Hard seltzers are starting to see a bit of a dip in sales, but it’s probably because they’re not all loaded up with chunky fruit and 250-plus calories per can. Last year’s “phenomenon” of the smoothie hard seltzer was kicked off by an offshoot of Ann Arbor’s HOMES Brewery that goes by the name of Smooj. Craig stopped by the Lab (which should really be called the Smoojery) to pick up five slim cans of thick and sludgy hard seltzer for us to review. And because we needed another layer of smoothness, Ryan subjects Craig to a complicated game of identifying Michael McDonald lyrics that has real stakes for the loser. Also, Craig should be the mayor of Hell, Lactose is Easy Mode™, and we drink the Smoovée and a can of what we’re calling SmoojYO. 

Smooj Reviewed

Strawberry Banana

Piña Colada

Tropical Trip

Orange Delight

Cara Cara Cran

Currently operating out of Pilot Project, Azadi Brewing may be small at the moment, but their flavors are big and inspired by ingredients from regions all over India. We talk with co-founders Bhavik Modi and Gator Schrand about their unusual collaborative process that results in a rich lineup of beers that seek to tell a story and educate the consumer about India, Indian food, and Indian communities in Chicago. (They also taste pretty great as well, we might add.) In addition, we learn about how they became featured in prominent Chicago Indian restaurants, how their logo is inspired by the Dabbawala, and when we might expect to see a taproom open. Also, we want in on the Taste Buds trading cards, dream of some perfect food pairings, and get a lesson in the chaotic Craig-style of reviewing things. 

Bhavik and Gator Interview: (00:10:37 - 00:36:33)

Beers Reviewed

Devon (Gose w/ Telicherry black pepper, Himalayan pink salt, and Indian coriander)

Cochin (Lemongrass Saison)

Shimla (Pale Ale w/ Columbus, Centennial, and Cascade hops)

Chopta (Hazy IPA w/ Cascade, Sorachi Ace, and Hallertau Blanc hops)

Hira (Belgian Quad w/ dates)

Malt-forward and flowery, the bock-style lager most made for the Spring season is typically a maibock, though not all breweries embrace the confines of that title. We collect five local bocks made with Spring in mind to help Craig make up his mind about this style that once literally saved a city. We also meet two diabolical breakfast buffet villains, get our minds freaked by food commercial secrets, and start feeling real TOASTY! Shorts and a sweater? A dress and a jean jacket? We’ve got the lager beer pairing for you, lover of Spring weather.

Beers Reviewed

More Brewing Company - Bartlett Maibock

Dovetail Brewery - Maibock

Dutchback Brew Co. - Friar Bok (Lentebok)

Half Acre Beer Company - Spring Bock

Church Street Brewing Company - Magisterium (Maibock)

One of America’s few original styles also happens to be a commonly misunderstood one. The Cream Ale has no dairy or lactose (much to Craig’s chagrin) but is instead much more similar to the flavorful and easy-drinking Kölsch. We drink through five examples of the style to better grasp its nuances and are once again surprised by the refreshing amount of subtle variation. Also, we discuss the ultimate mind game, foosball, and accidentally give the ice cream machine sentience. (And if you’re interested in attending Gathering Place’s Lager & Friends festival in Glendale, Wisconsin on June 4th, go to our Instagram for details on how to win some tickets.)

Cream Ales Reviewed

Midwest Coast Brewing Co. - Three From the Tee

Scout & Scholar Brewing - Kolbier

Mikerphone Brewing - C.R.E.A.M.

Gathering Place Brewing Co. - Midwest Chill

Illuminated Brew Works - Mr. Monk’s Cream Ale

We’ve been summoned to do our civic duty in Haze Court, giving five hazy beers their due process through our arbitrary…arbitration. We’re ready to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that we should drop the charges against haze, and sentence our taste buds to about an hour of hop service. Also, we imagine adding a twist to new MLB rules, experience the Mandela Effect with Sir Mix-A-Lot, and try to keep Craig’s Hop Anger Meter below critical. 

Beers Reviewed

Old Nation Brewing Co. - DDH M-43 (Double Dry-Hopped New England-style IPA)

Eagle Park Brewing Co. - Goon Juice (New England-style IPA)

Brothership Brewing - The Arrival (New England-style IPA)

Hop Butcher for the World - Oblong (Double IPA)

Old Irving Brewing Co. & Alarmist Brewing - Beez Jus (DDH Triple IPA)

Beers Reviewed

Czech Pils

O’Beer (Sour w/ passion fruit, blue raspberry, lemon, and vanilla)

Dumpster Cut (Simcoe NEIPA)

Chocolate Covered Cherry Boy (Pastry Sour w/ cherry, cacao nibs, and vanilla)

Barrel Aged Hegemon (Bourbon Barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout)

Beers Reviewed

Fast Fashion/Keeping Together - Reality is an Atmosphere: Centennial (Belgian Pale Ale)

Civil Society Brewing - Fresh (New England-Style IPA)

J. Wakefield Brewing - K.R.E.A.M. (Berlinner Weisse w/ strawberry, vanilla, and lactose)

Mason Ale Works - Cash (Imperial Coffee Stout)

Cascade Brewing - Primordial Noir (Bourbon barrel-aged imperial red ale w/ cherries and spices)

Well ahead of Derby Day, Craig trotted down to Louisville, Kentucky to check out their beer scene and bring back a five-pack, along with an interview. The range is wide on this one with easy-drinkers to adjunct-crammed sippers all fighting for the top spot in our arbitrary rankings. Also, Craig chats with Andy Cobb from Butchertown to learn about his growing operation, how to determine the right amount of coconut to cram into a stout, and the potential for kung fu showdowns over craft beer. Also, Craig shares some other unique highlights from his Louisville trip, Ryan’s considering restoring a vintage Segway, and we end our boys trip with a friendship-strengthening fist fight.

Andy Cobb from Butchertown interview (00:32:55 - 00:48:41)

Beers Reviewed

Gravely Brewing Co. - La Bamba (Mexican-style Lager)

Mile Wide Beer Company - Army Had A Half Day (West Coast IPA)

Butchertown Brewing - Arise: Coconut (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ coconut)

Holsopple Brewing - Apricot Pufflefluff (Fruited Sour w/ apricot and marshmallow)

Gallant Fox Brewing Co. - Blue Suede Brews (Peanut Butter Banana Old Ale)

Beers Reviewed

Throwback (Pilsner)

Fad-tastic (NE IPA)

Bellerophon (English Barleywine aged in bourbon barrels)

Bananas Foster Baba Yaga 2022 (Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ bananas, Tahitian vanilla bean, molasses, and cinnamon)

The Void Sake Co. - Echoes Horchata Nigori (Junmai Nigori Sake w/ vanilla bean and cinnamon)

Inching ever-closer to our Belgian cycle, we finally reach for the Dubbel on this show by drinking the style-originator and several American examples - including one big-time medal winner. With such wide variety on the style that are mostly good in their own way, we try to examine what makes a Dubbel such a beloved style - even when you’re not ingesting gamey meats. Plus, we introduce tickling to the Olympics, put Brendan Fraser and Hugh Grant into a buddy comedy, and explore your body as an intimate landscape. Now’s a good time to remind our donors to “dubbel” their donation. 

Beers Reviewed

Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle - Westmalle Trappist Dubbel

Illuminated Brew Werks - Intimate Landscape

Sketchbook Brewing Co. = Back Alley Abbey 

Temperance Beer Co. - Quotidienne

Vintage Brewing Company - Dedication

Beers Reviewed

Off Color Brewing/Speciation/Native Species Winery - Garamond (Wit Ale fermented in Barolo Foedre then aged on Frontenac Gris grape pomace)

Supermoon Beer Company - Gloe (Mixed Fermentation Saison fermented w/ Brettanomyces in French Oak Barrels with La Crescent White Grapes)

Half Acre Beer Co. - Hot Hot Day (Mixed culture lager w/ Roussanne grapes blended with mixed culture witbier)

Hopewell Brewing Co./Speciation Artisan Ales - Taxon Cycle (Wild Ale w/ Traminette Grapes)

Keeping Together - Creature of Infinite Contradiction (Barrel-aged Saison w/ Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes)

Sometimes you just gotta say, “What the f***?” and open five cans absolutely crammed full of fruit slurry and let the whole notion of beer just leave your mind. We’re down with the thiccness for this episode, watching our glasses become opaque with a pulpy sludge while measuring the detritus on each glug-glug pour. So while they may not be beer per se, are they fun to drink? Also, we re-examine the days of the week, learn the truth about MC Hammer, develop some can-rolling techniques, and experience THE CHONK. Come on and get fruit stupid with us.

“Beers” Reviewed

BlackStack Brewing - Are You There God? It’s Me, Guava (Triple Guava Smoothie Sour w/ vanilla and lactose)

Energy City Brewing - Bistro Smoothie: Mango Pineapple Banana (Berliner-Style Weisse w/ mango, pineapple, banana, and natural flavor)

Phase Three Brewing Company - Double Nectar: Raspberry, Blackberry, Blueberry (Sour Ale w/ fruit)

More Brewing Company - Peach Cobbler (Fruited Sour Ale w/ peach, vanilla, granola, and milk sugar)

Drekker Brewing Co. - Chonk: Spumoni (Sundae Sour w/ cherry, chocolate ice cream, pistachios, and lactose)

For the third straight year, we return to the type of enormous barrel-aged beers that destroyed us throughout December…and fall in love all over again. This lineup of five is going down in the history books, as they not only compete for rankings on this show but several are also in the very early running for our year-end lists. Complex barrel blends and big adjunct additions go toe-to-toe with our sobriety, and it’s a hell of a way to ring in Craig’s birthday. Speaking of, we wonder about an alternate reality with #SoftCraig, throw out even more Milwaukee love, and contemplate the mysterious CD long box. (Plug in your Game Genie for the Enhanced episode.) 

Beers Reviewed 

Temperance Beer Co. - Might Meets Right: Orange Chocolate 2022 (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout w/ roasted cacao nibs and dried sweet orange peel)

Private Press Brewing - Cosmic Echoes [Batch  1] (Blend of Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout and Barleywine Ale)

Central Waters Brewing Company - XXIV (Blend of Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stouts)

Triptych Brewing - When Someone Asks If You’re a God (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs, marshmallow, vanilla beans & natural flavor)

Half Acre Beer Company - Triple Barrel Catch Hell (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout w/ cinnamon and vanilla)

Yeah we know what episode this is, and truthfully, the pressure of somehow delivering The Funny Weed Number Show was too much, leading us to sip on five delicious dark lagers instead. We explore some of the range a “Dark Lager” can have while finding ourselves in a real rankings-based bind. Also, we have run-ins with NBC sitcom doppelgangers in very unexpected places, we ascend (and descend) the flavor mountain, and we discuss if a Cold Black IPA is a thing. And we back our way into a 420-appropriate set of topics like White Castle 1921 burgers, Boston Dunkies, the Hotel Transylvania film series, and just the nastiest NSFW chips you can find. 

