chicago breweries

New Beer Blog Pipeworks Brewing Raspberry Truffle Abduction

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery I have been wanting to try in a while.  I am talking about Pipeworks Brewing and the beer is their Raspberry Truffle Abduction.  Pipeworks Brewing was founded in 2012 in Chicago, IL by Beejay Oslon and Gerrit Lewis.  The brewery is located around the Bucktown area of Chicago.  They brew several different beers and bottle them in 22oz bottles to 750ML.  There is not much history on this brewery because it is young and upcoming brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a jet black color with a constant tan head on the beer.  The smell is heavy raspberry to it.  The taste of this light to medium body beer is heavy dry chocolate cover raspberry.  I can barely taste any of the stout.  It is really drinkable.

Here is a desecration from the beer bottle:

It is a shame human, that we must wipe from your memory the rich chocolate delight that is Raspberry Truffle Adduction.  Its soft raspberry flavor blossoming like frivolous human emotion, galactic absconce at the long-fingered hands of we cosmic plumbers.

Stop

Read Before Opening

This beer is unfiltered.  Sedimentation may occur.  For best flavor, allow bottle to chill for two hours before serving allowing for the natural yeast to settle out.  Pour slowly into your favorite glass, being careful to leave sediment behind.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.pipeworksbrewing.net

Twitter:  @PipeworksBrewin

In closing, I was pretty impressed with this beer.  The only thing I would change, however, I do not think the brewery can cut down on how much raspberries they use in the beer.  There is light taste to this stout but the raspberry over took the stout.  The stout comes across as chocolate cover raspberry.  Overall, this is a really good beer.  Please, go try this beer and let me know what you think of it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Oktoberfest

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In this 400th blog post, we are going to get into new fall seasonal from Goose Island.  It is the return of their Oktoberfest after six years absence.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Chicago craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read those beer blogs to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear amber copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell is caramel.  The taste is a heavy sweet creamy caramel without an aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Brewer’s Notes:

Brewed in the traditional Märzen style our Oktoberfest pours a brilliant copper over rose color with a bone white head. Notes of toffee and burnt sugar in the aroma and flavors of sweet dried apricots are delivered in a dry malty body with the mild earthy bitterness that is the hallmark of Hallertau hops.

Recipe Information:

Style: Märzen Alcohol by Volume: 6.4% International Bitterness Units: 17 Color: Copper Hops: Hallertau Malts: 2-Row, Carapils, Munich 10, C-20, C-40,  C-120

Availability

Seasonal Bottles: 6pks Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter;  @gooseisland

In closing, over the years, I have grown to start to dislike fall beers.  It just seems like they disappointment me every year to year.  I was happy to hear that Goose Island brought back their Oktoberfest in package.  This beer does not have that Goose Island taste like the rest of their beers.  This beer is a little different.  It is little bit more hoppier than the normal Oktoberfest.  This beer is not my favorite but it is really good brew.  It also gives me hope for all the fall seasonals again.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Revolution Brewing Rosa Hibiscus Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Revolution Brewing.  The brew that will be featured in this beer blog post is their Rosa Hibiscus Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Anti-Hero IPA, you know the history of this young Chicago based brewery.  If you have not, please, read that Anti-Hero IPA post.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a dark copper color with a shade of rose tones without a head on it. To me, there is not a smell in this beer. The taste is a sweet carbonated with some spicy kicks.There is a touch of tart in the drinking experience.  There is no aftertaste. It is extremely drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.revbrew.com):

Rosa Hibiscus Ale

A highly drinkable ale steeped with hibiscus flowers and a touch of orange peel for a natural tartness and slight pink hue.

