Chicago Craft Beer Week

Everyone quit yer bitchin' and look at this tap list for the GI Block Party:

312 Urban Wheat Ale
Honkers Ale
IPA
Matilda
Green Line
Summertime
25th Anniversary Ale
Sofie
Dark Traveler
Gran Gas
Golden Goddess
25th Anniversary Ale
Bourbon County Stout Buffalo Trace
Bourbon County Stout Tempelton
Bourbon County Stout Speyside
Bourbon County Stout Coffee Brazil
Bourbon County Stout Coffee Columbia
Bourbon County Stout Coffee Kenya
Sofie Paradisi
Bourbon County Stout Napa
Boring
Sour Pere Jacques
Scully
Dominique
Bourbon County Stout Rare

 

No pepe nero? I'm out.

 

But but but but 312!!!!!!

 

Anyone know what is included for the $25 ticket? Are samples included or is the ticket just to get into the party?

 

From their event listing:

Which... doesn't really shed that much light, now that I think about it. I'm assuming you'll get some number of drink tickets with an opportunity to buy more.

 

yeah its a big vague but I'd guess you're on the right track... would certainly be nice if they clarified things though....

 

Found a response on FB...

Goose Island Beer Co.The $25 includes drink tickets, but not food. You will have the opportunity to buy more tickets if you need them.

 

Everything you describe is true of this event. The beers are mostly local, Goat and Lil' goat regularly sell regional craft on tap and bottles, the brewers will be there celebrating with fans of their products.

And Goat is working just as hard to put this event together.

An opinion based on a total lack of knowledge of what it costs them to put on an event like this.
It isn't just Izzard, but another world class chef driving up from St. Louis. They are personally preparing a lot of of high cost food (just the wholesale cost of heritage pig and lamb will likely cost them a couple thousand). These chefs are in high demand and could be easily making a bigger profit margin with the time they are giving to this. Also, being able to have it on the rooftop and ensure no hassles and waits for attendees means limited it to under 50 people which raises the per person cost the them. I don't go to many high priced beer dinners, but I know enough about them and about Goat and the folks involved to think there is not a huge margin in this price.

More reverse snobbery. Apparently the event is unworthy because the chef has to much prestige. I do not think "it's fine" because she has an award, I think it's fine because of why she got it, because she is a world class chef and she and another great chef will put together as good a spread as anyone will eat in the city in the month of May. It's worth it to me for the same reason that craft beer is worth more than non-craft beer.

Again, you know nothing about what this is costing them or what their margins are on it. And make no mistake, every bar and brewpub you visit that will make a healthy profit off of you on all the beers and food you buy, including those $4 specials, most of which are beers that cost them $1.00-$2.00 wholesale (fyi: they are not "pints" but "servings" which in many cases mean a 12 pour).

Trust me, that $175 is about 1/4th of what I'll spend elsewhere during CCBW. I can do both because I save my nickels elsewhere by not not having a smartphone, shopping at Kohl's and Target, etc. Do you have a smartphone? Well if you do that's about $1000 per year you give to bottom line non beer advocating corporations that I give to my local pub. Would that make you not a "true" beer advocate?

 

The Izard event is fairly common in the food world. Izard herself has been doing these types of events for years and subsisited solely on "pop-ups" between the time she won Top Chef and when she eventually opened G&G. But it's not just her, as virtually every celebrity chef does these meet-and-greet type events to a certain extent. Shit, look at Bourdain (whom I am sure many people on this site also gush over). That fucker is touring the country and he doesn't even bother with providing you any actual food.
Clearly the beer world isn't familiar with these types of events, but I suspect they will become more and more common place, especially as beer geeks increasingly idolize the brewers of their favorite beers.

As for advocacy, you must be fucking joking. These are businesses. There job is to sell you beer, or food, or branded T-shirts/hats/snifters or whatever they're selling. CCBW is not advocacy. It's marketing. (and, btw, that is not a criticism.)

