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.
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Sunday, January 30, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
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.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, January 21, 2011
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.
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.
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.
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| 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.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Choco-Dyno-Mite
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.
Friday, January 14, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
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!
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!
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