ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

Once again, we concluded our extended weekend of drinking and chafing in Denver at the Great American Beer Festival by recording an episode chock full of interviews and arbitrary beer reviews. You’ll hear interviews with Jonathan Wakefield (J. Wakefield Brewing, Miami, FL); Sean Lawson (Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Warren, VT); James Howat (Black Project Spontaneous and Wild Ales, Denver, CO); Paul Kreiner (Noon Whistle Brewing, Lombard, IL); Craig Mycoskie (Rahr & Sons Brewing, Fort Worth, TX); Jason zumBrunnen (Ratio Beerworks, Denver, CO); Jay Goodwin (The Rare Barrel, Berkley, CA); and the lunatics from Melvin Brewing (Jackson, WY). We cover many highlights and aspects of the fest, while still allowing time for our usual random digressions. Craig discusses his weekend spent stalking Troy Casey, and Ryan shares his numerical observations about babies, dreadlocks, and sandals. When you get this high, coming down is the hardest part.

 

Beers Reviewed/Mutual Rankings

  1. Casey Brewing and Blending Cherry Fruit Stand
  2. Crooked Stave Flor D’Lees
  3. AC Golden Hidden Barrel Kriek (Batch #3)

 

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_88_GABF2015.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:13am CDT

 

Prost! This week, we put nine Oktoberfest/Märzen-style beers into an ultraviolent cage match of arbitrary opinions. Beers from Germany, the U.S., and Chicago all enter, and a lot of them are kind of the same, but it’s the small differences that are amplified. We give a real informal history of the style, ponder what Germany smells like, and talk about the common problem with reviewing beers from Europe. But also, we smell creamy, maintain the cage, talk about goalie fights, and discover why we don’t let Craig do the walk-up. How high have we raised the discourse with this episode? So high.

 

Rankings

 

Ryan

  1. New Glarus Staghorn
  2. Metropolitan Afterburner
  3. Surly SurlyFest
  4. Revolution Oktoberfest
  5. Two Brothers Atom Smasher
  6. Great Lakes Oktoberfest
  7. Spaten Oktoberfest ur-Märzen
  8. Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen
  9. Hofbräru Oktoberfestbier

 

Craig

  1. Metropolitan Afterburner
  2. New Glarus Staghorn
  3. Revolution Oktoberfest
  4. Two Brothers Atom Smasher
  5. Spaten Oktoberfest ur-Märzen
  6. Surly SurlyFest
  7. Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen
  8. Hofbräru Oktoberfestbier
  9. Great Lakes Oktoberfest
Direct download: ABV_Episode_87_Oktoberfest.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:24pm CDT

The brewers from Oregon’s de Garde Brewing use a coolship to ferment their beers year-round before aging them in oak, and we taste five of the resulting beers. Despite moments of oppressive heartburn, we find that the Oregonian Coast is blowing some sweet pixie farts into these wonderful beers. We try not to be too self-gratifying, but clutch tightly as this episode includes a touch of French speak, a rub of new band names, and a gentle caress of sensual GoGurt. Craig also loses control of his spittle. And Ryan pleases himself with a very satisfying musical theme. Bu.

 

Ryan

1. Imperial Cherry Marion Bu Berliner Weisse

2. Amarillo Hose Gose

3. Special Rouge American Wild Ale

4. Oude Rruin Flanders Oud Bruin

5. Peach Bu Berlinner Weisse

 

Craig

1. Imperial Cherry Marion Bu Berliner Weisse

2. Special Rouge American Wild Ale

3. Amarillo Hose Gose

4. Oude Rruin Flanders Oud Bruin

5. Peach Bu Berlinner Weisse

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_86_de_Garde.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:49am CDT

In the annals of ABV Chicago, this one will certainly go down as Craig’s masterpiece. We have five maple syrup and coffee breakfast beers and pair them with five doughnut creations from local baking geniuses Glazed & Infused. Once again we are joined by Chicago Reader’s 2015  Best Food WriterDennis Lee, and like the feeling of syrup in the corners of your mouth and the rot of sugar in your belly after a giant stack of pancakes, he will make you feel disgusting yet oddly satisfied. Dennis shares some Pizzle updates, a sad birthday story, his thoughts on a Freegan challenge, and some helpful explanations of “Red Velvet” and ganache. But mostly we hear about his garbage life and Tinder disappointments. Other topics include continental breakfasts, the film “Independence Day” (and the eternal Paxton or Pullman debate), new CK scents, and Craig’s awful diet. Please send insulin.

 

Featured Glazed & Infused Donuts

 

Terry’s Mocha Koffee Toffee

Maple Bacon Long John

Sweet Tooth (w/Butterfinger topping and vanilla glaze)

Red Velvet

Chocolate

 

Rankings

 

Craig

1. Toppling Goliath Mornin’ Delight

2. Tree House Good Morning

3. Transient Buckley

4. Terrapin French-Toasted Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout

5. Funky Buddha Maple Bacon Coffee Porter

 

Ryan

1. Tree House Good Morning

2. Toppling Goliath Mornin’ Delight

3. Funky Buddha Maple Bacon Coffee Porter

4. Transient Buckley

5. Terrapin French-Toasted Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout

 

Dennis

1. Tree House Good Morning

2. Toppling Goliath Mornin’ Delight

3. Transient Buckley

4. Terrapin French-Toasted Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout

5. Funky Buddha Maple Bacon Coffee Porter

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_85_Beer_for_Breakfast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:05am CDT

The spoils of Craig’s epic East Coast trip come to an end here, and boy are we spoiled! Trillium Brewing Company out of Boston is making a variety of beers better than pretty much everyone, we discover. Six beers of varying styles get our unequivocal praise here, which leaves plenty of time for Craig to talk about his visit to the brewery, their upcoming expansion plans, and why they should be on everybody’s radar. Also, hear us explain how your stinky ass can help you appreciate beers, the difference between bags and cornhole; our vague memory of “Good Will Hunting” quotes, a story where Craig effortlessly connects drinking syrup and Zelda, some SRM insanity, and something about a fat robot. Trill recognize trill, homie.

 

Craig

1. Artaic Double IPA

2. Congress Street IPA

3. Bees American Wild Ale with Honey

4. Fort Point Pale Ale

5. Stonington Barrel-Aged Wild Saison

6. Day and Night Blonde Barleywine with Coffee

 

Ryan

1. Fort Point Pale Ale

2. Artaic Double IPA

3. Bees American Wild Ale with Honey

4. Congress Street IPA

5. Stonington Barrel-Aged Wild Saison

6. Day and Night Blonde Barleywine with Coffee

 

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_84_Trillium.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:03am CDT

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