Abv Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

There’s no escaping Deth, so we gather up four of the barrel-aged Revolution stouts from this year’s Deep Wood lineup and drink with reckless abandon. It’s no shocker that Revolution is still running the best barrel program in the city, but even with the bar raised as high as it is, the beers on the show clear it with ease. Even one beer challenges our “beer of the year” title (in a crowded year of stellar Rev beers). Also, we talk about odd movie theater experiences, cream some bean salad, escalate the Math versus English turf war, and remember how LMFAO was culturally significant at one point. Yes, we also talk about beer. But you can’t deny that it would be better with two Keith Davids. 2023 Deep Wood Beers Reviewed Deth’s Tar Cafe Deth Deth by Cherries DBVSOD  

For over 15 years, Metropolitan blessed this great city with high quality lagers and traditional German styles. They ushered in a second wave of Chicago craft brewing back when there were next to no options available. It’s safe to say that without Metropolitan, the Chicago craft beer scene wouldn’t have grown the way it did. Now Chicago will have to move on without Metro, who will be closing their doors for good on December 17th. We take this episode as an opportunity to appreciate their excellent lineup one more time, share many meaningful personal memories about the beers and brewery, and to say thank you for stubbornly making lagers even when it wasn’t cool to do so. Thank you, Metropolitan crew, and we wish you a clear and fulfilling path forward. Beers Enjoyed Flywheel Pilsner Krankshaft Kolsch Stromhaus Helles Heliostat Zwickel Lager Arc Welder Dunkel Rye Afterburner Oktoberfest  

Earlier in November, the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild put on the 21st Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers to recognize some of the breweries making the finest wood-aged beers around. We got our hands on five (out of the eleven) Illinois medal winners - and our first-ever Best of Show beer - to help us audition to become FoBAB judges some year. We share some FoBAB “by the numbers” and recap the awards with a slight angle towards our Fantasy FoBAB league interests. Also, Craig is opening up to the possibility of tinsel, Ryan is destroying himself for pleasure (as usual), and we point out which beer is the Warren Zevon of barrel-aged beers.  Medal Winners Reviewed Off Color Brewing - Mezcal Barrel-Aged Beer for Tacos (Gold in Specialty/Experimental) Sketchbook Brewing Co. - Red Wine Barrel-Aged Tripel G (Gold in Other Pale Beer) Half Acre Beer Company - Orin (Silver in Other Dark Beer) Mikerphone Brewing - Slappa Da Base (Silver in Strong Porter/Stout) Hidden Hand/Solemn Oath Brewery - Oaked Val D’or (Gold in

Hop on the Brown Line straight to Browntown with us, as we discover a hopefully-growing local resurgence of the brown ale with five examples from Chicagoland breweries on this episode. Adjunct or not, these brown ales all have a unique angle on the style - and most would absolutely kill on cask. We also discuss the worst possible colors for mayonnaise, we consider the best brown for the Thanksgiving table, Ryan shares his true feelings about the apple orchard, and Craig am become Cronch, destroyer of dry ramen.  Beers Reviewed Spiteful Brewing - Bowmanville Brown Phase Three Brewing - Midst Maplewood Brewing Company - Brownie Points Werk Force Brewing Company - Axis: As Bold As Beer Around the Bend Beer Company - Puffing Billy  

Carbonated water treated with hops is pretty simple in concept, but these five breweries prove that there’s a lot of variation and skill that goes into making these “zero/zero” drinks. And it shows that no matter how well non-alcoholic beers have progressed, some drinkers looking for a dry spell just can’t quit the hops - and now they don’t have to! We get extremely refreshed on this zero alcohol show while discussing many areas of potential for this rising trend. Also, Craig needs some real talk on a confusing bathroom arrangement, Ryan’s watching his calcium intake, and we want to know if kids should be drinking hop water before one of us looks like a bad parent. Waters Reviewed Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Hop Splash Third Space Brewing - Hop Water: Citra Lemon Noon Whistle Brewing - Hop Water Revolution Brewing - Super Zero Marz Community Beverage Co. - Hop N’ Honey Water  

Though it might be one of the smallest states, the brewing scene in Delaware is mighty, and we’re ushering in our 33rd State Show with a lineup of five flavorful beers from five different breweries. Thanks to Ryan Tracy (and family), we’re able to live vicariously through his travelogue while sipping these delectable beers, just missing out on the coastal views and massive plates of seafood. Also, Ryan flies too close to the sun with his back scratcher, Craig’s working on the leg rolls, and one podcast studio gets absolutely drenched in an exploding beer. Beers Reviewed Blue Earl Brewing Co. [Smyrna, D] - Oktoberfest (Märzen) Mispillion River Brewing Company [Milford, DE] - Not Today Satan (American IPA) Thompson Island Brewing Company [Rehoboth Beach, DE] - Never Been Wrong (Barrel-Aged Sour Belgian Blonde) Big Oyster Brewery [Lewes, DE] -  Noir et Bleu (Belgian Tripel w/ blueberries and black tea) Dewey Beer Company [Dewey Beach, DE] - Thrills: Strawberry, Watermelon, Lemonade (Fruited Sour)  

