These sweltering summer days have set off our symptoms that can only be diagnosed as a serious case of Pineapple Fever. For this show, we’re as surprised as anyone that we have a swinging good time cruising through a whole set of pineapple beers in defiance of our usual fruit show disappointments. Also, we’re finding ways to invite crows to the table; a chunky phase is never realized; Tim Allen answers for Craig now; and we request that our cakes stay right-side up. 

Beers Reviewed

Temperance Beer Co. - Greenwood Beach (Blonde ale w/ pineapple)

Pipeworks Brewing Co. - Pineapple Guppy (American Pale Ale w/ pineapple)

Energy City Brewing - Piña Sunset Sorbet IPA (NEIPA w/ pineapple & coconut)

Triptych Brewing - Fruit Aisle: Pineapple Whip (Tart ale w/ pineapple, vanilla, & lactose)

Young Blood Beer Co. - Pineapple Demogorgen In the Upside Down (Pastry sour w/ pineapple, marshmallow, graham cracker, and vanilla)

In the 10 years since Maplewood started producing beers in Chicago, the brewery and distillery has become one of the most recognizable, available, and consistent craft brands in the city. We sit down with the crew of Roger Cuzelis, Adam Smith, and Adam Cieslak to talk about how the company has evolved over the last decade with their multiple medal-winning beers and spirits leading the way. We also drink through a 4-pack of their “Heritage Series” beers for their 10th anniversary which resurrects some old favorites - albeit made with the technical skill and top-notch ingredients they’ve acquired through ten years of business. Furthermore, we bring our own 4-packs back to our respective bunkers to give them a thorough dissection by mostly just raving about how perfect they all are. Plus, Ryan can’t help but look awkward in photos, and Craig just wants the corn dogs to come back.

Maplewood Interview (0:00:00 - 01:01:30)

Beers Reviewed

The Charlatan (Pale Ale)

Azacca Morris IPA

Creepy Ginger (Belgian-Style Strong Golden w/ ginger)

Husky Pants (Hazy Double IPA)

CHICAGO (ABV) - With the 15th anniversary of the American Pale Ale that changed craft brewing in Chicago - Daisy Cutter - we file an urgent report on Half Acre beers recently released and break some news about the potential beer of the year (already). Expect to hear memories of early Daisy Cutter experiences, some slight pandering for a Firestone Walker Invitational ‘25 invite, a philosophical issue with variant beers, and a top beer/life experience for Ryan. Also, shout-out to all the Spreadsheet Wizards out there, re-open the Lava Lamp stores, and no, you don’t need that Train-inspired beer. 

Beers Reviewed

Trailing West Pils [collaboration with Firestone Walker] (Italian-style Pilsner)

Daisy Cutter (American Pale Ale)

Daisy Cutter 15 (Tropical Pale Ale)

Daisy Cutter Select [collaboration with Sierra Nevada] (Double IPA)

Smoking Gull (American Pale Ale)

After years of pushing boundaries with flavor, craft beer has come all the way back to banking on uncomplicated light lagers built for summer coolers. For this episode, we test out five local versions of lighter lagers in a blind tasting, finding ourselves surprised by the amount of variation contained within. Also, Craig is reaching unprecedented levels of comfort, Ryan’s confronting his lager biases, and we take a little run through the corn field. 

Beers Reviewed Blindly

Hop Butcher for the World - Butcher Gold

Pollyanna Brewing - Lite Thinking

Noon Whistle Brewing - Frothie

Old Irving Brewing - Windy

Revolution Brewing - Cold Time