Episode 476 - Hazy Flagship IPA Blind Battle Royale: Round 1
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
In this first round of what will become an ongoing arbitrary competition, we conduct a blind tasting of five Chicagoland breweries’ go-to, year-round, flagship hazy IPAs to determine our favorites - and to move the top beer(s) onto the championship round. For this one, we start with two newer flagships, a top award winner, and two of the original local hazies - and the results catch us totally off guard. Also, Ryan’s got a new swear word to consider thanks to his six year-old, we’re expanding our merchandising brand, and Craig’s Mosaic blindness actually comes in handy for once. Stay...
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Episode 475 - English-Style Chicago
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
Even without a proper cask engine, we sample five Chicagoland interpretations of centuries-old English styles to appreciate what is hopefully a still-growing trend. The beers sometimes overlap in style but none are done exactly the same way, which makes this a nice little learning experience. Also, Ryan lets the AI script a few scenes for the podcast, we’re trying hard to find a suitable replacement for “mouthfeel,” and Craig’s ready to go pro with his vape tricks for ESPN7. Plus, there’s a Jack Bauer mission, greasy digits, crewneck tattoos, hard corn, a crazy game of UNO, and a...
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Episode 474 - Irish Reds Blind
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
St. Patrick’s Day in Chicagoland is a whole season, and thanks to that more local breweries are making the curiously not-traditional Irish Red Ale. To learn more about this style (and give ourselves a nearly-impossible guessing challenge), we do a blind tasting of the five beers on this show. Also, we let the AI bots tell us more about ourselves, we’re dancing in the aisles over that joyous romp The Banshees of Inisherin, and we’re looking for new partners for our Glass Wavy™ line. So, whether you’re a seasoned beer enthusiast or just starting out on your craft beer journey, ABV...
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Episode 473 - St. Louis, Illinois
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
Listener and friend Don Kasak conceptualized this show around five Illinois breweries that are practically suburbs of St. Louis, and we are more than happy to drink through a lineup from this mostly unfamiliar-to-us territory. We also can’t get over Smokey Robinson’s new album and song titles, Craig discovers that side-of-the-tongue flavor, and Ryan’s got some hot tips on pretzel investments. Beers Reviewed Millpond Brewing & Incubator [Millstadt, IL] - Lawrence (German-style Pilsner) Excel Brewing Company [Breese, IL] - Lefty’s Lager (Helles Lager) Stubborn German Brewing...
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Episode 472 - Dallas
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
We’re taking our taste buds on a trip down south thanks to listener Crystal Nguyen we get to sample five unique and tasty beers from the Dallas area. There’s a beer that’s even better when sipped, one that might be made with “Skittlemalt,” and one that inspires the singing of “SkaMan.” Also, we’re thinking big for our eventual Texas show; we look for new innovations in leather pants (and stray cat storage); and we’re putting sippy-cup lids on snifters. Beers Reviewed Celestial Beerworks [Dallas, TX] - Murphy’s Law (Dark Lager) Turning Point Beer [Bedford, TX] - Dangerouser...
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Episode 471 - Deep Wood: VSoooo Good
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
We’re flipping to Side B of the 2022-2023 Deep Wood releases for this episode, and it’s a whole lineup of immaculate bangers. It’s two ryewines, one stout, and two barleywines with a bigger emphasis on special barrels and extended wood-aging to create the magic in these 12 ounce cans. Plus, Craig’s looking for new ways to trick his Apple Watch; Ryan will trade you half of an open can of DBVSOJ for a Switch controller; and we get to hear the syrup-drinking story again. Beers Reviewed (2022-2023 releases) Ryeway to Heaven (Ryewine aged in bourbon barrels) Boss Ryeway (Ryewine aged in...
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Episode 470 - Schwarzs Unseen
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
More breweries are embracing malt-forward easy-drinking options as an essential part of a seasonal lineup, and the Schwarzbier may be one of the styles seeing the most taplists these days. For this show, we put five locally-made Schwarzbiers through a blind tasting to help us better understand the style and see how subtle variations can make all the difference for our arbitrary rankings. Also, we fit Chicagoland breweries into boy band archetypes; Craig’s going hard on the Schwarz puns; and Ryan tries to assert himself as the young/cheeky one. Schwarzbiers Reviewed (Blindly)...
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Episode 469 - Hop Butcher: No IPAs
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
Since throwing open the doors to their Lincoln Ave. taproom just a few months back, Hop Butcher has worked to offer some draft variety by stepping outside of the style(s) for which they’re most recognized. For this episode, we got our hands on four cans that are not IPAs to see how well one of the country’s best haze producers can make something for the hop-averse. Also, we say hello (and goodbye) to Winter Break Ryan which opens an unclosable rift between the hosts over crewneck sweaters and turtlenecks. We also consider the missed opportunity of an Italian Pilsner show; Ryan bores the...
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Episode 468 - 9 Year Blind
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
To commemorate our 9th year of this podcast, we celebrate local breweries that opened since we first started broadcasting our shabby little beer reviews. Craig and Ryan each bring three blind beers to the table for the other to guess with a focus on years and a few additional mystery themes. It’s also one of those shows where you get to hear Craig fall head-over-heels in love with a beer, which is always a treat. Also, we’re angling to take that Girl Scout cookie taster position; Ryan’s just completely flummoxed by a bomber; and Craig is Raging Against A Thin Stout.™ We want to thank...
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Episode 467 - Supermoon Beer Company
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
After two years of selling bottles from what is essentially his front porch, Rob Brennan opened the doors to his Milwaukee taproom in 2022 - and his rustic farmhouse beers are absolutely worth a trip. For this episode, we drink through four funky and beautiful Supermoon bottles that show artistry beyond what you might expect from such a young brewery. Also, Craig has a bounce in his step (and not just because of the house cultures); Ryan shares some moon facts and comes up with the perfect collaboration; and we’re both aching for that Yanni/Bootsy/McD collab to drop. Beers Reviewed...
info_outlineIt’s not just stouts, barleywines, and sours that should receive the benefits of wood-aging. For our final episode of Barrel-Aged December, we try five beers from breweries brave enough to take their drinkable cold-fermented beers and let them rest in different types of wood for any matter of time. The results are truly unique and enlightening as to how wood can transform a lager, and we bend our elbows with almost too much confidence for the night. Also, there’s motorized-cart mayhem in the grocery aisles, weather-based clothing gets a rebranding, and we play a soundbite-based game of Name That Wood. Happy New Year to all - and thanks for listening to us at any point in this past one.
Beers Reviewed
Forbidden Root Brewing Company - Hoodie Weather (Oak-Aged Vienna Lager)
Werk Force Brewing Company - Rip Cut (Oat Lager aged in oak puncheons)
Solemn Oath Brewery - Foederface (Foeder-Aged Märzen)
Begyle Brewing - Foeder Doppelbock (Oak-Aged Dopplebock)
Waypost Brewing Co. - Keptwell (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Lager)