Chicago’s biggest, baddest and most-barreled festival is back in its 21st year, so we’re eager to FoBABble about it for the first time in four years as a lead-up to the competition. We also open four barrel-aged beers from breweries that have been FoBAB staples (and previous medal winners) to lubricate our discussions of new and returning breweries at this year’s fest, our “first pour” picks, festival attendee tips, sleeper breweries not to miss, and Fantasy FoBAB Power Rankings. Also, Ryan has a shameful admission about common bird identification, we ride the plot line of sniffs, and Craig’s getting the BabyBjörn ready for his unprepared podcast partner. Beers Reviewed Off Color Brewing - Beer For Burgers: Prime Cut (Helles Bock aged in bourbon barrels blended with fresh Helles Bock) Short Fuse Brewing Company - What The Night Brings (Imperial stout aged in bourbon and cognac barrels w/ dates and figs) Half Acre Beer Company - Double Barrel Catch Hell (Double barrel-aged imperial stout w/ Madagascar vanilla

The seven barrel-aged beers that comprise this year’s Luchador lineup feature styles and ingredients we have rarely - or never - seen in the past, and no local “special release” lineup is getting as experimental as this one. Flavor master Jacob Sembrano is at it again, and we’re here to drunkenly rave over the barrel-aged results. There are many true “wow” moments on this one, and at least one bird that tried to ruin it all for everyone. Also, Craig has neighborhood watch concerns about bananas, Ryan’s ready to huff that bean bag, and beer jerseys are getting raised to the rafters.  Beers Reviewed Bad Mermaid (Imperial Blonde aged in rye whiskey and rum barrels w/ dulce de leche and coconut) Lucha Royal (Imperial Saskatoon ale aged in French black currant liqueur barrels) Gigante (Double barrel blonde barleywine aged in Barbados rum barrels, finished in Colorado rye whiskey barrels) El Petito (Double barrel blonde barleywine aged in Colorado rye whiskey barrel, finished in French apricot brandy barrels) Rey G

We’re indulging in our capital vices for our yearly attempt to destroy each other over bad beers, and this one features some of the most unexpected pours we’ve ever seen. There’s at least one beer here that unexpectedly brings out an extra large dose of wrath for one podcaster, and it’s not even the mystery beer in the box. WHAT’S IN THE BOX?? Also, Craig is investigating some decapitated pigeons, Ryan’s plan backfires, and we both learn to fear the SlenderCan. And make sure you stick it out for one of the most horrifying Cuvées of Doom ever concocted.  Beers Endured [LUST] Kultowy Browar Staropolski - Bestbir Pszenica z Sokiem Pacific z Grejpfrutem (Grapefruit-flavored wheat beer) [GREED] O’Fallon Brewery - Cherry Chocolate Dark Wheat (from 2017??) [PRIDE] Dugges Bryggeri - Cola (Cola-inspired sour w/ nutmeg, lime, cinnamon, and vanilla) [GLUTTONY] RAR Brewing - Out of Order: It Wasn’t Easy (Pastry sour w/ pineapple, lemon-lime, coconut, lactose, and pastry cream) [SLOTH] Penrose Brewing - Wild XI (Oak-aged

Chicagoland is pretty gifted in lager-centric breweries, but now that trends have shifted back towards the more drinkable, almost every brewery is featuring more and more lagers. This is an extremely good thing. For this show, we do a blind tasting wherein we match a local lager-focused brewery’s beer against a local “everything” brewery’s beer along style lines and give our unbiased opinions. Our arbitrary reviews won’t prove much, but we do have an opinion on which brewery we think is making the best lagers in Chicagoland. Also, we force the title colon thanks to A.I. which introduces us to Chi-Taste-O. (We recommend you get a 6-pack of lagers ready and responsibly drink every time we say, “Chi-Taste-O.”) Plus we’re making bread references, attacking the Veggie Stick stash, and valuing rusticity. So sayeth the Mayor and Seer of Chi-Taste-O.  Beers Reviewed and Battled Blindly    Alarmist Brewing - Crispy Boy (Pilsner) Vs. Dovetail Brewery - Pilsner   Half Acre Beer Company - Helles Vs. Metropolitan Brewing

Now somewhat relegated to an occasional fall seasonal from breweries, the Amber style is essential to the history of American craft beer as we know it. So we’re pumped to see five local breweries dabble in amber ales and lagers, and we fall in love all over again (with the beers, not each other). Also, Craig has an unexpected pet, we accidentally have a moment of real beer talk about wilds and sours, Ryan vetoes an obvious 311 reference, and we are bringing our own ludicrous drinkware to the District Brew Yards until someone tells us “no.” Whoa-oh.  Beers Reviewed Casa Humilde Cerveceria - Alba (Mexican-Style Amber Lager) BuckleDown Brewing - Alien Avatar (Amber Ale) Maplewood Brewing - Amberana (Amber Ale conditioned on Amburana wood) Off Color Brewing - Beer For Huddles (Amber Ale) Burnt City Brewing (?) - Titan Walls 5 (Amber Lager)  

We were just back in Denver for the 41st Great American Beer Festival, and we’ve got an episode chock full of interviews and beer highlights that’s as good as gold (medals). Catch up on our beer-y travels as we hit the festival floor for about 14 total hours and stop into several great Denver taprooms and bars, sharing our experiences and regrettable food decisions along the way. Plus, we talk to a bevy of fascinating brewers and brewery owners from all over the U.S. and we hear stories about an onstage proposal, a beer made with the cast of Hamilton, a terpene-infused milkshake IPA, a brewer who has won Master Distiller, and the (maybe) real original year of Bourbon County Stout. And to top that off, we open three Denver-area beers in the hotel while trying to soothe our ragged voices and heal up from a serious vapors affliction. PLUS, Craig’s going ASMR while Ryan’s recording from the chaise longue.  Beers Reviewed WeldWerks Brewing Co. - Colorado Ale (Traditional Ale) Burns Family Artisan Ales - Gallivant

In the week that we’re heading out west for a certain fest, we gather up four barrel-aged beers from West Coast breweries that are pretty well-known for their wood-aged offerings. Expectations are flipped on their head and a ringer is challenged as we pop a few actual corks for this one. Also, Craig wants in on the limited-edition mattresses; we open our minds to the possibilities that breweries can grow over the course of nine years; and we share the tales of the juggling Belgian Gueuze Mimes.  Beers Reviewed Floodland Brewing - Calling Out to Psychic Death (Dry-hopped blend of barrel-aged saisons w/ honey) deGarde Brewing - The Broken Truck (Wild ale aged in oak, blended from four years) Russian River Brewing Company - Small Batch: Intinction (Sauvignon Blanc-aged wild pilsner w/ Sauvignon Blanc grape juice and dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin) Cellarmaker Brewing Company - Bourbon Blammo! (Blend of bourbon barrel-aged stouts and barleywine w/ toasted coconut)  

The Great American Beer Festival is right around the corner, and since we’re attending again this year, we’re providing an audio guide to what to drink at the fest while also sipping on some previous medal winners. These aren’t just any Illinois medal winners; our four choices here are a good drive from Chicago while also representing more traditional styles. For the GABF preview, we cover what Illinois breweries are pouring, which “new-to-us” breweries have us the most excited; whose familiar faces we can’t wait to see; and which “steady hand” brewers can’t be missed. Also, Ryan’s sharing an irrational fear, we develop an open floor taproom concept to maximize turnover, and we both agree the judges are pretty good at what they do. Beers Reviewed Crystal Lake Brewing - Too Much Cologne (Kolsch) Sew Hop’d Brewery - Alt 140 (Altbier) Mickey Finn’s Brewery & Pub - Dark and Down (Dark rye lager) Tighthead Brewing Company - Scarlet > Fire (Irish red ale)  

For the second part of our big 500, we sit down with Revolution Brewing founder Josh Deth and talk about the last ten years of his brewery while sharing a rare beer from Craig’s cellar. It’s a fitting interview for this milestone, as no brewery has been featured on the podcast more - and it’s not even close. Also, we open another cellar gem while recording in the ABV West bunker for the first time since the pandemic; we discuss some of our greatest hits; we continue our wax hatred for the 10th year in a row; and Ryan struggles through another ABV By the Numbers game. Thanks for listening anytime, anywhere, everyone.  Josh Deth interview (00:08:58 - 01:05:14) Beers Opened Side Project Brewing - Beer: Barrel: Time Rye 2023 (A blend of imperial stouts aged in rye barrels) Phase Three Brewing - Eunoia Batch 1 (Barrel-aged imperial stout with peanut butter, chocolate & marshmallow)  

