Recent Happenings

There has been a lot of great beer stuff happening around the city. Yesterday I was in Andersonville at an Irish restaurant/pub. The place itself was gorgeous: a library, lots of wood paneling, not too many televisions. It was mid afternoon, but the overall atmosphere was great. What I particularly enjoyed was the craft beer menu. I've noticed this more and more at places, especially around the north side of the city. There was an ample selection of craft beer, and I don't believe a macro brew was even served. It's hard to imagine that in a few short years such extensive beer lists would become common. I recently dined at Fork in Lincoln Square (which has a great burger and summer salad) and it was the same thing. An extensive beer list. Now, a lot of the beers won't be rare or hard to find, but they do fit the bill and offer more selection to pair with a mood, meal or atmosphere. It was a cool late summer day, and my wife and I sat outside. I ordered a Scottish ale, which paired nicely with the crisp weather.

Some other Andersonville news: the Hopleaf is having a dinner Tuesday with the Ancient Ales of Dogfish Head. There will be a variety of beers paired with food. The idea is simple: find old recipes for beers and give them a whirl. It's given Dogfish Head some remarkable beers. Tickets are $75.

Also, you might want to get in on this: Hopleaf is holding a raffle for a five-year vertical of Dark Lord. I haven't had this stuff in years, but it is great. I actually had the fortunate pleasure of being at the first-ever Dark Lord premiere. It was like melted ice cream and there were only about a dozen of us. It certainly has grown over the years. Anyway, you can go to Hopleaf and for $20 get in the raffle. It benefits Kegs for Kids.

Side note: City Provisions on Wilson is going start brewing special beers. You can read more about it at Chicagoist.

MillerCoors Sales Decline

According to bizjournals.com, MillerCoors sales have declined for its crap macro brew section. Now, MillerCoors isn't a craft brewer, but it is based in Chicago. The company's sales for its "craft" beer section increased by double digits. All of its premium and subpremium sections declined. MillerCoors is trying to blame this on the economy, but it looks like there is fundamental shift in drinking habits. I hope this is more writing on the wall for these anti-competitive companies such as MillerCoors. Keep supporting your local beer!

Be Your Own Brewmaster

I saw this place when I was at the Ribfest over the summer, and even though I don't have the space for my own home brewing setup, I was nonetheless completely stoked about the idea of buying a house and setting up my own brewing masterpiece. The Brew Camp store is sort of like a general store for home brewing. Not only do they have all your material goods (e.g., malts, etc.), but they also have knowledgeable people to get novices off the ground. If you're like me, you'll need the help. It's great to see the craft beer movement in Chicago moving from microbrews to people making their own beer. (See the Square Kegs post earlier.) You can read more about Brew Camp at the Center Square Journal.

Make Your Own Beer and Brats

Brewer & Winemaker Supply out of south Chicago is hosting a make your beer and brat even June 25 at noon at the Marriott downtown. It looks like it'll be a lunch and learn, which is an informal gathering to discuss the techniques of making your own beer and brats. Now, I'm sure that making your own beer at home is not too difficult, but making your own brats? Stuffed casings of meat? It'd be interesting enough just to see what they are talking about.

You can find the event at the Brewer & Winemaker Supply's website.

Beer and Cheese Pairing at the Grafton

The Grafton in Lincoln Square is pairing with Provenance to bring a beer and cheese tasting event on June 26. In addition to pulled pork and other culinary delights paired with spirits, there will be a tasting of Hook's Cheese from Wisconsin with Bridgeport Highland Ambush Scotch Ale. There will be live Irish music, too. The Grafton is one of Chicago's greatest little Irish bars that ignores the whole "Chi-rish" crap and focuses on food and drink. Provenance is also a great local store that carefully selects food and drink in a boutique setting. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 the day of the event. You learn more at the Grafton's website.

Half Acre Hike

Now this is a way to get exercise and drink beer. A bevy of Northside bars are having a Half Acre hike. Half Acre, Acre Restaurant, Hop Leaf and Fountainhead will all have Meat Wave on tap. The "hike" will start at Half Acre, head up to Acre Restaurant, go to Hop Leaf and finish at Fountainhead. It starts at 4 p.m. If you don't have to work in the afternoon or late or maybe even get up early this might be just for you. In fact, just take the day and next day off. That's a lot of beer to be drinking and ending at Fountainhead is just begging for a late-night romp (maybe ending at Jerry's?). This is the way it's meant to be done: having a couple of pints, stretching the legs and enjoying a few more. There are a few spots left, so hurry up!

Missing Beer, More Beer

I have a confession: I haven't been drinking as much craft beer as I'd like. It's mostly been due to a lack of funds. Even though craft beer provides a much better experience and supports local business, sometimes the price makes a six pack of craft beer out of reach. This is the classic dilemma: is it possible to create a well crafted beer that is also affordable? Living in Chicago, beers are subjected to a bunch of taxes and an inflated cost. This usually leaves the major macros in a position to undercut craft brewers by offering discounts on volume or by using some other dubious ethical strategies. As much as I love craft beer for what it represents, there is something very bourgeoisie about it. Most craft beer enthusiasts are in the financial place to enjoy the beer, which strikes against the more egalitarian, democratic nature of the movement. There are obvious factors living in Chicago that will always keep prices high. Even if the taxes were lowered, the nature of living in the city will cause a price inflation. Them's the breaks. There's also the issue of quality ingredients, lower volume and attention to detail. Right now, it costs to enjoy craft beer.

So what to do? Implement balance. If you can't afford to be drinking craft beer all the time, it is at least nice to strike a balance between cocktails, wine and craft beer. Drink craft beer when you can. The best time is this coming week. Chicago Craft Beer week is promising to be amazing.

The event at the Garfield Park Conservatory on May 19 looks phenomenal. Alas, tickets are $50, but there are 25 breweries represented and the location is unbeatable. For someone who enjoys sitting in Millennium park during a concert looking at the skyline, the location can pair just as well with a craft beer as cheese and a burger.

May 21 is the Beerfly Alleyfight at Haymarket. I'm still kicking myself for not making it down to this place. I also like the brewery's commitment to literature. In a great literary city like Chicago, it is only natural to combine beer and writing. There will be 10 home brewers combined with artists. Maybe the double IPA John Coltrane Ode or the imperial stout Nelson Red Line. Who knows? 

I've written about this before, but the Chicago History Museum is putting on the Voyage of the IPA on May 22. Learn about the IPA in America while tasting various styles. I love that Chicago likes to combine learning and drinking. Perhaps it's the romanticism or the European influence of the city's history.

An understated beer style is the sour beer. Most people can't stand this. I don't see why! It is so good. Anyway, the Bristol is having a sour tasting night with Goose Island. I'm conflicted about adding Goose Island as it isn't a craft beer but part of a large mutlitnational corporation, so it goes against everything about this blog; however, some of the beers are good and the style is seriously overlooked.