Beers Reviewed

Riverlands Brewing Company - Midnight Silence (Schwarzbier)

1840 Brewing Company - Schwarzen Katze (Schwarzbier)

Cellar West Artisan Ales - Metaluna (India Black Lager)

Old Irving Brewing Co. - Lifesblood (Dark Bock Lager)

Pipeworks Brewing Company - Dunkel

Beers Reviewed

Gravedigger Billy (Scotch Ale aged in bourbon barrels)

Straight Jacket (Barleywine Ale aged in bourbon barrels)

Maple Jacket (Barleywine Ale aged in bourbon barrels with maple)

Blackberry Finn (Barleywine Ale double barrel aged in bourbon barrels with blackberries)

Ryeway to Heaven (Rye Ale aged in rye barrels)

V.S.O.R. (Rye Ale aged in rye and bourbon barrels)

Once brewed as a “superbier” to push the limits of ABV in a Belgian Blonde ale, the Tripel has almost a century of history with many American breweries embracing its fruity and spicy barrage. We try five Tripels, including the style standard, to better familiarize ourselves with this Belgian staple - and to help us complete half of our Belgian Beer Cycle. Also, Ryan gives the play-by-play in the 5 year olds basketball class, we sample the newest flavors of Jeez-Its, Craig wants all the brandy barrels, and we brace ourselves for the oncoming onslaught of Fiber-Forward IPAs. 

Beers Reviewed

Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle - Westmalle Trappist Tripel

Une Année Brewery - Tripel

New Glarus Brewing Company - Triple 5

The Church Brew Works - Millenium Tripel

Imperial Oak Brewing - Beermuda Triangle: Peach Brandy BA Tripel w/ peaches

Ushering in our 8th year of the podcast, this anniversary episode is a surprisingly sessionable trip down memory lane. Each host blindly leads the other through three beers of their choosing with the caveat being that all breweries must be Chicagoland local and would have already been open in 2013. Then, there are other connecting themes behind our choices that the other must guess - all while we find ourselves reeling pickled off of a bunch of 5% beers. Also, we decide which restaurants we would actually stay the night at, take drastic measures to put each other at aromatic disadvantages, and nod along to the Tart Suggestion. Pop two quarters in the blast chiller and get your plants out of my butt zone - we’re already looking ahead to the next eight years.

Beers Reviewed Half-Blind (in order of appearance)

Light the Lamp Brewery - Still Single (Belgian Blonde)

Une Année Brewery - Less Is More (Saison w/ oranges)

Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Co. - Little Wing (Pilsner)

Temperance Beer Co. - Smittytown (ESB)

Emmett’s Brewing Co. - Munich Light (Helles Lager)

Off Color Brewing - Scurry (Dark Honey Ale/Kottbusser)

For the past two years, Off Color’s line of Beer For… beers have been a steady source of creative pairings executed immaculately, so we talk with co-founder Dave Bleitner about the project he heads up. Dave shares some of his process for conceptualizing these beers, why it was the right time to do his first ever pale ale (and make it a year-round release), how the label art and merchandising comes about, and why you shouldn’t sleep on a hop pillow for too long. We also drink through five of the Beer For beers while attempting to lure a new sponsor, removing the squeaking from televised basketball, and putting our whole mouths under the butter dispenser. 

Dave Bleitner Interview (00:09:39 - 00:41:46)

Beers Reviewed

Beer For Hoops (Cream Ale w/ peach puree and vanilla beans)

Beer For Movies (Popcorn Kolsch-Style Beer)
Beer For Lounging (American Pale Ale)

Beer For Bathtubs (Belgian-Style Wit w/ citrus, flowers, spices, and epsom salt)

Beer For Bowling (English-Style Session Ale brewed w/ wood)

A sequel to one of our favorite shows of 2021 might seem rushed, but Keeping Together’s time in Chicago is limited. For this one, we drink five more of Averie Swanson’s artful creations in an exercise that honestly feels shamelessly self-indulgent due to how good the beers are. Also, we speculate on a provolone problem, conjure up some Joey Pants, do a sitcom t-shirt reveal, and feel inspired to don windbreakers. Expect a very early contender for beer of the year that we never saw coming. Who says the sequel can’t be better than the original??

Beers Reviewed

Dreaming of a Common Language (Dry-hopped saison w/ Hallertau Tradition, Tettnanger, and Saaz hops)

Everything Glistened and Sparkled (Saison w/ roasted rhubarb, angelica root, and honey)

The Earth Is What We All Have In Common (Bière de Garde w/ roasted chestnuts, dried oranges, and rosemary)

Make Art Not Content (Saison w/ coffee, sage, peach leaves, and honey)

Undulant & Impermanent (Barrel-aged saison w/ maple-roasted carrots and spent Fernet botanicals)

Though our very existence denies it, we love the idea of Dry January - a time when people can re-evaluate their habits around beer and explore more sober and healthy options. But we never really intended on doing this show - not until Ryan got Covid. So to keep this weekly show going amidst that diagnosis, we explore how non-alcoholic beers have come to mimic craft styles much more than they did half a decade ago. Also, Craig needs help with a t-shirt resolution, Ryan’s just grateful he can still smell and taste things, and we find the perfect names for a few yet-to-be-founded NA breweries. Plus we still manage to talk about lactose a bunch.

Beers Reviewed

Big Drop Brewing Co. - Pine Trail Pale Ale

WellBeing Brewing - Hellraiser Dark Amber

Athletic Brewing Company - Free Wave Hazy IPA

Bravus Brewing Company - Oatmeal Dark

Untitled Art - S’mores Dark Brew

The Cold IPA itself is an oxymoron. So is it a hopped-up lager, or a lagered-down IPA? Or is it neither? We speak with Doug Veliky, CFO of Revolution Brewing and industry trend-spotter, about why the Cold IPA could be a legitimate trend, and what could keep it stuck in fermentation. Then we examine the style further by drinking through five local examples, hoping to create our own frame of reference. Additionally, Craig has a new workout plan for 2022, Ryan’s creating the Slow Pour Cold IPA at-home device, and we class it up by talking about all the best smells in craft beer. Let’s have a cold one together, shall we?

Doug Veliky interview (00:06:03 - 00:35:45)

Beers Reviewed

Revolution Brewing - Subz-Hero (Cold IPA)

Phase Three Brewing - Cold Pixel (IPL)

Riverlands Brewing Company - Cold Synergy (Cold IPA)

Maplewood Brewing Company - Cold Chisel (Cold IPA)

Alarmist Brewing - Woodland Chill (Cold IPA)

As if barrel-aging alone wasn’t enough, breweries these days are taking beers that have already experienced an extended oak rest and dumping them into another barrel to age even further. We sample five beers that result from this process (or something similar) to see if all that patience pays off in the end. This final installment of Barrel-Aged December features two legit top ten candidates for beers of the year, and we attempt to extend our merchandising output. And as if two barrels for every beer wasn’t enough, Ryan has brought the extra heat for this one: two Craigs. Get ready for the Craigboard. 

Beers Reviewed

Off Color Brewing/Metropolitan Brewing - Avec Le Guillotine (Blend of doppelbock, calvados foedre-aged Flemish-style with apples, and American Wild Ale aged in wine barrels with Cabernet Franc grape must; all refermented with cherries and aged in bourbon barrels and Pomegranate Fox Wild Ale barrels)

Church Street Brewing Company - Double Barrel Doppelbock (Doppelbock aged in bourbon and port barrels for 2 years)

Brink Brewing Co./Nine Giant Brewing - Double Bourbon Barrel-Aged Loose String (Barleywine aged in rye and bourbon barrels)

Private Press Brewing - Electric Roads (Double Barrel-Aged Barleywine)

Mikerphone Brewing - Double Barrel-Aged Super Imperial Smells Like Bean Spirit (Imperial Breakfast Stout w/ maple syrup and coffee, aged in Heaven Hill rye barrels and Smoke Wagon rye barrels)

This is Deep Wood Stout Edition 2021 for our fourth Barrel-Aged December episode, as we drink through the five Revolution stouts in their fall/winter specialty release series. Each year, this lineup finds a new way to step forward - and there’s one beer in particular here that surprisingly leaps to the top of our lists. Also, Ryan confronts Craig about the Hair Bag Incident, Craig keeps insisting on entering the chat, Ryan’s High Life vertical is f*cked, and we just sort of have a love fest about Revolution’s output in 2021. Stay tuned for the drunkest rankings of the year.

Beers Reviewed

Deth’s Tar (Barrel-Aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout)

Café Deth (Barrel-Aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout w/ coffee)

Deth by Raspberries (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ raspberries)

Vanilla Deth (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ vanilla)

Dark Mode (Imperial Milk Stout aged in bourbon barrels)

An oasis in a month of enormous beers, this episode resets our palates to ready us for the remainder of Barrel-Aged December. But that’s not to say that saisons don’t have quite a few tricks up their sleeves, like the five on this show certainly do. We also are introduced to Milwaukee’s Supermoon Beer Company, and Craig grabbed an interview with co-founder Rob Brennan. Additionally, we have surprising strolls through the mall, and Craig tells you where he’ll take his glitter. #DrinkSaisons

Beers Reviewed

Supermoon Beer Company - There Is A Plot (Gin Barrel Blended Saison)

Keeping Together - It Was Like A Holiday (Barrel-aged Saison w/ toasted coconut, lemon, orange, and honey)

Werk Force Brewing Company - Barrel-Aged Farmhouse Vultures (Saison w/ blackberries and raspberries aged Cabernet Sauvignon barrels)

Zero Gravity Craft Brewery - Après Vous (Gin Barrel-Aged Saison)

Lawson’s Finest Liquids - Saison Aged in Barr Hill Tom Cat Gin Barrels

No matter what your strategy is at the fest, it’s almost impossible to avoid FoBAB FOMO. We were lucky to attend the 19th edition of FoBAB, but we also felt like we missed out on trying some of the exciting medal winners - until now. For our second Barrel-Aged December show, there are five medal winners from 2021 across various styles on this episode that confirm, hey, yeah, maybe the judges know what they’re doing. We also brainstorm some local beer gift box ideas, find Craig roaming the island of misfit candy, and audition to #FineTuneFoBAB.

