Abv Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

To recognize our 11th year of releasing this weekly podcast, we’re putting a new spin on our annual half-blind shows by…going old. We each divvied up the past years of the podcast and selected one favorite from a year until we ended up with seven to try and stump one another while we dig through our memories. Some represent fresh takes on old faves, and some are just old - which doesn’t necessarily mean bad. Also, we talk about a cult Chicago landmark in Craig’s neighborhood; Ryan no-scopes a few blind guesses; and Craig calls in a favor to make his secret blind theme work.  Beers Reviewed  Brouwerij De Brabandere - Petrus Aged Pale (Foeder-aged Belgian Sour) / Episode 240 - Belgian Sour Starter Pack (9/5/18) Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery - Wooden Hell 2017 (Bourbon barrel-aged barleywine) / Episode 198 - FoBABlin’ 2: FoBABlin’ in the City (11/8/17) The Conrad Seipp Brewing Co. - Columbia Bock / Episode 379 - B-Sides (5/12/21) Flipside Brewing - Rascal King (English Pub Ale) / Low ABV 414 - Flip

In an ill-advised experiment almost 4 years in the making, this episode is our style exploration of the Belgian Single - sometimes called Patersbier, sometimes Enkel, and definitely rarely made stateside. Even most of the Trappist breweries keep them in house and rarely send them overseas. With a glacial pace of local Belgian single releases, we’ve held on to some American versions with hopes of one day finally completing our Monastic Cycle. So we took one fresh single - and four definitely way less fresh singles - to see how compatible we all could be. It’s certainly a learning experience! Also, Craig meets a hand model so we dream of showing off our wrists and elbows; Ryan gets drenched by a surprise gusher; and we all agree not to age this style of beer ever again. Beers Reviewed Miskatonic Brewing Company - St. Maximus Maplewood Brewery - Belle La Vie Gathering Place Brewing Company - Prière Buckledown Brewing - Gas Lamp Spencer Brewery - Trappist Ale  

It took us almost a dozen years to catch on that Heavy Riff Brewing out of St. Louis is an absolute treasure, and we are more than happy to open a little vertical of their signature barrel-aged stout series, Dear Agony. Crafted from a lactose mistake, this rich and creamy imperial milk stout sees yearly release with multiple variants representing different barrel picks or adjuncts - and the only agony on this show comes from the beer’s name. Also, Ryan’s son has created a superhero with surprising powers; Craig is experiencing his 44th year molting; and neither of us can recall anything about Breaking Benjamin.  Beers Reviewed Dear Agony 2021 (Imperial Milk Stout aged in Willett bourbon barrels) Dear Agony 2022 (Imperial Milk Stout aged in Old Forester bourbon barrels) Dear Agony 2023 (Imperial Milk Stout aged in George Dickel bourbon barrels) Dear Agony Breakfast Stout 2023 (Imperial Milk Stout w/ coffee beans aged in bourbon and maple barrels)

Pride of the Fox River and St. Charles, Illinois, Riverlands Brewing is approaching six years with a refreshed love of their own lagers, thanks to their U.S. Beer Open Championship gold-winning pilsner, Kayak. We sit down with co-founder and head brewer Eric Bramwell along with assistant brewer Brianna Levi to chat all things Riverlands - not limited to their horizontal tanks. Eric and Bri tell their stories about influential local brewers that helped them learn how to move from homebrewers to the commercial space and what inspires them to play with different ingredients and endlessly tinker with recipes. Also, there are stories about unexpected collaboration partners, lager advice from the experts, secret burrito accounting, amazing shark facts, and majestic heads of hair - all while we sip through a stellar lineup of beers.  Beers Sampled Tri-City Black (Session Stout) Kayak Pils (German-style Pilsner) Dean Street (Hazy IPA) All Night Revival (DDH Hazy DIPA) - Collaboration w/ Toppling Goliath Parallel Rive

Back in August, we had the great fortune to drink through an entire lineup from Decorah, Iowa’s Pulpit Rock Brewing (thanks to listeners Benji and Suzanne) and this resulting episode is sounding great out of the cellar, thanks to some interview snippets with co-head brewer Bob Slack from the Great Taste of the Midwest. It doesn’t take long until we go a little nuts over nuts, but we also learn to appreciate long written-off desserts, rank the gorgeous can art, and stand in bewilderment over ice cream truck music.  Bob Slack Interview (00:09:06 - 00:15:50) Beers Reviewed Whatever (West Coast-style Pilsner) Saftig (New England-style IPA) Tingles, Vol. 1 (Hard Seltzer w/ pineapple juice, lemonade mix, grenadine, and passionfruit puree) Church Salad (Sour w/ toasted walnuts, marshmallows, coconut, and pineapple juice) Haywire (Pastry Imperial Stout w/ malted milk balls, peanuts, cashews, and almonds)  