On May 27, the Map Room, the venerable Chicago stalwart, is debuting new beers from 5 Rabbit Brewery, which says it is the first ever Latin microbrewery in the U.S. Honestly, I don't know what that means, but trying new beers debuting in Chicago is always an event.

Keeipng an Eye Out: Microbrewers Self-Distribution Bill Passes Senate

Here's some potentially good news: the Illinois senate passed a bill that will allow microbreweries to self-distribute their own beer. This is good news because it allows small fledgling operations (like Finch and Pipeworks) to get their beer to market in a way that doesn't leverage the current three-tier system against them. The bill still has to go to the house and be signed by Quinn, but it's a good start.

You can read more here and here.

Now This is Just Stupid

Now, I try to keep everything on a craft beer level, but sometimes stupidity just requires to be called out. I came across this press release by Coors that promises to achieve super coldness. Yes, not just cold, but super cold. In case your beer drinking was being negatively impacted by the simple coldness of your beer, Coors has decided to go a step further with a two-stage activation process to make its crappy beer Super Cold!!! Take that summer.

The extent of this is Coors' new incredibly stupid marketing campaign. The beer appears to be exactly the same, but now a new "strip" is added to the label to indicate when it is Super Cold. Coors tries to back this decision up by saying that 70 percent of drinkers put beer in a freezer to get it cold. Of course, it is to get the beer cold, but also in Coors case to get it cold enough to drink. A better strip would be something that said, "Hey this beer sucks warm. Make sure it is at least this cold before you drink otherwise you will hate yourself. Also, if you are not in college or at NASCAR, you should not be drinking this beer at all."

In another case of hell freezing over, Ice Cube (yeah from NWA) is going to be advertising the beer. Really Ice Cube? This might just trump Snoop Dogg shilling for AOL. This is the best Coors can do? Unfortunately, I'm sure there will be a lot of tailgaters all to willing to buy a case because they think a girl in a bikini will come out on some snow-encrusted train.

Good Find from Argentina

Even though I try to focus on Chicago-only beers, I also like to look at beers outside of Chicago that are sold within the city. There is of course many great beers made all over the place, and the great part of the city is that there are more options than the local supermarket or gas station (and believe me, I've lived in places where the local Meijer is the only place to get beer).

I've written about Gene's in Lincoln Square many times, and one of the best aspects of the place is its constantly rotating stock. Some places tend to keep the same types of beer with minimal diversification. It's the same selection every time. This might work when you want something specific, but a place really worth its salt will have typical standbys and different brews to check out. It keeps it fresh and interesting.

Today, I'm working on La Bella Figura's website (an amazing natural beauty line) and to fuel the senses, I stopped at Gene's for some lunch: basically a turkey sandwich (it is much more than that, trust me) and a beer. It's a rainy day, and I'm feeling a bit European, so I thought what the hell. What I picked up was Otro Mundo's Red Ale. It's from Argentina and has a dark roasted malt nose with bright fruit flavors. It's a great find and relatively inexpensive.

There are many great beers to try from all over the world, and one of the best aspects of trying craft beer is the opportunity to travel without leaving your home. Even though I've never been to Argentina, I'm able to have a beer from a part of the world I've never been. It briefly allows me to look into that culture. One of the greatest aspects of traveling isn't just the art or sites, but the food, people and culture. Beer makes up that culture just as much as a restaurant. Drinking this beer, for a moment, makes me feel more connected to the world at large, in a way that drinking Coors or something similar just doesn't.

Half Acre Craft Beer Week

I just came across Half Acre's post about the events it is having during Craft Beer Week. Quite impressive. Highlights include the beer under glass at the Garfield Park Conservatory and the event at the Empty Bottle, where a band called The Growlers will perform and Half Acre will take over the beer lines. There will also be a special tour that ends up at Acre, Hop Leaf and the Fountainhead. Also, in Bridgeport Half Acre and 3 Floyds will partner at Maria's. Arguably the best two brewers in the region in Bridgeport.

I'm loving Half Acre's take on Craft Beer Week. It's keeping in the democratic, everyman spirit of craft beer: keeping it local and artistic. To commemorate Craft Beer Week, Half Acre is also releasing a new beer called Meat Wave. It's going to be an IPA, which is great; however, with a name like Meat Wave, I was hoping for a smoked beer.

Anyway, check out Half Acre's blog for more information about its upcoming Craft Beer Week events.

In addition to Meat Wave, there's another beer that has come out, which honors the greatest known people of earth: gingers. As a natural redhead, I cannot say how important it is that gingers have a beer to call their own. Actually, this Half Acre brew, called Ginger Twin, is an India-style red ale. There is also a discount for gingers, gingers with longshoreman beards, and twins with red hair and longshoreman beards. I'm sans the beard and twin, but maybe I'll head over to get my discount.

Finch is Everywhere

Great news, but Finch beer looks like it is getting major play in the city. Just checking out their Facebook page shows that it is at Hop Leaf, Acre, Finnegan's, Maple Tree Inn (!), Bar on Buena, Bad Apple, Sheffields. Amazing. It is nice to see a local brewery start up and getting accounts quickly in the city. It shows just how much support Chicago has for locally produced beer. It's also an encouraging sign to other breweries that are starting up in the city. When people talk about local economy, this is what they mean. Not only is there the actual production, but also the roots in the community and the secondary economies as well. Hats off to Finch.

Beer Menu

I've been stumbling around the Internets looking for more information on where to find great beer in the city. Luckily, my eagle-eyed wife, Karen, came across perhaps one of the greatest inventions of mankind: Beer Menus. It's a website that lists the different bars around the city and where to great good beer. I know places in my local neighborhood (Bad Apple, Fountainhead, etc.), but when it comes to other areas, I'm lost.

It lists places by neighborhood or what places have cask beers (11 so far, which I hope more places embrace). It lists events and has deals. Just from looking over the events, these stand out:

Evil Twin debuts in the Midwest at Local Option on May 2. The weakest beer listed is 8%. That sounds like a fun Monday.

Medusa and burger pairing at the Bad Apple on May 5. I haven't tried the beer, but the burgers at Bad Apple are worth the trip alone. Plus, add in all of the other great beers and you can't miss.

Craft beer night at Mitchell's Tap. OK, the selection isn't out of this world, but it is Bridgeport and to see craft beer making its way into this area is a good sign. I remember when Mitchell's Tap was Puffer's, a dive-type of bar that had decent beer and jazz on Thursdays. I think the owners sold and it sort of changed and became, for a bit at least, more hoodish, with signs banning baseball caps and the like. Halsted in Bridgeport has the character to become one of the great art/shopping/bar/restaurant strips in the city. There is a lot of great character, easily walkable, lots of great storefronts and the Ramova theater, which needs to be rehabbed. Ah, Bridgeport.