Beers Reviewed

The Hopewell Brewing Co. - Arrow of Time [Blend 002] (Oak-aged Wild Ale) - Silver in Wild Mixed Culture Beer (Acidic) Sours

Black Horizon Brewing Co. - Gin Barrel-Aged Stand and Deliver (Gin Barrel-Aged Golden Strong Ale) - Bronze in Other Pale Beer

Milwaukee Brewing Company - Barrel-Aged Barleywine - Bronze in Barleywine/Wheatwine

Short Fuse Brewing Company - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Precious Little Treats (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ vanilla beans) - Silver in Specialty Strong Porter/Stout

Werk Force Brewing Company - Double Barrel Sleepy Bear (Double Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout w/ milk sugar, cacao nibs, and vanilla)

Rising from the depths of an obsidian sea to bring about an experience both conceptual and elemental that bends past the traditional, or something: Benthic 2021. To kick off Barrel-Aged DecemberNFT we wade through the cosmic gumbo for this show on Half Acre’s big adjunct stout release for 2021. Five variants of the barrel-aged coconut stout are up for review and lead us to the 4PM Shedd Aquarium tour where things get a bit raunchy. Also, we talk about the podcast we would’ve started at age 15, a Craig soundboard for prank calls, and the symptoms of Fish Can Influence. Ready your decks and watch your hit points, folks.

Beers Reviewed

Benthic (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout w/ coconut and coffee)

XTRA DUBL Benthic (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout w/ 3x toasted coconut and 2x coffee)

Vanilla Benthic (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout w/ coconut and vanilla)

Rum Coconut Benthic (Rum and Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout w/ coconut)

Vampira Benthic (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout w/ coffee and coconut aged 10-22 months)

We take on five beers from the great city of Cincinnati for this episode, courtesy of listener Andrew who picked out an exceptionally fun variety of styles and odd ingredients. It’s not every week we get beers with juniper berries, paw paw, and tayberries. Also, we discuss a tweet about which famous old people could identify Mario; we talk about some of our favorite signature fonts; and we have the majesty of dolphins ruined for us forever. 

Beers Reviewed

Streetside Brewery - Return of the Mac (Coffee blond w/ caramel creme coffee and vanilla)

Rhinegeist Brewery - Infinite Dawn (Sour blonde ale aged in an oak foeder)

Rebel Mettle - Volume (Schwarzbier with juniper berries)

Urban Artifact - Dilophosaurus (Barrel-aged wild ale w/ paw paw)

Fibonacci Brewing Company - Ploidy (Imperial oatmeal stout w/ tayberries)

Add a 2021 FoBAB Gold Medal to the many reasons why Cruz Blanca’s seasonal barrel-aged beer release is not to be missed, but you hopefully already knew that anyways. For this one, we chat with head brewer Jacob Sembrano before opening up all eight of these grapplers in the Luchador series. Jacob talks with us about growing Cruz beyond just a brewpub, what makes something a “Cruz beer,” and some of the surprising flavor inspirations behind this year’s Luchadors. Then we drink ‘em all up, and it’s a wild ride, y’all. Also, Craig has a hard time enjoying the aquarium, and Ryan just wants to talk about candles. 

Beers Reviewed

Escorpión (Imperial prickly pear and dragon fruit ale aged in Cabernet red wine and Barbados rum barrels)

Barbarosa (Imperial black and red raspberry ale aged in Heaven Hill bourbon and Cabernet red wine barrels)

Maravilla (Imperial blonde ale aged in Barbados rum and Woody Creek rye whiskey barrels with Mexican vanilla)

Coco Fantasma (Imperial blonde ale aged in Barbados rum and Woody Creek rye whiskey barrels with chocolate, coconut, and almond)

Carmelita Suave (Imperial stout aged in Barbados rum barrels with Metric coffee and dulce de leche)

Señor Bandito (Imperial stout aged in Woody Creek rye whiskey barrels with black, Morello, and Luxardo cherries, Mexican cassia bark, and Ceylon cinnamon)

Rey Gordo (Imperial stout aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels)

Rey Cuvée (2018 + 2019 + 2020 Rey Gordo blended and double barrel-aged in Woodford Reserve barrels)

We’re finally caught up on Craig’s summer Northeast trip which took him to Barreled Souls, who do 100% oak-fermented beers out of their Maine location. The flavors are big and bold, and some work much better for us than others. But the standouts are incredible, and we’re even getting some slushie vibes. Also, Craig considers his scent, Ryan runs down all the different sub-styles of soup beers, and we hold a community Fluff event. 

Beers Reviewed 

Space Gose (Gose w/ coriander, Maine sea salt, and lemon zest)

Speakeasy Red Sangria (Red wine barrel-aged gose w/ Concord grape, cranberry, orange, currant, & lemon)

8x Magnification (Quadruple IPA)

Crazy Squares 2.0 (Barleywine w/ Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal)

Woodford Bourbon Stay Puft (Imperial stout w/ marshmallow fluff aged in Woodford bourbon barrels)

It’s the episode where we drink all the Bourbon County beers being released on Black Friday this year, and give you our honest reactions to this eight-bottle lineup. Whatever we say probably won’t influence your purchasing decisions whatsoever, but we had fun and got drunk while doing it. Honestly, we try to run our podcast with a set of principles as there's a drive into deep left field by Castellanos and that'll be a homerun. And so that'll make it a 4-0 ballgame.

Beers Reviewed

Bourbon County Brand Stout 2021

Bourbon County Reserve 150 Stout

Bourbon County Reserve Blanton’s Stout

Bourbon County Cherry Wood Stout

Bourbon County Double Barrel Toasted Barrel Stout (BCDBTBS)

Bourbon County Classic Cola Stout

Bourbon County Fourteen Stout

Proprietor’s Stout 2021

In another tale of the macabre (beers), our palates are attacked and our bodies shake with that unmistakable burn: it can only be Crypt Fever! We once again try to outdo one another by picking beers we think are going to be revolting for a blind test of our tolerance for bad - and most of these drinks fit the horrible bill. We also envision the Skoilet, smell some sockfruit, invent Flushtones™, and discuss why hard seltzers are the future of the Torture Test. 

Beers Administered

The Bruery Terreux - Frucht: Cucumber (Sour Berliner Weiss w/ cucumbers)
Hoppin’ Frog Brewery - Verrückter Brauer (Strong Lager)

Abita Brewing Company - Strawberry Lager

Shipyard Brewing Company - Pumpkin Head Hard Seltzer

5 Rabbit Cervecería - ChocFruit Piña (Stout w/ pineapple, from 2016)

Forbidden Root - Money on My Rind (Wheat beer w/ juniper and grapefruit, from 2016?)

For the 28th installment of our State Show series, our friend Don Kasak brought us back a nice (IPA-less) lineup from South Dakota. We have five different beers from five different breweries, although one host’s personal curse seems hellbent on lowering that number. But in addition to these enjoyable brews, we construct five different nostalgia/pop culture-based Mount Rushmores of our own, which leads to discussions around cereal mascots, Seinfeld NPCs, classic WWF wrestlers, Saturday morning cartoons, and 90s bassists. We also find new ways to describe “yellow,” dream of our favorite highly dangerous vehicles, and piledrive our friends. 

Beers Reviewed

Remedy Brewing Company [Sioux Falls, SD] - MarketBrew (Hoppy wheat ale)

Sawyer Brewing Co. [Spearfish, SD] - Blood Orange Blond Ale

Obscure Brewing Co. [Sioux Falls, SD] - SoDa Kölsch

Eponymous Brewing Company [Brookings, SD] - Blueberry Indiglow (Barrel-aged sour w/ blueberries)

A Homestead Brew [Valley Springs, SD] - Blood Run Belgian Dubbel

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)

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)

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.

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)

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

Revolution Brewing’s mission is to dominate your whole calendar. They release one of the most coveted barrel-aged beers in the last few years as a surprise for the summer along with two returning favorites, but they also let you wash it all down with exquisite lighter-drinking beers like the pair from this episode. So we chatted with Rev’s communications manager John Carruthers about these hot summer drops, the future of Rev’s packaged offerings, his charitable pizza project and cookbook, and of course, the 90s X-Men Arcade game. Then we drink through a wildly incongruous lineup that has no business being evaluated on the same level, but we do what we know. There’s also talk of souping-up Craig’s Prius, Hall & Oates music videos, new lexicons for 40-year olds, and hope for VSOJ soft serve cones. Snap into a green bean!

John Carruthers Interview (00:07:52 - 00:45:52)

Beers Reviewed

Riot (Bohemian Keller Pils)

Pursuit of Freedom: Watermelon Mint (Session Sour)

Supermassive Café Deth (Barrel-aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout w/ Coffee)

Strawberry Jacket (Barrel-aged Barleywine w/ Strawberries)
V.S.O.J. (Barrel-aged Barleywine)

The Belgian Quadrupel is a style one might associate with decades of Trappist-brewed tradition, when in actuality, it was first coined a style in 1991 in the Netherlands. History lesson aside, these strong dark Belgian-style ales have their American fanatics too, and we try to explore multiple facets of the style through this episode. Also, we talk about non-existent emojis, raw bread, a Sorting Habit, accidental chocolate hand, and Craig accidentally drinking syrup. Our pour discipline is poor on this one. 

Beers Reviewed

Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven - La Trappe Quadrupel

Spencer Brewery - Monks’ Reserve Ale

Une Année Brewery - Quad

Lo Rez Brewing - Rum Barrel-Aged Quad Core

Old Irving Brewing Co. - Barrel-Aged As Time Goes By

Summer Craig’s travels brought him to the Steel City of Pittsburgh to explore their vibrant beer scene and bring back five beers for the podcast. We have an unusual mix of styles from five different Pittsburgh breweries, but they impress in ways that make us want to wave our Terrible Towels. Also, Craig has a disorienting experience with the wrath of God at the amusement park, we honor the Warhol Museum Balloon Wrangler, bring Retchy into the fold for one particularly hungover host, and explain how our saggy beers support our pointy ales. 

Beers Reviewed

Old Thunder Brewing Company - Ordinary Stillage (English session ale)

Trace Brewing - Foeder Pils (Czech pilsner aged in an oak foeder)

Cinderlands Beer Co. - Gregg (Blended saison)

Strange Roots Experimental Ales - Mortal Eidolon (Barrel-aged sour ale aged on grape must)

Grist House Craft Brewrey - Solar Submarine (Sour ale w/ tangerine, blood orange, chocolate, vanilla, milk sugar, and graham cracker)

Keeping Together, the saison-focused project from Averie Swanson, has brought world-class mixed culture farmhouse-style beers to Chicago - if even for all too short of a time. We catch up with Averie about the future of Keeping Together as its time in Chicago comes to a close, but we also talk with the Master Cicerone and former co-owner/head brewer at Jester King about her evolution as a brewer and business owner - and it feels like she’s just getting started. Also, we extol the virtues of saison as a style, discuss the ups and downs of destination breweries, praise a few more local saison makers, explore the inspiration behind her beer names, and consider a few Chicago delicacies like Home Depot hot dogs and Chicago Handshakes. Then, there’s a whole other segment where Craig and Ryan drink through five Keeping Together beers and just go on and on about how great they are, so you should listen to that too. We also talk about special occasion fonts, pastry saisons, and a new take-home edition of Gushy. 

