Abv Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

In our second of our quarterly “random hoppy things” episodes wherein we gather notable hop-driven drinks from local breweries, we have a murderers’ row lineup to lead us into the warmer months - and we even include one non-beer. The high quality of the beverages leads to steadily sloppier discussions of Craig’s first Magic: The Gathering tournament, Ryan’s transition into erotic craft beer fiction novelist, our desire for unique taproom experiences, and the assembly of a Hop Conclave to give these experimental varieties an identity. It’s girthy - yet grippable, so grab an earful of this.   Beers Reviewed Hop Butcher for the World - Tropical Hop Water for the World (Sparkling Hop Water) Werk Force Brewing - Formerly Light (Session IPA) Suncatcher Brewing - MI Pale Ale (American Pale Ale) Mikerphone Brewing & Saint Errant Brewing - Pale Pauper 2025 (American Pale Ale) Half Acre Beer Company & Firestone Walker Brewing - Daisy Cutter Union (West Coast IPA)  

In our continuing quest to find the best legacy IPA (that also happens to be widely available), we blindly taste and rate a set of five here that represent four from the West Coast and one extremely familiar local. Are we grading more harshly on this episode than last? And what blind surprise catches us the most off guard? All this will be answered, along with how we can more effectively lie about having seen movies, and why Craig’s Mosaic blindness is going to flip the whole episode on its head.  Beers Reviewed Blindly Sierra Nevada Brewing - Torpedo Extra IPA Revolution Brewing - Anti-Hero IPA Lagunitas Brewing - IPA Deschutes Brewing - Fresh-Squeezed IPA Firestone Walker Brewing - Union Jack IPA  

It’s been over a month since we last drank barrel-aged beers, so to reward our tremendous restraint we’re throwing another MoBAB: a show that features more barrel-aged beers! In an unofficial “halfway to FoBAB” show, we sample four pretty distinctive styles and one collaboration pair built for blending. But also, we’re speculating about the injection boutique, translating for velociraptors, struggling to understand some fruits, and establishing an elite safe word. Come and experience The Joy of MoBAB. Beers Reviewed Off Color Brewing - Pomegranate Fox (Foedre-fermented wild ale double barrel aged in imperial stout barrels refermented w/ pomegranate) Milieu Fermentation - Bruce (Double barrel-aged Scotch ale) Goose Island Beer Co. - Cordial Rye (Rye stout aged in red wine barrels w/ cherries, boysenberries, cocoa nibs, and black currants) Old Irving Brewing Co. - Cordial Rye (Willett Bourbon Barrel-Aged Rye Wine Ale with blackberries)  

Who says you need a lot of alcohol to have fun? Well, a lot of people, I’m sure. But this show sets out to prove beers that are under 4% alcohol by volume (ABV) can be surprisingly flavorful and ultimately satisfying. This “IPA sandwich” lineup is met with enthusiasm and a tighter grasp on sobriety than usual. Also, we really date the heck out of this show (recorded May 7th, 2025) by spending time discussing the Conclave Hot Stove before we knew the identity of the New Pope. Also, Craig needs a Trapper Keeper, Ryan admires a girthy grip, and we successfully predict the coming of Chicago Pope.  Beers Reviewed  Sundial Brewing & Blending - Tin Life (Table beer dry-hopped w/ Anchovy hops) - 3.5% ABV Noon Whistle Brewing & Go Brewing - Step Brewers (Low Gravity IPA) - 3% ABV Blind Corner Brewery - Sub4 Hazy IPA - 3.7% ABV Riverland Brewing Company & G5 Brewing Company & Lallemand Brewing - Below the Deck (Hazy Session IPA) - 3.8% ABV Suncatcher Brewing - Golden Ale - 3.5% ABV  

In our second exploration of Czech styles made locally, we sample five Czech Dark Lagers - a style that has slowly grown into a dependable stand-by for many brewers. We get into what makes a beer like this that perfect balance of dark malt and clean lager drinkability while drinking more of these than we probably should. Also, we contemplate if we’re too old for concerts being marketed directly at us, we fail to fully ban bad puns, we hit up the Hop-O-Rama, and there’s a reason they never made an aroma box for virtual meetings.  Beers Reviewed Samson (Budějovický měšťanský pivovar) - 1795 Original Czech Lager Dark Art History Brewing - Varitace Pollyanna Brewing - Czech Dark Lager Maplewood Brewing - In Dark Trees Roaring Table Brewing - Accordance   