With a city exploding in craft beer, it's great to have more and more resources available.

Craft Beer Week: History Style

Chicago is celebrating Craft Beer week May 19 to May 27. Much like Record Store Day or some other type of week-long event, the craft beer week intends to heighten the visibility of craft beer around the country. In Chicago that means Half Acre, Finch, Revolution, Metropolitan and others (sadly no longer Goose Island as it is now owned by Bud/InBev). There will be ton of events, and you can check it out over at The Brew Bros.

To celebrate, the Chicago History Museum is holding an event to coincide with Craft Beer week. There will be pub crawls, including dive bars in the city and a theme centered around bootlegging (of course). There will also be a focus on German bars in Chicago and the history of IPA.

For such a relatively new city, Chicago has an interesting background, especially when it comes to beer. German immigrants were highly influential in bringing beer and its culture to Chicago. The labor movement had many of its roots in German activists, and the drinking of beer was essential to their culture. Even when Bathhouse and the Hink were running the vice ward, many temperance activists were trying to make Chicago dry. This was also a way to discriminate against the pro-labor heavy drinking German immigrants. Of course, the labor movement, temperance and the multiple cultures in Chicago helped to lead to one of the most infamous periods: Al Capone, Machine Gun Jack McGurn and the mobsters of the early 20th century.

See, beer doesn't have to be all about detecting fine notes of caramel or admiring the lacing on the side of the glass. It also doesn't have to be about getting wasted. Learning and liquor are synonymous. Check out the Chicago History Museum and Chicago Beer Week for more information.

Come back for more information about Craft Beer Week and what's happening at Finch brewery.

Two Big Beers Coming Out of Chicago

It's spring in the city and summer is around the corner, but two breweries are about to offer two heavy beers to sip while you watching the buds grow. Haymarket Pub & Brewery has an imperial stout fermenting away and will be going to bourbon barrels later. Depending on how long they lay this beer down, it could come out in the fall, which is a much better time for imperial stouts. Well, actually any time is good for imperial stouts. This time of year though I'm starting to look for lighter beers, perhaps a saison. Even though these were meant to be drunk during late summer, I find having a saison on a nice spring day does the trick. For a lighter beer, Haymarket is offering its Bridgeport IPA. I was a former Bridgeport resident, so I might go check this out, for research. A nicer tribute would have been a pilsner to reflect the area's historical Lithuanian and European roots. Today I guess, with all the hipsters, you could just pour a PBR into a fancy bottle.

The next big beer is a barleywine coming from Half Acre. This will be available April 8 and should be a pretty big beer. I associate this more with winter, but what the hell. Half Acre will also be putting out a one-off Kolsch beer. It's one of my least favorite styles, but it's a nice spring/summer beer. Cheers!

Revolution to Start Bottling Beers; Learn History While Drunk

Even though Goose Island got into a pact with the devil, at least Revolution Brewing in Logan Square is helping to fill the void. The brewery/brewpub announced that it will start selling beers beers in bottles and cans. This is great news for Chicago beer lovers. Even though I am mixed on Revolution's beers, this is a step in the right direction for small local breweries. Once, Chicago had hundreds of breweries that usually served the immediate neighborhoods. Why people like Goose Island feel that having a multistate operation is the only way to go, amazes me. Perhaps it is about money. However, running a good brewery that employs people, stays local and stays creative should be the goal. I'm hoping that Revolution goes this route, instead of the Goose Island path, which Revolution's brewer already hinted at. Perhaps, one day we can see the value of just making a good product before a good profit.

Several years ago I went on a literary pub crawl in Dublin. It was a great way to drink beer and learn about Irish literature. It was also the time I was introduced to a Sussex girl from around London who couldn't believe that I hadn't heard about Sussex girls. Quite an interesting evening. Well, the Chicago Architecture Foundation is getting on the act by hosting an architectural pub crawl to honor its 40th anniversary. Seriously, being in one of the greatest architectural cities in the world, learn about architecture and drinking beer? That's one amazing night.

Rereading the Goose Island Sale

Much ink has been spilled over what it means that Goose Island has sold out to Bud. Is it good for the city of Chicago? Is it good for craft beer? Many liken this to the transformation of Marshall Fields to Macy's, and if that is any indication, what we can expect to see is a watered-down version of a once-loved Chicago icon.

In an article defending the actions of Goose Island, the owner of the Hop Leaf, Michael Roper, likens this to a win-win situation: Bud gets a craft beer and Goose Island gets money. For some reason, this means that craft beer drinkers have "won" because Bud acknowledges it can't brew a good beer and Goose Island wins because it gets money to get a new brewery. So, Bud wins and Goose Island wins. Does that mean the people of Chicago win? Hardly.

Bud buying Goose Island is not about craft beer victories or Bud hanging its head in defeat acknowledging that it can't brew beer. It's about money and market share. Like any good megacorporation that wants to cloak its true intentions, it hides behind a front that claims to be "local" or "organic." In the green movement, this is know as greenwashing. Cutesy Burt's Bees is owned by Clorox. Tom's of Maine sold out to Colgate, which tests on animals. People don't know that some of their favorite "ma and pa" brands are funneling money to huge corporations that care little about the environment or their communities.

To see a great example of this, we have to look no further than Bud. When InBev took over Bud (and it was allowed for pure profit), people in St. Louis started to look at more community-oriented beers. (You can read an article here.) The people in St. Louis know firsthand how Bud has turned its back on the community, which is even more impressive considering how depressed the economy St. Louis really is. So, while Bud gets to rake in the cash, the pride of St. Louis is gone. If Bud can do it to its own hometown, is there any indication it won't do it to Chicago?

Perhaps because he is a businessman, Roper looks at everything through the prism of capitalism. It seems that all business activity is good business activity, regardless of what it means to the people that those businesses serve. He seems to assert that if Macy's didn't take over Marshall Field's that it would still be a vacant building. Hardly. It's the same line we've been told by Walmart, Target and Bud: only large business corporations can salvage any part of any city. Without their help, everything will decay. This seems to negate the point of community-driven business, which is one of the appealing parts of craft beer.

Craft beer is a way for communities to support themselves and to take part in the creating of their own identity. As everything does become Walmarts and Targets and Bud, we take pride in those small differences that make us unique. Portland has its beers. So does San Diego. So does Chicago, but now one less. Will buying a brewery suddenly make Bud changes its ways? No. It is far too large and powerful to really care about what one small segment, even if it is growing, does. Profit does not lie in craft beer. My guess is that Bud will pump money into Goose Islands less exciting beers, especially 312, which shows up at every summer festival. They can reduce the cost and jack up the price. It will be slightly more costly than a Bud but double or triple the price because Bud thinks that by labeling something "craft" will put it at a premium. Roper is deluding himself if he thinks this is some altruistic part on Bud. Sure, they might let someone at Goose Island toy around, but if lines need to be cut, look for that first unprofitable area to go.

