Abv Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

At the foot of the Appalachian mountains just outside of Asheville, Fonta Flora embraces local ingredients while honoring the history of a flooded sharecropping community. For some reason, reviewing four of their beers brings out our feisty side - and the most violent reaction to a beer we’ve ever had. We hope you also want to hear about Spanish Yoda, Craig’s cartoon hands, a little spooning, Byron Allen, sharecropping, and Nazi Fanta. The apology list might be long on this one. But at least most of the beers were good. Beers Reviewed Sun Gold Appalachian Grisette Land Trust Appalachian Apple Saison Vestige Bloom Wild Ale (aged in wine barrels w/kiwi) Sal De Gusano Imperial Stout (aged in Mezcal barrels with sea salt & cacao)  

Another Dark Lord Day approaches, so we review a vertical of 3 Floyds’ signature special release with a little help from the Chicago Tribune’s beer columnist Josh Noel. Should you ever age a Dark Lord? Is it really just a decent beer? Are the variants worth it? The answers will probably not shock you. But we do our best to contribute to the conversation by talking about the changes to the fest itself, this year’s variants, and 3 Floyds’ place in local beer culture. There’s also some Goose Island talk, thoughts on the next era of beer, Josh’s day of karmic realignment, and the most Indiana story ever. Jud Jud. Beers Reviewed: Dark Lord (2012) Dark Lord (2013) Dark Lord (2014) Dark Lord (2015) Bourbon Barrel-Aged Vanilla Bean Dark Lord (2015) Jarring metal music transitions courtesy of the lineup for this year’s Dark Lord Day, which you can find here: http://www.darklordday.com/schedule/  

Nothing is certain and all of life is a lie. We drink five Midwestern barrel-aged stouts without knowing what they are to test their true quality and our very confidence in ourselves. And it is discovered that we, in fact, are terrible. But major surprises abound as we mostly play a new game we should call “Is This Bourbon County?” And we learn that spotting a fresh stout in a sea of aged beers is not as easy as one would expect. There’s also stuff about Everclear, pro-wrestling, Wu-Tang, the “Clue” movie, Craig’s hog, and Ryan’s newest brewery idea. Is it getting existential in here, or is just me?   Beers Reviewed, Blindly Wild Onion Drӓgo (2015) Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (2013) Dark Horse Bourbon Barrel Plead the Fifth (2013) Bell’s Black Note (2012) Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout (2013)

We’re all too eager to try more from Boston’s Trillium Brewing Company as we were positively gobsmacked by their beers last time. This time around, we have MC Johnsen from Worth 1000 Beers to help us review these five offerings and steer us into some serious streams of consciousness. We talk a bit about Trillium’s expanded production and second location, saison brewing, and hop blindness. For the digressions on this one, we go deep on candy (of course), feeling cheese, bad accents, ranch-flavored things, elbow dancing, and The Eagles. There’s an exciting announcement for our Patreon patrons; Craig shares his report on new craft beers at U.S. Cellular this season; MC promotes her “RAW” event at the Metro; and Ryan joins the creamy revolution.   Help nominate us for a Podcast Award by going to podcastawards.com and entering “ABV Chicago” in the Arts category between April 15th and April 30th.   Rankings   Ryan Pot & Kettle Oatmeal Porter Sleeper St. IPA Double Dry-Hopped Fort Point Pale Ale Melcher St

Check. Check. Is this thing on? Everybody wants some Mikerphone Brewing, and we find out exactly why on this episode. With a mixed 4-track of Mike Pallen’s beers, we have our asses rocked by a few of the best beers we’ve had in a long, long time. We share an update on Mikerphone’s new location, and discuss New England style IPAs, beers as musical instruments, and the fault of first impressions in craft beer. But then there’s some disgusting stuff about buckets, Gloria Estefan, Halloween masks, and girdles. Also, there’s some weak high fives, Craig’s day of action, and a game about Nirvana lyrics. Goodnight, Chicago!   Beers Reviewed   Nature’s Candy Peach Berliner Weisse Special Sauce Double IPA G Funk Era Golden Ale (w/ grapefruit) Smells Like Bean Spirit (Batch 3) Breakfast Stout