Interview with Averie Swanson (00:06:39 - 00:49:46)

Beers Reviewed

At The Still Point of the Turning World (Saison made with buckwheat and rye)
We Are Not the Counter Culture (Saison brun)

From the Outer Edge of Inner Space (Bitter saison with Galaxy hops and wildflower honey)

The Grace of Maybe (Saison with peaches, vanilla, and lemongrass)

Preoccupied with Memory and Expectation (Saison with Japanese Red Shiso leaf, burnt honey, and dry-hopped with Sabro hops)

The good folks at Necromancer Brewing in Pittsburgh want to bring dead beer styles back to life, learning from the past while also using modern techniques and ingredients to reinvigorate these long-dormant styles for a new audience. On the first day that their taproom opened, Craig happened to be in town and was lucky to chat with head brewer Lauren Hughes before buying up almost every can they had to offer. Lauren shares the journey that led to Necromancer’s opening and the long-term vision of expansion, while articulating why these styles all deserve a second chance. Also, we consider a new take on BYO, sample the hot Jerrysauce, and open up our little bock book. Remember, there’s no resurrection in seltzer. 

Lauren Hughes Interview 00:08:36 - 00:25:45

Beers Reviewed

Square Dancing (Kentucky Common)

Wildwood (Grisette)

Laissez-Faire (Witbier)

Cold Feet (Cold IPA)

Poker Face (Black IPA)

In our 26th installment of our State Show Series, we get surprised with a box from listener Andrew F. and try to turn this admittedly New Orleans-heavy show into a loving exploration of Louisiana beer. Appropriately, the five beers are about as oddly different as they can be, and we have at least one thing we’ve never had in a beer before. Also, we revisit the events that must’ve led to Pitbull’s performance at the 2018 Naperville Ribfest, try to put the baseball in New Orleans, fret over drinking a plastic baby, and hold down school in the weird fruit aisle.

Beers Reviewed

Brieux Carré Brewing Company [New Orleans] - Teensy Pale Apparition (Grisette)

Miel Brewery & Taproom [New Orleans] - Flor De Jamaica (Gose w/ hibiscus, pink sea salt, and cinnamon)

Rally Cap Brewing Company [Baton Rouge] - Wendy Peffercorn (White stout w/ coffee and vanilla)

Urban South Brewery [New Orleans]/Cruz Blanca Brewery - Desert Lights (Fruited sparkling ale w/ lemon, lime soda syrup, and prickly pear)

Zony Mash Beer Project [New Orleans] - King of Carrot Flowers (Fruited sour w/ mango, tangerine, carrot, and lactose)

Though the only true kölsch can be found in Cologne, Germany, the broad appeal of the style is an obvious draw for brewers and drinkers alike. We find six local examples of kölsch-style beers and sample them in a blind tasting, while trying unsuccessfully not to embarrass ourselves. We also share strange yet optimistic signs in a return to “normalcy,” consider spicy cereals, discover raw bread, and create a bunch of new band names. Grab yourself six for the lazy river. 

Beers Sampled Blindly (in order)

Metropolitan Brewing - Krankshaft

Maplewood Brewing Company/Goldfinger Brewing Company - Coaster King

Half Acre Beer Company - Discus

middle brow beer co. - Yard Work

Dovetail Brewery - Kölsch

Whiner Beer Co. - Curb Cutter

If only there was some relevant reason to do our first Hop Butcher show in a year...oh yeah! They released four single-hopped hazy beers! Well, there’s that and the whole “purchasing the Half Acre Lincoln taproom to convert into their own space later this year” thing. We talk with our friend Jeremiah Zimmer from Hop Butcher for the World for a good while about the surprising taproom purchase, from what greased the wheels on the deal to what kinds of plans they have with a tentative late-October opening date. We also get real nerdy about hop acquisition, why different hop lots can make all the difference, and how the Suez Canal blockage is holding back a choice batch of hops. We also talk about how the Smashing Pumpkins collaboration came to be, and who those two handsome gentlemen might be welcoming you to the Hop Butcher taproom in the future. And that’s not all, because the rest of the episode is dedicated to us tasting through four single-hop hazies while expanding on the 311 mythos that surrounds this show. (Welcome to our Mt. Rushmore, P-Nut.)

Jeremiah Zimmer Interview (0:11:35 - 1:04:40)

Beers Reviewed

Beef Dipped (Simcoe-hopped Double IPA)

Snorkel Squad (Citra-hopped IPA)

Lord Octopus (Mosaic-hopped Double IPA)

Soul Head (Strata-hopped IPA)

Mikerphone has become notorious for being willing to toss anything edible (and usually sweet) into a beer, but they’re not all style with no substance. For this episode, we tried to sample a more stripped-down version of Mikerphone, choosing five beers without much added (except for the occasional dry hop or barrel treatment). There are many delightful reminders that sometimes simple is better, but we also muck it up with a forced auction, the art of CD tracks, the seasons of Dexter*, a new future for Hellraiser, bad song parodies, and a game about MTV Unplugged in the 90s. Welcome to the five-timers club, Mikerphone!

Beers Reviewed

Jagged Little Pils (Dry-hopped pilsner)

Naked and Famous (Berliner Weisse)

Misty Mountain Hop (IPA)

Barrel-Aged Flipped The Switch (Imperial Czech-Style Dark Lager aged in Smoke Wagon Bourbon Barrels)

Barrel-Aged Imperial Smells Like Birthday Suit Spirit (Imperial Stout aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrels)

*I was wrong about the Dexter.

Trends with IPAs come and go, but the West Coast-style IPA is foundational for what craft beer is today. So when a bunch of awesome local breweries set aside their hazy tendencies to deliver something more bitter and clear, we’re ecstatic to drink through five of them. Also, we mount up for Michael McDonald, admire some Choice Cones©, and welcome the new steel drum player for the Smashing Pumpkins. We also roll out another round of Personal Preference, which leads to talk of boozy mayonnaise and Craig unsuccessfully crashing a Hood Internet show. We’re getting throwback drunk on this one.

Beers Reviewed

Phase Three Brewing - West Coast Pixel Density IPA

Art History Brewing - Avenue of the Giants IPA

Revolution Brewing Co. - DDH West Coast Hero DIPA

Hubbard’s Cave - Clearly Hopsurd IPA

Miskatonic Brewing Company - DDH Nelson Wizard DIPA

More than just a mash paddle photoshoot for Instagram, these brewery collaborations focus on how their own pre-existing strong recipes can complement those of another. Enter the collab lab with us, as we taste through five inspired collaborations from local breweries, featuring a few medal winners to boot. Also, we pimp our windbreakers, break our lactose streak, imagine the limits of beer NFTs, and are just so done with this mask theatre. Set your windbreakers to yacht rock.

Beers Reviewed 

Alarmist Brewing/Old Irving Brewing - Le Beez (Hazy IPA)

Penrose Brewing Company/Noon Whistle Brewing - Gummy Boots (Hazy IPA)

Is/Was Brewing/Hopewell Brewing Co. - If/When (Bière de Coupage/Saison)

Phase Three Brewing/Goose Island Beer Co. - If You’re A Bird… (Imperial stout w/ panella, cocoa nibs, and coconut)

Goose Island Beer Co./Phase Three Brewing - ...I’m A Bird (Imperian stout w/ panella, cocoa nibs, and strawberry)

Not to be confused with FoBAB (Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers) or MOBAB (Missouri’s Board of Anime Bookstores), this episode simply promises more barrel-aged beers. Five dark beers with a few adjuncts and unique barrels thrown in, this lineup has more than one beer that’ll be on our best of the year list. Also, we discuss a Zubaz incident, summon a Pacino moment, get frustrated again by Kid Craig, and call for more jiggly stouts. We’re going to need moMoBAB. 

Beers Reviewed

Bent Paddle Brewing Co. - Double Shot Double Black (Imperial black ale w/ coffee and vanilla, aged in bourbon barrels)

Third Space Brewing - Mystic Berry (Barrel-aged coffee imperial stout w/ blackberry, blueberry, and vanilla bean)

Werk Force Brewing Company - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Mint Chocolate Chip Sleepy Bear (Bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout w/ cacao nibs, vanilla, and mint)
Half Acre Beer Co./The Veil Brewing Co. - Soak In Shadow (Imperial stout aged in apple brandy barrels w/ lactose)

Goose Island Beer Co. - Suffolk County Stout (Bourbon barrel-aged stout)

This show is a tribute to when the b-side is even better than the a-side, as we drink through five beers that for random reasons didn’t make the cut for recent episodes of the podcast. The styles and breweries are all over the place, which inspires us to dip into a slew of random topics like movies that should’ve been old SNES games, the best part of reading about the Columbian Exposition, and a whole game about b-side songs that upstage their a-sides. Grab your fancy hat and your absinthe dripper.

Beers Reviewed

The Conrad Seipp Brewing Co. - Columbia Bock

Histrionic Brewlab - Tolvanera (Hazy IPA)

Tox Brewing Co. - Lily of the Valley Raspricot (Fruited sour w/ raspberry, apricot, lactose, and vanilla)

Delta Beer Lab - PTR.02 (Coconut chai stout)

Young Blood Beer Company - I’m Extraordinarily Humble (Milk stout w/ cinnamon, maple, and vanilla)

Ticking off another Midwestern hotspot for beers, we try out five different beers from Madison, Wisconsin breweries this week. We drink as a badger does and uncover the surprisingly long and decorated histories of a few of these breweries, while we have a diverse lineup of tasty beers. Also, we jump on the video game-to-live action movie express, re-enact The Fabulous Baker Boys, contrast our evolving personal style, and talk briefly about that time Elvis stopped a fight in Madison. We’re all losers in a pun war. #TeamCream #BockSquad

Beers Reviewed

Giant Jones Brewing Company/The Lone Girl Brewing Company - Bière de Garde Ambrée

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt's Dunkel Doppel Hefeweizen Bock

Vintage Brewing Company - Bock’s O-Chocolates (Chocolate Doppelbock)

Next Door Brewing Company - Plumptuous (Scotch Ale)

Karben4 Brewing - Urge Tracker (Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Stout)

In our minds, there’s hardly a better combination than drinking beer and appreciating baseball - a pastime as wholesome as apple pie milkshake IPAs. So we step into the box, looking to square up five tasty beers from Midwestern breweries that certainly want you to think about baseball. We cram this one with baseball miscellany: Chicago food-themed uniforms, baseball and beer math, Hot Dog Summer, and baseball Stumptappd. Mercy!

Beers Reviewed

Off Color Brewing - Beer for Ballgames (Cream ale)

Goose Island Beer Co. - White Sox Golden Ale

Spiteful Brewing - Bleacher Bum (Blonde ale w/ peaches)

Noon Whistle Brewing - Gummiskey (Northeast India Pale Ale)

Lion’s Tail Brewing/Young Blood Beer Co. - Uecker On the Radio (Hazy Double IPA)

Looking to provide an “oasis for life and leisure,” Madison, Wisconsin’s Young Blood Beer Company had to bring the oasis to the people in their first year of operation. For this episode, Craig talks with co-founder Tom Dufek about rewriting business plans, adding a twist to every beer, and cultivating those dank and drippy vibes. We also drink through five cans of their beer while trying (and failing) to outdo their beer names with MadLibs. Plus, there’s the threat of a lactose streak, a little W.C.W. love, and the mystery of the street burper.