It may not be the main course, but we make a meal out of this four bottle Side Project lineup, gifted to us by listener and friend Don Kasak. We may think we know where things are going with these four barrel-aged beers of differing styles - but we quickly get swept up in some surprising flavors. Also, we are adjusting to some of the new holiday traditions, we make some New Year’s fruit resolutions, and after this episode we’re heading down to our shift at the Farm Barn to check out Beyond Tart’s set.  Beers Reviewed Merci 2024 (Blended oak-aged American wild ale) SpontanFermier - Blend #2 (Missouri saison blended with Belgian lambic - collaboration with Mikkeller) Calamansi (Brett pale ale aged in oak with Calamansi limes, Tanzanian and Madagascar vanilla, and toasted coconut) A Long Time Ago (Blend of Oregon Adambier [2014 Adam and 2018 Adam] and Missouri bourbon barrel-aged Adambier [2022 Längst] - collaboration with Hair of the Dog)  

The Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers came in late November this year, and we have another episode to add to our wall-to-wall coverage of Chicago’s best beer fest. As has become a delicious tradition, we have gathered medal winning beers from this year - but with a totally sessionable twist. Three gold medal winners, one bronze, and one Best in Show gives us a lineup of 4 that’ll go down as one of the best we’ve done. Also, we break down FoBAB winners by the numbers, recap our festival highlights, and replace the Elf on the Shelf with Craig on the Keg.  Beers Reviewed Milieu Fermentation - smol. (Barrel-aged mixed culture table beer) Off Color Brewing - Funky Beer for Tacos (Gose fermented with wild yeast aged in lime gin barrels) Cruz Blanca Brewpub - Tepache Cowboy (Mexican lager aged in añejo mezcal barrels with pineapple and spices) Half Acre Beer Co. - Orin (Bourbon and brandy barrel aged strong ale)  

It’s always wine o’ clock somewhere, especially when you’re opening up the finest barleywines and ryewines Revolution has to offer. This episode features three different ‘wines and a special release stout as part two (or three?) of their barrel-aged Deep Wood series for this year, and at least one of us deems this the best set of four Rev has ever done. Also, we don’t think we really want to smell our TVs; someone is in need of a little Halloween costume inspiration; and we get to know Captain Check (and his alter ego, Captain Czech).  2024 Deep Wood Beers Reviewed Straight Jacket (Bourbon barrel-aged barleywine) Ryeway to Heaven (Bourbon and rye barrel-aged ryewine) Double Barrel V.S.O.R. (Bourbon and rye barrel-age ryewine) D.B.X.O.D. Le Troncais (Bourbon barrel-aged imperial oatmeal stout with French oak)  

Even though Black Friday doesn’t mean what it once did, Bourbon County is still an event - and we have Ryan Tracy with us at Beer on the Wall to help us taste through this year’s lineup of six from Goose Island. Sure we were banned from the official media tasting, but we assess the whole group fairly - and find some surprises that are real standouts in the history of BCBS. Also, shenanigans may be afoot at FoBAB in regards to our Fantasy League; Ryan T. and Craig have a proposed wardrobe swap; we discuss BCBS variants that “don’t exist”; Tracy shares a Rare Day story that can only lead to bias; we can’t help but fondle the box; and we are finally sponsored by Jazz, the style of music. And don’t miss out on our annual trip through Bourbon Country. Beers Reviewed Bourbon County Stout 2024 (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels) Bourbon County Brand Bardstown Cask Finish Stout (Imperial Stout aged in Bardstown Rye and Cherry Wood Oak Barrels) Bourbon County Brand Rare Stout 2024 (Imperial Rye Stout aged in King

It’s been 8 years since we last did a whole lineup of ciders, and this was just the re-evaluation we needed to fall back in love with these well-crafted non-beer drinks. But it’s not just apples this time: each cider brings something else to the mix - to consistently surprising results. Also, Craig has created a glitter problem he can’t solve, Ryan learns of a surprising cidery connection to the beer world, and we’re both forced to put on the oversized blazer before being let inside.  Ciders Reviewed The Northman - Hopped Cider Stem Ciders - Apricot Haze Eris Brewery & Cider House - Strawbarbarella Wölffer Estate Vineyard - No. 139 Peach Cider Obscurity Brewing and Craft Mead - Pumpkin Hard Cider  

