vote from those members that attended the event. There are awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Favorite Beer, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Favorite Food Dish and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Favorite Overall Beer and Food Pairing.

The attendees vote and submit their ballots before the event is over and the votes are counted and awards are presented near the end of the event.

The Awards Follow:

Beer
1. Kind Ale IPA - Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery
2. Hvedegoop Wheat Wine - Three Floyds Brewing Co.
3. American Barleywine - Rock Bottom Yorktown

Food
1. Emmett’s Tavern and Brewing Company - Grilled Duck Breast with a Blackcurrant Glaze, Jasmine Rice Cake and Braised Leeks.
2. Rock Bottom - Crispy Prosciutto wrapped Shrimp atop Barley Encrusted Beef Tenderloin with Blood Orange-infused Wort Glace.
3. Gordon Biersch - New Orleans Style Marzen Barbeque Shrimp on French Bread

Pairing
1. Rock Bottom - Crispy Prosciutto wrapped Shrimp atop Barley Encrusted Beef Tenderloin with Blood Orange-infused Wort Glace. Paired with American Barleywine (Yorktown).
2. Goose Island Brew Pub - Braised Beef Oxtail served on a Crustini with Bone Marrow Demi Glace. Paired with aged La Deuxieme Beligian Dubbel.
3. Emmett’s Tavern and Brewing Company- Grilled Duck Breast with a Blackcurrant Glaze, Jasmine Rice Cake and Braised Leeks. Paired with Destitute Dick’s Colonial Ale

As always, this was a superb event (and the tenth anniversary!). We wish to thank all of the Brewpubs, Brewers, Chefs and their Assistants for coming out to support this event. We also wish to thank our great members and we hope you had as much fun as we did!

For the fourth consecutive year, CBS will be sponsoring the region’s largest celebration of cask-conditioned ales, Night of the Living Ales. This event will feature around 40 casks of real ale from Chicagoland breweries and some very special guests. As always, this promises to be a big firkin deal for area real ale enthusiasts. Attendees will be able to sample the beers and then select the 2008 Champion Real Ale of Chicagoland. Past champions have been Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, Flossmoor Station X-IPA, and Three Floyds Admiral Lord Nelson. Who will win in 2008? It’s up to you!

NotLA IV will be held at Goose Island Wrigleyville, 3535 N Clark St, Chicago, from 6-10 pm (9:45 last call). Tickets are $35 for members, $40 nonmembers, purchased in advance. Admission includes a tasting glass, beer samples, and appetizers (artisanal meats and cheeses; Goose Island grub). You must be 21 or older to be admitted. As of February 17 we are now completely sold out. Thanks once again to all our members and guests for your continuing support of this event. Extra thanks to the Siebel Institute of Technology and World Brewing Academy and the Brewers Supply Group for their sponsorship this year.

As always, we recommend that you take public transportation or arrange for a designated driver. Goose Island Wrigleyville is located approximately 2 blocks west of the CTA Red Line Addison station (one-half block south of Wrigley Field). The CTA 22 Clark bus runs past the front door all night; taxis are also an easy option.