For a better idea of what $30+ million means to Bud: in 2010 Bud spent $1.2 billion to be the sponsor of the NFL. That's enough to buy around 30 Goose Islands, and that's just a marketing expense for Bud. This doesn't include individual team deals or the Super Bowl. The Goose Island acquisition is akin to Google or Microsoft buying a company, toying with it and then shutting it down.

Where does this leave Chicago? With one less craft brewer and a bit more of its identity gone. Perhaps this is part of being a global city: it's common in London and New York, but not so in Chicago, which has a history of independence. Lately, we've seen the Sears Tower change names, Marshall Fields disappear, Carsons on State turning into a Target and numerous small community stores turn into chains. More and more companies want to get into Chicago, and with that a bit of the identity of the city dies. Why would anyone even travel when all cities are beginning to look alike? Are we too far off from a Goose Island chain opening in Las Vegas or Orlando?

Only time will tell if Goose Island suffers or changes. Regardless of what Mr. Hall thinks he might have arranged, a corporation can and will change what it wants to. I work in a large Fortune 500 company that buys out smaller companies. It does change. The culture changes. The people change. The decisions move to corporate. It's how the business world works. At first, there is a lot of hand shaking and getting to know everybody and promises that things will stay the same. As people move in and out of positions, slowly the company comes into the fold, losing the identity that once made it valuable. It just becomes part of the company. Soon, Goose Island will just become part of Bud and it's ever-expanding empire of cheap beer and high margins.

Tribune Looks into Craft Beer

The Chicago Tribune ran an article about the explosiveness of craft beer. There really isn't much detail or anything new. It's mostly a reaction against Goose Island and how people are starting to wake up to craft beer, especially in Chicago. It also does highlight how close to the edge these brewers are and how difficult it is for them to keep up with demand, and demand is booming. I walked past Half Acre today, and there was a half-block long line for the tour.

It's interesting to see how craft beer is taking off. Let's not kid ourselves, macro beer is still king, especially in places outside of metropolitan areas. Perhaps it's a movement toward more taste. I think for a lot of people choosing craft beer is a way to buck the major corporations that tend to run our lives. If we can't avoid using big banks or slaving away to some faceless corporation, perhaps through what we drink we can support regular people who have dreams of opening a brewery. It's also something that is maybe every beer drinker's dream: that long talked of goal of opening a bar or brewery. Maybe we live through these people by drinking their beer.

With the selling out of Goose Island, it'll be interesting to see how many of these brewers stay independent and how many sell out to a larger organization. I'll be watching the events unfold as I hoist a Half Acre.

Finch Beer Displays New Tappers

I just came across Finch's Beer Facebook page and saw the new tappers. They are bright and easily visible with little finches on them. It looks like Finch is moving along quite well. They brewed water today and some licensing is coming through. Hopefully, they will be selling soon around the city. I'm not sure if they will be selling from the brewery (similar to what Half Acre does), but let's hope so. I take the bus past Montrose and Elston and I could definitely stop and grab something on my way home.

From Goose to Goat:: Goose Island Stabs Chicago in the Back

From Goose to Goat

The reaction to the announcement that Goose Island has sold out Anheuser-Busch has been swift and negative. After my jaw dropped this morning, I started to come across the onslaught of negative comments toward Goose Island both on comment forums and on Twitter. Goose Island said it is to add capacity and cash to its operations and to expand its distribution base (which was the original intent of the deal in 2006 for the 40 percent stake in the company). Even though Greg Hall took to the press to address accusations of selling out, it is palpable that people in the craft beer community feel that this move is exactly that: selling out.

From my view, it comes down to money. Hall argues that they couldn’t keep up with demand and needed AB to provide much-needed relief. Even though Dogfish Head cut back to maintain its independence, Goose Island was all to ready to abandon its operations. From the rumors online of mismanagement, it almost seemed inevitable. Whether this is a new development or something that has been in the works, it seems Goose Island no longer wanted to be independent.

Right now both Goose Island and AB are talking about their commitment to quality and how they will expand their offering with “high-quality regional beers.” This is what they are expected to say: commitment to jobs, commitment to quality and commitment to community. However, many of us feel that what will happen in a few years time will be quite the opposite. Look no further than what happened at Rolling Rock when AB moved the jobs from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. Why maintain brewers in Chicago when there is extra capacity in St. Louis?

AB is about destroying the competition. Instead of developing and crafting its own beers, it is looking to enter the craft beer market through a competitor. I’d argue that only the name will stay, and I bet that in a few years it will be rolled into some other brand. Goose Island will become nothing but another brand to manage, and unfortunately, sometimes brands can get lost in a large organization. Will it get the attention it deserves? Will it still encourage beers like the bourbon stout? Will AB pour money into creating high-gravity craft beers if the profit margins are too thin? Will AB look to cut corners on cost? There are simply too many questions, and honestly, we are not given many answers.


It feels much like Goose Island is abandoning the city and looking for a way to get out of the craft beer business while getting profit a healthy profit. I'm sorry, but I just don't buy the argument that "new structure will preserve the qualities that make Goose Island’s beers unique, strictly maintain our recipes and brewing processes." I also find it naive that John Hall believes the beers won't change. After selling out, he won't have any input. They will almost certainly change, and believe it or not, Hall will become marginalized at such a large corporation. 

AB doesn't understand craft beer. That's what makes this so infuriating and what feels like a stab in the back by Goose Island. Apparently, Hall doesn't understand craft beer drinkers either. Craft beer drinkers are in it for more than innovative new styles or taste. It is the idea of community and the idea of supporting a local product. It is about supporting beer in your neighborhood, not buying another corporate brew that only cares about brands and marketing. I identified Goose Island with Chicago. Now it is another beer in AB's (and InBev's) stable of global beers. Instead of being truly innovative, these companies look to destroy the competition. Watch the movie Beer Wars to get an understanding.

Many craft brewers view themselves as the little guy going against the corporate behemoth. That what makes it fun to support craft beer. That is what makes this announcement sound like Judas. I'm sure that's why the reaction has been overwhelmingly negative: we feel that we lost someone in our fight against the globalization of beer. For a group of people that value local and regional flavors, the selling out of Goose Island is just confirmation that you really can't win against these guys.

Even with Goose Island gone, there are other smaller breweries in Chicago, such as Metropolitan and Half Acre, that still brew local beers. Goose Island might be dead, but craft brewing in Chicago lives on.

Beer and Cheese - Not Just for Pizza

Craft beer has been getting a lot of press lately for its integration into more fine-dining places. Well, maybe not super fine dining, but craft beer has been getting a harder look at mid- to high-level restaurants beyond a gastropub or a fancy burger place. Of course, we expect good beer at the Bad Apple. Places such as the Fountainhead and Hop Leaf take it to another level with food pairings. This Spring, Pastoral is upping the ante by pairing craft beer with cheese.

This reminds me somewhat of the truffle and beer pairing the Grafton did earlier this month. On June 4, Pastoral will be holding a class that pairs cheese and beer. We are used to the concept of wine and cheese, but beer and cheese tends to be relegated to the basement shenanigans of Home Run Inn and PBR.

This class will pair an artisan cheese with a craft beer. I've personally never tried to do this, but it sounds wonderful. Of course, you can get our own cheeses and try, but Pastoral is offering professional pairing with background on the beer and cheese.

You can sign up at Pastoral's website. It is $40 and in the Loop.

Ancient Beers? Ancient Aliens?

Last Christmas, my family and friends got into a fight about ancient aliens. I'm not exactly sure what an ancient alien is, but I'm guessing it's old and foreign. Perhaps something to do with building the pyramids. Apparently, no human can stack rocks like that Ray.

If you believe in ancient aliens or not, we can all agree on tasting beer, and a new event coming to The Bluebird is angling to give us a taste of what ancient beers might have been like. According to Chicagoist, there will sour, smoked, blended and funky beers. It's light on the list and reservations are required, so if you can get in, do it.

What I like the best about this is the idea of merging history with beer. I think some people think beer only came about in the 1950s with the bland macro swill we have on grocery store shelves, but in reality, beer has been brewed for thousands of years and has a long history. Often it is thought as the working class cousin to wine, but beer has its own rich history.

The event is March 29 and costs $30. You can read more about it at Chicagoist's website.

Trying Dominique

The other night I was at Bar Deville on Damen to celebrate a friend's birthday. I had a couple of the bar's signature cocktails, and it was nearing the end of the night, so I felt like trying a good beer. I looked up and down the tappers and saw a Goose Island I couldn't remember having. Now, I've had a lot of beers, and a lot of Goose Island, so there was a good chance that I could have had this beer at some point. Luckily for me, the beer was a mistake and a beautiful one at that.

The beer is called Dominique, and it came about because a batch of Matilda became infected. You can read more about what happened here, but basically the barrel-aged beer became infected with a yeast that left the beer more sour. Instead of dumping it, Goose Island decided to put out a sour beer and see the response. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.

For one, I love sour beers. Flemish sours are great. Understandably, not everyone might share the same enthusiasm for drinking sour beers. The idea that a beer should be clear, light and refreshing has left a perverted notion of what quality is to most beer drinkers. This beer by contrast tasted of alcohol, wood, burnt sugar, light hops, good yeast and sour through and through. Even some of my friends that don't particularly like beer, enjoyed it.

This is the height of experimentation for craft beer. I like that Goose Island saw an opportunity to bring something different to the market, and maybe through its brand recognition, get people to try something new.

 Here is a picture of Dominique Pichon because he's awesome.

Beer Will Cure Everything that Ails You

Drinking alcohol, including beer, in moderation will help improve heart health according to the American Dietetic Association. Beer is also known to lessen the risk of kidney stones in men in addition to it lowering bad cholesterol, raising good cholesterol and reduce the risk for blood clotting. Also, if my memory serves me correctly, it is also good for strength. Perhaps there was something to the Guiness posters touting the health benefits of its beer.

I don't know much about the benefits of beer, but I'll say that well crafted beers have more health benefits than corn adjunct microbrews. My evidence? None, but what the hell, I'll believe it anyway. However, there is evidence that beer has no fat, some protein and some fiber. So, maybe that rich stout or wheat is doing some good. Now we just need a way to get this written off as a health benefit at the insurance companies. Maybe I can wrangle up a Beer After Work Health Team at work.

Remember, drink a pint, for health!

Save Craft Beer in Illinois

As I've noted before, Chicago is quickly becoming the place for craft beer not only in the Midwest but also throughout the U.S. New breweries are opening or planning to. More and more bars are catering to craft beer. It's a place where variety, taste and local pride are taking root. However, new legislation might make it more difficult for smaller local brewers to get their beers out there and might even destroy the economy of craft beer in Chicago.

It's actually based on a ruling brought to court by, of course, InBev. Basically, InBev doesn't want to use a distributor for its beers. That costs too much money. The three-tiered system (manufacturer, distributor and customer) came about after prohibition for checks and balances and what not. Well, this made distributors very wealthy (say the Wirtz family) and has been a thorn in the side of large-scale producers for years. InBev is trying to remove the middleman so they can sell directly to customers. They argue that craft brewers can do so in state, so InBev should be allowed to distribute its beers to customers without using a distributor. InBev sued to allow it to distribute directly to customers and the judge basically said that nobody can now distribute to customers. It upheld the three-tiered system while potentially giving a crushing blow to craft brewers.

This legislation is potentially crippling. Now small craft brewers, such as Half Acre or the soon-to-be-opened Finch Brewing, will have to pay a distributor to sell their beers. If you've been to Half Acre, you know this isn't an expansive operation with tons of margin to absorb the cost. They are doing well and expanding, but this move will either lower their margins making business more difficult or raise costs for the consumer, which makes products less attractive from a price perspective.

However, don't worry Windy City dwellers. There is hope! This is just a ruling by a judge. Legislation can be crafted to allow and exemption for craft brewers. This would allow smaller brewers to keep distributing themselves as well as allow Two Brothers to continue to operate Windy City Distribution that allows them to bring other craft beers to Chicago.

A group called Guys Drinking Beer is leading this fight. Of course, the smaller brewers don't have the money that the large distributors or InBev has. We know that money equals influence, but we also need to stand up and let ourselves be heard. The distributors will fight to keep the three-tiered system in place. InBev probably can win either way: remove the system and sell direct, or burden smaller brewers to lessen the competition. Either way, they can afford to send their lobbyists and lawyers to influence the decision.

What to do? First, call your representative and let him or her know your feelings. We need to ensure that we still have access to quality locally produced craft beer.

Half Acre owns property in my neighborhood, bringing jobs to the area as well as secondary economic activity. Pipeworks brewing is looking for space, which will bring revenue and jobs. Finch brewing is working on opening a space. Metropolitan is using a manufacturing space in the Ravenswood corridor. All of these operations bring in jobs, contribute to secondary economic activity and rely on other services such as printing and other manufacturing. Legislation that potentially curbs this burgeoning craft beer movement isn't just making things more profitable for InBev, but is taking jobs away from Chicago. Especially, local jobs that reflect the character of a city.

Here's the contact information on Guys Drinking Beer.

