ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

Winter is awful, and usually, so are winter seasonal beers. So we’re surprised to have some great ones on this episode with a few standout locals. We share our New Year’s resolutions and then take a lot of strange diversions along the way. There’s also an announcement of an exciting home brew contest with Middle Brow. Then, Ryan eschews traditional “research” by “making stuff up” and Craig admits he doesn’t know smells from flavors. Grab a beer, turn us on, and join us on our polar bear rug by the fire. (Clothing optional.)

 

Ryan

1. Upland Bourbon Barrel Warmer

2. Anchor Winter Wheat

3. Middle Brow A Hundred Miles Off   

4. Slapshot White IPA

5. Anderson Valley Winter Solstice

6. Bell’s Winter White Ale

 

Craig

1. Slapshot White IPA

2. Anchor Winter Wheat

3. Upland Bourbon Barrel Warmer

4. Middle Brow A Hundred Miles Ooff

5. Anderson Valley Winter Solstice

6. Bell’s Winter White Ale

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_49_Wintry_Mix.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:44pm CDT

As a gift to you, we brought back almost all of our guests from the first year for a holiday party recording. But since Ryan was absent, Craig took his one mic and brought people together to review some beers. In this episode, we sit down to share some of the audio from the party while tasting some new local stouts. There will be beer reviews and drunken talk of broken Prius locks, slash fiction, Kermit impressions, and Craig’s hatred of nature. The guest list includes Chris Betts (Transient Artisan Ales), Nick Burica (Middle Brow Beer Co.), Marie Cummins (Down the Hatch), David Sullivan (Supple Knuckles Massage Parlor), Matt LaFleur (LaFleur Illustration), Dennis Lee (ThePizzle), Kim Leshinski (Hail to the Ale), and Ken Getty (CHAOS Brew Club).

 

Beers Had By Craig and Ryan:

 

Une Annee Feats of ********

Half Acre Big Hugs (2014)

 

Holiday Party Beers:

 

Transient Whiskey Barrel Presque

Mystic Chardonnary Barrel Fermented Saison

de Garde Cran Bu

de Garde Kiwi Bu

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

Pipeworks Santa Vs. Unicorn

Oxbow Synthesis

Slapshot McLaughlin’s Red Eye Coffee Porter

Transient Sporadic #2 (Wine)

Direct download: ABV_Chicago__48_Holiday_Special.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:48am CDT

We unbox five Firestone Walker anniversary ales and try to dissect these complex barrel-aged beer blends through our arbitrary reviews. We also experiment with our own beer blends and feel the effects of these potent potables before we even hit our third pour. Thus, at some point, we make it our mission to raise awareness of...something I’d rather not type (or Google image search). Prick up your ears!



Beer Rankings (with personal blend percentages)



Ryan

5. XVI (10%)

4. XVII (15%)

3. 14 (20%)

2. XV (20%)

1. XVIII (35%)



Craig

5. XVI (5%)

4. XVII (15%)

3. XV (20%)

2. 14 (25%)

1. XVIII (35%)

 

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_47_FW_Anniversary.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:10am CDT

In this episode, we discuss the fine art of craft beer labels with artist and homebrewer Matt LaFleur. We each bring a few beers to taste based on their label art, and Matt shares the stories behind the labels he has created for Arcade, Transient, and Middle Brow. We hit other topics like marketing, the overlap of art and craft beer, and homebrewing as an excuse to make beer labels.  Our tastes in artwork and beer vary wildly, but by the end Craig gets mad about art and announces that he’s a lumbersexual. Just like always.

 

(Beer Rankings)

Craig

6. Arcade William Wallace Wrestle Fest

5. Solemn Oath Ravaged By Vikings

4. Pipeworks Cherry Truffle Abduction

3. Firestone Walker/Three Floyds Ol’ Leghorn

2. Off Color Le Predateur

1. Transient Wayward

 

Ryan

6. Solemn Oath Ravaged By Vikings

5. Firestone Walker/Three Floyds Ol’ Leghorn

4. Arcade William Wallace Wrestle Fest

3. Pipeworks Cherry Truffle Abduction

2. Off Color Le Predateur

1. Transient Wayward

 

Matt

6. Arcade William Wallace Wrestle Fest

5. Pipeworks Cherry Truffle Abduction

4. Solemn Oath Ravaged By Vikings

3. Off Color Le Predateur

2. Firestone Walker/Three Floyds Ol’ Leghorn

1. Transient Wayward

Direct download: ABV_Episode_46_Art_of_Beer3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:48am CDT

It’s been a long, stupid week in craft beer thanks to Bourbon County madness, so we wanted to find some substitutes to feed those cravings on a budget and a whim. We review five bourbon barrel-aged beers that are pretty easy to find. It mostly doesn’t work out well. We talk about other barrel-aged beers that regularly inhabit shelves and whether or not length of aging makes a difference. Then the belligerence begins and we use bizarre aroma descriptors, discuss “Battletoads” erotica, and recklessly bash a few breweries in the process. There’s no substitute for our hilarity! Sorry.



Ryan

1. Hoppin’ Frog Barrel-Aged D.O.R.I.S.

2. New Holland Dragon’s Milk

3. FiftyFifty Eclipse Four Roses 2013

4. Central Waters Headless Heron

5. Abita Bourbon Street Imperial Stout



Craig

1. Hoppin’ Frog Barrel-Aged D.O.R.I.S.

2. FiftyFifty Eclipse Four Roses 2013

3. New Holland Dragon’s Milk

4. Central Waters Headless Heron

5. Abita Bourbon Street Imperial Stout

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_45_BCBS_Alt.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:28am CDT

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