Breckenridge Brewery | Nitro Vanilla Porter and Mango Mosaic Pale Ale

Breckenridge Brewery is offering two unique ways to embrace summer with a refreshing brew.

For fans of the mosaic hops, the flavorful and aromatic hop developed roughly four years ago, one can enjoy the Mango Mosaic pale ale (5.5% ABV). … Read More

Brewery Showcase | Maplewood Brewery and Distillery

Maplewood Brewery and Distillery, as the name suggests, does more than deliver good beer to Chicagoans; they distill fantastic spirits, too. In fact, they are the only ones in Illinois doing both. Ari Megalis, co-founder and distiller, commented, “When we … Read More

Event Preview | 4th Annual Tribes Beer Fest

It’s no surprise that Tribes Alehouse and Beer Company was founded by a former chef – Niall Freyne. A good chef is a master visionary, able to transform individual ingredients into a well-composed dish. In that spirit, Niall is particular about every single beer served at Tribes – and there are tons of them. He said, “If I haven’t met with someone I won’t sell it. I want people to care about their client.” Each beer fits his vision for Tribes as a craft beer haven, and it’s a vision that has people coming back again, and again… and again. Read More

Brewery Showcase | Great Central Brewing Company

Breweries have been accumulating in Chicago faster than snow during a vortex style blizzard. Many of those up and coming new breweries exist in buildings that offer limited potential for physical growth. But, brewing success leads to a greater demand, so what happens when the demand exceeds supply? Or, for brewers that haven’t yet found their own space, where can they brew? That’s where Great Central Brewing Company (GCBC) comes to the rescue (opening in fall, 2016).

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Yards Brewing Co. | Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale

8% ABV | 28 IBU

July 4, 2016, marked the 190th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s death. In essence, he died on the very day he helped make significant as a result of drafting the Declaration of Independence. Between the time he … Read More

Rhinegeist | Streaker Rye IPA

ABV: 6% | IBU: 60

Streaker Rye IPA from Cincinnati’s up-and-coming  Rhinegeist provides insight into why this Queen City brewery is enjoying such rapid success. Rhinegeist recently celebrated its third anniversary, only days after partying with friends from New Belgium Brewery to help kick off the release of the Fat Tire and Friends CollaBEERation 25th Anniversary project (as reported by PorchDrinking’s Jasmin Hudacsek). In a crowded world of craft brewing, Rhinegeist is making beer enthusiasts take notice. Read More

Event Recap | Chicago Ale Fest

Like a symphony orchestra that brilliantly melds the sounds of a drum, bassoon and violin together into one harmonious musical piece, the Chicago Ale Fest proved most enjoyable because from tent to tent; one could sample a black or red IPA, porter, an ale with green tea and lemongrass, fruit-forward beers, barrel-aged brews, helles, pils, maibocks, saisons, sours and gose…and a partridge in a pear tree, I think. Each beer was good on its own, but collectively it makes for one terrific beer experience. Read More

Brewery Showcase | Temperance Beer Co.

Who better to build a craft brewery from the ground-up than a former architect? Josh Gilbert, born and raised in Evanston, IL (a northern suburb of Chicago), left the world of architecture and founded Temperance Beer Company in 2013, the town’s first brewery since Prohibition. Three years later, the brewery can best be summed up with one word — balance. Balance in beer. Balance in approach. Balance in philosophy.

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Event Recap | #CCBW Miskatonic Brewing Mystery Infusion Contest

Suburban Chicago’s Miskatonic Brewing (Darien, IL) challenged patrons to a test their skills as a beer connoisseur during Chicago Craft Beer Week. Sure, it’s easy to log on to any one of the numerous beer rating sites and provide insight, but just how good are you? More to the point, as the writer who covered the event, how good am I? Read More

Event Preview | Chicago Ale Fest

2nd Annual Chicago Ale Fest Buckingham Fountain (Grant Park), Chicago, IL Friday, June 17, 2016: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2016: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. $50 ($25 for Designated Drivers)

SECURE YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

One hundred … Read More

Event Recap | CCBW: Chain O’Lakes Brewing Route 31 Series Collaboration

Three distinct breweries, one community. Three distinct beers, one collaboration.

Scorched Earth Brewing, Chain O’Lakes Brewing, and Crystal Lake Brewing are three breweries found along Route 31 in Chicago’s distant suburbs of McHenry, County. Together, they collaborated on a project … Read More

Event Recap | CCBW: Nevin’s Brewing Company 21 Beer Salute

Few beer events can simultaneously appease both beer geeks and beer novices, but Plainfield, Illinois’ Nevin’s Brewing Company 21 Beer Salute did just that. As part of Chicago Craft Beer Week (CCBW), Brewmaster Marc Wilson provided guests with an onslaught … Read More

Pollyanna Brewing | Summerly Raspberry Wheat

Pollyanna Brewing’s rapid success is almost unfathomable until you try the beer — and then it makes perfect sense. Just shy of two years old, Pollyanna Brewing is already expanding its production, selling its beer at Cellular Field (home of the White Sox), and the taproom is frequently packed. It took Pollyanna only a year to create a beer that exceeded the popularity of its original, and already popular, creations — Summerly, a raspberry wheat beer. The refreshing summer treat is not only delicious, it speaks volumes about Pollyanna.
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Chicago Craft Beer Week: Miskatonic Brewing Co. | Mystery Infusion Contest

Would you like to play a game?

If so, Darien’s Miskatonic Brewing Company has a Chicago Craft Beer Week (CCBW) challenge for you. They explain, “We are infusing three Miskatonic beers with interesting ingredients. Order a flight and get a scorecard, for every beer and infusion ingredient you guess correctly, you get a raffle ticket for great prizes! Come out and test your palate!” If you fancy yourself a true beer aficionado and think you’re adept at judging and describing beer on Untappd or similar sites, this is the event for you. The party starts at 3 pm on Friday, May 27th at the Miskatonic Brewing taproom. Read More

Chicago Craft Beer Week | Nevin’s Brewing Co. 21 Beer Salute

Chicago Craft Beer Week
Nevin’s Brewing Co: 4th Annual 21 Beer Salute
12337 South Rt. 59, Plainfield, Illinois
Sat, 5/21: 6 – 10pm
Fee: $1 per sample (4 oz), $8 cover after 8pm.
Music: 9:30pm: Keith Semple
Food: $10.99 unlimited wings

Craft brewers love to be innovative. So, naturally, Chicago Craft Beer Week (CCBW) involves an event where one brewer provides patrons with a celebration of experimentation. Indeed, Marc Wilson, brewmaster at Nevin’s Brewing Co. in Plainfield, explained, “I wanted to play with some styles/techniques that I’m a little less familiar.” And he’ll leave it up to you to be the judge, explaining, “I give our guests scorecards that they can return to me at the end of the evening so I can see what went well and what bombed.” Read More

Chicago Craft Beer Week | Chain O’Lakes Brewing Company

Chicago Craft Beer Week Chain O’Lakes Brewing Company Small Batch Ale Release (Collaboration) Fri, May 20, 4pm – 9pm Chain O’ Lakes Brewery Taproom 3425 Pearl St, McHenry, IL 60050 Ticket Cost: $0 (free to the public)

While Chicagoans bask … Read More

Chicago’s Atlas Brewing is now Burnt City Brewing

Macrobreweries are buying craft breweries. Breweries are fighting over names and labels. All this “business talk”  may shock, annoy, and upset craft-beer aficionados, but let us not forget, that beer (like any product) is a commodity. No one knows that … Read More