Not content with waiting for one single day to stuff ourselves with our favorite traditional foods, we just had to drink our way through a feast of Thanksgiving-adjacent beers to get us hyped for what might be our favorite holiday. We see how many of this lineup of five Illinois beers would make a nice addition to the table while also playing a full game of Personal Preference: Thanksgiving Foods. Plus, Ryan tries to make sense of a possibly inappropriate teacher costume, Craig takes a hardline stance against mixing foods, and we both have a few sides we like better than turkey. Loosen that belt and bring on the post-show couch nap. Beers Reviewed Werk Force Brewing Company - Soup Season (Hazy IPA w/ Simcoe, Superdelic, and Citra) Bent River Brewing Company - Sweet Potato Ale (Wheat ale w/ sweet potato & spices) Midwest Coast Brewing Co. - Friendsgiving (Strong ale w/ cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and orange peel) Energy City Brewing - Bistro: Apple & Cranberry Crumble (Berliner Weisse w/ apples, cranberry

As this year’s Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers approaches, we dive deep into FoBAB topics while drinking through four barrel-aged beers from breweries featured at this year’s fest. Our jumbled attempts to look back at previous year’s memories notwithstanding, we look ahead to new and returning breweries we can’t wait to try, old favorites and dependable options to seek out for a first pour, our general tips for navigating FoBAB, and a little mock Fantasy FoBAB draft to round things out. Plus, Craig encounters a real life Air Bud, our time machine is broken, and we wonder why we only hit like five breweries every year. Beers Reviewed Off Color Brewing - Whiskey Barrel-Aged Beer for Pizza [2022] (Malt beverage w/ dark candi syrup, kola nut, lime juice, vanilla, lemon zest, orange zest, cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, and citric acid aged in Tennessee whiskey barrels) More Brewing - Barrel-Aged Doppelbock (Doppelbock aged in Elijah Craig bourbon and Old Elk barrels) Mikerphone Brewing - I Believe In A Thing

The warmest thing about the colder months is that we have three different Deep Wood releases to look forward to, and we start the season with four stouts - three as variants of their annual Deth’s Tar line. We talk about what makes this year’s lineup unique while Revolution supports its case as one of the most dependable barrel-aged programs anywhere. Also, Craig waited in a line only to learn about bad dog names; Ryan has basically forgotten the last two years of beer releases; and we get a little carried away with the tactile experience. Beers Reviewed Deth’s Tar (Imperial oatmeal stout aged in bourbon barrels) Café Deth (Imperial oatmeal stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ coffee) Deth by Bramble (Imperial oatmeal stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ blackberry, boysenberry, and marionberry) V.S.O. On & On Pt. 3 (Blended stout aged in bourbon barrels)

The horrible tradition continues for an eighth year as we try to outdo one another in a test of our ability to withstand liquid torture - and this year might be the most spiteful, mean-spirited collection of all. Seizing upon our known flavor aversions, each of us hosts finds something to attack our insecurities and threaten our actual livelihood through a half-blind tasting - all leading to an unimaginable Cuvée of Doom in the end. Also, we live out some mundane horror situations, we raise a few torture legends’ jerseys to the rafters, and I’m pretty sure someone is getting sued by the end of this one.  Beverages Endured Untitled Art & Speciation Artisan Ales - Michelada (Berliner Weisse-style w/ lime juice, Tabasco sauce, and sea salt) Unpossible Mead Inc. - Pickle-Ӧrt (Bread & butter pickle-inspired mead aged in a Malört barrel) Energy City Brewing - Bistro Strawberry Pineapple Habanero (Flavored Berliner-style Weisse) 450 North Brewing - Bananafinger (Smoothie-style sour w/ banana, candy bars, pea

After a long, arduous Brat Summer, we be-sweater ourselves for a little Farmhouse Fall by opening five autumnal saisons from some of the best in the rusticity business. Whether it’s due to ingredients, barrels, or aesthetic, each saison here is the liquid equivalent of jumping into a pile of crunchy leaves, and we have some wildly divergent rankings by the end. Also, Craig immediately destroys our attempts at having a classy show for once; we define what we mean when we say “rustic”; and we consider what we expect fall to taste like. (Thanks to Don Kasak and the folks at Hold Out for providing two of these beers.) Beers Reviewed Scratch Brewing Company - Wild Carrot and Nettle (Farmhouse ale w/ wild carrot leaves & stinging nettle) is/was brewing - Saison Effrayant (Autumnal Rye Saison w/ sage) Side Project Brewing - Loam: Vidal Blanc Orange Wine Process 2023 (Wheat saison aged w/ Vidal Blanc grapes) Waypost Brewing - Saison Du Bois (Oak-lagered Saison) Hold Out Brewing & Keeping Together - No Moon To