Hibiscus Ale

ABV  5.8%IBU  15

Profile: A highly drinkable ale steeped with hibiscus

Availability: 1/6 & 1/2 bbl, 12oz cans (in 2013)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.revbrew.com

Twitter:  @revbrewchicago

In closing, I did not know what to expect from this brew.  I have to be honest.  I still do not know how I feel about this beer.  It is an easy drinkable beer.  They were successful at making this a session beer.  This is a good beer and I enjoyed drinking it. I will have to say I will never have this beer again.  Here is my thought pattern and it goes with all their six-pack cans.  This brewery makes some great beers.  I just feel the price you are paying for their beers at retail is not worth the price.  It goes for most of their twenty-two ounce bottles.  I just feel their beers should be a little bit cheaper since they are brewed here in Chicago.  I would say try it and tell me what your thoughts are about this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Metropolitan Iron Works Altbier

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In this beer blog, we are to going to sample out another beer from Metropolitan and the beer is called Iron Works Altbier.    If you read my earlier blog about their Krankshift, you know the history of this young Chicago brewery.  If you have not, please, go and read the blog post to know about this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a semi white head on the beer. The smell is a sweet malty caramel to the beer. The taste is a sweet malty carbonation to it. The aftertaste is dry malty to some kind nutty to it. I cannot figure it out. It is drinkable with a ton of flavor.

Here is a description from their website (www.metrobrewing.com):

Iron Works

An assertively hoppy top-fermented beer, polished by the wisdom and patience of lagering. Think of it as an octogenarian with a punk rock attitude. Slightly dry, this beer pairs well with hearty cuisine. We also suggest sipping it on its own; the complexity will keep you entertained and happy.

Iron Works Alt style beer goes great with sweet potato fries, speed dating, ginger snaps, horseshoes, dark chocolate, Bocce, mushroom empanadas, vegan chili, punk rock, cashews, bourbon, air hockey, tomato soup, soba noodles, bird watching, lasagna, fire-spinning, lettuce wraps, lingerie parties, pumpkin pie, mac & cheese, pot lucks, lentil stew, snow angels, falafel, Canasta, beet salad, risotto, and petting the dog.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.metrobrewing.com

Twitter:  @metrobrewing

Closing, I really enjoy drinking this beer.  I will be adding this in the rotation.  There is not too many of this beer style out on the Chicago market.  They are coming but as of right now.  This is the only Alt available that you can find just about everywhere.  I know if you go to Binny’s Beverage Depot.  You might be able to find some other ones but most Binny’s do not carry everything.  Iron Works can be pair with just about everything you can think of for food or this would be a good beer just sitting around watch the games with the guys.  There is a list of food that I pulled from their website that give you an idea what to eat with this beer.  I recommend this beer and I am looking forward to retrying their the rest of their beers.  Great jobs!  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island IPA

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Goose Island.  I am kind of stun this is my second one beer blog since I am a pretty big fan of this local Chicago brewery.  The beer we are going to talk about just took home another Gold Medal from Great American Beer Festive in this years event (2012) and it is called Goose Island India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their fall seasonal, you know a little history on this brewery.  If you have not, please read the first part of the Harvest Ale beer post.  Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a nice clear copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell is a nice grapefruit to the beer. The taste is a carbonate grapefruit without an aftertaste to the beer.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Recognized as among the world’s finest, Goose Island’s India Pale Ale has a spicy hop aroma and an inviting fruity flavor.  This exceptional beer is one you will not soon forget.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Brewer’s Notes:

Our India Pale Ale recalls a time when ales shipped from England to India were highly hopped to preserve their distinct taste during the long journey. The result is a hop lover’s dream with a fruity aroma, set off by a dry malt middle, and long hop finish.

