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.2020 Illinois Best in Beer Year-End Honors
January 15, 2021 | Mike Zoller
It’s cliche to say that 2020 was a year unlike any other but how else do you describe what was most likely the most challenging year in a long time. While breweries and organizations mainly cancelled or refashioned beer festivals and release parties, the beer continued to flow. In 2020, Illinois brewers still managed to produce an abundance of of notable beers.
How Breweries Are Preparing for 2021 Beer Festivals
January 13, 2021 | Mike Zoller
After a year that saw virtually no in-person beer festivals, there’s hope that with a vaccine people might once again be able to congregate and drink together in 2021. But early in the year, people are very cautious with any concrete timelines or plans.
3 Floyds Permanently Closes Munster, IN Brewpub
December 16, 2020 | Mike Zoller
3 Floyds Brewing first announced an indefinite closing of their Munster, IN facility back in May, and it now seem as if that closure has become permanent. In a letter … Read More
Previewing Revolution Brewing’s 4th Deep Wood Release
December 9, 2020 | Mike Zoller
A drier, barrel-focused release is the theme in Revolution Brewing’s 4th Deep Wood release of 2020 with three different beer styles hitting cans this weekend.
With the last two releases featuring adjuncts like cherries, maple, and honey, the release of Mineshaft Gap, Ryeway to Heaven, and Double Barrel V.S.O.D. go quite a different direction in the December Deep Wood installment.
Strong BA Series | Off Color Brewing Barrel-Aged Dino S’mores
December 7, 2020 | Mike Zoller
Barrel, chocolate, marshmallow all packaged up in Off Color Brewing’s notable 250ml bottles — it’s Barrel-Aged Dino S’mores season, and this year’s version is not to miss.
The popular Russian Imperial Stout comes in a non-barrel-aged version and typically a couple of variants as well as the barrel-aged version. This year’s BA beer spent 13 months sitting in Wild Turkey 101 bourbon barrels and the beer took to the barrel like a fish to water.
CraftCellr Changes Name to Oznr, Helps Breweries Pivot During Pandemic
November 30, 2020 | Mike Zoller
It’s been a busy year for the craft beer marketplace app Oznr. The app has changed names, been acquired and has seen a spike in usage with the pandemic shifting how breweries and bottle shops do their bottle releases.
Familiar Beers Return for Latest Revolution Deep Wood Release
November 19, 2020 | Mike Zoller
A trio of familiar faces make up Chicago’s Revolution Brewing’s third Deep Wood release of barrel-aged beers with pickup beginning this weekend at the brewery’s taproom.
2020 FoBAB Winners Announced | Cider Makes Best of Show History
November 14, 2020 | Mike Zoller 1
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild‘s annual Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers (FoBAB) competition, which hosts breweries from throughout the nation, is usually one where the Barrel-Aged Stouts get most of the focus. However, it was a surprising, different style that for the first time took home the top honor in FoBAB’s Best of Show category.
First Taste | Cruz Blanca’s 2020 Luchador Series
November 12, 2020 | Mike Zoller 1
Each year, Chicago’s Cruz Blanca continues to get bolder with its barrel-aged series, Luchador. In 2019 the brewery released six different variants and in 2020 upped that number to eight different masked bottles that will be released this Saturday.
Primary Colors Releases First Set of Blended Beers to Market
November 2, 2020 | Mike Zoller 5
Even as COVID restrictions continue to hamper businesses across the country, Chicago’s brewery scene has added another brewery to the always growing roster as Primary Colors Brewing has packaged their first mixed six-pack of eight-ounce beers.
Reviewing Goose Island’s 2020 Bourbon County Stout Lineup
October 23, 2020 | Mike Zoller
While a little different than in years past, the media virtually convened over Zoom Wednesday night to open up the seven different beers that makeup Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout lineup.
Joined by Goose Island President Todd Ahsmann, Brewmaster Keith Gabbett, R&D Manager Mike Siegel and Senior Brand Manager Mike Smith, the bottles of Bourbon County were opened up to people outside of the brewery for the first time.
Deth’s Tar, Maple Deth Shine in Revolution’s Second Deep Wood Release
October 20, 2020 | Mike Zoller
As the temperatures dip and the days get shorter, barrel-aged season in Chicago continues to ramp up. This weekend, Revolution Brewing will host the second of four releases in their Deep Wood series. A trio of beers highlights this release with two familiar names and a new one to the series.
Hopewell Brewing Co. | Cold Brew Lemonade
October 13, 2020 | Mike Zoller
Sometimes you see a beer; read the description and have no idea what to expect but you know you want to try that beer. That was the case with Hopewell Brewing Company’s Cold Brew Lemonade beer that recently hit the market.
Ultimate 6er | The Great British Baking Show: Collection 8
October 6, 2020 | Mike Zoller
Netflix is home to many shows that enjoy a cult-like following, and The Great British Baking Show is no exception. The delightful baking show takes place in a tent and puts 12 amateur bakers to the test, each hoping to win the weekly Star Baker award and, ultimately, the entire show. What’s crazy to Americans is that there is no cash prize for the winner — it’s all about the love of baking.
Editor’s note: This article was written after the first episode. The second episode has since been released on Netflix.
3 Floyds Brewing Announces 2020 Dark Lord Release Details
October 5, 2020 | Mike Zoller
Those looking to snag bottles of 3 Floyds Dark Lord this year will still have to make the trip to Munster, Ind. to get their beer, but things will be quite different compared to years past with Covid-19 protocol in place.
Revolution Brewing | Thundertaker Perfectly Blends Spice & Sweet
September 17, 2020 | Mike Zoller
Perfectly balancing spice and sweetness, Thundertaker, the first release in the 2020-21 Deep Wood Series from Revolution Brewing in Chicago, IL sets the bar high for what’s to come.
Revolution Brewing Announces 2020-21 Deep Wood Lineup
August 26, 2020 | Mike Zoller
Next month will officially kickoff Revolution Brewing’s 2020-21 Deep Wood series as the brewery prepares to release a dozen barrel-aged beers between September and January.
Hop Butcher & Revolution Brewing | Collaboration Series
August 26, 2020 | Mike Zoller
Collaboration beers are nothing new to the industry and when Revolution Brewing and Hop Butcher for the World teamed up it wasn’t even their first time working together. The most recent collaboration series features three beers with three distinct styles. The series features Maintains and Shapes, a hopped Lager, Base, a West Coast Pale Ale, and Superstructure, a Hazy IPA.
Chicago Beer Bars Struggle, Adapt to COVID
August 17, 2020 | Mike Zoller 1
On the day that Chicago’s Beermiscuous found out it was approved for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, the owners had a huge sigh of relief. The city had changed the rules again to not allow taverns and bars that don’t serve food to have indoor dining, and the craft beer bar was nervous for its survival. And, even with the PPP loan, they aren’t out of the woods.
Goose Island Announces 2020 Bourbon County Lineup
August 11, 2020 | Mike Zoller 1
We know that Goose Island’s 2020 Bourbon County Stout lineup will go on sale this Black Friday as has been the tradition over the past 10 years. What we don’t know is how the release will be different this year with the pandemic. While we wait on the brewery to release those details, we can tell you about the variants for this year’s lineup.
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