Chicago area craft beer calendar, November 2-7

November 1, 11:37 PMChicago Craft Beer ExaminerMark McDermott

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Monday, November 2, 2009

6:30 – 10:00 p.m.
World's Tallest Tailgate

Mid-America Club, Aon Center, 200 E Randolph Chicago, IL 60601

Are you ready for some Football? How about some 312! The World's Tallest Tailgate at the Mid-America Club will feature the Monday Night Football Game on two large screens with viewing bleachers, bars, Vienna Beef Hot Dogs, Diamond Vodka Sampling, a Goose Island Matilda Sampling, Margaritas, and much more. The 312 Tailgate area will feature 312 on draft and 312 bag sets for football fans to play. All of this while experiencing 360 degree views of the city from atop the Aon Center Building. Tickets are only $35 and will help benefit three different charities, including Immerman Angels!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

8:00 – 11:30 p.m.
Black Magic IPA Tapping!

Flossmoor Station, 1035 Sterling Ave., Flossmoor, IL (708) 957-BREW

This newest IPA is a twist on the style purely for the sake of being different. The Black Magic IPA, as the name implies, is going to have the look of a stout and the taste of a regular IPA. It will be dry-hopped with Chinook only yielding a piney, resinous, and lingering bitterness.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

7:00 p.m.
Surly Darkness 2009 Release Party

Sheffield's Chicago, 3258 N. Sheffield Avenue Chicago (773) 281-4989

Join Beer School Bar and Surly Owner/Founder Omar Ansari as we release this year's Darkness, a massive Russian imperial stout that brings a wave of flavors - chocolate, cherries, raisins, coffee, and toffee. A touch of hops makes this delicious brew even tastier.

5:30 – 10:00 p.m.
Hoop Dreams Anniversary Celebration

Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St. Chicago, IL 60601

Benefits the Kartemquin Film Documentary Development Fund, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the film "Hoop Dreams." Will feature drinks and appetizers including Goose Island's Harvest Ale and Matilda Belgian-Inspired Pale Ale.

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Kiki's Bistro Tasting

Kiki's Bistro, 900 N. Franklin St. Chicago, IL 60610 (312) 335-5454

$15 per person.
Flex your mussels and your tastebuds with homemade mayonnaise & Pommes Frites and Mussels steamed in beer and a sampling of "Sofie" and "Matilda," two microbrewed Goose Island Belgian beers. $15.00 per person. Meet Scott Moyers, Senior Brewery representative from Goose Island, who will discuss beer pairing and samplings.
KIKI’S BISTRO is one of Chicago’s most revered French Restaurants; owner and founder Georges “KIKI” Cuisance is celebrating 40 years in the restaurant business. Kiki’s Bistro is also celebrating almost 20 years in the River North neighborhood at 900 N Franklin, just blocks from Michigan Avenue and conveniently located next to the Chicago Brown Line stop. Complimentary parking is available. To make a reservation or to obtain further information please call 312-335-KIKI (5454) or visit Kiki's website.  For information: Jane Canepa/Rowena Mackay The Eventors 312 217-5263 eventors@aol.com

5:30 – 9:30 p.m.
State and Lake Chicago @ The Wit Hotel Beer Dinner

State and Lake Chicago Restaurant @ the Wit Hotel, 201 N. State St.,Chicago  312-239-9400

Cost: $59 per Person. A Beer and dinner pairing featuring Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat, Sofie, Matilda, Pere Jacques and Bourbon County Stout.

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
American Craft Beer Tasting

Binny's, 3121 Thatcher, River Grove, IL (708) 456-7400

Taste 24 American Craft Beers from top brewers.
The tentative beer list includes Allagash Fluxus, Bell's Best Brown Ale and Third Coast Ale, Big Sky Moose Drool and Slow Elk, Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA, Founders Breakfast Stout, Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, Laguintas Sonoma Farmhouse Hop Stoopid, Laguintas Maximus IPA, Lost Abbey 10 Commandments, New Belgium La Folie, New Holland Mad Hatter and The Poet, Sierra Nevada Torpedo, SKA Buster Nut Brown Ale, Euphoria Pale Ale and Modus Hoperandi; Three Floyds Alpha King and Dreadnaught, Two Brothers Cane & Ebel and Heavy Handed, Tyranena Rocky’s Revenge, Victory Hop Wallop and Storm King.
Free with Binny's Card. Call 708-456-7400 for more information.

