In this special Saturday Beer Blog, we are going to get ahead of everyone in the Chicago market on these beers.  Speakeasy Brewery is coming to Chicago starting next week and I was able to get hold of some bottles to review them before it hits the shelves.  When I heard about them coming, I was excited to have them available everyday in Chicago.  Speakeasy going with the theme of the Prohibition era or I like to say one of the dark times in American history.  This brewery was founded in 1997 by Steve Bruce and Forest Gray.  They are known for their over the top hoppy beers that range from 5% to 10% in their beers.   Let us get into the beer.

This beer has a clear golden color without a head on it. The smell is a heavy mango to this Extra Pale Ale. The taste of this medium body is a carbonation mango with a bland aftertaste. I can see some think this beer is drinkable and others might not think it is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Tallulah mesmerizes with tropical fruit aromas and a radiant golden glow.  This show-stopper is dry-hopped with Calyso and El Dorado hops and will leave you begging for an encore.

This beer has an amber brown color without a head on it. The smell is a sweet caramel malt. The taste is a smooth creamy caramel with a dry finish. It is drinkable beer and is a session beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Prohibition Ale is a boldly hopped amber ale that strikes a perfect balance between caramel maltiness and its aggressive hopping.

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

Prohibition Ale is the first beer we bootlegged back in the early days of the brewery. Anything but traditional, Prohibition pours a deep reddish amber hue, with a fluffy tan head that leaves a beautiful lacing on the glass. A lush, complex aroma teases the senses with juicy grapefruit,  citrus, pine, spice and candied caramel malts. Mouthfeel is creamy, with a silky, medium body and modest carbonation.

Style: American-Style Amber Ale

ABV: 6.1%

IBU: 45

Color: 15L – Copper, Dark Amber, Red

Barley: Two Row Pale, CaraMunich, Chilean Caramel

Hops: Chinook, Cascade, Centennial

Yeast: California Ale

This beer has a red color without a head on it. The smell is a sweet malty caramel to the beer. The taste is carbonation malty to a slight spicy from the rye with a dry malty to a touch of hop finish. It is a drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Scarlett Red Rye Ale captivates with an act that ranges from sweet hop highs to spicy rye tones.  Scarlett hits the notes that will set your heart on fire.

This beer is a clear golden with a semi white head on it. The smell is a heavy piney. The taste of this full body is a heavy piney to earthy with a dry earthy aftertaste. It is a sipping beer and it is not drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

No lightweight, Big Daddy IPA tips the scales with a huge hop flavor and clean dry finish that leaves the scene without a trace.

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

No lightweight, Big Daddy IPA tips the scales with a huge hop flavor and a clean, dry finish that leaves the scene without a trace.

Big Daddy IPA is a hop-head’s delight, a generously dry-hopped yet surprisingly drinkable American-style India Pale Ale. Poured into a standard American pint glass, the beer is a golden straw color, with tight carbonation and a slightly off-white head that leaves a lovely lacing. The aroma is floral, fresh grass, pine needles, grapefruit and subtle notes of fresh bread.

Style: India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: 55

Color: 5L – Golden

Barley: Two Row Pale, Light Munich

Hops: Columbus, Cascade, Centennial

Yeast: California Ale

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.goodbeer.com

Twitter:  @SpeakeasyBeer

Closing out, all of these beers are really good and I enjoyed trying them. Some of these beer styles are not up my alley but good. Speakeasy did a great job on their beers and packaging. This brewery is a complete package. Big Daddy IPA is line with the rest of the west coast IPA but I feel gives you something more than the rest. I do not know what it is. Their Prohibition Ale is little bit more hopper than the normal Amber Ales. Plus Prohibition Ale is a session beer which I like it. Their Tallulah Ale has a wonderful smell and tasting experience. The Scarlett Red Rye Ale is kind of like Prohibition Ale but has a spicy kick to it. So you have to ask which one did I like and did not like. I loved these beers in this order Tallulah, Prohibition Ale, Big Daddy IPA, and Scarlett. I am not a huge fan of red ales and I am not saying that Scarlett is a bad beer, which it is not. It is not my favorite beer style. I love Big Daddy but I liked the Prohibition Ale and Tallulah even more. I highly recommend you trying these beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser