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.

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.

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.