With this episode, we kick off our new ongoing blind tasting series with a focus on the IPAs that made craft beer what it is today. Periodically over the next few months, we’ll be gathering up five IPAs that represent well-known, influential, or otherwise significant IPAs from all over, looking to find our pick for the overall best using a much more professional and organized scoring system than usual. This first one has a bit of an, uh, “unintentional reboot” feel to it - but the results truly rock us to our cores. But also, we have a surprising number of sandwich topics, Craig seeks the throne of the Grandmaster Cicerone, and we’re both completely shocked by the absence of Citra. Beers Reviewed Blindly (in order of appearance) Cigar City Brewing - Jai Alai Maine Beer Co. - Lunch Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - 60 Minute IPA Bell’s Brewing - Two Hearted IPA Surly Brewing - Furious IPA  

The lighter beers produced in the Czech Republic have inspired a bevy of lighter lagers stateside, so we get as Bohemian as we can with five different beers - four from the Chicagoland area. We brush up on our definitions of Czech pilsners and Czech pale lagers while finding some surprising local examples. Plus, we’re getting sucked into game ads due to some hazy bait, we make a pitch to fund our snack drone, and Craig may have killed off Cronch. We’ll cover your Czech - if you agree to Czech this one out. Beers Reviewed Budějovický Budvar - Czechvar Original (Czech Pilsner) Seldom Beer Co. - Belobog (Czech-Style Pale Lager) Hopewell Brewing Co. - Tankbeer (Czech-Style Pale Lager) Off Color Brewing - Tooth & Claw (Czech-Style Pale Lager) Half Day Brewing Co. - Lincolnshire Lager (Czech-Style Pilsner)  

For as long as we’ve been reviewing beers, Craig has struggled with perceiving the Mosaic hop’s aroma and flavors to the point that we’ve diagnosed him with the first-ever case of Mosaic Blindness. So Ryan set out to cure (or torment) his friend by tracking down five all-Mosaic beers to learn what makes this complex hop just so dang elusive for Craig. Also, Ryan’s got a game for eagle-eared radio listeners in new cities; Craig’s excited he finally got accepted into MIT; and we think we should’ve incorporated a dry-hopped Neti pot in all this.  Beers Reviewed Werk Force Brewing Company - Reverb (Hazy IPA) Scorched Earth Brewing Co. - Sloppy Kisser (IPA) Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. - Sosus (Double IPA) Mikerphone Brewing - Super Special Sauce (New England-style Double IPA) Penrose Brewing Company & Riverlands Brewing Company - Anniversary Boots (Hazy Double IPA)  

During his recent trip to the Land of 10,000 Lagers™, Ryan snagged five Minneapolis-made clean and crispy beers from five different breweries to extend our lager love further north than ever before. We learn about some of these great (and medal-winning) Minneapolis spots in our lager quest, and there’s a little more interesting equipment employed than usual for this one. Also, we find ourselves on a surprising (and disturbing) podcast ranking list, Ryan’s ready to serve some time in the Ale Jail, we get an 8 year-old’s burger rankings, and Craig is dead serious about bringing back that pizza beer.  Beers Reviewed Modist Brewing Co. - Supra Deluxe (Japanese-style Rice Lager) Arbeiter Brewing Company - HaHa Pils (German-style Pilsner) Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery - Dortmunder Local Export Lager Wild Mind Ales (w/ Pizzeria Lola) - Keeper of the Flame (Copper Oven Helles Lager) Utepils Brewing - Springbok (Heller Bock)  

We’re taking another style deep dive ABV-style with the pride of Munich: the Helles Lager. We try a German classic before exploring four local interpretations of the unfussy easy-drinking style, but as always, it’s the variations that make it interesting. Also, Ryan is in desperate need of some Inception Pants, Craig won’t even stand up for fewer than three decoctions, and we reminisce about cool record stores. And remember: puns don’t provide pants. Beers Reviewed Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan - Weihenstephaner Helles Dovetail Brewery - Helles Kinslahger Brewing Company - Val’s Helles Church Street Brewing Company - Heavenly Helles Werk Force Brewing Company - Hellerino  

