ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

With Duneyrr Artisan Fermenta Project, Tyler Davis wants to explore the ways wine and beer fermentation can cross over into styles that defy traditional categorization. And with Moderne Dune, he is using newer ingredients and techniques with IPAs and lagers in thoughtful and artful ways. We talk with Tyler about his many projects and upcoming taproom, the origins of Duneyrr, his brewing history, choosing quality over locality when it matters, and how deep into the world of wine he’s looking to venture. Then we drink five beers - two from Moderne Dune and three from Duneyrr - to better appreciate his vision and see how our beer-centric tastes react to his wine hybrids. We also threaten to kill the Cold IPA, Craig goes all Whitman on us, and Ryan’s getting rich off those NFTs. Can we be franc?

Beers Reviewed

Moderne Dune - River Yacht (Cold IPA w/ Mosaic, Meridian, and Motueka)

Moderne Dune - Invited Concept (DDH Lager w/ Loral and Citra)

Duneyrr Artisan Fermenta Project - Freya Franc (Sour Hybrid w/ strawberries and Cabernet Franc grape must)

Duneyrr Artisan Fermenta Project - Sauvÿn Blanc (Sour Hybrid w/ passion fruit, Sauvignon Blanc grape must)

Duneyrr Artisan Fermenta Project - Hazy Et Blanc! (Double IPA w/ Sauvignon Blanc grape juice, Phantasm, Citra, Hallertau Blanc, and Nelson Sauvin)

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_401_Duneyrr_Moderne_Dune.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am CDT

To recognize the improbable 400th episode of this show, we take it all the way back to the beginning - with a little added age. We revisit the same five local breweries from “Episode 1 - Chicago Stouts” - but this time, there are barrels involved. We take stock of all that has changed along the way and share a few memories from listeners. But there’s also our Top 3 arcade cabinets, shameless Trader Joe’s plugs, some babka truths, stout luge races, and a little old-fashioned Ryan rage over unwieldy beer prices. I’d buy that for a dollar. 

 

Beers Reviewed

 

Spiteful Brewing - Barrel-Aged Hostile Harry - Cinnamon Bun 2020 (Russian Imperial Stout w/ cinnamon and vanilla aged in Weller barrels)

Solemn Oath Brewery - Nourri Au Pistache (Imperial Milk Stout w/ vanilla and pistachio aged in bourbon barrels)

Half Acre Beer Company - Double Barrel Catch Hell (Imperial Stout w/ Vietnamese cinnamon and vanilla, aged in Four Roses Small Batch and Four Roses Single Barrel Select barrels)

Pipeworks Brewing Company - Phantom Unicorn (Barrel-aged Imperial Stout w/ cacao nibs, vanilla, and lactose)

Hubbard’s Cave - Barrel-Aged Bananas Foster Imperial Stout 2021 (Barrel-aged Imperial Stout w/ cinnamon, maple, vanilla and banana)

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_400_BA_Chicago_Stouts.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am CDT

In a record year at the Great American Beer Festival, Illinois breweries captured 16 medals across a wide variety of styles. We ran all over Chicagoland to assemble six of the medal winning beers to sample while sharing a pretty comprehensive history of Illinois beers at GABF in the 21st century. Also, we pitch some ideas for Extreme Bingo, play a game of Stumptappd about beers with depressing movie names, and get stuck between a glitter bomb and a jamband. More lactose categories next year, please.

Beers Reviewed

Alarmist Brewing - Midwest Royalty (Bronze Medal in American-Style Lager)

Pollyanna Brewing Co. - Party Penguin (Bronze Medal in Other Strong Beer)

DESTIHL Brewery - DeadHead IPA Series: Haze of the Dead (Bronze Medal in Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale)

Old Irving Brewing Co. - Della (Silver Medal in German-Style Koelsch)

Short Fuse Brewing Co. - Tropical Hurt Locker (Silver Medal in Fruited American Sour Ale)

Will County Brewing Co. - Bamm Bamm Loves Pebbles (Gold Medal in Fruit Wheat Beer)

For the complete spreadsheet of Illinois’ GABF Medal History, click here.

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_399_IL_GABF_Winners.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am CDT

From the rolling green hills of Vermont, we have five beers that span the state for our 27th installment in our State Show series. All five breweries included are new to the show with a wide variety of styles, and at least one beer elicits the strangest divergent reactions we’ve had in quite some time. Also, Ryan is living through an unwritten Seinfeld episode, Craig is disappointed by the lack of moose, and we both fixate on parts of songs we had never noticed before. You’re going to have to speak a little louder - I had a Crunchwrap® today.

Beers Reviewed

von Trapp Brewing [Stowe, VT] - Vienna Style Lager

Collaborative Brewing [Waitsfield, VT] - Salute Your Schwarz (Schwarzbier)

River Roost Brewery [White River Junction, VT] - Neon Burning Bright (Mixed-culture saison aged in gin barrels w/ ginger, lime, and Cara Cara oranges)

Foam Brewers [Burlington, VT] - Galaxie 500 (Double IPA)

Hermit Thrush Brewery [Brattleboro, VT] - Rowdy Monk (Mixed-culture quadrupel aged in red wine and scotch barrels)

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_398_The_VT_Show.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am CDT

This week, we’re perusing the aisles of three of the most popular grocery store chains who contract brew their own IPAs so they can sell them at a steep discount, all to determine if it’s okay to skip your trip to Beer on the Wall every now and then. (It’s not.) We have some, uh, spirited reviews of the IPAs made by Costco, Aldi, and Trader Joe’s, with one nearly-redeeming surprise. Also, we welcome a live studio audience to the show for the first time, petition to take over the Challenge Butter Twitter account, and make people a little h*rny for soup beers. A true adventure awaits.