Recipe Information:

Style: English Style India Pale Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 5.9%

International Bitterness Units: 55

Color: Bourbon

Hops: Styrian, Fuggle, Cascade, Centennial

Malts: Pale

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Thistle

Food Pairings: Curries, Chicken, Pork

Cheese Pairings: Blue, Aged Gouda

Cellaring Notes: Enjoy within 180 days

Availability:

Year Round Bottles: 6pks Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

World Beer Cup Recognition:

Judging Category: English Style India Pale Ale

2010: Gold  Medal

Great American Beer Festival Recognition:

Judging Category: English Style India Pale Ale

2009: Silver Medal

2007: Silver Medal

2004: Silver Medal

2001: Bronze Medal

2000: Gold Medal

Here is their webiste and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter;  @gooseisland

In closing, I really enjoy this beer and it is part of my everyday line up of beers.  It is pretty much always in my frig.  This is the staple of any India Pale Ale style.  It is an English style so it is not overly hop like some of those west coast India Pale Ale.  This beer always gives me the break from the over the top hoppy beers on the market.  I realize that AB Inbev brought this beer company and everyone believe that this brewery will go to crap.  It is not the case.  There beers will constant and get better because of the technology that this big brewery will give this small brewery.  They will get the best hops, malt, and anything else this brewery needs and wants to make some great beers.  Goose Island is staying close to the Chicago market.  John Hall, who was the founder and former owner of this brewery, stepped down as president just this last week.  It does not mean this brewery will change.  If it does change, I believe it will be for the best.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Goose Island Harvest Ale

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In this fall beer blog, we are going to take a look at one of the pioneers of the craft beer world in Chicago.  The beer and brewery are Goose Island Brewery and the beer is Harvest Ale, which replace their Oktoberfest two to three years ago.  Here is a belief history of this great Chicago Brewery.  The brewery started in 1988 by John Hall in Chicago, Illinois.  The first beer that was brew was their Honkers Ale, which is an English Style Ale.  Greg Hall, who is John Hall’s son, took over as a brewmaster and came up with this recipe for their Vintage Line, their winter seasonal, which is Mild Winter and several other brews.   Greg Hall stepped down as brewmaster when Goose Island was sold to AB InBev.  He is now making Cider, which is sold in Midwest only.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear dark copper color with a constant white head on the beer.  There is some fall earthly orange smell to the beer.  This Harvest Ale has a slight citrus to malty taste without an aftertaste.  It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Brewer’s Notes:

Brewed in honor of the Harvest season this copper colored ESB is made with Cascade hops and the richest Midwestern malts. A fruity American hop aroma and a toasty malt character make Goose Island Harvest Ale an extra special beer worthy of your devotion.

Recipe Information:

Style: American Extra Special Bitter Alcohol by Volume: 5.7% International Bitterness Units: 35 Color: Copper Hops: Cascade Malts: 2 Row, Wheat, Caramel, Pale

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Willi Food Pairings: Chicken, Pork, Turkey, Sausages Cheese Pairings: Cheddar, Aged Gouda Cellaring Notes: Enjoy within 180 days

Availability:

Seasonal (September-October) Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

Great American Beer Festival Recognition:

Judging Category: Extra Special Bitter 2011: Bronze Medal

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gooseisland.com

Twitter:  @gooseisland

In closing, I love the hoppy taste that is in this Extra Special Bitter.  This beer was design to have that when the trend was the over hop beers.  This beer gives you a nice balance from the hops and the malts.  This is not my favorite beer for the fall but I will at least enjoy a few six packs of it.  As a beer drinker, this brewery gives you two different Extra Special Bitters.  Fall is the hoppy one.  Mild Winter, which is their winter seasonal, will give you the next malt drinkable in the middle of the harsh winters.  Being a fall seasonal, I would go and get some soon! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Website:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Metropolitan Krankshaft

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In my 160th blog post, we are going to check out one of the newer breweries in the Chicago area that has popped up in the last 7 years.  The brewery I am talking about is Metropolitan and the beer is their Krankshaft.  Here is a little history on this brewery.  Metropolitan Brewery was founded in 2008 by Doug and Tracey Hurst in the Ravenswood Neighborhood of Chicago, IL.  Their beers are the German Style.  They brewery several different brews in the German Style.  Let us get into this beer.