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
New Belgium Beer Dinner

HopLeaf, 548 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL

New Belgium's Lauren & Erik Salazar attend a five-course meal designed by Chef Ben Sheagren Reception at 6:30, Dinner at 7 p.m.
$75 Reservations: Louise@hopleaf.com (include "New Belgium" in the subject line)

Thursday, November 5, 2009

8:00 p.m.
New Holland's founder at Small Bar

Small Bar Division, 2049 W. Division St., Chicago (773) 772-2727

Meet New Holland's Founder, Brewer and Master Distiller Brett Vanderkamp in a special evening of beer and spirits at Small Bar Division. Some very special beers will be tapped, most of which are never in Chicago:
On Draft: Existential Hop Wine, Brother Jacob Dubbel, Oaked aged Mad Hatter and a firkin of Mad Hatter. The firkin will be tapped at 8.
In Bottles: Golden Cap, Dragon's Milk, Blue Sunday (the rare sour). Small Bar will also be whipping up some classic cocktails with the Newly Released Knickerbocker Gin, Brett's special recipe from New Holland Artisan Spirits.

9:00 - 10p.m.
Goose Island Reserve Beer Dinner

Durty Nellies West Irish Pub, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine, IL (847) 358-9150

$60
Goose Island and Durty Nellie's Chef Chris will prepare a four-course Holiday Feast fit for a Kingand a Queen. Call Nicole for more details. Reservations: (847) 358-9150.

Friday November 6, 2009

A ‘Pre-Festival’ of Barrel Aged Beers

Sheffield's Chicago, 3258 N. Sheffield Avenue, Chicago (773) 281-4989

Can’t wait for the Festival of Barrel-Aged Beer? Come and get your Wood on early at Sheffield's Beer School Bar. They will be tapping a bunch of wood or barrel aged beers. From sours to stouts, come and see what Wood can do for you. In addition, Goose Island will be doing a Vertical tasting of 06’, 07’,08’, & 09’ Bourbon County Stout at 9 p.m.. Bourbon County is a imperial stout that is as dark and dense as a black hole with thick head the color of the bourbon barrels it was aged in. The nose has an intense mix of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoke.

7:00 p.m.
Bell's Rye Stout Tapping

Brixie's, 9526 W Ogden Brookfield, IL (708) 387-0050

A different rare beer is being tapped every Friday evening in celebration of Brixie's
75th Anniversary.

Saturday,  November 7, 2009

11:00 a.m. - 5p.m.
Brew & Grow AHA "Teach A Frend to Homebrew" Event

Brew & Grow, 1824 N. Besly Ct., Chicago - (773) 395-1500

During this American Homebrewers Association event, we will be talking beer, sampling beer and brewing beer. Beginners, experienced home brewers and anyone interested in trying their hand at the hobby are welcome to attend. We will have a firepit to keep people warm plus Brew and Grow associates will be available to answer any questions regarding the hobby.

1:00 - 10:00 p.m.
7th Annual Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer

Chicago Journeyman Plumbers' Local Union 130 Stephen M. Bailey Auditorium, 1340 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL

2 Sessions: 1-5 p.m., 6-10 p.m.

Advance Tickets: $35 (Admission includes souvenir tasting glass, program and 12 sample tickets) The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild invites you to the Seventh Annual Festival of Wood and Barrel-aged Beer, spotlighting beer that has been aged in a wooden barrel or in contact with wood. Enjoy a sampling from our selection of beers, which may or may not be available commercially from breweries Coast-to-Coast. You will be treated to a vast array of exotic flavors from some of the rarest beers you will ever find! Long before the advent of stainless steel, the use of wooden barrels imparted many unique characteristics to beer. In many ways, the U. S. craft brewer has come full circle, returning to the roots of brewing while demonstrating a creativity unmatched anywhere in the World! Enjoy beers aged in new or used wine, whiskey or Bourbon barrels that take on many of the characteristics of that libation. Brewers of traditional or not-so-traditional Belgian-inspired beers often prefer used barrels so different resident microorganisms will impart a refreshing tart and acidic character. Fruit, spices, coffee and syrup may compliment the already complex character of wood-aged beers. - www.illinoisbeer.com

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Half Acre Charitable Chili-Cook Off

The Arts of Life, 2010 W. Carroll, Chicago.

Join Half Acre Brewery, The Chicagoist, and Nice Cream for an evening of great homemade chili, local beer, and handpacked ice cream! A team of judges that includes executive chefs from Rodan and Bite Cafe will award the winner a spotlighted feature of their chili in popular blog The Chicagoist!  There will also be People’s Choice awards to win pieces inspired by Southwestern themes made by Arts of Life artists!
Entries for the chili cook off should have at least a crock pot of chili.  We’ll provide the space and outlets to keep it warm, while you supply the chili in the ways you want to serve it. Team entries are $20 while sponsorship opportunities for businesses and nonprofits are available too.  All donations are tax deductible.  Want more information?  Contact the organizers here! $10 at the door – all participants get as much chili, Half Acre beer, and Nice Cream Fall Flavors handpacked ice cream that they can handle (while supplies last, of course!)

November 14, 6:30 - 11:00 p.m.
33rd Annual Chicago Beer Society Fall Tasting and Dinner

Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro, 3906 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL

$55 ($45 CBS Members) - Reservations Due November 7. Information at chibeer.org