In my capacity as the Reader‘s music editor, I’ve gotten to know Jamie Proctor, director of marketing and digital media at Thrill Jockey Records. Last week I learned that Proctor is a member of a local home-brewing collective called CHAOS Brew Club, and has been since fall 2011 (“CHAOS” allegedly stands for “Chicago Homebrew Alchemists of Suds,” but I suspect a backronym). How did this come up? Aware of my propensity to write about beer in public, he invited me to the CHAOS Summer Brew-BQ this past Saturday—the club’s final event at its current location behind 1329 W. Grand Avenue. The lot has been sold, and the building CHAOS uses is due to be demolished.
CHAOS members poured more than 26 of their own beers at the Brew-BQ (as well as commercial beers donated by Aleman, Atlas, Haymarket, Spiteful, and Beverly brewpub Horse Thief Hollow). Burnin’ BBQ—aka Rabid Rabbit drummer Mike Tsoulos (also of Brimstone BBQ) and pastry chef Rae Hill—carved and served nearly 100 pounds of smoked brisket and pork shoulder, plus some nicely spicy coleslaw and alarmingly bacony barbecue beans. It was a private club event, but civilians could register for a $25 two-month trial CHAOS membership to attend.