People keep declaring that bacon is over as a trend, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary. BaconFest Chicago expanded to three sold-out sessions this year (its seventh), selling 4,500 tickets. And the Bacon and Beer Classic, a national event that launched last year, came to Chicago for the first time this past Saturday with two sessions at Soldier Field: one in the afternoon and one in the evening. I don’t know if the tickets sold out, but the length of the lines for food at the afternoon session were a testament to the popularity of the event (or maybe to the fact that there were a lot more places serving beer than food).
Back to the pilsners and lagers: I’ve stopped expecting much from Goose Island’s mass-marketed beers, so I was surprised at how much I liked their new Four Star pilsner, which had a little more malt and hops than I’d expect for such a light style of beer, as well as an unexpected hint of walnut. Around the Bend, on the other hand, has been impressing me for at least a year with their Silk Road pale ale with galangal—which wasn’t in my judging category, but their Kölsch, Ghost of ‘Lectricity, was. It’s not the first time I’ve tried the beer, but it is the first time I’ve had a chance to take a few minutes really appreciate its mild citrusy, wheaty flavors and barely bitter finish; it’s an easy-drinking beer with a flavor that slowly develops over time.
Best Overall: Public House Bacon Chili Mac & Cheese