Adding non-essential components to a brew - ingredients sometimes referred to as adjuncts - can evoke strong dessert flavors and even a heavy dose of nostalgia. But does adding more and more adjuncts actually make a beer better? We test it out on this episode by drinking four barrel-aged stouts, with each successive beer adding one more flavor component over the previous. Premise! Also, Craig needs to know if he embarrassed himself in front of MJ Lenderman, we’re recovering from a stacked week of March celebrations, and we go further with mint than we ever thought possible.  Beers Reviewed Cruz Blanca Brewery - Rey Cuvée Vanilla 2024 (Blend of barrel-aged imperial stouts w/ vanilla) Flipside Brewing - BA Decision Fatigue: Vanilla & Chocolate (Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with chocolate and vanilla) Goose Island Beer Co. - Shamrock Stout (Bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout w/ cocoa nibs, vanilla, and peppermint) Werk Force Brewing - Mint Chocolate Chip Sleepy Bear 2024 (Bourbon barrel-aged imperi

A decade ago, if a beer spent a few months in a single bourbon barrel, its release would cause fanfare amongst craft beer obsessives. These days, beers are blended from an increasing number of different barrels for extended periods of time, so we decided to sample beers that represent an increasing number of different barrels to see if more barrels actually means better results. To help us better understand the barrel side of the beer world, we talk to Ethan Schulenberg of Midwest Barrel Company, who provides a variety of barrels for a large number of American craft brewers. He explains the role of a “barrel broker” and how he helps brewers find the right vessel for aging, among many other topics. Also, Craig shouts out Revolution’s clever event planning, we challenge our highest ABV beer record, and one of us is slowing turning into E.T. by the end. Ethan Schulenberg Interview  (00:06:49 - 00:45:26) Beers Reviewed Flipside Brewing - Barrel-Aged Decision Fatigue (Imperial Stout aged in Weller 12 barrels) Mike

Whether you’re preparing for a fast or a feast, Doppelbocks are the German-born strong lagers you need if “liquid bread” is what you seek. We explore this style with one German version and four from Chicagoland to fine tune our expectations and enhance our overall appreciation of this malty wonder. Also, Craig gives sound advice to help Ryan navigate his children’s interest in the White Sox; we alternate between goats and dragons; and we take a mouthfeel ride down the lazy river (of flavor).  Beers Reviewed Ayinger Privatbrauerei - Celebrator Goldfinger Brewing - Zlotonator  Sketchbook Brewing - Illustrator Scorched Earth Brewing Co. - Doppelbock Seldom Beer Co./Miskatonic Brewing - Jabberbocky  

It’s been about two years since we last checked in with one of our favorite small breweries in America, and this lineup of five from Lafayette, Colorado’s Cellar West is a real flavor ride. We talk about the medal-winning beers sent courtesy of founder Zach Nichols while trying to narrow down which we’d most like off of their cask engine. Also, Ryan’s developing a habit of rubbing beers on himself, Craig is mystified by mustache twins, and we make some initial nominations for the ABV Chicago Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Craft Beer Excellence awards.  Beers Reviewed Tawny Otter (English Pub Ale) Farmhouse Saison Single Hop Saison: Cashmere Spinechiller 2024: Bourbon and Scotch Barrels (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon and scotch barrels) Spinechiller 2024: Orange, Vanilla, and Rose (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ orange zest, vanilla beans, and rose water)

We get unreasonably excited when local breweries make historical and international styles that are infrequently brewed, so we jumped at the opportunity to bring five examples together. These suburban Chicago beers serve as tributes to centuries of brewing across three different countries, and we couldn’t be happier about the results. We dive into the history and stories of these styles while also revisiting our college Newcastle phase, assuming control of our IP, and making our choices for the best vending machine selections on a road trip.  Beers Reviewed Bubblehouse Brewing Company - All Together Now (Altbier) Flipside Brewing - Noble Rogue (English Brown Ale) Goldfinger Brewing Company - Polotmavý 14° (Czech-style Amber Lager) Art History Brewing - Trent Bridge (English IPA) Miskatonic Brewing Company/Seldom Beer Co. - Kuddel Muddel (Kottbusser)  

Amanda and Brandon Wright of Werk Force Brewing have been in business out in Plainfield for over a decade, but their story and influence goes far beyond that. We spend a good long time talking with the Wrights and sampling through a lineup of their excellent beers, from lagers to IPAs to barrel-aged stouts. Just some of the topics we cover include accepting the inevitability of flagship beers, leaving ABV off the label, creating a community-based space open for all, finding the right food partner, starting a family while opening a business, capturing just the right images for label designs, dealing out rare Lukr side pull handles, withstanding FoBAB controversies, closing a legendary homebrew shop, collecting an impressive array of barrels, and fixing the toilets more than you could ever imagine. Plus, Craig finally gets the vest advice he’s been seeking.  Beers Sampled Really Decent (American Light Lager) Forklift Road Warrior (American IPA) Little Big Penguin (Hazy IPA) DDH Formerly Known As… (American IPA)

We love hoppy beers, and truthfully, we need to find an excuse to try more local releases that catch our attention. Introducing the Hop Roundup: a quarterly series of episodes focused on notable hoppy releases in a general timeframe. For this Winter 2025 edition, we have a brand new brewery with a resurgent style; a fresh year-round from local legends; a collab “reverse” continuation from a previous episode; a bigger take than we’ve seen on a highly-debated style; and a hopeful return for one of our favorite hops. But also, Ryan’s trying to help Craig through his jump scare fears; we may need an Oops! All Lactose version; and we log-on with Obi Wan Konami.   Beers Reviewed Blind Corner Brewery - High Draw (XPA) Half Acre Beer Co. - Slow Melt (Pale Ale) Riverlands Brewing & Hop Butcher for the World - Long Time Listener, First Time Caller (West Coast-style Double IPA) Pollyanna Brewing - Gold and Cold (Double Cold IPA) Maplewood Brewing - Sweet Imagination (Northeast-style Double IPA)  

We’re going behind the curtain for our 36th state show, as listener Jeremy hooked us up with five beers from Utah. The beers represent a pretty wide variety and offer a few real standouts as we try and make sense of some pretty…interesting beer laws. Also, there’s valuable jorts advice, heavy eye-contact cocktails, barrel-aged flashbacks, and a genuine French ending. Who says we need to keep things under 5 percent? Beers Reviewed  UTOG Brewing Company [Ogden, UT] - Utah’s Only Happy Hour (American Light Lager) Talisman Brewing Company [Ogden, UT] - Uplifted (Scottish Export Ale) Shades Brewing [Salt Lake City, UT] - Pina Colada Sour Ale (Sour ale w/ coconut, pineapple, and lactose) 2 Row Brewing [Midvale, UT] - Dangereux (American Farmhouse Ale) Epic Brewing [Salt Lake City, UT] - Bigger Badder Baptista (Imperial stout aged in whiskey and mezcal barrels w/ coffee, cacao, cinnamon, and vanilla)  

To close out the 2024-2025 Deep Wood release lineup, Revolution somehow finds a way to do some new things with barleywine while retaining the spirit of their barrel program we’ve all come to know and love. It’s all about interesting woods here (and a little help from some friends) as we’ve hardly been so happy about experiencing the barleywobbles. Also, Craig’s sweet stock is in jeopardy, Ryan’s recovering from hosting his 10 year old’s birthday party, and we make some rankings promises that we actually keep (for once). It’s audio Sur Lie, because we’re definitely on the slop. Beers Reviewed Lumberstruck II (Black barleywine aged in bourbon and Amburana barrels) Firestone Walker - Oakpocalypse Now (Triple-oaked barleywine aged in rye and red wine barrels w/ French oak staves) Oakpocalypse Later [Firestone Walker collaboration] - Oakpocalypse Later (Barleywine aged in rye whiskey and red wine barrels) Barleywinery D.B.V.S.O.J. (Barleywine aged in bourbon barrels)

At a very reasonable price, Craig joined the exclusive Cellar Society for Milwaukee’s Supermoon Beer Company so we could get our hands on a full lineup of exclusive releases from one of our favorite breweries in the whole world. And this lineup still finds ways to surprise us - from style to barrel to the occasional unusual ingredient. It’s all just really really stellar. Also, Craig’s wife is developing mundane yet useful superpowers; Ryan’s ready for some more beer-inspired soaps; and we’re keeping a watch on the Costco cheese aisle for rare releases.  Beers Reviewed Tabelbear (French oak fermented tart saison w/ tamarind) CS3 // Vineyard Reserve (Single barrel farmhouse ale aged in French oak w/ Frontenac grapes) Single Barrel 006 (Unblended farmhouse ale aged 3 years in French oak) Barbou (Bourbon barrel aged Midwest stock ale)