Beers Reviewed

Shower Bier (Helles Lager)

She’s Fox Valley Rich (Buckwheat Saison w/ plum and cinnamon)

Boone’s Farm Related Scar (Cherry Limeade Sour w/ cherry, key lime, and vanilla)

Templeton Ferrari the Third (Hazy IPA)

Coffee Regular Silkshake (Cream Ale w/ coffee, milk sugar, and vanilla)

Head about 45 minutes west of Chicago, and you’ll find a cluster of fresh craft beer options that are certainly destination-worthy. Ryan took a weekend to check out breweries in St. Charles and Geneva, and he brought back five different beers that’ll have you planning a day trip. The background on these breweries is as fascinating as the beers are varied, and our rankings are about as different as they can be. Also, we talk for a while about chili dog-related issues, pull a Table the Label card, admire those beefy boys in Hobbs & Shaw, try to keep the over-fruited sour temps from dropping, and smash your label beers. (This episode is not paid for by the St. Charles and Geneva Tourism Bureau...but it’d be cool if it was.)

Beers Reviewed

93 Octane Brewery - Hugger Orange Whip (American Wheat Ale w/ orange, vanilla, lactose, and coriander)

Riverlands Brewing Company - Spring Rejuvenation (Maibock)

Penrose Brewing Company - Dryft (IPA)

Art History Brewing - Fastenbier (Lenten Dark Smoked Lager)

D and G Brewing Company/Obscurity Brewing and Craft Mead - The D.O.G. (Braggot Imperial Red Ale)

In our triumphant return to our state series, we venture into the beers from the great state of Connecticut for our 25th installment. And we do so in a big way - with six beers of (mostly) very different styles that span all corners of the state. Thanks to Spenser for the help with the show - and for the small wooden...opening. We also talk about 10,000 hours of altbiers, the new maltwave, more plans for Craig’s beer parody song career, skinfeel, ice cream challenges, and the Knight of the Mall. 

Beers Reviewed

Luppoleto [Windsor Locks] - Putting Down Roots (Altbier)

Counter Weight Brewing Co. [Hamden] - Headway IPA

Kent Falls Brewing Co. [Kent] - Ready to Drum (Barrel-aged saison w/ blueberries)

New Park Brewing [West Hartford] - Blender: Raspberry (Berliner weisse w/ raspberry)

Transcend Beer Crafters [Southington] - 7 Layers of Sin (Imperial milk stout w/ cocoa, graham crackers, roasted peanuts, coconut, marshmallow, vanilla, and butterscotch)

Fox Farm Brewery [Salem] - Avalonia: Blueberry (American wild ale w/ blueberry)

From their first batch of beer released in 2015, Around the Bend has been committed to an unconventional take on traditional styles. The brewery’s trajectory has also been anything but conventional, and we have founder Dan Schedler on to talk about the brewery’s history and future. Dan also shares what led to his midlife career change, how they pivoted from a sudden facility closure, and why their ideas need to be reigned in from time-to-time. Additionally, we review five beers of divergent styles and have an odd night of aroma descriptors. Also, we assign an animal mascot to all the beer styles, listen to some Smooth Industrial music, tell tales of chicken butts, and pitch the tagline for our imagined Outdoor FoBAB. 

Beers Reviewed

Rewind (Hefeweissbier)

Villainous (IPA)

Control for Smilers (Hazy IPA)

Proximal 2020 (English-style barleywine aged in rye whiskey/red wine barrels)

Eleusis (Barrel-aged imperial stout w/ vanilla, chocolate, habanero, and cinnamon)

Despite the allure of warmer temperatures, we’re not quite ready to be done with stout season. So we grab the next-closest seasonally appropriate alternative: baltic porters! In our latest episode in our Prestige Styles Series, these five beers challenge what we know about both porters and lagers, but they are no challenge to drink. We share some fractured history about the style, try to determine the best month for Baltic Porterfest, and designate the perfect animal mascot. Also, we imagine ice cream bars that match classic novels, praise the new era of home delivered beer, and play our new favorite game - 1987’s Personal Preference. 

Beers Reviewed

Dovetail Brewery - Baltic-Style Porter

Empirical Brewery - Endothermic

Haymarket Brewery & Taproom - Baltic Porter

Third Space Brewing - Ice Bear

Church Street Brewing Company/Illuminated Brew Works - Barrel-aged EGLé

Finally ready to recover from Barrel-Aged December™, we assembled a star-studded sequel to last year’s episode, bringing on five barrel-aged beers presented without additional adjuncts. The plethora of bourbon barrels and base beers make for some flavorful variations, and they leave us practically - and almost literally - floored. Also, we adjust to our new ISOs, discuss why Rev’s collaboration choice was genius, consider Half Acre’s barrel-aged beer plan, prepare for the inevitable stout slushie boom, and do a little fudge flirting. 

Beers Reviewed

Central Waters Brewing Company - XXIII (2-year Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout)

Private Press Brewing - Life Is Round (Blended Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barleywine)

Half Acre Beer Company - Obsidian Throne (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout)

Revolution Brewing Company/Half Acre Beer Company - On & On: Part 1 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Rye Porter)

More Brewing Company - Mehndi Special Reserve 2021 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout)

It’s always been exciting to drink Russian River - every bottle opened feels like an event, and it has felt that way for us for well over a decade. On this show we celebrate the brewery that changed the way we both drink beer. Though this episode seems to be about Pliny the Younger (and a lot of it is), the whole lineup is a marvelous progression. Also, we aim to bring back sticker books, open up the ABV Denver Fitness Club, get rolled for R.R., check the Midwestern forecast, and go on D.O.N.G. patrol. (Thanks to Mike R. for the assist!)

Beers Reviewed

STS Pils

Happy Hops IPA

Funky Foeder Cherry

Intinction

Pliny the Younger

Either through public demand or divine intervention, the Black IPA has made an unexpected comeback in 2021, and We. Are. Here. For. It. We snagged the first five Black IPAs we could to tap into the cultural zeitgeist, and Craig learns to stop worrying and love the style. We discuss why the style lost favor with the beer buying public, and speculate on where they may be going. Also, we consider which singers deserve their half birthdays recognized, nearly touch Dick Biondi with a roman candle, call breweries with our list of demands, seek the path to chocolate IPAs, and accidentally give someone the crinkle tingles. 

Beers Reviewed

Revolution Brewing - Jukebox Hero 

Stone Brewing - Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA

Bell’s Brewery - Black Hearted Ale

Phase Three Brewing - Mystic Infinity

Sew Hop’d Brewery - Blind Hem

Tonight, we have the story of five breweries local to Chicagoland who opened amidst a global crisis, and the five beers that lifted the spirits of two weary beer reviewers. It’s ABV Chicago with your Local News - new breweries and new beers with your old friends, Ryan and Craig. First, we open with a few surprising new buttons, then to one person’s battle cry for ska; and later, a lactose-free label? You won’t believe your ears. Then at 10, it’s the new series: Jaws of Justice. All that after your number one source for arbitrary beer reviews recorded remotely from Chicago. 

Beers Reviewed  

Art History Brewing - Gravitace (Czech-style Pale Lager)

Goldfinger Brewing Company - Vienna-Style Lager

Histrionic Brewlab - After (FX) (Pale Ale)

Brothership Brewing - DDH Earth Go Hard (New England-Style DIPA)

Azadi Brewing Company - Kadak (Mumbai Chai Cutting Stout)

The bitterly cold winter months call for rich and bready lagers, and the bock beer is ready to swaddle you in warming flavors. For this show, we try five very different bock beers that speak to the diversity of the style and contribute to the sudden inebriation of the hosts. We uncover the history of bocks while acknowledging the vast differences between substyles, but we can’t resist driving the bock pun thing into the ground. Listen for Craig’s surprising personality test, our two-decades late XXX movie review, the latest market advice on Beanie Babies, our VagueCast about The Crown, and the top three societal contributions of House of Pain. We also play a game of Stumptappd for bock beers. Whatever you do, please don’t look bock in anger. 

Beers Reviewed

Alarmist Brewing - Sebastian (Bock)

Great Central Brewing Company - Weizenbock

Forbidden Root Brewing Company - Beanie Weather (Bock beer w/ orange & spices)

Maplewood Brewing Company - Silver Morning (Doppelbock)

Pipeworks Brewing Company - Genuine Bock Beer

We’ve long sought out the strange and elusive beers of Connecticut’s Ordinem Ecentrici Coctores - or OEC Brewing, informally - so we have a ritualistic orientation with six beers from their little secret society. There’s a lot to love from this diverse lineup - not the least of which is that one of them comes in a freaking blue bottle. Also, we explore our legal options in a trademark dispute, let the funk do the talking, and play two games about stock symbols and airport codes. For Asgard!

Beers Reviewed

Rosé de Pétanque (Blended sour w/ coriander, orange peel, and blueberry juice)

Coolship Lager Black (Czech-style black lager)
Tempus (Blend of lagered and oak-aged young saison, 1 year-old lambic style ale, and 4 year-old saison aged in red & white wine barrels)

Aether (Dry-hopped sour ale)

BiFrost (Nordic-inspired Cryogenic Double Pale Ale)

Phantasma (Sour porter aged in cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and marsala barrels)

We send off this season’s Deep Wood series by opening up some of their finest ‘wines. Big on barrel variation, this lineup of barleywines and ryewines features a few of the best things Revolution has ever done with these styles - and our rankings diverge quite a bit. We speculate on the next Deep Wood lineup, fail at recreating Honey Nut Cheerios, zoom in on physical pictures, praise the “Rock N’ Roll Racing” soundtrack, and discuss fonts for a solid ten minutes. (This episode was maximized for CDBass® Boost Power.)

Beers Reviewed

Straight Jacket (Bourbon barrel-aged barleywine)

Honey Jacket (Bourbon and rye barrel-aged barleywine w/ honey)

Mineshaft Gap (Cognac barrel-aged barleywine)

Ryeway to Heaven (Bourbon and rye barrel-aged ryewine)

Apple Brandy Barrel Ryeway (Apple brandy barrel-aged ryewine)

This year is our seventh as a podcast, and because we couldn’t throw a party like we usually do, we’re bringing the drunken fun inside your head holes. It’s certainly a nostalgia fest at times here as we relive our epic anniversary parties at Beermiscuous, but we made this one more interesting by dropping off some blind local beers to our remote recording spaces. We have six entries, with each host contributing three heavily wrapped beers, and we enjoy hearing each other squirm over style and brewery guesses. We also discuss classic movies whose plots fall apart with modern technology, relive Ryan’s favorite Christopher Cross memory, and reconsider Mosaic-based torture. Thanks for your support at any point over these seven years, and we can’t wait to party with you again soon.