Krankshaft is one of their everyday six-pack beers and is unique to see this style of beer be available everyday.  In most cases, brewery’s Kolsch is a Spring or Summer Seasonal.  It has a pale yellow color with a little white head on the beer.  It has a slight citrus smell.  It has a nice slight citrus taste and a nice dry crisp aftertaste.  It is very drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.metrobrewing.com):

Brewed in homage to the beer of Cologne, Krankshaft is a pale straw hued smile in a glass. We throw in a little wheat malt to round out an easy Santiam hop bitterness. There are no Köbes to serve them up, but you should feel free to have as many as you like.

Krankshaft Kölsch style beer goes great with fruit salad, sailing, pot stickers, graduation parties, gyros, kick ball, pistachios, cole slaw, Star Trek marathons, miso, rye vodka, canoeing, dinner waffles, dal, gelato, star gazing, popcorn, beach combing, barbeque, lawn chairs, chiles rellenos, muenster cheese, Black Jack, hummus & pita, pinball, guacamole, gardening, French Onion soup, and yoga.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.metrobrewing.com

Twitter:  @metrobrewing

In closing, I was not a fan of this brewery at first because when they came out I was not into German Craft Beer Styles.  However, when they first started,  I still wanted to check them out anyways.  I did try them out and did not like their beers ar first.  I am just being honest, however, I tried their beers again of late.  Where I try this beer, I knew it was fresh because they tapped it right in front of me.  I wish they had a brewpub so I could try their all their beers.  I went to their website and I noticed  they do brewery tours.  I would love to get into one but it looks like they do not have any tours happening anytime soon.  I will be checking back to see if they have updates on more brewery tours.  This is one of the best Kolsch Craft Style that I have had in a long time.  It has a ton of flavor but the drinkablity like mass produce American Lager.  It has a better taste of course.  This beer could switch a ton of those American lager drinkers.  It is smooth and crisp but enough fruity notes to make the alehead happy.  Since I cannot get Schlafly Kolsch, I will be adding this my line up beers.   This is a great beer and I am happy that is Chicago Brewery is not copying what the other Chicago Craft Breweries are doing in the market.  I highly recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Fall Beer Blog Revolution Brewery Oktoberfest

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During Football season, we are going to take a look at another brew from Revolution Brewery.  This is their fall seasonal which is called Oktoberfest.  If you read my earlier blog on their Anti-Hero, you know a little something about this brewery.  If not, please, read the first part of that beer blog.  Let us get into the beer.

This fall beer has a nice copper color without a head on it.  It has a sweet caramel malty smell to the beer.  The taste has some caramel notes along with some malty notes.  The aftertaste makes this beer extremely drinkable for a Fall Beer and Oktoberfest.  The aftertaste is a dry malty.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.revbrew.com):

OKtoberfest

A classic German-style Oktoberfest beer that goes down smooth with a pleasant, toasty malt flavor. Hallertauer Hersbrucker hops give the beer a crisp, balanced bitterness and a spicy, earthy aroma.

German-style Oktoberfest

ABV  5.7%IBU  25

Profile: Classic German-style Oktoberfest beer

Availability: 1/6 & 1/2 bbl, 12oz cans

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.revbrew.com

Twitter:  @revbrewchicago

In closing, I had several Fall and Oktoberfest beers through out the years.  I had a ton this year and there are only a few that are really good and then there are some that are really bad.  It has been very disappointing this years for fall beers.  I use to hang out at their brewpub in Logan Square and I never had this beer.  I have to say that I am not really that impressed with it.  I loved their Anti-Hero IPA and this was a real let down.  I am not a fan of this beer for the price and the liquid inside the bottle, draft, and cans.  There are better Oktoberfest at a better value.  I feel their beers are overpriced for being from Chicago.  Just because, I am not a fan of this beer.  It does not mean you will not like this beer and rest of their bews.  Please go try them and share your thoughts with me and others.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Two Brothers Outlaw India Pale Ale

Starting a new beer blog, this is the first beer from Two Brothers Brewery that I am blogging about and the beer is Outlaw IPA.  Two Brothers was founded in 1996 in Warrenville, IL by Jim and Jason Ebel.  They brew several different beer styles and some of them they do a twist to some of the classic beer styles.  Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a copper color without a head on it.  The smell is of earthly to piney.  The taste of this IPA is earthly to piney with dry hoppy aftertaste.  It is not really a drinkable beer.