Somewhat quietly, Jerry Nelson from Une Année has been making some of the best sour beers in Chicago - or anywhere, frankly. On this show, we review the first five beers from the Le Seul series of wild ales and fall in love with the solera method. We also talk about Une Année’s recent news, share some info on the souring process from Jerry, and discuss the challenges of a sour beer membership program. Also, Craig’s voice is eating itself, Ryan gives Chris from Transient Artisan Ales tips on naming beers, and we play another (a)rousing round of Beers Against Humanity. The phrase “canonical dingleberry” has never been so appropriate. Beers Reviewed: Le Seul I (Reddish brown sour with tart cherries and cranberries) Le Seul II (Hoppy golden sour with raspberries) Le Seul III (Wild ale with blackberries) Le Seul IV (Blended golden sour with peaches) Le Seul V (Blended golden sour with kiwifruit)

Two Michigan breweries enter Illinois; only one will be declared victorious. Well, not really, as we’re sure that both Short’s Brewing and Odd Side Ales will make a lot of new fans in Illinois. We pit six of these Michigan export beers head-to-head on this episode - and the real winner is good taste. But also, we take asides on Craig’s Street Fighter knowledge, offensive beer names, Johnny Cage the Elephant, and that time Ryan almost witnessed Sugar Ray die. (Long live Sugar Ray!) And yes, there will be a little Ween. Beer Matchups Round 1: Short’s Bellaire Brown vs. Odd Side Bean Flicker Round 2: Short’s Huma Lupa Licious vs. Odd Side Citra Pale Ale Round 3: Short’s Soft Parade vs. Odd Side Flash Golden  

We disengage our clutches and rev up our car metaphors for a whole show dedicated to the Speedway Stout from AleSmith. Mike Zoller from PorchDrinking joins us to taste five versions of this coffee-fueled, high-octane stout, and it’s a damn good thing we’re not actually driving. We talk about aging coffee beers, infected beers, and barrel-aging’s impact on ABV. But we also discuss Wacky Races, recoil from political talk, step on Craig’s pole, and try not to offend any volcanoes. And someone gets threatened with his own Cicerone pin. There are no friends at 200mph. Got speed? Drive Hard; Get Dirty. Beers Reviewed Speedway Stout (2015) Barrel-Aged Speedway Stout (2015) Speedway Stout - Vietnamese Coffee Speedway Stout - Kona Coffee Speedway Stout - Hawaiian (with coconut and vanilla)

Episode 111 - Stoneface Brewing Co. Since 2014, the people of Stoneface Brewing Co. have been focused on churning out a small variety of high quality brews. We drink five from the New Hampshire brewery, and there’s nary a complaint to be made about these great beers. But the diversions we take are more, uh, graphic than ever. Expect to hear about a Mozzapocalypse, perfect rimjobs, the genius of Neil Breen, eating babies, Nick Nolte’s Sea Captain period, and Craig’s sexual proclivities. It’s actually not as bad as it sounds. But we do say maybe the worst words we’ve ever said, Craig reveals he’s a Certified Beer Server, and Ryan subjects Craig to a game of “Name That Stone or Face.” Caution: it gets frothy. Beers Reviewed Blip (Session IPA) Rye (India Red Rye Ale) Porter RIS (Russian Imperial Stout w/coffee and vanilla beans) BA RIS (Rum barrel-aged) CORRECTION: Marvin Berry in Back To The Future is actually Chuck Berry’s cousin, not his brother. ABV Chicago would like to formally apologize for this error.

To celebrate the opening of their new bottle shop, Off Color has released a few unique beers that we combine with two other shelf selections for review on this episode. And because Craig spent the day acquiring cideries at the Cider Summit, we try to keep it brief and on topic - which fails quickly. There’s a little talk of food color byproducts, two new Craig characters (John Apple and French Stupid), Ryan’s trouble in the produce aisle, a reappearance from the orgy tarp, and a solid eight minutes on our second favorite subject: candy. Furry little creatures are welcome. Beers Reviewed Bare Bear (Sahti) Le Woof (Biere de Garde) Whiskers (American Wild Ale) Space Tiger (American Wild Ale)

