Mother Earth Brew Co. | Cali Creamin’ Vanilla Cream Ale

Have you ever been asked to haul beer for someone because they know you can drive back to them? This was the situation for me just a month ago with Mother Earth Brew Co.‘s flagship beer, Cali Creamin’ Vanilla Cream Ale. I ended up driving back a case for my sister. This wasn’t the first time either.

Read More

Hops & Bacteria | How Brewers Use the Antibacterial Properties of Hops

“It’s been known for a long time the addition of hops will control the growth of bacteria in beer,” says Matt McCarroll, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and director of the Fermentation Science Institute at Southern Illinois University. While these antibacterial qualities aren’t usually needed in modern brewing, the rise in popularity of mixed-fermentation beers has reawakened interest in this poorly understood property of hops.

Read More

City Built Brewing | Prague Underground Czech Pilsner

We were recently able to try a Czech Pilsner from City Built Brewing out of Grand Rapids, MI called Prague Underground. We think this beer is brewed true to style and well worth trying out if you enjoy great tasting beer.

The Pilsner is a Lager beer that was originally brewed in 1842 by Bavarian brewer Josef Groll in the town of Pilsen in Bohemia which is now the Czech Republic. Legend has it that beer was brewed in this part of the country as far back as 1307, but the quality of the beer brewed up until the late 1800’s was so inconsistent the locals had dumped barrels of beer to show their disgust! They brought in Josef Groll to implement a new style of beer that focused on local ingredients and paler malts, and as the old saying goes “the rest is history”.

Read More

Trends and Takeaways from FoBAB 2021

Like all of the events that returned in 2021 after being canceled in 2020, the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers returned to Chicago with more buzz and excitement than in previous years.

Read More

Greater Good Imperial Brewing Co. | Funk Daddy Sour IPA

Just because the holiday season is right around the corner doesn’t mean you have to stop drinking those Tropical Sour IPAs. Funk Daddy from Greater Good Imperial Brewing Co. is one brew you can drink all year round–no matter what the temperature is.

Read More

Revolution’s Straight Jacket Stars in the Next Deep Wood Release

Every year, in a sea of highly touted barrel-aged releases, Revolution’s Deep Wood series seemingly has one that will stand out amongst them all. Even though we’re only in the second of four releases, this year’s Straight Jacket might very well be the star this winter.

Read More

Taft’s Brewing Co. | Frisch’s Pumpkin Pie Ale

Two Cincinnati institutions have teamed up to combine two autumn standards. Frisch’s Pumpkin Pie Ale, brewed by Taft’s Brewing Co., will warm up your fall with its smooth, creamy, lightly spiced pumpkin pie flavor.

Read More

FoBAB | 2021 Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer Awards

New venue. New normal. Same celebration of barrel-aged beers. After a pandemic-induced hiatus in 2020, the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer (FoBAB) returned in 2021, although the masks and vaccination requirements offer a stark reminder that things aren’t quite back to normal. And that’s what made every sip of every strong barrel-aged beer, fruited sour or wild ale even more enjoyable. The awards ceremony returned, too (not streamed). We are happy to provide you a recap of the 2021 FoBAB Awards. Congrats to Charlotte’s Resident Culture Brewing for winning Best in Show, and to Chicago’s Revolution Brewing for winning the Runner Up award.

Read More

What We’re Drinking | November 12, 2021

There’s something in the air today. Airborne disease? Probably. Pollution? Definitely — but there’s also something less tangible. Maybe it’s the godforsaken time change that turns early afternoon into pitch-black night for those of us living north of the 37th parallel.

Maybe it’s existential dread hanging over all of our heads like poorly (and prematurely) hung misletoe — inviting us in for a germ-filled kiss of death to kick off the holiday season. Or maybe it’s just a head cold.

Read More

Bell’s Brewery Announces Sale to New Belgium’s Parent Company

Two of America’s legacy craft beer brands are joining forces after a bombshell announcement this morning that Michigan’s Bell’s Brewery has been sold to Australia’s Lion, a subsidiary of Kirin Holding, and the parent company which also acquired New Belgium Brewing two years ago.

Read More

First Look at Cruz Blanca’s 2021 Luchador Series

One of the Chicago’s most unique and diverse lineups of barrel-aged beers returns as Cruz Blanca‘s Luchador series has continued to grow in popularity the last four years.

Read More

Quiz | Craft Beer or PlayStation 5 Game?

Take our quiz: Can you tell the difference between a craft beer and a game released for PlayStation 5?

Happy birthday, PS5! The PlayStation 5 was released on November 12, 2020. It’s still hard to find, but it’s incredible to play. This console has everything: ray-tracing, a new wireless controller with adaptive triggers, an 825GB SSD and a whole bunch of other technical specs which look impressive but don’t really make much sense to me.

Read More

Revision Brewing Co. | Hana Vision West Coast IPA

As fall weather commences in parts of the country, Nevada’s Revision Brewing Co. invites you to take a vacation and gamble on a West Coast IPA. Brewed in collaboration with Honolulu-based Hana Koa Brewing Co., Hana Vision features both tropical and piney attributes, making this IPA ideal for both the tropical beach or the arid, desert-like ecology of Nevada. 

Read More

Threshold Brewing & Blending | Neptune Baltic Porter

Wet and cold weather is upon us in the Pacific Northwest and there’s no better place to seek respite this winter than Threshold Brewing & Blending, an up-and-coming brewery located in Portland’s southeast Montavilla neighborhood.

Read More

Cohesion Brewing | Cohesion 10° Wet Hop

Wet hop season is a magical time of year when freshly harvested hops elevate beers to delectable levels incapable of being reached during growing months. While most wet hop beers are different versions of IPAs, Cohesion Brewing is taking an innovative approach with Cohesion 10° Wet Hop by applying the resinous fresh cones to their Czech Pale Lager, blending a traditional old world style with new age hopping techniques and creating a wholly unique experience in the process.

Read More

What We’re Drinking | November 5, 2021

Welcome to the first Friday of November. Seriously, where has this year gone? Hopefully everyone had a fun and safe Halloween and an uneventful and safe election day. Thanks to the chaotic nature of politics in recent history, anytime I hear election I want to grab a beer. So without further ado, this is what we’re drinking.

Read More