Beers Reviewed Half-Blind (in order of appearance)

BuckleDown Brewing - Hooligan Soup (English-style Mild Ale)

Roaring Table Brewing - Whirlycaster (Sour IPA w/ blackberry, raspberry, Meyer lemon, milk sugar, vanilla, and rose hips)

Dutchbag Brew Co. - Somewhat Informal (Sour saison)

Pipeworks Brewing Company - Emerald Grouper (Double IPA w/ honey)

Hopewell Brewing Co. - Pub Culture (English-style porter)

Ørkenoy - Oscar Orchard (Gruit w/ sweet gale, yarrow, elderflower, and huacatay)

Though it may not be considered all that popular, the brown ale is resilient. Craft brewers have been making them for decades, and even now it’s more common to see a hyped-up brewery release a brown as a change-of-pace. To dig deeper into English and American Brown Ales, we drink a mix of five from near and far. Craig also turns this show into his own personal gameshow, putting Ryan to the test on five rounds of music trivia based on the history of the Billboard Hot 100. We discover that no one brown ale here tastes like the other, and that we can thank the California Raisins for N.W.A. Also, the hops get a spa day, the chocolate IPA comes closer to reality, and disaster nearly strikes when we put Mark McGrath and Mario Lopez in the same room. 

Beers Reviewed

Samuel Smith - Nut Brown Ale (English-style Brown Ale)

AleSmith Brewing Company - Nut Brown ale (English-style Brown Ale)

Bell’s Brewery - Best Brown Ale (American-style Brown Ale)

Midwest Coast Brewing Co. - West Town Brown Ale (American-style Brown Ale)

Hubbard’s Cave - Janet’s Brown Ale (Hoppy American Brown Ale)

Starting a sour-focused brewery comes with a unique set of challenges, especially when you enter the market in the midst of a pandemic. But Odious Cellars founder and head brewer Reeve Joseph forged ahead, lucking upon the facility at Pilot Project to help accelerate his beer-school dreams of producing exquisite sour and mixed culture beers. We talk with Reeve about his circuitous journey into making beer, why he intends to “keep it niche,” and how many of his beers are just fermented on GoGurt. (It’s zero, sadly.) We also drink through five of Odious’ first offerings while escaping the fate of mundane tasks, doing it old world style, pushing for incredibly specific 90s cover bands, and circumventing the sandwich ban. And Craig is going to teach you all how to do the Odious Twist. 

Beers Reviewed

Symbol of Avarice (Golden sour aged on peaches)

The Secret History of All Things (Brett-fermented petite saison)

Cryptomnesia (Violet sour w/ Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, orange zest, cinnamon, and mulling spices)

Physis Nomos (DDH Brett IPA)

Fact or Fiction (Golden sour w/ Ethiopian coffee beans, toasted cacao nibs, and vanilla)

In a city called Lafayette, somewhat between Denver and Boulder, Zach Nichols runs his farmhouse-focused brewery, Cellar West Artisan Ales. In under five years, the brewery has won two GABF medals, moved to a new location, and expanded their operation, including a side-label focused on trendier styles. Zach was kind enough to send us five of his beers for review, and he joined us on the Zoom to tell the story of Cellar West. And believe us - we’re ready for more saisons in 2021. There’s also a near-impossible video game choice, font letter rankings, long boil excitement, a desired Chuck Tingle collab, and Tom Petty slam poetry. Remember: #TableTheLabel in 2021. 

Beers Reviewed

Grateful Sled (Christmas IPA)

Nightingale (Oat saison dry-hopped w/ Nelson Sauvin & Citra)

Westfield (Saison aged in oak barrels)

Make Hay (Strong saison aged in oak with Brettanomyces)

S’more Stout (Imperial oatmeal stout w/ cacao nibs, vanilla beans, and graham flour)

We might as well send off 2020 on an upbeat note and just get wild with the ingredients, so we let it all hang out on this mixed five pack of barrel-aged variant stouts from local breweries. Each of these releases represents a fun little twist on its barrel-aged base, and we’re going to need a new word for “adjunct.” In addition to our reviews, we attempt to tune the GAS scale, share the history of the base beers, dream up new brandy flavors, make some fresh savory pastries, and watch as the Orange Knight rises. Get! Excited!

Beers Reviewed

Werk Force Brewing Company - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Sleepy Beer

Off Color Brewing - Double Barrel-Aged Dino S’mores

Half Acre Beer Co. - Cherry Brandy Benthic

Old Irving Brewing Co. - Barrel-Aged Champurrado Krampus

DESTIHL Brewery - Dosvidanya Orange Chocolate Rye

The imperial oatmeal stout at the heart of it all, Deth’s Tar may have seemed like a fun little pun back when it first came out of barrels in the early part of the decade, but now it’s clearly the centerpiece of the best barrel-aged series in the city. We enlist the help of Revolution’s own barrel wizard Marty Scott to join us via Zoom to talk all about this year’s lineup of Deths, as well as a wide array of reasons why Revolution is working harder than anyone to release the best barrel-aged beers in the city each year. The rest of the episode is us over-indulging in this incredible lineup while also providing OG services, creaming those beans, and testing each other on analogies. 

Revolution Deep Wood Beers Reviewed

Deth’s Tar (Bourbon barrel-aged imperial oatmeal stout)

Cafe Deth (Bourbon barrel-aged imperial oatmeal stout w/ Dark Matter coffee)

Maple Deth (Imperial oatmeal stout aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels w/ BBA maple syrup)

Deth by Cherries (Bourbon barrel-aged imperial oatmeal stout w/ cherries)

Double Barrel V.S.O.D. (Imperial oatmeal stout aged in Weller Special Reserve barrels then Weller 10 Year barrels)

Coffee was once the only adjunct a good stout needed, until recent years has brought the entire pastry case with it. So finding five barrel-aged stouts with just coffee added was a bit of a challenge - but it’s a welcome reminder that sometimes all you need is coffee. (And love? Probably love, too.) These five locally-made coffee stouts saw a small variety of different barrels, and the elevated ABV has us hacky-sacking beer cans around the room in no time. We also assemble our team of experts to compete with the Distillery Channel, survey the absolute not normal-ness of 4 Floyds, get a late start on Beanvember, and learn a lot about the man they call Ludacris. 

Beers Reviewed

Half Day Brewing - Barrel-Aged Warrior Paint Imperial Coffee Stout (coffee beans from Newport Coffee House)

Lake Effect Brewing - Perkolator: Madeira Barrel-Aged (coffee beans from Perkolator)

Transient Artisan Ales - Blanton's Barrel-Aged Neckbeard Nectar (coffee beans from Tugboat)

Lil Beaver Brewery - Adventures Ahead: Coffee (coffee beans from Sirius Roasters)

Revolution Brewing Company - Supermassive Cafe Deth (coffee beans from Dark Matter)

Barrel-aged December is now officially underway, and we’re delighted to crack open four medal-winning Illinois beers from this year’s Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers. Appropriately enough, the barrels are the star of the show, as these four very different styles are presented without additional adjuncts - just wood-made magic. Also, we have our friend Aaron Keefner from More Brewing stop by the Zoom to talk about the beer entry fee he paid to be our first remote guest, but actually he talks mostly about what’s new with More, their barrel-aging program, and their recent move into distribution. We also share our pitches for 90s-themed jukebox musicals, have a pretty weird night in the barn, dare brewers to make a barrel-aged hefeweizen, and determine what’s a sipper and who’s a gulper. Brace yourself for six feet of tube candy.

Beers Reviewed

Imperial Oak Brewing - Savage Oak Gold (Belgian-style Sour Golden Ale) Silver Medal: Wild Beer Sours (Acidic)

Urban Brew Labs - Abba G.O.A.T. (Apple Brandy Barrel-aged Doppelbock) Bronze Medal: Dark Strong Beer

Horse Thief Hollow - Wrenly Rose (Belgian-style Tripel aged in Pinot Noir barrels) Gold Medal: Strong Pale Beer

More Brewing Company - Mehndi 2020 (Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout) Silver Medal: Strong Porter/Stout

If there’s ever been a month for careless indulgence, it would be December of 2020, so we’re going full-on dessert and pastry beer for this episode. These five entries have us nostalgic for vacation ice cream shoppes, cozy breakfast diners, and gourmet popcorn stores - despite some initial fears. Also, we are stocking our rage rooms, admiring the Sacred Leavings, sniffin’ stuff at Whole Foods (again), and jiggling like a flan. Diet starts tomorrow.

Beers Reviewed

Old Irving Brewing - Cinnamon Prost (White stout w/ Saigon cinnamon, Tahitian vanilla bean, and milk sugar)

Humble Forager Brewery - Coastal Sunrise V1 (Fruited breakfast pastry sour w/ blueberries, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla bean)

Hubbard’s Cave - Rocky Road (Imperial stout w/ almond, walnut, chocolate, marshmallow, vanilla, and lactose)

Liquid Love Brewing - Y’all Come Back Now (Pastry golden ale w/ caramel and pecans)

Lake Effect Brewing - Fannie’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged (Imperial milk stout w/ chocolate cake, aged in bourbon barrels)

Once more of a niche taproom-only style, the Triple IPA has become a more common sight on the shelves thanks to craft beer customers who never say no to more. Hazy or not, these five beers are aiming for the target between too sweet or too strong, and a few veer a bit off course. But they’re still fun to drink, and we find ourselves in mid-show form pretty early on. Also, we are looking to improve our specialized email closings, attempting to decode the Enigma, addressing the butt chugging critics, and getting absolutely riled up over potato pancakes. Stream ya later! 

Beers Reviewed

Hop Butcher for the World - Brain Forest

Old Irving Brewing - E.Nigma

Double Nickel Brewing Company - Family Style

Untitled Art - Hazier TIPA

Hailstorm Brewing Co. - Dominatrix

We’re on flavor sabbatical for a week, so we’re looking around for minor trends to cover that we haven’t properly explored. As a twist on the traditional German lager, Mexican-Style lagers usually use maize or corn as part of the grain bill, but we find that no two American-made takes on this style are the same. (Thankfully!) There’s also an ongoing game involving America’s most prominent mutation of Mexican culture: Taco Bell. We also try and solve a nice balloon mystery, get hoisted by our own stupid petards, develop exciting new bar games, and gush over our new obsession - The Bell Beefer. 

Beers Reviewed

Buckledown Brewing - Cactus Pants

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Mexico Calling

Crane Brewing Company - Odd Bird

21st Amendment Brewery - El Sully

On Tour Brewing Company - Cities

For a few years running, Cruz Blanca’s Luchador series has been perhaps the most inspired and creative lineup of the holy trinity of Chicago barrel-aged beer special releases. We get a mouthful on this episode, as we drink through all eight of these big and burly beers aged in a seemingly endless number of different barrels. And it’s only half stouts; find out what kind of magic Cruz gets up to with Imperial Blonde Ales and Imperial Rice Ales. In addition to our complete remote tasting (with head brewer Jacob Sembrano giving us frequent text updates), we talk about the new life philosophy to help endure the rest of the year, our desire for some dry-bushed beers, and why we might be bailing on barrel-aged December prematurely. Suizo!