500 episodes is a long time to do arbitrary beer reviews, so we reach out for some help in reviewing a few beers from Craig’s cellar. We chose brewers that have been around longer than the podcast to reflect on the last ten years in craft beer, and they chose a beer from our list. For this part one of two episodes, we sit down with Spiteful Brewing’s Jason Klein and Half Acre’s Gabriel Magliaro. We also sip through their cellar selections, and open up one more in the ABV West Bunker for a small but mighty lineup. Plus, Craig has discovered a potential Malort cure, and Ryan struggles through an ABV By The Numbers game. Stay tuned for Part Two. Jason Klein Interview (00:09:16 - 00:53:26) Gabriel Magliaro Interview (01:01:26 - 01:25:52) Beers Reviewed Hair of the Dog Brewing Company - Don 2023 (Double Barleywine aged over four years in rye, bourbon, port, calvados and maple barrels) Sante Adairius Rustic Ales - West Ashley Cuvée (A blend of four consecutive years of West Ashley, aged in Pinot Noir oak barrels wi

Once every four years, we gather up nine Märzens or Festbiers for a blind review revue as a not-so-subtle excuse to drink what might be our favorite seasonal style. And again, we have eight local takes (and one collab from a legacy American brand) on the German-style lager to help us determine our arbitrary preferences. Surprises abound and misconceptions are challenged as this extremely drinkable nine-pack has us craving pretzels in no time. Also, Ryan has inadvertently created an eight year-old future Cicerone; Craig is once again calling for unnecessary adjuncts; and it’s ‘Oops! All Basslines!” for one beer. Light up your pretzel rod cigars and fill up your ceramic stein with Oktoberfest, and join us.  Beers Reviewed Blindly Maplewood Brewing Company - Festbier Midwest Coast Brewing Co. - Oktoberfest Sketchbook Brewing Co. - Oktoberfest Sierra Nevada Brewing Co./Kehrwieder Kreativbrauerei - Oktoberfest (2023) Spiteful Brewing - Oktoberfest Temperance Beer Co. - Oktoberfest Off Color Brewing - Waddle More B

We’re bringing the dry heat with our 32nd State Show, drinking through five beers from five different Arizona breweries, courtesy of listener Ryan Lamb. There’s a lot to like from this set with some essential Arizona ingredients and a few beers with heavy medal pedigree. But also, Craig’s recent Disney trip has him looking at redoing some rides; Ryan reminds us that stouts are for closers; and we finally find out what love smells like.  Beers Reviewed Four Peaks Brewing Company [Tempe, AZ] - Kilt Lifter (Scottish-style ale) Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. [Gilbert, AZ] - Cactus Juice (Prickly pear sour) Wren House Brewing Company [Phoenix, AZ] - Spellbinder (Hazy IPA) Mother Road Brewing Company [Flagstaff, AZ] - Tower Station (IPA) Fate Brewing Company [Scottsdale, AZ] - Hatch Chile Gatos (Golden ale w/ hatch chiles)

Revolution is back at it this summer with a threesome of barrel-aged delights for an early kickoff to the Deep Wood series, and we take our time breaking down these complex blends to find our results to be pleasantly surprising. Also, Craig ruins going to the mall; Ryan’s having breakfast with Velveeta; and we let the barrels take it to the X-treme (and Ex-Treme).  Beers Reviewed Dread & Breakfast (Breakfast Blend Ale with coffee aged in bourbon barrels) Cuvée De Grâce (Cuvée Ale aged in bourbon barrels) Life Jacket (Barleywine Ale with mango, guava, passionfruit, and coconut aged in bourbon barrels)  

We can give a lot of credit to Half Acre co-founder Gabriel Magliaro for helping awaken the craft beer scene in Chicago. And more than 16 years later, Half Acre is still a leader in craft in the city and all over the country, so we’re thrilled to sit down with Gabriel for a deep dive into the history of his legendary brewery. We talk about how he was strongly advised against putting beer in 16-ounce cans, how opening a retail shop exposed the brand to a new audience, the evolution of their barrel program to its esteemed current status, and why the Lincoln taproom sale was the best of all outcomes. Then, Craig and Ryan open four Half Acre beers across a variety of styles to review, and it’s kind of a cosmic gumbo. Also, we’re trying hard to make Slowdem a real thing. Gabriel Magliaro Interview (00:07:29 - 01:09:02) Beers Reviewed Green Torch (Lime Lager) Bodem (IPA) Slow Wink (West Coast IPA) Double Barrel Benthic 2022 (Double arrel-aged imperial stout with toasted coconut and cinnamon)