ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

Chocolate is the subject of Middle Brow Beer Co.’s latest homebrew contest, and for some reason, they let us help pick a winner. We’re joined by Nick and Bryan from Middle Brow, and we taste and talk about five of the best beers out of the 23 submitted by local homebrewers. While deciding on which beer will be commercially brewed, we talk oak spirals, MTV, vanilla beans, Beechwood-aging, wax, post-contest success stories, and This Year’s Prop. Plus, the Middle Brow guys share some details on some upcoming releases with Dark Matter, Jimmy Whispers, and much more. Oh, and lots of nut jokes.

 

Homebrews sampled include:

 

Pecan Brown Ale with cocoa nibs

Chocolate Rye Saison

Chocolate Hazelnut Porter

Imperial Oatmeal Stout with coffee, hazelnuts, and vanilla bean

Imperial Oatmeal Stout with cinnamon, vanilla, and cacao nibs, aged on bourbon oak spirals

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_57_Middle_Brow.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am CDT

It’s Mardi Gras time, and we’re tasting a carnival of Voodoo Brewery beers. We review six (plus one) beers from the Meadville, Pennsylvania brewery, and we end up having one of our best drinking experiences ever recorded. In this episode, you’ll also hear about Craig’s trip to Voodoo, why Ryan might be leaving the podcast, and our virulent support of the Anti-Waxer movement. Plus, a trio of barrel-aged beers brings about some of the more memorable - and lascivious - reactions we’ve had in a while. For us, every day is Fat Tuesday!

 

Mutual Rankings!

1. Pappy Van Winkle Black Magick

2. Buffalo Trace Black Magick

3. Laird’s Apple Brandy Black Magick

4. Voodoo Love Child

5. Big Black Voodoo Daddy

6. Wynona’s Big Brown Ale

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_56_Voodoo.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:25am CDT

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000105 EndHTML:0000006128 StartFragment:0000002472 EndFragment:0000006092

To celebrate the birth of his daughter, Ryan got to assemble his show his way, and he did a hell of a job. Six local beers are reviewed, and all are pretty great. Both men drink for the first time in a while, so expect to hear the following: Ryan shares his love for Waka Flocka Flame’s cough drop commercials; Craig forgets about oatmeal and words in general; BCBS is Kanye, and we realize that we are jumping the shark. Also, Ryan learns how to curse again after a few weeks off, and Craig shares a story about how he was rejected by a rising star brewer. Sadly, no Derk Lerd.

 



 

Craig

 

1. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (2009)

 

2. (tie) Pipeworks Crimson Snapper and Arcade Winter Slayer

 

4. Off Color Dino S’mores

 

5. Une Année/DryHop The Devil’s Reign

 

6. 18th Street Rise of the Phoenix

 



 

Ryan

 

1. Pipeworks Crimson Snapper

 

2. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (2009)

 

3. 18th Street Rise of the Phoenix

 

4. Off Color Dino S’mores

 

5. Arcade Winter Slayer

 

6. Une Année/DryHop The Devil’s Reign

 

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_55_Ryans_Choice.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:06pm CDT

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000105 EndHTML:0000006555 StartFragment:0000002472 EndFragment:0000006519

We finally release this much-ballyhooed old episode, and it’s one for the books. Back in the Spring of 2014, we drank seven Dark Horse special release beers, and things did not go well. Sometimes the expectations we have for certain episodes do not match the outcome. And in this one, what starts as steadily-growing disappointment ends in a profane crescendo of anger-filled rankings. We do have a hell of a time along the way, and Ryan finally stumps Craig in a game: “Real Dark Horse Beer Name or Something I Just Made Up.” Bask in our suffering!

 



 

Craig

 

1. Bourbon Barrel Plead the 5th (2013)

 

2. Sarsparilla 666 Bourbon Barrel Root Beer Stout

 

3. Bourbon Barrel Plead the 5th (2012)

 

4. Brandy Barrel-Aged 4 Elf

 

5. Louie’s Long Polymer John Donut Ale

 

6. Beer is Dark XIII Anniversary Ale

 

7. Bourbon Barrel 3 Pairs of Legs

 



 

Ryan

 

1. Bourbon Barrel Plead the 5th (2013)

 

2. Louie’s Long Polymer John Donut Ale

 

3. Bourbon Barrel Plead the 5th (2012)

 

4. Sarsparilla 666 Bourbon Barrel Root Beer Stout

 

5. Brandy Barrel-Aged 4 Elf

 

7. (tie) Bourbon Barrel 3 Pairs of Legs/Beer is Dark XIII Anniversary Ale

 

Direct download: ABV_Chicago_54_Dark_Horse_Disaster.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:59am CDT

1