This year’s Great American Beer Festival brought some new energy (with a small pour of confusion) to the four decade-old fest and competition, and we were out in Denver to cover it all. Though the theme areas were a bit disorienting at times, this year’s GABF felt like more of a party than ever. We report back on the amazing beers we drank while sharing some top-notch festival floor interviews with new friends and industry-influencing vets alike. We also open three stellar Denver lagers in the hotel while recapping four days of beer-fueled fun. Plus, we weigh in on the local radio station’s attempt to rank 1,055 songs from the 21st century, and find out that a brewing legend is a listener to this very podcast. Interviews Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing Company (00:20:32 - 00:35:07) Andrew Bergeron of Milieu Fermentation (00:45:45 - 00:52:04) Hayden Winkler & Pete Knight of Hold Out Brewing (01:09:43 - 01:21:05) Eric Salazar of Strangebird Brewing (01:29:23 - 01:36:16) Wayne Burns and Laura Worley of Burns Fam

We’re right at the end of hop harvest season, so now’s the time to bask in the seasonal glory that is fresh and wet hop beers. We expand our understanding of fresh and wet hop beers on this episode by sifting through the research while drinking five pretty incredible local beers using those straight-from-the-bines hops. Also, we have a little unfulfilled Chekov’s Corgi situation; we take some responsibility for getting the Conservatory slide shut down; Ryan’s got a metaphor straight from 2005; Craig’s writing his new erotica about a Hop Farm; and we explain why Three Floyds is totally normal now.  Beers Reviewed Solemn Oath Brewery - Kidnapped By Vikings: Fresh Hop (IPA) Mikerphone Brewing - Defresh Mode (DIPA) 3 Floyds Brewing - Broo Doo (Harvest Ale) Phase Three Brewing - Fresh Fresh (Hazy IPA) Off Color Brewing - Aqua Predator (Saison)  

As we plan our 11th year of covering the Great American Beer Festival out in Denver, we take this episode to preview some of the Illinois beers pouring at the fest while sharing a comprehensive list of which breweries we’re most amped to check out. We review the Illinois pour lists, find many exciting “new-to-us” breweries, revisit some “familiar face” breweries, and put our total faith in those “steady hands” that still crank out essential beers. Also, we discuss t-shirts that aren’t exactly getting the joke across, point out one style that Illinois has dominated as of late, embody both “High” and “Stinky,” and get punished by one beer in particular.  Beers Reviewed Sketchbook Brewing Co. - Grodziskie DESTIHL Brewery - Deadhead IPA More Brewing - Mango Double Marbles (Milkshake IPA w/ mango, lactose, and vanilla) Hubbard’s Cave/Une Année Brewery - El Zacatón (Imperial stout w/ almond flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon sticks, vanilla, ancho chilies, guajillo chilies, and habanero chilies)  

IPA can be a whole lot of things, but when we were cutting our teeth on hoppy beers, the West Coast style dominated. Appreciation of the style never really died off, but it’s regaining a bit of ground on the still more-popular hazy IPAs. So we turn to the actual source - the West Coast - for five beers that are somewhat varied in their interpretation. And because we love this style so much, it doesn’t take us long to have too good of a time. Also, we deem 90s music safe for professional development meetings with some caveats; we motion for a “C” Change; and there’s an almost unhealthy amount of beer nostalgia to wash it all down.  Beers Reviewed Pure Project Brewing (San Diego, CA) - Pure West AleSmith Brewing Company (San Diego, CA) - IPA The Lost Abbey (Vista, CA) - The Right Side of Happiness Beachwood Brewing (Huntington Beach, CA) - Citraholic Great Notion Brewing (Portland, OR) - Easy Lift  

Using rice as a fermentable in an adjunct lager has been common in Japanese brewing for a long time, and recently more American craft brewers have made their own versions with an emphasis on the remarkably dry finish of the style. We try two icons of Japanese Rice Lagers before sampling three from the Chicagoland area, and we’re surprised with how much rice really does make the difference. Also, Craig’s such a sucker for certain I.P. that he bought his first ever coffee, Ryan would be down with some rice pizzas, and we have maybe the best ramen-based business pitch we’ve come up with yet.  Beers Reviewed Sapporo Breweries - Sapporo Premium Beer Asahi Breweries - Asahi Super Dry Phase Three Brewing - Japanese-Style Rice Lager Pollyanna Brewing Company - In the Glow Maplewood Brewing Company & Piece Brewery and Pizzeria - Arroz By Any Other Name