About- Mike Zoller
Mike Zoller
After trying to retire after a lucrative two-year career in sports journalism, Mike got back into sports but in the administration side. He currently works for the Northwestern University Athletic Department as an account executive working directly with football and men's basketball. At Miami University Mike was the sports editor for the The Miami Student and also did radio play-by-play for RedHawk ice hockey, football and baseball. Mike is still waiting to see Northwestern basketball play in the NCAA Tournament and the Cubs win the World Series.Illinois Ties State Medal Record at 2021 Great American Beer Festival
September 11, 2021 | Mike Zoller
Illinois brewers put on a show at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival Award Ceremony taking home 16 medals, tying the state’s all-time record set in 2007.
BUG Requiring Proof of Vaccination or Negative COVID Test
August 26, 2021 | Mike Zoller
This year’s Beer Under Glass (BUG) will be unique for a variety of reasons but the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild has put into place precautions to make sure the event can go on as safe as possible despite the Delta variant. Read More
Event Recap | 2021 Great Taste of the Midwest
August 16, 2021 | Mike Zoller
Since 1987, the Great Taste of the Midwest has been a chance for Midwest breweries and beer lovers to converge on Madison, Wisconsin to enjoy some of the region’s best beers. This past Saturday the tradition continued with some new safety precautions, but that didn’t impact the festival which once again brought the beer community together.
Goose Island Announces 2021 Bourbon County Stout Lineup
August 10, 2021 | Mike Zoller 1
2020’s lineup of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout was widely considered one of the best from top-to-bottom for the brewery in years; 2021’s lineup looks to take what worked last year and use a similar theme: Showcase the barrel.
Event Preview | Great Taste of the Midwest 2021
August 6, 2021 | Mike Zoller
One of the most well-known and beloved beer festivals in the country returns! Great Taste of the Midwest will be happening on August 14, albeit at a much smaller capacity.
Everything will be at 50% capacity, from guest attendance to breweries, in order to make the event as safe as possible. 5,000 tickets were sold and 100 breweries were invited to pour and, even though that meant a lot more people had to be turned away and a lot more breweries were not able to participate, Chairman Jason Walters said that everyone has been very understanding with the limitations.
Revolution Brewing Announces 2021-2022 Deep Wood Lineup
July 26, 2021 | Mike Zoller
It seems as if Revolution Brewing’s Deep Wood release in July was a tease for the announcement of the full 2021-2022 lineup that happened less than a week later. In typical Revolution fashion, the releases will happen once a month staring in October and concluding in January.
V.S.O.J. Once Again Shines in Revolution’s Summer Deep Wood Release
July 16, 2021 | Mike Zoller
When Revolution Brewing opens its doors to the public Friday to launch the latest batch of Deep Wood beers, it will be the first no-restrictions in-person beer release event in the city of Chicago since the pandemic began.
A staple of previous Revolution beer releases, the taproom party featured drafts of the beers being released as well as some rare and special drafts for people to try. Over the past year and a half, the brewery had to settle for curbside pick-ups as the pandemic restrictions remained in effect.
Saison-Focused Breweries in Chicago Helping Grow the Style
July 12, 2021 | Mike Zoller
They can be dry, spicy, floral, citrusy, herbal, barrel-aged, smoky, and that’s not even the limit. They are a style that most craft beer drinkers know about but many probably couldn’t tell you the last time they had one. They are Saisons.
A favorite style amongst those in the craft beer industry because of their versatility, low ABV, and flavor potential, the Chicagoland area is home to three breweries dedicated to Saisons.
Midwest Coast Brewing | Paisley West Coast IPA
June 29, 2021 | Mike Zoller
West Coast IPA is once again seeing a jolt in popularity in the craft beer industry. The style is a shift (back) from the Hazy IPA and while it still highlights tropical, floral and fruity notes, the beers are usually more bitter, thinner in body and clearer in appearance.
Community Rallies Behind Skeleton Key Brewery After Major Tornado Damage
June 23, 2021 | Mike Zoller
On Sunday night many in the Chicagoland area took shelter in their basements as vicious storms and a tornado ripped through the suburbs. Over 130 homes and businesses were damaged including Skeleton Key Brewery in Woodridge, Ill. which was completely destroyed.
Central Waters Brewing to Open Milwaukee Location in Former Pabst Facility
June 10, 2021 | Mike Zoller
Milwaukee’s beer scene will soon have a new brewery, but a familiar face, as Central Waters Brewing has announced that they’ll be taking over the former Pabst location to house their second brewery.
Le Beez Collab Brings Together Gold Medal-Winning Breweries
May 6, 2021 | Mike Zoller
Not only did Chicago breweries win the first two gold medals in the Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale category at the Great American Beer Festival, but Alarmist Brewing and Old Irving Brewing are just 10 minutes from one another. Now they’ve teamed up to collab on a Hazy IPA—Le Beez.
Casa Humilde | Maizal
April 19, 2021 | Mike Zoller
When you hear Mexican Lager you might typically think Corona or Modelo, but the style is popular in the craft beer community as well. These Lagers are usually a bit sweeter and made with flaked corn, which usually makes the style drier and crisper.
Revolution Brewing Releases Cuvée de Grâce for Second Time
April 12, 2021 | Mike Zoller
When Revolution Brewing Cuvée de Grâce was last released in January 2020 there was a line around the brewery, a big release party inside the taproom and just three U.S. airports were beginning to screen for COVID simply as a precaution.
Ballast Point Chicago Faced Challenges from the Start
March 25, 2021 | Mike Zoller 7
On Tuesday, Ballast Point Brewing owners announced that they would be closing the brewpub in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood for good. The location was open for just under three years and while the pandemic definitely played a factor, the location for the brewpub was always going to present big challenges.
Big Drop Brewing Co Launches in the United States
February 22, 2021 | Mike Zoller
Working in business development for his law firm, Rob Fink spent a lot of time in pubs and restaurants entertaining clients. In his early 30s, drinking for a good portion of the afternoon was fun, once he had kids he knew his habits had to change — but he liked beer.
What Happened To the Black IPA and Its Comeback
February 15, 2021 | Mike Zoller 1
In an industry dominated by the Hazy IPA and beers with ingredient lists you’re more likely to find in a grocery store candy or cereal aisle, one classic style saw a resurgence in 2020.
Harold’s ’83 Collab Highlights Lack of Diversity in the Alcohol Industry
February 11, 2021 | Mike Zoller
Harold’s ’83 is a Honey Ale, but the story behind the beer is much more than just a 5.2% ABV beverage that Haymarket Brewing Co. is releasing in cans for the first time.
Illinois BEERacket Fundraiser Boxes Go On Sale Friday
February 10, 2021 | Mike Zoller
With their regular roster of beer events canceled due to the pandemic, the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild has had to be creative to find other ways to generate revenue for the non-profit organization. One solution has been mixed variety beer boxes for the general public to purchase. They sold out of the “FoBAB at Home” boxes in November and are releasing a new box with a March Madness-like BEERacket theme.
Revolution Caps Off Deep Wood Series with Half Acre Collab
January 20, 2021 | Mike Zoller
To wrap up their 2020-21 Deep Wood release, Revolution Brewing decided to go with two non-stouts, featuring an Imperial Rye Porter made in collaboration with Half Acre as well as a spin on their popular Ryewine Ale by putting it into Apple Brandy barrels.
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