Here's some more information on Chicagoist. 

Half Acre Updates

It's been awhile since I've looked to see what's up at Half Acre. They've been quite active. There are several new beers and a Nintendo hookup.

There's a new beer called Ambrosia. It's a wheat beer brewed with Hibiscus flowers. It should be dropping soon.

There's also another new beer called Marty Stouffer's Wild America Barley Wine. This beer still has about a month to go, but it is a tribute to Marty Stouffer, who had a animal show.

Half Acre has also expanded its space and added a Nintendo system to its employee break room. It's a classic old system, and they are looking for some games (help them out if you can.

Square Kegs Club

Lincoln Square is upping the ante in the craft beer wars raging throughout Chicago. The Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce is hosting an inaugural craft beer event at the recently opened Red Lion Pub on Rockwell. At the event, the Square Kegs Club, Lincoln Square's home brewing club, will educate people about craft beer and how to make it at home. Even if you don't plan on making beer at home, this is a great opportunity to meet with other beer enthusiasts and learn about what you are actually drinking and how it is made.

My only foray into making more own beer at home happened about 12 years ago when I bought a make-it-at-home kit from Borders. I think it had some yeast or something that you had to put in a bottle of water and let it sit for a couple of weeks. I used some old Grolsch bottles. After letting it sit in the basement in the dark, I went to open the beer. Two of the bottles exploded. One of the bottles had some type of thick yeasty gloop. So, the moral of the story is go to the Square Kegs club at the Red Lion pub.

The event takes place Thursday, March 10, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Donations are $10 before and $15 at the door.

Chicago's Number One

Yep, according to Esquire magazine, Chicago is the best beer city in America. It heavily cites Goose Island as a major factor and gives a nod to Piece and Metropolitan. It also mentions the Publican and Chicago's explosion of bars with high-quality beer lists (which I believe is a must of any near-respectable place opening in the city these days). Chicago doesn't have the most mature craft beer market or the most breweries, but it does have a lot of potential and it is growing extremely fast. Some might quibble with the idea of Chicago being number one, but it's the potential and enthusiasm of people in the city the gives it the number one spot.

On other beer-related news, which I guess isn't really directed to Chicago but I'm sure I could find a way: Pete's Wicked Ale is being discontinued. This is one of the first beers that I had in college that wasn't a major brand. I haven't had it since and completely forgot about it, but I remember getting a Pete's and thinking I was on to something. Can't remember how it tasted, but probably not as good as I remember. Still, there will always be a soft spot for Pete's.

Stout Fest, Stout Brownies

Just saw on Pipeworks' Facebook post that it has a new Mexican chocolate stout debuting at Goose Island's Stout Fest next month. I'm all for chocolate stouts, especially Mexican chocolate. I grabbed a few bits of Mexican chocolate from Provenance in Lincoln Square, and it was so much better than the typical gas station chocolate bar. I've never been a huge chocolate fan (i.e., Hersey's), but once I started getting into more artisan chocolates (e.g., Voges), I've been a convert. I can only image what this is going to taste like. It'll include malts, hops, chocolate, whiskey or vodka, cinnamon, cayenne and other goodness.

This brings me to my other topic: stout brownies!

I love brownies. Especially brownies that are nice and soft and warm. Add stout, and then it's like a dream heaven of flubbing around on the couch stuffing myself and trying to keep the unused treadmill out of sight. A good friend pointed me in the direction of a fudge stout brownies recipe on craftbeer.com. This calls for a coffee stout, but something like Pipework's Mexican chocolate stout sounds even better. I mean, it's only 11 a.m. and I'm dying for this right now. It only calls for 1/3 cup, so there will be plenty left over. I'd suggest the Rouge chocolate stout, a Stone stout, or Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout.

This takes me to my last food related item: the Grafton is having a beer and truffle tasting night on March 3. A beer will be paired with a truffle and someone will be on hand to talk about the pairing. Here's a list of what will be available:

• Stone Smoked Porter with Chipotle Chocolate Truffles 
• Lagunitas Cap Stout with Espresso Bean Truffles 
• Tyranna Rocky's Revenge with Toasted Almond Truffles 
• Bourgogne Des Flanders with Dried Cherry Truffles 

Bourgogne des Flanders with dried cherry truffles? I just found my next meal plan for the rest of the month. I'm all for seeing more pairings like this. You can learn more at Grafton's website. Tickets are $15 before Feb. 26 and $25 after. The Grafton has also expanded its beer and whiskey list, so more reason to hang around afterward. So get going.

Surviving the Blizzard of 2011

It's still snowing in Chicago, and while it's a bit early for me to start hitting the beer, it's not too early to find out what is going on in the city. Here's a run down:

Half Acre is set to release a new beer called Callow Knife. They have postponed the release, and the weather I'm sure isn't helping. It's a pale ale. There isn't too much on the website, but it is a twin to Daisy Cutter. Even though the wintry weather outside makes me want to grab a stout or barley wine, spring and summer isn't that far away (really, please?) so a good pale ale will come in handy. It will draft only, but here's to success and keeping this one around. Got to love Half Acre and their constant innovation.

Goose Island. Stouts. Pipeworks Brewery. Yep, March 12 is Goose Island's Stout Fest. There will be Half Acre, Piece, Pipeworks, Rockbottom, and Lucky Monk. Tickets are $20 and there will only be 200 of them. Make sure you get your soon if you want to go. Check out Beer Advocate for more info.

Finch, which is pouring concrete for its brewery, has finalized design for its tappers. This is one of my favorite parts of craft beer for some reason. I like the artistry that can be found. It's great to see a line of interesting tappers at a bar. I feel like a kid in a candy store.

That's it for now. I'm going to wait until noon to crack open a beer. That is the gentleman's drinking hour.

The Snow is Blowing

Yep, it's like a blizzard outside in Chicago. Hopefully you've got some good beer in the fridge or your close-to-home bar is serving up some good selections.

Here's what I'd take in weather like this:
Barley wine -- lots of alcohol, thick, good for sitting by the fireplace
Stout -- dark, lots of rich textured malts
Scottish ale -- Something with a high ABV
Barrel aged beer -- Whiskey preferred

Basically, what I'd look for in this type of weather is a good, dark beer with a lot of alcohol to warm you up.

One of my favorites is the Sprecher Black Bavarian. This is currently on tap at Tiny Lounge in Lincoln Square (try the ahi tuna tacos). It's a dark schwarzbier with roasted malts and a nice texture. It's nice to see this around. I remember awhile back that this was more difficult to get. I'm glad to see it returning. Now only if more New Glarus beers would make their way down.

Here's to a cold night, good beer and staying warm. Slainte!

