ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast
A Chicago craft beer podcast. Events, beer reviews and much more. It's Another Beer View.
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Episode 591 - MoBAB 5: Barrels Alive!
06/04/2025
Episode 591 - MoBAB 5: Barrels Alive!
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)
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Episode 590 - How Low Can You Go?
05/28/2025
Episode 590 - How Low Can You Go?
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
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Episode 589 - Czech Dark Lagers
05/21/2025
Episode 589 - Czech Dark Lagers
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
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Episode 588 - IPA All-Stars Blind, Round 1
05/14/2025
Episode 588 - IPA All-Stars Blind, Round 1
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
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Episode 587 - Czech Light Lagers
05/07/2025
Episode 587 - Czech Light Lagers
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)
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Episode 586 - Mosaic Immersion Therapy
04/30/2025
Episode 586 - Mosaic Immersion Therapy
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)
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Episode 585 - Minneapolis Lagers
04/23/2025
Episode 585 - Minneapolis Lagers
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)
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Episode 584 - Helles Lagers
04/16/2025
Episode 584 - Helles Lagers
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
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Episode 583 - A Progression of Adjuncts
04/09/2025
Episode 583 - A Progression of Adjuncts
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 imperial stout w/ cacao nibs, vanilla, peppermint, and spearmint)
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Episode 582 - A Progression of Barrels
04/02/2025
Episode 582 - A Progression of Barrels
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) Mikerphone Brewing - Sweet Drams, vol. 2 (Triple Mash Imperial Stout aged 27 months in Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15-Year barrels) Half Acre Beer Co. - Triple Barrel Wilderness of History (Barleywine aged in Weller, Russell’s Reserve, and Cognac barrels) More Brewing Company - Roaming Elephant (Barleywine aged in Eagle Rare 10 year, Parker’s Heritage 14 year, Elijah Craig 18 year, and Elijiah Craig 19 year barrels)
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Episode 581 - Doppelbocks
03/26/2025
Episode 581 - Doppelbocks
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
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Episode 580 - Cellar West, Chapter 3
03/19/2025
Episode 580 - Cellar West, Chapter 3
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)
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Episode 579 - Local & Historical
03/12/2025
Episode 579 - Local & Historical
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)
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Episode 578 - Werk Force Brewing
03/05/2025
Episode 578 - Werk Force Brewing
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) Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stupid Sticky Fingers [collab w/ Rocky Reef Brewing] (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ cacao nibs, vanilla, and graham crackers) 3 Year Family Reserve Rye B.A. Sleepy Bear (Imperial Stout aged in rye whiskey barrels)
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Episode 577 - Hop Roundup: Winter ‘25
02/26/2025
Episode 577 - Hop Roundup: Winter ‘25
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)
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Episode 576 - The UT Show
02/19/2025
Episode 576 - The UT Show
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)
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Episode 575 - Deep Wood: Now and Later
02/12/2025
Episode 575 - Deep Wood: Now and Later
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)
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Episode 574 - Supermoon Cellar Society
02/05/2025
Episode 574 - Supermoon Cellar Society
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)
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Episode 573 - 11 Year Blind: Old Faves
01/29/2025
Episode 573 - 11 Year Blind: Old Faves
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) / Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery - Wooden Hell 2017 (Bourbon barrel-aged barleywine) / The Conrad Seipp Brewing Co. - Columbia Bock / Flipside Brewing - Rascal King (English Pub Ale) / Wild Onion Brewery - Drago 2018 (Bourbon barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout) / Cruz Blanca Brewery - Rey Cuvée 2024 (3-year blend of barrel-aged imperial stout) / New Glarus Brewing - Wisconsin Belgian Red (Sour ale w/ cherries) /
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Episode 572 - Singles in Your Area
01/22/2025
Episode 572 - Singles in Your Area
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
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Episode 571 - Heavy Riff: Dear Agony
01/15/2025
Episode 571 - Heavy Riff: Dear Agony
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)
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Episode 570 - Riverlands Brewing Company
01/08/2025
Episode 570 - Riverlands Brewing Company
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 Rivers (Hazy DIPA) - Collaboration w/ Hop Butcher Orbital Velocity (Chocolate Peanut Butter Imperial Stout) Splitting Rivers (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ wild Thai bananas and cinnamon) - Collaboration w/ Whiskey Hill Brothers in Barleywine (Bourbon barrel-aged barleywine) - Collaboration w/ Brothership
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Episode 569 - Pulpit Rock
01/01/2025
Episode 569 - Pulpit Rock
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)
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Episode 568 - A Side of Side Project
12/25/2024
Episode 568 - A Side of Side Project
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)
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Episode 567 - FoBAB Winners 2024
12/18/2024
Episode 567 - FoBAB Winners 2024
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)
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Episode 566 - Deep Wood: Wine O’ Clock
12/11/2024
Episode 566 - Deep Wood: Wine O’ Clock
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)
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Episode 565 - Bourbon County 2024
11/29/2024
Episode 565 - Bourbon County 2024
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 of Kentucky Bourbon Barrels) Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Rye Stout 2024 (Imperial Rye Stout aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels w/ Madagascar vanilla beans) Bourbon County Brand Macaroon Stout (Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels w/ cocoa nibs, sweet candied ginger, and toasted coconut) Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Barleywine (Barleywine aged in Bourbon Barrels w/ tamarind, lime, whole Guajillo chiles, and piloncillo)
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Episode 564 - Ciders N’ Stuff
11/27/2024
Episode 564 - Ciders N’ Stuff
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
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Episode 563 - Thanksgiving Beer Feast
11/20/2024
Episode 563 - Thanksgiving Beer Feast
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, brown sugar, and cinnamon) Maplewood Brewing Company - Lil’ Pumpkin Cakes (Blonde ale w/ pumpkin spices)
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Episode 562 - FoBABlin’ 6: FoBAB Time Machine
11/13/2024
Episode 562 - FoBABlin’ 6: FoBAB Time Machine
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 Called Lager (Imperial dark lager aged 21 months in Peerless Straight Rye Whiskey barrels) WeldWerks Brewing & Toppling Goliath Brewing - Asesino De Medianoche (Imperial stout aged in Templeton Rye and Blanton’s barrels w/ Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans)
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