Here is a descripation from the beer can:

As bold as the name suggests but as friendly as the masked man, comes our first world of cans.  This IPA is full of citrus and pine hop character and aroma.  The hop flavors play off the pleasant malt complexity like a good sidekick.   Giddy-up.  60 IBU 6.3% ALC/VOL

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.twobrosbrew.com

Twitter:  @twobrothersbeer

In closing, one of many new breweries being opened in Chicago area and this is one of the newer ones.  Two Brothers are growing at a rapid rate and I believe it is taking away from quality of the beer.  When I moved to Chicago, I was excited to try all the breweries at that time in 2005.  Two Brothers was on that list and I loved their beers back then.  I just feel their beers have loss something.  It could be passion or rushing the beers through the brewing process to keep up with demand. Outlaw IPA does not have enough malty backbone to my taste buds as a hop head.  It is all bitterest and that does not make this hop head happy. It kills the hop taste for me. This beer is a huge let down and I love my craft beer in a can.  This beer is selling pretty good and I believe it is because it is local brew.  General Chicago Craft Beer Drinkers’ pallets are still growing and I hope these local beer companies realize and step up to make some good beer.  I am not saying this the worse India Pale Ale.  I believe it is average India Pale Ale and this brewery could do better.  Just believe, I say this before.  It does not mean you might not like this beer.  Please, go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner

Starting a new tab, we are going to sample out a beer, which is Baderbrau Brewing Company, called Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner.  The brewery, which is Pavichevich Brewing Company, was founded in 1988 by Kenneth Pavichevich, who was a former Chicago Police Officer.  He travel Europe and enjoyed find beers.  He believed that Chicago should have its own world class beer.  Kenneth filed for bankrupt and then sold to Goose Island Brewery in 1997.  It was later named Golden Goose Pils and later Goose Island Pils.  They stop brewing the beer in 2002 and lanched a beer called 312 Urban Wheat as a draft only and then bottles.  This pilsner was replace by one of the biggest craft brand in Chicago right now.  This beer returned in 2012 under Baderbrau Brewery Company in Chicago.  Let us get into the beer.

This pilsner has a dark golden color with a constant white head on the beer. There is really no smell to the beer.  The taste of the beer is the normal import pilsner. Even though the beer is a craft beer here in Chicago.  It is crisp dry and refreshing with a huge drinkable aspect to it.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

Chicago’s Original Craft Beer

In 1989, when Barderbrau was first introduced in Chicago, its upstart spirit, revolutionary nature, and award-winning flavor won accolades and captured the imagination of a great city.  Rooted in the old-world ideas of Eastern Europe’s top craftmen and infused with bold American character, this beerdared to be greater.  This beer started Chicago’s craft revolution.  This Beer.  In your hand—now.

Its deep amber color, spicy hop-forward aroma, malty body, and creamy finish sets it apart from all others.  With an unconventional blend of the finest ingredients—North American water, exacting proportions of imported German aromatic Noble hops accenting Czech Saaz, an exclusive stain of European lager yeast, and robust malts from the USA—it defines a style all its own.  Baderbrau Chicago Pilsner.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.baderbrau.com

Twitter:  @baderbrau

Closing out the tab, this pilsner has that old school European feel to it.  I am just now getting into pilsner beer style.  I have to say this beer is interesting.  I do enjoy this beer and I do remember seeing Goose Island Pils in the market when I first moved to Chicago.  I never had it and I wonder if they could resurface that beer.  I know they will not do that because they want to be known as an Ale House.  This beer has a ton of flavor and exetremely drinkable.  A beer drinker could drink this in a Chicago Summer days to Winter days.  I love this beer and I am glad to see it back in Chicagoland area.  It is drinking the history of Chicago Craft history in your hand.  Go try and tell me your thoughts on this beer.  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser