The Chicago Beer Society held its 14th annual Chicagoland Brewpub and Microbrewery Shootout last weekend. The contest was a judging not only of craft beers from our area, but of foods entered along with the beers. Brewpub beers were matched with a dish from their own chefs, while packaging brewers matched up with a participating restaurant.
The winning beers:
- Goose Island Beer Company (Fulton Street) for Juliet, their Belgian sour ale aged on blackberries in cabernet barrels.
- Revolution Brewing Company: Cherry Black Power stout, aged in Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrels.
- Three Floyds Brewing Company: Barrel-aged Black Sun Stout
Winning food entries:
- Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery: Bonito potato with ancho peppers topped with pork tenderloin, balsamic caramelized onions, and Pullman Reserve demi glaze mojo.
- Three Floyds: Lamb Bacon
- The Lucky Monk Burger, Pizza, and Beer Company: Skirt steak taco, Guera style.
Winning beer and food pairings:
- Revolution Brewing Company: Cherry Black Power paired with The Cherry Pop: Cherry vanilla ice cream, dipped in malt chocolate and covered with candied almonds.
- Flossmoor Station: Barrel-aged Pullman Brown Reserve paired with Bonito potato.
- Three Floyds: B.A. Sun Stout paired with Lamb Bacon.
Fifteen Chicago area brewers competed in the Shootout, held for the first time at the Zhou B Art Center in Bridgeport. Three entrants were first-timers: Limestone Brewing Company, Finch’s Beer Company (paired with City Provisions), and Goose Island Fulton brewery, competing against their Clybourn Ave. brewpub, and paired with Urban Belly. All entries and their beer/food pairings can be found on the event's program, in PDF form.
The next event for CBS is a big one: the Day of the Living Ales. It’s their 8th annual celebration of real ales, to be held Saturday, March 3 at Goose Island Wrigleyville, 3535 N Clark St. Attendees will be able sample from about 40 real ales served from gravity fed casks, tended by the society’s own expert cellarmen. Brewers from across the country have sent their best casks here to the chance to be named "Champion Real Ale of Chicagoland." Tickets are $40 for CBS members, $45 for non-members, and allow entry at one of two sessions: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. Tickets can be ordered by printing out the form at chibeer.org's event page. Or watch chibeer.org for an announcement of when non-member tickets will be available at BrownPaperTickets.
I'm saying this now. It will sell out.
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