Two Sides of a Coin

I've never been to Portland. It seems nice. It's on my place of lists to go, but I've never been. I can't say how good the beer scene is or what any scene is like out there. Of course, I've had plenty of beers from Oregon and California, so that's nothing new. What I do know is that Portland has a lot of breweries. More than any other city in the world, so it claims. I'm not sure if having breweries within a defined boundary makes a place great, but it's a start.

What I do know is that I hate stereotypes. Just because Portland has a lot of breweries doesn't mean they all are excellent. After reading a smug article in Northwestern's student newspaper, I've come to the conclusion that Chicago's beer image suffers from years of stereotypes, misconceptions and a basic lack of historical understanding. Another article I read on the hideous Chicago Now/Redeye blog does nothing more than to reinforce these stereotypes by uniformed drinkers.

First, the Northwestern article. The article focuses on a home brewing class. It offers no depth or even broader context about the home brewing movement in the U.S., the Midwest or Chicago. What it does is offer up broad stereotypes about Chicago and Portland: basically Portland is a Mecca of craft beer while Chicagoans are backward hicks with no real understanding of taste. It's a slight dig that people of Portland love to get in whenever they can. I'm not sure if it is an inferiority complex or just plain smugness, but it is prevalent in nearly everyone I've met from Portland.

The basic idea is that the author is only offered Budweiser and Miller Lite by his friends. Considering this is a student newspaper, I'm guessing this has more to do with price than taste, but we'll leave that alone. The author fails to note the difficulty in distribution of craft beer in Chicago and the labyrinth laws needed to navigate the craft beer industry. Also, nobody in Chicago drinks Budweiser. Miller, yes. So, I'm sure these are stereotypes that the author is trying to push to show how much more enlightened he is than his Midwestern counterparts. Without context, he attempts to paint a city of nearly 3 million by his few friends.

The second article reinforces stereotypes while trying to debunk them. It talks about the Wrigleyville neighborhood and how everyone there wants to drink PBR or Old Style. This has more to do about the historical associations of the Cubs, Harry Carry and that type of beer than any styles. I'd argue that most people flocking into that neighborhood are more of a parody of a Chicagoan than a true native: suburbanities, transplants, etc. That's fine by my book, but they indulge in these stereotypes. The author further extends these by quoting someone who says it is better to drink an Old Style on a hot day than a "heavy" microbrew. Of course, the author doesn't mention that it is the style not where the beer is made that produces that "quenching" trait that people desire: pilsners, IPAs, etc. The whole article is conflated with this idea of beer gardens, so the whole point is often missed.

What I hate most about these articles is the lack of depth or understanding about a subject such as craft beer in the city of Chicago. I'm not qualified to write about cars, boats, food or nearly anything, but if I do, I try to get a deeper understanding and broader context. These throw some typical stereotypes about the city without really providing context, either historical or contemporary. It's through articles such as these that people are not educated about beer, where it comes from, and what it can me and continue to hold on to either their ideas of superiority and smugness or passe city identity.

What I'm Drinking Now

Thanks to my friend John, I'm drinking a new beer. He picked up some beers at a local shop that offers a mix and match six pack. He dropped some off and what I'm drinking now is Flying Dog Double Dog Double Pale Ale.

It's a nicely hopped ale with lots of good malts and caramel. What I like most about this beer is the thickness and chewiness that it has. On the tip of the tongue, there is a pine, grapefruit flavor. There is quite a long finish.

What I truly enjoy about the Chicago market is the mix and match of six packs. I'm not sure if this happens in other cities, but it is great for a chance at variety.

Not the Spam Effect

If you're like me, you had to downgrade some of your spending during the recession. Even though it hasn't been utter collapse, it still has required a bit of tightening the belt. Most economists have linked economically depressed times with a surge in low-end purchases such as Spam. The thinking is the poorer people are or feel the more they will downgrade from steak to Spam. I recently pored over some news items about beer sales in the U.S., and when it comes to craft beer, it is a much different story.

At the end of 2010, MillerCoors sales slipped, including Miller Lite. What's odd is that its super cheap beers such as High Life, Keystone and Milwaukee's Best also slipped. It would figure that the cheap beers would surge when people either had or felt they had less money. However, the company saws its "premium" beer Tenth and Blake surge by double digits.

Does this mean that people are switching from low-end beers to craft beers regardless of the recession? Perhaps. Perhaps we are already doing better economically and this is a leading indicator. Perhaps people are fed up with low-end tasteless beer and prefer to drink quality beer instead.

Personally, I have favored cutting back on buying beer and saving money for a real good purchase. Instead of a case of Miller, I'll save my money for a growler of Half Acre. I can't drink as much, but what I do drink is quality. I'd like to think that these numbers show that craft beer is sticking in America and that people are starting to choose quality over cost consistently.

However, it's important to keep in mind that MillerCoors still sells more beer in one quarter than Half Acre has ever sold. So, there's still work to be done.

Draw on Your Own Coasters

Well, today is the showdown between the Bears and Packers. Lots of people I'm sure are up and grilling sausages in the parking lots already, but most of us are making coffee waking up and getting ready to watch the game on the good ol' television. As exciting as it is, it is still a football game with breaks, long commercials and endless chattering. If you get fidgety or have guests that might not be all into the game but like arts and crafts and the such, Ready Made has a cool art project using beer coasters.

As you can read in this posting, Ready Made suggests getting some blank beer coasters and some pens and letting your guests draw their own beer coasters. It's a great little creative outlet during the game or for those that bore during football easily. It's also a great party tip: leave them around, people can draw on them, leave them, write messages, whatever. If it's a particularly epic party, it'll be a souvenir.

When I backpacked around Europe after college, I didn't have a lot of money. In fact, I almost had no money. I usually bought a loaf of bread for lunch, ate half of it, and then saved the other half for dinner. I remember waiting for the bus to take out of England and into France, sitting on the side of the Thames, eating a half loaf of bread in the ran. I didn't have any money to go to a restaurant and quite frankly, the bus station was creepy as hell. I used my few remaining pounds to go into a pub and nurse a beer to wait for the bus and to get out of the rain. I came quite adept at slowly drinking a pint to stretch out the time to stay in the pub.

Anyway, no money usually means no souvenirs. So, instead of buying souvenirs, I took coasters from all the different bars and pubs I went to throughout Europe. There's different languages and styles. I wish I knew more about beer then, but I still have the coasters as reminders of the trip.

So game plan: get craft beer, get blank coasters, draw, have fun and watch the Bears win.

Drinking Through the Bears vs. Green Bay

It's a showdown of epic proportions: Bears vs. Packers. Chicago vs. Green Bay. Two legendary football teams meeting head to head in a battle to determine NFC football bragging rights. Of course, there's only one question on everyone's minds? What beer to drink during the game?

