ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

It’s sweaters and stouts season again, and we bask in the warmth of five dark beers on this episode. We also look back on the year in beer by reminiscing on some of our favorites beers and events of 2015. There’s a lot of love for local favorites like Middle Brow, Temperance, Transient, Imperial Oak, Spiteful, Pipeworks, Pollyanna, and Une Annee; but some of the best beers of the year came from out East thanks to Tree House, Trillium, and Voodoo. Also experience a magically truncated rant on bottle release lines, weird homophone problems, a baby dinosaur Craig (awwww!), and a generally unpleasant walk-up we’ll call Fart Wars. No, Star Farts. No, Star Wars: The Farts Awaken. Yeah, that’s the one.

 

Ryan

  1. Transient/The Beer Cellar Neckbeard Nectar (imperial stout w/vanilla, cinnamon, coconut, and molasses)
  2. Brickstone Barrel-Aged Dark Secret (imperial stout aged in 12-year Elijah Craig barrels)
  3. Half Acre Big Hugs (imperial coffee stout)
  4. Ballast Point Peppermint Victory at Sea (porter w/coffee, vanilla, and peppermint)
  5. Funky Buddha Last Snow (porter w/coffee and coconut)

 

Craig

  1. Brickstone Barrel-Aged Dark Secret (imperial stout aged in 12-year Elijah Craig barrels)
  2. Transient/The Beer Cellar Neckbeard Nectar (imperial stout w/vanilla, cinnamon, coconut, and molasses)
  3. Funky Buddha Last Snow (porter w/coffee and coconut)
  4. Half Acre Big Hugs (imperial coffee stout)
  5. Ballast Point Peppermint Victory at Sea (porter w/coffee, vanilla, and peppermint)
Direct download: ABV_Chicago_101_Winter_Warm_Up.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30am CDT

For the big 100, we threw a little holiday party and invited our friends - and to our delight, they came bearing gifts of beer! On the show, we drink with them and give our usual reviews while catching up with them and taking many topical detours. Joining us are Kim Leshinski (Hail to the Ale), Ken Getty (from CHAOS Homebrew Club), Nick Burica (of Middle Brow Beer Co.), Chris Betts (of Transient Artisan Ales), Marie Cummins (Down the Hatch beer blog), Dennis Lee (of The Pizzle), MC Johnsen (Worth 1000 Beers) and Matt Johnsen (of Horse Thief Hollow and The Beer Cellar). In addition to thrilling excerpts from Secret Agent Santa (Harlequin 2015), we talk about kettle sours, sensuous languor, the troubles with opening a brewery, fingerless gloves, and much more. Thanks for listening and happy holidays!

 

Beers Reviewed:

 

Kane Brewing - Cortijo (Agave Nectar Saison Aged in Tequila Barrels)

OEC Brewing - Malefactus (Wine Barrel-Aged Stout)

Transient Artisan Ales - Black Raspberry Maigre (Berlinner Weisse)

Lake Effect Brewing - Imperial Stout (Bourbon Barrel-Aged)

BrainDead Brewing - Bent De Garde (Wine Barrel-Aged Biere de Garde)

de Garde Brewing - L’Hiver Melange No. 2

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_100_Holiday_Party_2015.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:21pm CDT

On this episode, we sit in the sticky lap of luxury and sip on some premium barrel-aged offerings from Spiteful Brewing. We review four beers: two of which rightfully won gold medals at FOBAB, and one that leaves us speechless (and hallucinating). In addition to all the beer and brewery talk, we audit Craig’s purchases, preview Ryan’s “Goonies 2” script, and drink some semi-legal absinthe. It’s gross. But it’s all worth it in the end, trust us.

 

Craig

  1. Barrel-Aged Malevolence Chocolate Caliente
  2. Barrel-Aged Malevolence (2014)
  3. Barrel-Aged Belligerent Bob Barleywine
  4. Absinthe Barrel-Aged G.F.Y. Stout

 

Ryan

  1. Barrel-Aged Malevolence Chocolate Caliente
  2. Barrel-Aged Belligerent Bob Barleywine
  3. Barrel-Aged Malevolence (2014)

4. Absinthe Barrel-Aged G.F.Y. Stout

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_99_BA_Spiteful.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:52am CDT

2015 might as well be deemed “The Year Pipeworks Came to Cans”, because as this show proves, it’s one of the best things to happen to Chicago beer in a while. We review the five currently available canned beers from Pipeworks because we were too impatient to wait for the sixth. Additionally, we unveil a new game (temporarily) titled “Beer Carnac,” and it goes off better than expected. We also give advice about Beer of the Month clubs, Ryan joins the “Smells Creamy” movement, and Craig is terrible at animals. And we tell a story about the Worst Trivia Prize ever. Caw-caw!

Craig

  1. Lizard King Pale Ale
  2. Ninja vs. Unicorn Double IPA
  3. War Bird Session Ale
  4. Close Encounter Stout
  5. Blood of the Unicorn Red Ale

Ryan

  1. Ninja vs. Unicorn Double IPA
  2. Lizard King Pale Ale
  3. War Bird Session Ale
  4. Blood of the Unicorn Red Ale
  5. Close Encounter Stout

 

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_98_Pipeworks_Cans.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:23am CDT

No tents were pitched in the making of this episode as we review the 2015 lineup of Goose Island’s signature special release stout. And we went extravagant on this one, pairing all six Bourbon County beers with special chocolates and the scandalous commentary of one Dennis Lee from The Pizzle. Find out if we think if these were worth waiting in line for on a cold Black Friday morning. In addition to our unique take on these most-desired beers, you’ll get to sup upon our sordid stew of nail polish remover, Charo, porns, Juggalos, David Lynch, Arby’s, salt sticks, and banjos. We also do some crappy improv, talk about Dennis’ tiny hands and Craig’s muppet voice, and spoil some movies. Thanks to Goose Island for providing a few of the beers to help make this vulgar trainwreck possible.

 

Rankings

 

Ryan

  1. Bourbon County Brand Stout
  2. Bourbon County Brand Barleywine
  3. Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout
  4. Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout
  5. Bourbon County Brand Regal Rye Stout
  6. Proprietors’ Bourbon County Brand Stout

 

Craig

  1. Bourbon County Brand Stout
  2. Bourbon County Brand Barleywine
  3. Bourbon County Brand Regal Rye Stout
  4. Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout
  5. Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout
  6. Proprietors’ Bourbon County Brand Stout

 

Dennis

  1. Bourbon County Brand Stout
  2. Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout
  3. Bourbon County Brand Barleywine
  4. Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout
  5. Bourbon County Brand Regal Rye Stout
  6. Proprietors’ Bourbon County Brand Stout

 

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_97_BCBS_2015.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:35am CDT

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