Beers Reviewed

El PopStar (Imperial rice ale aged in American whiskey finished Spanish sherry barrels)

Tigre Blanco (Imperial rice ale aged in Italian muscatel barrels with white vermouth botanicals)

Coco Fantasma (Imperial blonde ale aged in bourbon, rum, and rye whiskey barrels with chocolate, coconut, and almond)

Loco Dinero (Imperial blonde ale aged in bourbon, rum, and rye whiskey barrels with Sparrow Coffee)

Rey Gordo (Imperial stout aged in 11 year Bardstown bourbon barrels)

Rey Cuvee (2017 + 2018 + 2019 Rey Gordo blended and barrel-aged in American whiskey finished Spanish sherry barrels)

Senior Bandito (Imperial stout aged in rye whiskey barrels with sweet cherry, cinnamon, and spices)

Tarzan Boy (Imperial stout aged in South American rum barrels with banana, Oaxacan coffee, piloncillo, and vanilla)

In preparation for a Black Friday like never before, we got a chance to sample through this year’s full lineup of Goose Island’s Bourbon County to help you decide exactly how many online lotteries to enter. Though there are no headline-grabbers like Double Barrel or Rare this year, the seven beer lineup is impressively consistent, even though our individual rankings are very divergent. Get the stories behind these beers (as relayed through us from the media tasting with the Goose team), and find out which one Craig calls a “throwback to Rare” and which one Ryan believes is the best of a particular type of variant that we’ve seen in ages. Also, we try and come up with the Seven Beer Wonders of the U.S., relive some missteps of BCBS past, and rebrand as just a couple of nuts in the flavorspace. 

Beers Reviewed

Bourbon County Brand Stout 2020

Birthday Bourbon County Stout (Imperial stout aged in Old Forester Birthday Bourbon barrels)

Anniversary Bourbon County Stout (Imperial stout aged 2 years in Weller 12 Year bourbon barrels)

Bourbon County Caramella Ale (Wheatwine aged in Larceny Wheated Bourbon barrels w/ apple, cinnamon, and natural caramel flavor)

Bourbon County Kentucky Fog Stout (Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ Earl Grey Tea, Black Tea, and clover honey)

Proprietor’s Bourbon County Stout 2020 (Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ fresh pistachios, cacao nibs, candied Amarena cherries, and natural vanilla flavors)

Bourbon County Special #4 Stout (Imperial oatmeal stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ Ethiopian coffee and bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup)

As if this year hasn’t been cruel enough, we once again try and assemble a tapestry of nightmares out of old and bad beers. Each host brings the three worst beers they could find to this modified remote version of our yearly late October tradition, and the results are not at all what we would’ve expected. Also, Ryan is trying to make his kids not scared of ska, someone peed in Craig’s soda, and we almost stumble backwards into a Red Ale show. This show is also a tribute to the resilient liquor stores and bottles shops that - despite insistence otherwise - refuse to take old beer off the shelves nor mark it down in any way. This episode is like a haunted beer museum with the ever-present threat of hearing someone gag on microphone - but, like, better than that sounds. The host will let you in....SOON.

Beers Reviled

Urban Legend Brewing - Elizabeth (Red Ale, c. 2015?)

Alpine Beer Company - Willy Vanilly (Wheat ale w/ vanilla from 2016)

Stillwater Artisanal - Duck Sauce (DIPA w/ apricot, plum, pineapple, ginger, and candi syrup)

Browar Wąsosz - Jeżynowe/Blackberry Beer (Fruit beer)

Rude Hippo - Wooden Nickel (IPA aged on oak from 2016)

Church Street Brewing Company - Brimstone (IPA from 2016)

In need of a haze hiatus but unwilling to give up our hop addiction, we are ISO IBUs as we sample through five West Coast-style IPAs to travel back to a time of malt, bitterness, and clarity. It was exactly what we needed, as this lineup becomes one of the best front-to-back that we’ve had in a while. Also, we add some utility to our quarantine wardrobes, Craig is a self-appointed dank expert who once appeared on Nickelodeon’s Legends of the Hidden Temple, and Ryan is drinking a Celebration with his mind. We also discuss the world’s most perfect song and explain why it’s Vin Diesel’s “Feel Like I Do.” (Send Malort.)

Beers Reviewed

Solemn Oath Brewery/Pollyanna Brewing Company - Full Moon Looks (IPA)

Listermann Brewing Company - Purple Parrots (IPA)

Ology Brewing Co. - Resolved Enigma (IPA)

Offshoot Beer Co. - Escape [it’s your everyday West Coast IPA] (IPA)

Miskatonic Brewing Company/Foreign Exchange - Unified Field Theory (DIPA)

For the first time since this podcast started almost seven years ago, there’s no trip to Denver to drink beer at the Great American Beer Festival - and we’re feeling a little sad about it. So we embark on a gleefully nostalgic and self-indulgent episode, wherein we revisit some favorite memories (and interviews) from the first five years at GABF all while drinking five beers to represent years 2014-2018. You’ll hear some brief interview snippets from the past, including Sam Calagione (Dogfish Head), Jay Goodwin (The Rare Barrel), Jeff Stuffings (Jester King), Randy Mosher (Forbidden Root/being “The Mosh”), and Tomme Arthur (The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing/The Hop Concept). We also have a few ridiculous pizza stories, share our all-time top 20 beers from GABF, and fire up a game of Doom on a pregnancy test. It’s also a bit of a meditation on how beer has changed since 2014 through the observation of trends shifting from year to year at America’s largest beer festival. It’s a long one, but we hope you dig it.

Beers Reviewed

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - 90 Minute Imperial IPA

The Rare Barrel - Forces Unseen 2016 (Golden sour aged in oak)

Jester King Brewery - Bière de Miel

Forbidden Root Brewery (Columbus) - Cosmic Trust Fall (Double Hazy IPA)

The Lost Abbey - Ghosts in the Forest - Guava (Oak-aged wild ale w/guava)

It’s as good a time as ever to take time to chill with some simple and refreshing pilsners, so we try to lower our resting heart rates through a little lager love. We drink five different pilsners that offer a surprising amount of variation for the style, and we try not to let the prospect of arbitrary rankings stress us out. Also, we workshop some tech puns for our IT friends, name all the crazy bassists (well, two of them), investigate the hot dog bun conspiracy, and reclaim our rightful title as “barely a beer show.” And there’s a game about CBD products as well because we were too blissed to say no. It’s Chill Pils. Take one with us, friend. 

Beers Reviewed

On Tour Brewing Company - Lightning Will

Pipeworks Brewing Company - Premium Pilsner

Modern Times Beer - Ice

Foreign Exchange - Chicago-ish

The Conrad Seipp Brewing Co. - Seipp’s Extra Pale Pilsner

Enshrouded in a dark and mysterious energy, Illuminated Brew Works has become a cult favorite in Chicago - because they are probably an actual cult. Our initial apprehension becomes open-armed acceptance as we ingest Five Sacraments of IBW, and dabble in the mystic arts. (Actually, we just use a really bad online Ouija board, but hey, we’re trying!) Additionally, we pay tribute to legendary baseball names both real and fictional, wonder what happened to mobile canning, weakly pitch the Magic 8-Ball movie, and face a few phobias. Will this podcast delight your senses? All signs point to, “maybe.”

Liquids Reviewed

Pleiadian Play Date (Piquette-inspired malt beverage w/ wine grapes and hibiscus)

Trust (Lager)

Astronaut Eye Scream (DDH DIPA w/ lactose)

Watermelon Gun (Farmhouse ale w/ watermelon)

Kreeper (IPA)

In a state chock full of great hazy IPA producers, More and Phase Three still stand amongst the best and most-revered. The fact that they have an intertwined history adds to the stakes of our totally arbitrary blind battle of the haze wherein one brewery will be crowned winner, and the other will be crowned, “still very excellent.” We also attempt to guess the beers based on what we know about ABV, style, and hop profiles - and the results are mind-melting. Also, Craig gets caught up on six month-old beer twitter, Ryan buys a kite at a hardware store, Gerry Rafferty is on the line, and we demand to bring bitterness back. 

Beers Reviewed Blindly (in order of appearance)

Phase Three Brewing - DDH Pixel Density (IPA)

Phase Three Brewing - Mindspark (DIPA)

More Brewing Company - DDH Double Dusty (DIPA)

Phase Three Brewing - Color Scheme (DIPA)

More Brewing Company - Moreover (IPA)

More Brewing Company - Pillow Talkin’ (DIPA)

Soon to be celebrating their 4th year in business, Old Irving Brewing has established itself as one of the best brewpubs in the city - with the hardware to prove it. This episode features an interview with owner and head brewer Trevor Rose-Hamblin, who tells the story of OIB, his culinary background and its influence on the brewpub, that GABF medal that changed everything, the struggles of running a brewpub during a pandemic, and what surprising plans are ahead for the brewery side of the business. Additionally, we acquaint ourselves with five Old Irving beers for reviewing purposes, and the standouts here are as surprising as they are remarkable. Also, we pivot to hand sanitizer reviews, the dog digs up the old video equipment, Ryan has some embarrassing baseball fan memories, and Craig is singing about malt again.

Interview with Trevor Rose-Hamblin (00:10:47 - 00:48:46)

Beers Reviewed

Betamax and Relax (India Pale “Lager”)

Supersonic Fuzz Gun (Kettle sour w/ peaches, lemon peel, and lactose)

Scentinel (IPA)

Double Beezer (DDH DIPA)

All For One, One For All (Imperial milk stout w/ hazelnut, vanilla bean, coffee, and milk sugar)

We held out so long on seltzers, until the exact moment when we saw some of our favorite breweries releasing their takes on the flavored malt beverage craze. Are they any more refined or impressive than the tacky trendsetters filling a million Yeti coolers and frat house fridges? (And we would know, because we drank five of the highest-selling big seltzers before recording this very episode, and released the unsavory results on Patreon.) We spend most of the episode trying to break seltzers, but they end up breaking us. Also, we envision a dystopian future for breweries, seek out some experienced tree climbers for a highly-specialized mission, and find comfort in sugary yum-yums. I miss beer.

Seltzers Reviewed

City Water - Lime Coconut

Untitled Art - Florida Seltzer: Pineapple Mango

Odd Side Ales - POG (Passion fruit, orange, and guava hard seltzer)

4 Hands Brewing - Contact High Hard Seltzer

Transient Artisan Ales - Sparkle Water Green (Gin Fizz-inspired hard seltzer)

When a brewery releases a double dry-hopped version of one of their go-to hoppy beers, it’s often a surefire hit with consumers. Though it has somehow become synonymous with hazy beers, double dry-hopping has a longer history of adding bombastic hop aromas to beers as far back as the 1970s in the U.S. But does the added “DDH” really level up the beer? We try two local hazy standouts and one all-time hoppy classic alongside their DDH counterparts to figure out if it’s actually worth all the extra hops. Though this episode eventually turns into a half hour love letter to Pliny, we have a fantastic lineup of beers while also reimaging ice cream trucks, being reborn in every episode, making all beers little, sipping on those slippery pillows, and getting aggressively Sabro. 

