Episode 665 - FoBABlin’: 8 Woods To Hold You
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
In its 8th installment, FoBABlin’ is all about us going deeper on the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers than anyone. And we’re gearing up for the fest on November 13th & 14th by drinking four beers from breweries that will be attending - with a more than one of these being some of the best beer we’ve opened all year. Also, hear about which breweries are new to the fest this year or returning after an absence; who of the steady attendee brewers you’ll most want to visit; how to navigate the festival itself; and what breweries we choose for a mock Fantasy FoBAB draft. Plus, Ryan...
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Episode 664 - Torture Test X: Wheel of Torture: The Final Torture
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
One decade of suffering and despair is enough to push anyone to the limits, and on this FINAL INSTALLMENT of our annual Bad Beer Punish-A-Thon, we take things even further with a seemingly malevolent and vindictive Wheel of Torture. Listen in as we try and eviscerate each other with bad beers both old and new, then the devious Wheel forces us to drink beers from the “Old Beer Lottery” that fall into either category: “Possibly Bad” or “Probably Bad.” There’s also an unpleasant Run for the Border; Craig is serving his liquid filth completely warm; Ryan’s going to force as many...
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Episode 663 - Kiss of Deth
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
It creeps up on us every year as it comes earlier and earlier, and this year’s alluring part one lineup of Revolution barrel-aged beers has us feeling the love. We sample four variations on the Deth’s Tar stout for this segment of the 2026-2027 Deep Wood Release calendar, and we’re pretty sure there’s no wrong way to cuvée them in the end. But also, Ryan has started seeing shackets (or shirkets, whatever your pleasure); Craig recaps the Blend-a-Barrel event at Rev; we consider Marty’s ever-evolving barrel science; and we must always consider WWCD?. 2026 Deep Wood Beers Reviewed...
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Episode 662 - Pumpkin Patch Kidz
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
It’s about every seven years that the great pumpkin beer show rises again, and this one is just Ryan running wild with some mixed six pack racks until we have a whole mess of adjunct-forward pumpkin beers that (mostly) get us in a Fall mood. But it is a fun way to drink five beers from breweries we almost never have on the show! Listen as we try to keep an open mind while considering why someone might take their height for granted; we chipmunk our cheeks with pumpkin donuts; we face our fears with the masters of pastry beers; and we think everything in haunted houses is scary. Beers...
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Episode 661 - Alesmith Coffee and Beer
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
Back in the summer, we grabbed this mixed four-pack from San Diego’s Alesmith because of some eye-catching collaborators and unusual style pairings with coffee. This small but mighty lineup is as delicious as it is…caffeinated. But also, we question whether or not certain multitasking is necessary; Craig cements himself as a real bean squeezer; and Ryan would now like to be known as The Man of La Matcha. Beers Reviewed Collaboration with Pizza Port Brewing and Jaunt Coffee Roasters - Dark Lager w/ Matriarch espresso, single‑origin Mexican coffee and lemon Collaboration with...
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Episode 660 - Wild Chicagoland
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
Join Ryan and Craig, your guides to the (sub)urban beer jungle, as they experience the eccentric, offbeat, and unexpected Wild beers of Chicagoland! They imbibe four different ales fermented with wild yeasts and bacteria while aged in oak and review them for your listening pleasure. They also look back on the heyday of local wilds and sours, make difficult sleeping arrangement decisions, pay respect to the breweries that made them want to podcast, try to catch a pass from Doug Flutie, and introduce the world to the ‘Gurt Guys. Beers Reviewed Imperial Oak Brewing - Lime Gin Barrel-Aged...
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Episode 659 - Cellar West, Chapter 4
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
The story of our ongoing Cellar West series goes back to a box sent to us by owner Zach Nichols in late 2020, and we’ve become quite literate in their mastery of many different styles in the years since. Originating from Lafayette, Colorado (just outside of Boulder) with a second location in Erie, Colorado, Cellar West has won their fair share of awards along the way - and this lineup could end up being the best we’ve had out of four episodes. Also, Craig is a bit in his head about shoe tying; we marvel at the strange lore and world-building offered by the sides of these cans; Ryan and...
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Episode 658 - Pick of Destiny (with Mikerphone Brewing)
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
After being invited to taste through bourbon barrels by distillers for a few Mikerphone barrel picks, Mike Pallen said, “We should do that.” And they have - now for the 36th time - invited industry friends, business owners, and even - yes - craft beer podcasters to sample through their barrel-aged beers with the goal of finding their own Pick of Destiny. We go through the whole blind tasting process alongside owner Mike Pallen, head brewer Mike Witkowski, and cellar man Matt Lakota to find the barrel-aged beer of our dreams. Then, we open the resulting bottle (subtitled “All Up In That...
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Episode 657 - One Hop This Time
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
It’s not so common anymore to see beers with just a single hop, but when we do, we embrace the opportunity to teach ourselves a little something. We have five beers, each made with a different single hop, and we dive into the background of each - and the surprisingly long hop development process. But also, we discuss if Citra is in fact the GHOAT; Craig shares a eulogy for the best way to get 12 CDs for a penny; Ryan’s teeing off at the Wafting Greens; and we are about as far divided as we can be about one particular hop. Beers Reviewed Spiteful Brewing - Strata Time (Pale Ale w/ Strata...
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Episode 656 - Mikerphone Duets II (ft. Mike Pallen)
ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
Perhaps the most prolific collaborators of any local brewery, Mikerphone has a rolodex the size of a mash tun and isn’t hesitant to bring in friends of all kinds to brew up inspired beers. We drink through five Mikerphone collaboration beers and get some input from Mike Pallen himself throughout this episode as he shares some of the background, stories, and ingredient choices that make these beers special. Also, we consider whose kind faces could ease a violent end; Craig meets Smash Mouth and doesn’t actually ask them about meeting Shrek; Ryan’s still thinking about his Sam Goody...
info_outlineAdding 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 imperial stout w/ cacao nibs, vanilla, peppermint, and spearmint)