Large Corporation to Force Americans to Drink Crap Beer

Apparently because nobody wants to buy their corn-adjunct crap macroswill, Budweiser will try to cajole drunken frat boys at sports bar around Chicago with free Budweiser. For some reason, Budweiser thinks that this will somehow get people to buy more Budweiser. I can only imagine that this will reinforce in people's minds just how awful this beer truly is.

I'd imagine the free beer will be given away at places that sell a high volume of Budweiser and probably won't bother too many craft beer drinkers. I'm thinking mostly sports bars and dives. As more Chicagoans want more and more craft beers both brewed locally and in the U.S., breweries such as Budweiser are going to find overall market share slip.Is there anybody out there that doesn't know what Budweiser tastes like? Perhaps 10 years ago when there wasn't much of a choice on local taps, people would readily choose Miller and Budweiser; however, today with so many options and different prices, these two breweries get left out. With PBR and Burger Beer selling for $2 and decent craft beers selling for $4 or $3, who wants to buy a Budweiser for $3.50? It either has to compete on taste or on price. With an unwillingness to make a better beer or to reduce its profit margins, Budweiser is stuck with legacy drinkers who only partake out of habit. No amount of free beer can change this trend.

Maybe we are starting to witness the decline of the corporate beer giant?

Events for the week of September 26

There are some great craft beer events happening in Chicago this week. In addition to the Fountainhead event on Tuesday that I mentioned in a previous post, check out these other events coming up:

The Map Room is having its weekly International Night on September 28. This time it is Indonesia. I'm not sure what craft beers will be available, but I'm sure there might be something interesting (even if it is from something larger).

Also on Tuesday is a Founders tasting at Maria's in Bridgeport (formerly Kaplan's). They will be breaking out Founders Nemesis Barley Wine and have a cheese tasting. There will also be free shirts!

Wednesday Goose Island is having a German lager beer academy. $20 gets a lecture about craft beer from Head Pub Brewer John Rouben as well as a sample of 12 to 15 craft beers.

Also on Wednesday is probably the best deal of the week. Half Acre is dumping its Spring and Summer beers to make way for its Autumn and Winter brews. I'm sure space in their warehouse is limited, so we all benefit by going to the Hopleaf for a Half Acre blowout. They will be offering several of their beers and take over the Hopleaf. 10 oz. pours are only $3.50.

Thursday you can go to the Palmer House for Potter's Lounge. The class will take participants on a tasting journey focusing on the brewing process unique to each beer.

Also Thursday, Goose Island is taping a new beer at its Clybourn location. (Not sure what it is, but I'm looking forward to the Madame Rose).

Finally on Thursday, the gorgeous Mrs. Murphy and Sons is having a beer harvest. There will be 80 beers from 30 breweries. I'm not sure how  many will be craft beers, but I'm guessing there will be a more interesting selection than the standard macro fare.

Too many to choose from. Cheers!

Saison Du Buff Trifecta Night at Fountainhead

Saison Du Buff

I just heard that Stone, Victory and Dogfish Head collaborated on a beer called Saison Du Buff. Three great breweries in one beer. Well, what does this have to do with Chicago? Fountainhead on Montrose is having a tasting of all three September 29.

These breweries are always trying different things and to see each's take on a single beer will be amazing. Hopefully I can rustle up some extra cash to get over there and check it out. Fountainhead will also be pairing a beer from each brewery with a particular dish. It's great to see beer nudging itself on to the dining table next to wine.

Collaborations like this remind me of the days when musicians would sit in with each other, cover songs, jam at concerts. It's great to see openness and collaboration in the craft beer industry. It's the spirit of working together to make something great instead of competing for wallets.

Details:
Fountainhead
September 29 (a Tuesday)
1970 W. Montrose
Chicago

Facebook page to learn more: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158930310785778
Fountainhead page:  http://fountainheadchicago.com/

Welcome to Chicago Beer Enthusiast

Drinking a craft beer in the summer in Chicago.

On a Saturday in mid-August, I stood in Half Acre’s small retail store on Lincoln. I’ve had their bottled and canned beers, but never anything fresh on tap. I was having a record party that night and thought a growler of Half Acre would hit the spot for some porch drinking. When I got in, there were a half dozen people waiting to get their growlers filled. A tall, skinny man was taking the orders, offering samples and being genuinely polite. I waited my turn, but as I did, I noticed that people kept coming in, pushing the total way past a dozen. It was then that I knew something serious was happening in Chicago.

I originally got into craft beer during my senior year at Purdue back in the late ‘90s. It was nothing serious, but on nights when my roommate and I would hangout with a few friends, we’d hit up a local liquor store with some imports and give them a shot. They were much tastier than the normal college swill, but there was also a sense of adventure: trying something different from a place I’ve never been. At that time, it was as close as I could get to traveling to places such as England or Belgium. I’ve been a craft beer drinker ever since.

I’ve lived in and around Chicago my whole life. I looked to the West coast with envy as new craft breweries started to pop up. I knew a lot of people around Chicago who enjoyed craft beer, but it was still the minority. The first “Dark Lord Day” was maybe a dozen guys sitting in a cold Three Floyds brewery drinking out of plastic cups. No tents. No festivities. Most bars might have carried a few interesting beers, but people were still ordering macrobrews by the gallon. Then something started to happen. Bars started to pay attention to the beer they were carrying. Goose Island started to get known in the U.S. for its beers. Restaurants were pairing beers with food. New breweries started to open. Almost overnight, there was a new sense of craft brewing love in Chicago.

Living in Lincoln Square, I’ve seen this change first hand: Metropolitan Brewing, Half Acre, Bad Apple, Fountainhead. All opened in recent years. All making or carrying craft beers. It’s a great time to be a craft beer lover in Chicago. New breweries are opening. People are starting to put down the macroswill and enjoy a well-made beer. This “blog” (how I hate that word) is my attempt to write down what is happening in the craft beer movement in Chicago. Look at who is doing what. Give news about new openings and happenings. Have an excuse to drink.

What I most enjoy about the craft beer movement is the community that it brings. It's something that I might explore later on, but for those who appreciate and enjoy craft beer, there is something beyond just avoiding buying from large corporations. Some might like purchasing from local companies or being outside the mainstream. Whatever the reason, it is a community of people from different backgrounds that can sit and enjoy a beer, a good conversation and a moment without the hype and marketing found through traditional beer.

So here's to a new adventure in Chicago. I hope that I'll be able to provide a bit of insight, knowledge and news to the Chicago craft beer community and continue to work to foster it throughout the entire city and beyond.