We enter unfamiliar territory on this one by doing our first-ever cider show. Kim Leshinski of Hail to the Ale and MC Johnsen of Worth 1000 Beers join us to educate us on these fermented apple beverages. You’ll learn a lot about how ciders are made, apple varieties, local cider sources (including Broken Nose Cider), heirloom apples, and “the long pour.” We go from “cider stupid” to just plain stupid at times, as the diversions here are frequent and give Craig a good core workout. And Ryan is made to feel stupid by being the only one familiar with Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader. Listen and let us be the apple of your...ears?   Ciders reviewed Farnum HIll Dooryard Cider Shacksbury Farmhouse Bantam The Americain Uncle John’s Apple Hard Cider Vander Mill Chapman’s Blend 2014 Wandering Aegnus Wanderlust

Straight out of the cellar and into your earholes, five Side Project beers are on the table for this one as Steph from The Girl and Her Beer joins us to review these ridiculous works of liquid art. It’s not news that Cory King makes badass 100% barrel-aged beers, but you can live vicariously through us as we experience them. There’s also a musical side projects game, blending talk, a wall of acetone, origins of blue raspberry candy, ideas on how to make wax better, and a gusher we won’t soon forget. We also find out how Craig screens potential guests, and the details will SHOCK you. CLICK to find out MORE!!! Beers Reviewed Marietta Ave. Saison Pulling Nails (Blend 2) Wild Ale Black & Wild (Blend 1) Wild Black Ale The Origin Imperial Stout Blueberry Flanders

From the caves and laboratories of New Glarus, these four beers undergo our own “research and development” - by which we mean we “review” them and get surprisingly “drunk.” But the beers are of the usual New Glarus quality, so it gives us a lot to talk about: if Barney Rubble smells worse than a band-aid; what a “funk blanket” is and how to use it to get out of your Cicerone exam; and whether or not Craig has ever eaten celery. We also give some tips on beers with Belgian yeast and read an absurd poem. Beers Reviewed Wild Bitter Vintage 2014 Wild Barrel Golden Ale

We dipped into our vault this week to bring you our little tribute to working together. All five beers on this show were the product of collaboration featuring at least one local brewery (or liquor store) and a brewing buddy. Recorded back in August, this episode just got buried in our release schedule, but we’re proud to finally bring it to you so you can hear our trite discussions of the Aggro-Crag, smelly toys, One Direction, supple buttcheeks, and our idea for a naughty collaboration beer. Also, stay tuned to the end for some HOT TIPS on how to totally ignore bottle release allotments. Grab a friend and do it together! And come to Beermiscuous on February 6th for our 2nd Anniversary party! Beers Reviewed Off Color/Side Project - Corybantic (American Wild Ale) Arcade/Ale Syndicate - Dubbel Time (Dubbel with cocoa nibs) Pipeworks/4 Hands - Black Tuna (Black DIPA with honey) Hubbard’s Cave (Slapshot/Une Année) - Imperial Stout (with vanilla) Jester King/West Lakeview Liquors - Encendia (Mezcal barrel-aged sa

It’s about to get all rustic up in here with four tart beers from Casey Brewing and Blending. Troy Casey subscribes to the Old World philosophy of brewing by using local Colorado ingredients and 100% oak fermentation to create these masterful brews. We subscribe to the ABV philosophy of getting completely off-topic from our beer reviews to create a fever-dream of a podcast. In addition to our take on these finely-crafted ales, there’s bits about Craig’s garbage mouth, overzesting your lemons, spaghetti sauce beers, and a long discussion of what styles of beer pair with certain weather and/or clothing. Because why the hell not. Beers Reviewed East Bank Saison (with honey) Apricot Fruit Stand Saison Oak Theory Wild Ale The Cut: Montmorency Cherry Wild Ale

To clumsily pay tribute the only way we know how, we drink some beers to honor David Bowie that have some tangential relationship to his career. And though we don’t attempt to give Bowie a proper send off, the beers turn out really damn good and silliness abounds. We talk Monster cereals, sing some Cher, fear “target character drift”, defend Elisabeth Shue’s honor, and recall Quantum Leap. And there’s more conclusive evidence that Craig is our greatest living beer poet. Thank you, David Bowie. Beers: Bayerischer Bahnhof - Berliner Style Weisse Marz Community Brewing - Marzcal Kolsch Half Acre Beer Co. - Space IPA Revolution Brewing - Blue Gene BA Porter Uinta Brewing - Labyrinth Quadruple Black Ale/Imperial Stout (2013)  