 

Anybody know what happened to the Perennial event at Fischman on Saturday May 18th? I don't see it on the CCBW website anymore, so I"m going to go ahead and assume it's dead. I'm thinking I'll check out the Solemn Oath/Lost Abbey tap extravaganza instead that evening. Might hit the Whole Foods/Goose Island event that afternoon or Firestone Walker at Haymarket. Definitely lunching at Revolution first, and I have to hit HalfAcre taproom at some point that day.

 

So I know CCBW is primarily focused in the city, but it does also include the suburbs. After reviewing the list of events I'm appalled that there is no representation from the northern burbs. Just moved here from Logan and its proving disappointing from a beer perspective. From what little I know, there are some decent beer bars up here, although I have yet to visit, but could none of them actually be participating? Hey north suburban bars: get your shit together and set up some CCBW events ASAP. There's still time.

 

Does anyone know if like last year there are going to be lanyards with maps that the bars will place a sticker when you have attended the event there?

 

I think that they've gone digital this year. They have an app.

http://chibeerweek.com/apps/

 

Yea had downloaded that was just curious about the other though it was a cool souvenir last year to keep afterwards. Thanks again for the response!

 

Firkin is having some tap takeovers. http://firkinrestaurantlibertyville.com/events.pdf

 

I'm not sure I 100% agree with this - but still thought it was an incredible statement.

The ticketed events seem to be in overload this year with BUG, HA 5th, GI Block Party, West Loop closing party, etc. The beer dinners at Little Goat, Fountainhead (why aren't more people talking about Cleetus?) and Longman & Eagle do offer a nice change of pace I feel (regardless of what we all think of the price).

Still I don't know what the hell the "theme" of this year is. It says neighborhoods, but what do we even get by exploring different places? Seems like this year it's all about throwing as many events as possible, as many ticketed parties, as many "meet & greet" tap takeovers (let's not idolize they brewers or anything) as possible. I just don't get what it's all about.

2 years ago with the bottle caps it gave me a reason to go into the bars. With the maps, last year, that was incredible as I explored different bars and areas I never would have. This year we have an app with "prizes" that are TBD.

This starts next week so when they announce you get a t-shirt, or a pint glass or maybe even a bottle opener with 50 points I'll probably just shrug my shoulders and move on.

Last year was nice as the maybe 100-200 people that completed the map challenge and went to Revolution got in with the VIP's for free, tried rarer beers and had free food. They need to do something for the uber geeks to get them to participate more and spell out those rewards instead of the TBD vague prizes which I'm already setting my expectations for exceedingly low.

I sure I'm just complaining about "wanting" more as look at every amazing thing that already happening over those 10 days. And you're right - but I feel they could improve on making this more than just trying beers with Laffler at Northdown, or doing a 6 course dinner with Solemn Oath for $100.

 

Agreed 100%. This was fun.

 

I couldn't agree more. I've already dropped $225 on just events (including $75 on the GI Beer in Film night at the Vic that they just cancelled). Unfortunately it seems like this year's theme is expensive ticketed events. Also, too many events....I can't process the 600 things they have going on for the week. It's a lot harder to isolate the best events this year because of the sheer volume of them.

Last year was awesome. Because of the maps/sticker system I visited at least 8 bars in 5 different neighborhoods that I'd never been to. There were like 12 events per day instead of 50, and it was a great way to get people to step outside of their comfort zone and hit up other neighborhoods all over the city that have great craft beer. Definitely last year's theme was "neighborhoods". I was one of those that completed the map last year, and it was awesome to get VIP entrance to the Revolution party. Free food and unlimited pours of BCBVS and BB Hi-Fi Rye before the event even started!

I'm starting to think more and more that this year's theme is marketing and greed.

 

Switching back to positivity in this thread I am really psyched about The Logan Theatre event. It is an awesome theatre! Plus being able to drink Sofie Paradisi and the 25th anniversary ale are just added bonuses.

 

My intrigue is growing for the Solemn Oath/Lost Abbey tap takeover on Saturday May 18. I went from mildly interested to thinking that I really better get over there. I didn't know they each even had that many beers to have on draft at 16 each.