ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

Our next stop on our mission to taste the whole USA brings one of the overall most satisfying lineups - and maybe Craig’s favorite beer of all time. Five Florida breweries are featured with two brief interviews with brewers poised to make a huge name for themselves. Matt Manthe from Odd Breed Wild Ales talks taproom plans and how they do spontaneous fermentation in the Florida climate. Corey Artanis from 3 Sons Brewing explains how he gets the flavors just right - and damn do we have an example of that on the show. We also mention the increased instances of brewers contracting wort and working double duty. Plus, there’s some etiquette talk with Craig, Pitbull trivia, stuff Craig saw on Twitter, being flavor-forward in Florida, and nerding out at J. Wakefield’s taproom. Dale.


Beers Reviewed

Wakefield Brewing - Every Gose Has Its Thorn (Gose w/ grapefruit)

Odd Breed Wild Ales - Peaches (Barrel-aged wild ale w/ peaches)

Wynwood Brewing - Tres Puentes (Blended saison)

Cycle Brewing - Monday (Maple bourbon aged coffee cinnamon imperial stout)

3 Sons Brewing - Summation (Bourbon barrel aged imperial vanilla coffee stout)

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_136_The_FLA_Show.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am CDT

At one point, this show had a purpose and a modicum of decency - but this episode takes it pretty far from either. We review a bunch of our favorite (favored?) breweries’ beers and debut our new theme song. It all starts with just a shameful lead-up thanks to Craig, and ends with a whole new meaning for the abbreviation “ABV” thanks to Inclement Weather. In the middle there’s talk of can-conditioning, pizza beers, the New England IPA non-story, Joey “CoCo” Diaz, and the problem with mouthfeeling everything. Hold me closer, greasy dancer.

Beers Reviewed

Transient Artisan Ales - Weko (Brett Pale Ale)

Maplewood Brewing - Juice Pants (IPA)

Middle Brow Beer Co. - Low (Brown Gose)

Mikerphone Brewing - Mad Flavor, Batch #2 (Double Dry-Hopped IPA)

Une Année Brewery - Framboise (American Raspberry Wild Ale)

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_135_Nepotism.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:40pm CDT

No one can ever accuse Funky Buddha of false advertising, but their brewing methods certainly seem unholy. We taste a few dessert beers and one IPA that are perfect executions of this Florida brewery’s intentions. And because Craig was in Florida recently, there’s a little interview with brewer Jeff Rose included here. Much more funkiness abounds as Ryan confesses a crime, Craig loses a job over khakis, and we plan a brewery sitcom. There’s also a Mario 2/Jesus connection, The Nerding Hour, “Coach” and Applebees talk, Soaky Toast, and a Hurricane of Elbows. And we play a game called “311 or Buddha?” You got to come original.

Beers Reviewed

Lemon Meringue Pie (Blonde Ale)

Muy Bonita (Double Brown Ale)

3 Years & Brewing (IPA with mango)

French Toast (Double Brown Ale)

Barrel-Aged Chocwork Orange (Imperial Milk Porter)

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_134_Funky_Buddha.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:09am CDT

How does a brewery that owns a single fermenter in a borrowed space with a staff of three people with other full-time jobs not only survive but thrive in the marketplace? Jeremiah from Hop Butcher gives us the whole story - and a lot of tasty beers. Few stones are left unturned as we talk about the name change (from South Loop Brewing), the brewery’s prospective growth, the importance of good artwork, the difficulty of hop contracts, and how they’ve managed to sell their beer to a few major Chicago sports institutions. We get a little sweaty, taste a very rare barrel-aged treat, and thank Jeremiah for not trolling the show as he had planned.

 

Beers Sampled

Your Wish Is Granted (Double IPA)

Alemerica the Beautiful (Mosaic-Hopped American Pale Ale)

Good Ryes Wear Black (Black Rye IPA)

The World’s Colombian Coffee Exposition (Imperial Coffee Stout)

The World’s Colombian Coffee Exposition: Bourbon Barrel-Aged

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_133_Hop_Butcher.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:12pm CDT

It’s been almost two years since we first recorded in the legendary Chicago institution, and as much as things have changed, Goose Island Clybourn is still about creative small batches from some of the most passionate brewers around. Brewers Jon and Steve join us to talk about the implications of the sale to AB InBev including equipment upgrades, recipe ownership, franchising the brewpub model, and the public reaction to “selling out.” They also pour us some unbelievable beers, including maybe our first recorded experience with a “ghost whale.” Also expect to hear about their current issues with brewing sour beers, how they handle bottle releases and determine pricing, and a little teaser regarding Belgian Fest. Steve also absolutely schools us on Old Ales and Stock Ales, Jon gets to bask in his proudest beer-naming moments, and we all give some sweet love to Cory King. This one is chock full of goofs and goodies, folks, so grab a few beers and enjoy.

Beers Tasted:

Sara Later (Belgian pale ale)

Cran-Bruin (Oud Bruin with cranberries aged in red wine barrels)

Barrel-Aged Dark Crusader Coconut (Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with coconut added during bottling)

Nutulhu (Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with toasted hazelnuts and vanilla beans)

Side Project Brewing - Saison du Fermier Pinot (Wild saison aged in pinot noir puncheons)

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_132_GI_Clybourn_II.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:50am CDT

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