I'm from Chicago, so let's look at what and where the great citizens of Chicago should be drinking during the game. First, if you're going to be hanging out at home or a friend's house, I suggest picking up some Goose Island, Half Acre or Metropolitan. Support your local team by drinking a local beer.

If you're going out but care about the quality of your beer as much as you do about the quality of the win (Bears 24 to Green Bay 14), then there are other bars in the city besides the standard macro-swill sports bar fare.

Try heading over to Piece Pizza, which is showing the game. They brew some amazing beers and have decent pizza. The Bad Apple in Northcenter has several TVs and lots of great beer on tap. The TVs aren't overly large, but the quality of the beer makes up for it.

Remember, there's nothing wrong about drinking good beer and watching the game.

Robert Burns and Robert the Bruce

OK, while technically not all about craft beer, even though there is a craft beer, component, the Fountainhead is quickly becoming one of Chicago's great drinking places and any bar that wants to give a history lesson while pouring whiskey is fine by me.

Next week, the Fountainhead will be celebrating Robert Burns week. Who's Robert Burns? Not sure, but according to the Fountainhead's Facebook page, Robert Burns was a poet who praised whiskey and made it Scotland's national drink. Perhaps we owe him our allegiance for creating the drunk artist/writer stereotype, or perhaps we owe him our allegiance for championing the cause of good drink. Either way, a bar honoring the birthday of a Scottish poet is pretty awesome and sure beats the usual sports/karaoke/meat market that pervades most other places. His birthday is January 25 if you want to get extra celebratory.

Robert Burns. Poet. Whiskey Lover.

The beer part? On January 27, the Fountainhead will be doing a gravity pour of Three Floyd's Robert the Bruce from a firkin. Fountainhead will also be featuring several different types of Scottish beers from various breweries. I can almost taste all the lovely malts and alcohol now. It's about zero degrees outside so a bottle of whiskey with a firkin of Robert the Bruce, an old book, and a comfortable chair sounds about heaven right now.

Get on over to Montrose to the Fountainhead next week. Drink some whiskey and beer, grab some of Burns' poetry, and enjoy the night.

Choco-Dyno-Mite

Half Acre is coming out with a new beer tomorrow (January 21). Called Chocolate Camaro, the new brew will be about 6 percent alcohol with roasted malt and chocolate flavors. It's a stout-style beer that should warm you up for the winter. Plus, it's only $15 for refills and $9 for new growlers. You can also buy a shirt with the label design. Hop on your roller skates and get some tomorrow after noon you bad mother...oops, I'll watch my mouth.

Other news from Half Acre: save $2 when you buy a growler on Tuesdays. Why Tuesdays? I don't know, but Tuesday is the most depressing day of the week: not after-Monday "I'm a work fuck this" attitude, but not hump day looking toward the weekend. I guess for us cube dwellers that don't see the sun, fortifying our blood with alcohol keeps the hive churning.

Also, Over Ale is coming in cans. I'm curious: do people drink craft beer out of bottles or cans? I tend to always put it into a glass; I don't like drinking out of either really, unless it's cheap, cheap beer. Perhaps the cans will be fresher? I think a weekend-long drinking experiment is in order.

Triple Threat: Burger, Bacon and Beer

Sometimes, not too often, I love a good burger. I rarely eat meat. It's sort of like that line in Pulp Fiction: My wife is a vegetarian, which pretty much makes me a vegetarian, but I do love a good burger. What I love more than a good burger is a good beer with a good burger. If you like carnivore indulgences with fine craft beer, get down to Sola on Lincoln Avenue in Northcenter for its Burger, Bacon and Beer Thursdays.

I don't have a picture, but yeah, the burger looks good. It's Kobe beef, huge, cheese, back, pretzel roll. I saw this yesterday at work, and I've been thinking about it ever since. The best is that Sola pairs this with a regional craft beer, the last from Two Brothers. The dessert also features bacon. Even though I'm not sure why this bacon fad is still going strong, I'm willing to roll with it for the sake of research, harmony and science.

I can't wait to get down there and check it out. The only question is how do I get out of the house to eat a massive red meat grease-dripping burger with some beers without the wife catching wind of my hedonistic deeds.

Firestone Walker Come Get It

It's cold. It's snowing. The wind is blowing. Beer. Well, how about some fire, then? Firestone Walker beers are coming to Chicago. I haven't had the pleasure yet of trying one of their beers, but Chicagoist has a run down of what is going on. Firestone Walker's brew master has some deep Chicago ties, which probably makes this double awesome.

For some reason, perhaps it's the weather or the post-Christmas hangover, but I haven't been able to get out and sample as many new beers as I'd like. My beer and pub wish list is growing long, and I need to get out there and sample some more of what the city is offering. But, maybe I'll just wait until March and then have a nine-month marathon of binge drinking.

Stumbling Out of 2010 Right Into 2011

By now you've heard the glorious news that Chicago has officially a new brewery: Haymarket Pub & Brewery passed its inspections and is open for business. With the holidays, I haven't had a chance to get down there, but some of the beers on tap right now are making me salivate: Bear Republic, Left Hand, Victory, Sierra Nevada, Half Acre. Most of the beers on tap are IPAs, which aren't really winter beers in my book, but top-notch quality nonetheless. It'll be some time before Haymarket starts getting its own beers on tap. Right now, the website says they will brew beers to match every type of palate, and focus specifically on Belgian-style beers (which happen to be one of my favorite).

The willingness to experiment seems to be a Chicago trademark. This year, Revolution brewing boasted of having made more than 100 brews, with Triple Fist being 100. I'm all for experimentation with styles and flavors coupled with a few solid offerings. My CTA pass is going to get worn out just from going back and forth to all these places. Revolution was also named to Metromix's Best Bars of 2010, along with Bangers & Lace, Bonny's Bar, and Longman & Eagle, to show that Chicago takes beer drinking seriously.

Perhaps one of the best bit of Chicago beer news of the year is that Pipeworks Brewing made its $30,000 goal on Kickstarter. Even though there is still a lot to do and a way to go, these guys definitely had a goal and made it, and I hope now they are well on their way to making their brewery a reality (seriously, the brew a Berliner Weiss, how awesome is that?). They are going to be looking for places on the north side of the city in late Spring. Maybe your block will be home to a new brewery?

 In other news, Half Acre was named as USA Cycling's Overall Club of the Year for Division II. I don't know why I think this is so surprising, but I guess I shouldn't. Chicago is a great biking town, and lord knows I see enough people in my neighborhood riding their bikes in 20 degree weather in a snow storm, so beer and cycling in Chicago go hand in hand. Also, kudos for Half Acre for making Slashfood's Top Beers of 2010 for Daisy Cutter.

2010 has been a great year for craft beer, and 2011 is shaping up to be even better. I'm going to do my part to ensure that all of these places stay in business. I'm sure my work will completely understand my daily hangovers.

Prost!