Beers Reviewed

Phase Three Brewing - Pixel Density (NE IPA)

Phase Three Brewing - DDH Double Pixel Density (NE DIPA)

Alarmist Brewing - Le Jus (NE IPA)

Alarmist Brewing - DDH Sabro Le Jus (NE IPA)

Russian River Brewing Company - Pliny the Elder (Double IPA)

Russian River Brewing Company - Pliny for President (Double IPA)

After delousing in quarantine for 14 days, our Kansas show is ready to bring our State Show series up to #24, with the help of loyal listener Don Kasak. We traverse the state via quaffable liquid as we review five beers from five Kansas breweries - and no IPAs or stouts are in sight! Also, we come to terms with a terrible truth about our listeners; Craig is on college mascot watch; and we have a full-on SMOOTHIE EXPERIENCE. It’s good for the optics.

Beers Reviewed

Wichita Brewing Company (Wichita, KS) - WuShock Wheat (American pale wheat)

Defiance Brewing Company (Hays, KS) - Willy Nilly (Golden ale w/ ginger and orange peel)

Three Rings Brewery (McPherson, KS) - Yankee Rose (Blonde ale)

Sandhills Brewing (Hutchinson, KS) - Plum Wheat (American hazy wheat w/ plums)

Central Standard Brewing (Wichita, KS) - Ping Pong Banana Yard Games (Fruited gose w/ banana, passionfruit, and mango)

Quite possibly Chicago’s best brewery, Off Color still doesn’t make an IPA - nor do they have any plans to. And that’s quite alright. Seven years in, this little critter-lovin’ brewery continues to build one of the best brands around while furthering a stellar collection of esoteric small batches and inspired flavor combinations. We catch up with five recent beers that span the wide range of delectable oddities that make the Mousetrap patio “farm” one of the most interesting places to drink beer in the city. Also, Craig over-celebrates his citation, Ryan is still dealing with his caddy trauma, and we really explore the horrifying new applications of mayo. And listen to find out our picks for cutest label - probably the toughest ranking on the show. 

Beers Reviewed

Beer for Golf (Wit-style beer w/ lemon and black tea)

Beer for Burgers (Helles bock-style beer blended w/ bourbon barrel-aged lager)

Gator Time (Foedre-fermented wild ale w/ cherries)

Spots (Tiki weisse w/ passion fruit and grapefruit peel)

Cave Draw-erz (Bourbon barrel-aged stout blended w/ farmhouse ale)

Our passion for barrel-aged beers doesn’t disappear in August - it achieves a steady simmer below the surface, always ready to unleash itself when the opportunity arises. For this episode we have five barrel-aged beers - all different styles of beer and all from local breweries, four of which we interviewed when they were just starting out in the Chicago-area craft scene, so long ago. Other talking points include the further bastardization of the term “sour” in beer; an embarrassing mask faux pas committed by Ryan; how to capture Craig in full Funko form; and a controversial stance on chocolate chip pancakes that’ll have the fan forums absolutely flush with debate. Feel feel feel feel feel...feel my barrel heat.

Beers Reviewed

Dovetail Brewery - Quetsche 2020 (Blend of spontaneous beers fermented in oak with Italian plums)

Revolution Brewing Company - Mixed Berry Ryeway (Rye whiskey barrel-aged ryewine w/ blackberry, raspberry, boysenberry, and cranberry)

On Tour Brewing Company - Barton Hall (Barrel-aged Scotch ale)

Imperial Oak Brewing - Quiet Giant - Double Barrel 2020 (Bourbon and rum barrel-aged imperial stout)

Lo Rez Brewing/Delilah’s - Delilah’s Woodie Rascal 9000 - Jimmy (Brown ale aged in single barrel Wild Turkey barrels)

Recent years have seen a surprising emergence of Chicago as one of the top destinations for hop enthusiasts, bolstered by a few well-publicized national medals and hype-inducing haze makers. But there were those that helped reshape our palates in the early days: the local leaders of hops. For this show, we review five hoppy beers (Oops! All Hazy) from some of the original hop-crazy Chicago breweries.  Also, we take a seat on the Hot Bench, discuss seasonal drinkers vs. temperature drinkers, slam some Purplesaurus Rex with Dr. Applesauce, use nostalgia as a survival tool, and protect our precious cereals. 

Beers Reviewed

Half Acre Beer Company (f. 2006) - Sunset (Double) Vallejo

Revolution Brewing (f. 2010) - DDH Mango Hero 

Pipeworks Brewing Co. (f. 2012) - Chasing Extra

Spiteful Brewing (f. 2012) - Diggable IPA

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery (f. 2015) - Tropicamo

So, was anyone going to tell us that gose puns weren’t cool anymore? Well, at least the beers are better than they’ve ever been as we sample five enhanced goses from local breweries that only leave us feeling a little salty. Pineapples, coconuts, lavender, lactose - what won’t these crazy breweries put in a gose these days?!? Also, we address the hairless bear in the room, remember when we used to do research, kill some time with some salt talk, sell our urban foraging secrets, rename our erotic fiction protagonists, and sing a little Mellencamp. Then there’s a game about matching Muppets to types of beer drinkers, and we only manage to kill off one. So it goes.

Beers Reviewed

DESTIHL Brewery - Wild Sour Series: Piña Colada Gose

Dutchbag Brew Co. - Summer Kings (Gose w/ fresh strawberry juice, gray sea salt, coriander, and hibiscus)

Marz Community Brewing Co. - Lavender Lemon Gose (Gose w/ lavender, lemon, and butterfly pea flower)

Pipeworks Brewing Company - A Nice Slice (Gose w/ lactose, key lime juice, cinnamon, and vanilla)

Lake Effect Brewing - Gose Ale Aged in Port Barrels

Once we accepted the cancellation of beer fests for the foreseeable future, we knew we had a hole to fill. A farmhouse hole. So, we do our best to recreate one of our favorite annual events - our annual Illinois Craft Beer Week event, Saisonathon - by drinking a wide array of saisons from the comfort of our own homes. There are eight wildly different saisons - six from local breweries - that require us to seek a little off-mic assist from our wives. But mainly, we sing our sweet praises of the style we adore so much, and one of us even takes a full-on saison shower. We also talk about the persistence of GIFs, implement the Malort color scale, wish for regrettable saison flavors, visit the coaster whisperer, and get started on that “life of a beer podcaster” screenplay. It’s Saisonathon 2020 - and you are invited. 

Beers Reviewed

Off Color Brewing - Marañón Predator (Saison with yeast isolated from a rare form of cacao)

Vennture Brew Co. - Vennture To the Farm (Brett saison w/ rye)

Keeping Together - Thoughts Without A Thinker (Mixed culture saison w/ Earl Grey tea, orange juice and zest, and saffron)

Is/Was Brewing - Maestro Marcelino (Saison w/ roasted agave)

Lo Rez Brewing - Bière De Miel (Saison w/ honey)

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Paloma (Grapefruit saison)

Allagash Brewing Company - Cascara Saison (Saison w/ cascara berries)

Afterthought Brewing Company - Saison Auran: Key Lime Gin Barrel-Aged (Saison aged in gin barrels w/orange juice and zest, rose hips, and key line juice)

If it seems that the string of 90-degree days will never end, well have we got a beer style for you. Berliner weisses experienced a considerable rejuvenation in the last five years, but they’ve also recently become synonymous with overfruited slurry beers that buck any sense of tradition. On this show, we seek five local Berliners that add fruit while keeping an eye on the original style. The results are pleasurable for your ears. Additionally, we embrace our new favorite sport (it’s foot golf), confuse our THPs from our THCs and TVPs, track the nefarious Rawber Hortcu, create Beer for Hot Dogs, recommend our favorite Metamucil-sponsored manga, and experience illegal amounts of mayo. And hey, BuzzBalls - if you’re out there, please let us know that you’re okay. 

Beers reviewed

Noon Whistle Brewing - Fuzzy Smack (Berliner weisse w/ peach)

Lo Rez Brewing - Strawberry Shortcut (Strawberry Berliner weisse)

Dutchbag Brew Co. - Maybe the Flamingo Ate Your Baby (Berliner weisse w/ pomegranate & fresh ginger)

Off Color Brewing - Beer for Brunch (Berliner weisse-style w/ orange & chardonnay grape juice)

Mikerphone Brewing - Teleport Massive (Brambleberry Berliner weisse w/ raspberries & blackberries)

If it’s been a while since you’ve last visited a craft bottle shop, you’ll likely encounter a whole new slew of labels from local breweries to explore. We pick up five beers from a few breweries we know and from a few we don’t to hopefully help you navigate those crowded shelves. Meanwhile, Ryan’s tenure as the mayor of Hazytown is short-lived; Craig is going to get cancelled by Carly Rae Jepsen fans; and we uncover the truth about all the fireworks. Plus, there’s beer-to-movie comparisons, doom yoga, mayo beers, mouth sweaters, and new growler innovations. 

Beers Reviewed

Soundgrowler Brewing Co. - Pan’s Bread (Bock-style Lager)

Roaring Table Brewing - Struts & Frets (Hazy IPA)

Rabid Brewing - Shadowstepper (Imperial milk stout w/ cacao nibs & lactose sugar)

Liquid Love Brewing - Round the Edges (DDH IPA)

Brewer’s Kitchen - Green Mountains Only (DDH DIPA)

After months of curbside-only beer shopping, craft bottle shops have opened their doors to customers looking to pluck some single cans off the shelves in hopes of discovering a few new favorites. We did just that at The Open Bottle in Tinley Park, finding five beers from out-of-state breweries to check out, leading us to one mystery after another. But in that exploration, we learn a lot about ourselves, including just how much older we are than Willy Wonka. (I know, right?!?) This bevvy of contract and altprop beers steers us to remember our lustful sambas, ruin Craig’s craft beer band name, and go on the most boring Mystery Date ever. (By the way, this show should’ve been called “80% Twelve Percent” but Craig wouldn’t let me.)

Beers Reviewed

Public Access Liquids - Constellate (Lager w/ yuzu)

Humble Forager Brewery - Elevated Perspective: Samba, Nelson Sauvin, Mosaic Cryo, & Strata (Imperial oat cream IPA)

______ Brewing - The One That Just Kicked (Double IPA)

Fat Orange Cat Brew Co. - Do the Escalator to the 13th Floor (Double IPA)

Short Throw Brewing Co. - Low Brow Nobility (Imperial stout w/ toasted coconut, coffee, cinnamon, and maple syrup)