It’s a mother-loving good time on this episode as we drink six different beers from Springfield, Missouri’s own Mother’s Brewing Company (Thanks Jeb and Eden!). And just like our own mothers, these beers fill us with warm feelings and happiness and alcohol. So we also rattle on about resolutions, crappy candy, hard root beer, TV moms, and Craig’s eHarmony profile. One beer brings out the 15 year-old in both of us (take a wild guess), and then there’s a little coffee talk - no big whoop. Ryan Winter Grind Coffee Stout Vanilla Winter Grind Coffee Stout MILF Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Foggy Notion Barleywine Raspberry Imperial Three Blind Mice Brown Ale Three Blind Mice Brown Ale Craig Winter Grind Coffee Stout MILF Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Vanilla Winter Grind Coffee Stout Foggy Notion Barleywine Raspberry Imperial Three Blind Mice Brown Ale Three Blind Mice Brown Ale  

Who says a little danger can’t be a lot of fun? Well on this show, we drink five random beers we had around and give them the ol’ arbitrary review treatment. Ryan shares his complete pitch for Yet Another Stakeout, the prospective third film in the Stakeout Trilogy. And for some godforsaken reason, the whole show is soundtracked by the music of Steven Seagal. It’s like we’re challenging you not to listen - so thanks if you do!   Craig   Anchorage Brewing Company - A Deal With The Devil (Cognac Barrel-Aged Barleywine) Grimm Artisanal Ales - Double Negative (Imperial Stout) The Alchemist - Petit Mutant (American Brett Ale with Cherries) Stone/4 Hands/Bale Breaker - Sorry Not Sorry (DIPA with Peaches) Prairie Artisan Ales - Brett C.   Ryan   Grimm Artisanal Ales - Double Negative (Imperial Stout) Anchorage Brewing Company - A Deal With The Devil (Cognac Barrel-Aged Barleywine) Stone/4 Hands/Bale Breaker - Sorry Not Sorry (DIPA with Peaches) The Alchemist - Petit Mutant (American Brett Ale with Cher

It’s sweaters and stouts season again, and we bask in the warmth of five dark beers on this episode. We also look back on the year in beer by reminiscing on some of our favorites beers and events of 2015. There’s a lot of love for local favorites like Middle Brow, Temperance, Transient, Imperial Oak, Spiteful, Pipeworks, Pollyanna, and Une Annee; but some of the best beers of the year came from out East thanks to Tree House, Trillium, and Voodoo. Also experience a magically truncated rant on bottle release lines, weird homophone problems, a baby dinosaur Craig (awwww!), and a generally unpleasant walk-up we’ll call Fart Wars. No, Star Farts. No, Star Wars: The Farts Awaken. Yeah, that’s the one.   Ryan Transient/The Beer Cellar Neckbeard Nectar (imperial stout w/vanilla, cinnamon, coconut, and molasses) Brickstone Barrel-Aged Dark Secret (imperial stout aged in 12-year Elijah Craig barrels) Half Acre Big Hugs (imperial coffee stout) Ballast Point Peppermint Victory at Sea (porter w/coffee, vanilla, and

For the big 100, we threw a little holiday party and invited our friends - and to our delight, they came bearing gifts of beer! On the show, we drink with them and give our usual reviews while catching up with them and taking many topical detours. Joining us are Kim Leshinski (Hail to the Ale), Ken Getty (from CHAOS Homebrew Club), Nick Burica (of Middle Brow Beer Co.), Chris Betts (of Transient Artisan Ales), Marie Cummins (Down the Hatch beer blog), Dennis Lee (of The Pizzle), MC Johnsen (Worth 1000 Beers) and Matt Johnsen (of Horse Thief Hollow and The Beer Cellar). In addition to thrilling excerpts from Secret Agent Santa (Harlequin 2015), we talk about kettle sours, sensuous languor, the troubles with opening a brewery, fingerless gloves, and much more. Thanks for listening and happy holidays!   Beers Reviewed:   Kane Brewing - Cortijo (Agave Nectar Saison Aged in Tequila Barrels) OEC Brewing - Malefactus (Wine Barrel-Aged Stout) Transient Artisan Ales - Black Raspberry Maigre (Berlinner Weisse) Lake Eff