Beers Reviewed

Costco: Kirkland Signature (Hopfen Und Malz/Gordon Biersch) - Citra Hop Session IPA

Aldi: State of Brewing (Octopi Brewing) - Hopping Nomad Session IPA

Aldi: State of Brewing (Octopi Brewing) - Hazy IPA

Trader Joe’s: Farm Island Brewing (Peak Organic) - Organic IPA

Trader Joe’s: Rhinelander Brewing Company - Boatswain Double IPA

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_397_Grocery_Store_IPAs.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am CDT

We’ve long been spoiled to have Allagash beers in the Chicagoland market, considering they still only distribute to about a third of the country, if that. But this show celebrates the brewery differently, with five brewery-only beers from Craig’s recent travels to Portland, Maine. And yes, even when they’re getting experimental, Allagash is as adept at balancing complexity with drinkability unlike few other brewers in the world. This lovefest also features a sentient (and inspiring) Gushy, for the love of B-sides albums, buddy cop films with two talking dogs, and some irate Pokemon fans. Branch beer, branch beer!

Beers Reviewed

From Maine, With Love #04 (Saison with Lemon Verbena)

From Maine, With Love #05 (Tart Pale Ale with Juniper and Sea Salt)

From Maine, With Love #06 (Belgian Lager)

From Maine, With Love #07 (Pale Ale with Lemon and Sea Salt)

Coolship Cerise Estate (Spontaneous ale w/ cherries)

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_396_Allagash.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am CDT

In a state where there’s a brewery for about every 8,000 people, Portland is the ultimate beer-lovers’ destination in picturesque Maine. Craig’s travels bring us five unique and winning beers from five different Portland, Maine breweries. The beers are as charming as the coastal town that bore them, which leads to a little strokin’ of Craig’s ego. Also, we keep those cans a-rolling; Craig feels old thanks to promotional 90s nights; Ryan is a little worried about the sea water; and we’re getting stupid with lactose. 

Beers Reviewed

Rising Tide Brewing Company - Pisces (Gose)

Definitive Brewing Company - Radiant Days: Mandarin Orange, Raspberry, and Marshmallow (Fruited Sour)

Liquid Riot Bottling Co. - Blushing Star (Barrel-aged pilsner w/ Brettanomyces and Maine white peaches)

Battery Steele Brewing - Abstract Object (Coffee milk stout)

Belleflower Brewing Co. - Barn Hex: Mosaic, Strata, El Dorado (Double NEIPA)

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_395_Portland_ME.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am CDT

Stowed away in Northern Vermont, The Alchemist has been a world-renowned brewery for almost two decades thanks to its tremendously popular and influential Heady Topper. Craig’s recent travels to the area secured us that precious Heady along with four more beers of substantial quality that have us dreaming of green mountains. Also, Ryan resurrects the soundboard, Craig’s missed opportunity lets us all down, and we reach a decisive conclusion to the “drink from the can” debate. 

Beers Reviewed

Zomerbier (Summer saison)

Sterk Wit (Belgian-style imperial wit)

Skadoosh: Crystal (IPA)

Crusher (Double IPA)

Heady Topper (Double IPA)

Direct download: ABV_Episode_394_The_Alchemist.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am CDT

If you’re going to toss the whole pastry shelf into your stout, we better see some proper punctuation. For this episode, we’ve gathered five stouts that are on a three-adjunct minimum, and we sacrifice our daily calorie count by bringing you our arbitrary reviews. We also consider T-shirts for songs, recommend three flavors for that White Sox waffle cone, conclude our eight year journey of finding a better name for the podcast, pan for cookie dough, smile at bubbles, and bristle at your bold breakfast self-invitation. You hear that, Doink?

Beers Reviewed

Hop Butcher for the World - Mobula (Imperial stout with chocolate, coconut, and almonds)

More Brewing Company - Arketype: Almond Fudge Macaroon (Imperial stout with almond, cocoa nibs, and coconut)

Prairie Artisan Ales & The Open Bottle - You Gotta Horchata (Imperial milk stout with cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar)

Hitchhiker Brewing Company - Point of Confusion (White stout with oats, coffee, cacao nibs, maple syrup, and hazelnut)

Cinderlands Beer Co. - Pastry Badge (Imperial milk stout with mint chocolate cookies, vanilla beans, and milk sugar)

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_393_Oxford_Comma_Stouts.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am CDT

On some episodes, we just wanna act stupid and have some fun, so for this one we’re doing an all suburban, all haze, all blind show to prove that we don’t give a sh*t about tomorrow. Will these five hazy Double IPAs help break Ryan free from his Low Haze Enthusiasm? Will either host hit a respectable average in guessing the blind lineup? How many friendships will be tested? Which White Castle is still squishing the ball? Listen to this tight 50 to hear that and why you might as well papaya.™ 

Beers Reviewed Blindly (in order of appearance)

Triptych Brewing - Batch 900

Mikerphone Brewing - Say Uhh! 

Phase Three Brewing/Roaring Table Brewing - Just Down the Road

Hidden Hand - Passioned Pastel

More Brewing - Elixir Fields

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_392_Haze_Suburbia.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am CDT