Midwest
Brewery Showcase | Ope! Brewing Co.
August 10, 2022 | Emma Wargolet
As someone with the Instagram bio of “ope,” a visit to Ope! Brewing Co. in West Allis, Wisconsin, was a must. For those unaware of the Midwestern statement, the word “Ope” is used as an exclamation to express surprise, dismay or really anything at all (according to one of the breweries’ stickers). Continuing with the theme of Ope! and general midwestern (specifically, Wisconsin) vibes, the three founders, Adam Anders, Kyle Ciske and John Onopa, were able to scatter nods to their home state throughout the brewery, which opened Memorial Day weekend of 2022.
Bean to Barstool Podcast | Rabid Brewing Crown of Horns Chocolate Cream Ale
August 3, 2022 | David Nilsen
On July 23, the weird and wonderful humans at Rabid Brewing in Homewood, Illinois, welcomed the fae folk of the surrounding wild country to Feast of the Goat Queen, a day of celebration for all things magical, natural, and mystical. The Feast also featured the release of Crown of Horns, a chocolate cream ale Bean to Barstool brewed in collaboration with Rabid Brewing.
Center Ice Brewery | Flamingo Sour
July 29, 2022 | Brian Margiotta
What do you get when a St. Louis brewery with a passion for hockey teams up with the hockey-themed apparel brand Victor Hockey USA? You get a downright amazing beer that puts the taste of summer in a can!
Pipeworks Brewing Co. | Super Rainbow Sure Bet
July 28, 2022 | Jeff Knese
Super Rainbow Sure Bet from Pipeworks Brewing Company in Chicago isn’t subtle with its can design or willingness to use lots of ingredients. The beer itself, however, will surprise you. It’s a delicate but nuanced tropical Imperial IPA that is more like being kissed by a unicorn than kicked by one.
Book Review & Interview | Indianapolis Beer Stories by Amy Beers
July 26, 2022 | David Nilsen
Indianapolis, Indiana, is often overlooked among the great beer cities of the Midwest, but a brand new book by an Indianapolis author with an auspicious last name aims to change that. Amy Beers is a Certified Cicerone® and leads walking beer tours around Indianapolis with her company Drinking With Beers. She’s the author of the new book Indianapolis Beer Stories: History to Modern Craft in Circle City Brewing, a guide to the Indy beer scene both past and present. The book takes us behind the scenes of the personalities and breweries that have shaped this underrated beer city.
Rabid Brewing & Bean to Barstool | Crown of Horns
July 22, 2022 | Mathew Powers
Homewood, Illinois’ Rabid Brewing has combined quality beer production with a love of mythology since 2017, and a celebration of that time will arrive Saturday, July 22 with its Feast of the Goat Queen festival. Among the beers that will be released is a chocolate beer as part of a collaborative effort between Rabid and Bean to Barstool, run by the award-winning writer and podcaster, David Nilsen. The beer, a Chocolate Vanilla Cream Ale named Crown of Horns, uses ethically-sourced cacao from Ethereal Confections. Meanwhile, the festival, a “Fest for Fae Folk,” is perfect for those that to like to dawn some horns, honor their Roman gods, pet some goats, listen to live music, check out some artists, and otherwise have some fun.
Bean to Barstool Podcast | Indianapolis Beer with Amy Beers
July 22, 2022 | David Nilsen
In this episode of Bean to Barstool, David Nilsen talks with Amy Beers, the author of the new book Indianapolis Beer Stories: History to Modern Craft in Circle City Brewing. Amy is a Certified Cicerone® and she leads walking beer tours around Indy through her company Drinking with Beers. In this conversation we discuss her book, the invisible history of Indianapolis beer prior to Prohibition, and the vibrant modern beer scene in central Indiana.
Bean to Barstool Podcast | Trust Your Dopeness: Hannah Ferguson of D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery
July 14, 2022 | David Nilsen
In this episode of Bean to Barstool, David Nilsen talks with Hannah Ferguson, a brewer of beer, a maker of cider and wine and the founder of D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery, which will open soon in Youngstown, Ohio. Hannah Ferguson was the first Black female professional brewer in the state of Ohio and only the second Black female cidery owner in the entire country. Her enthusiasm and positivity have helped her push through the challenges involved in following her dreams. I know you’ll find her story inspiring and encouraging.
Ultimate 6er | WBC Winners from Wisconsin
July 13, 2022 | Whitney Froelich
Cheese, brats, football, beer… with a claim-to-fame list like this, it’s no wonder that breweries in Wisconsin took home six medals at the 2022 World Beer Cup. The WBC coincides with the Craft Brewers Conference, which took place in Minneapolis May 3-5.
Pathlight Brewing | Kha Point Rice Lager
July 8, 2022 | Givon Blakney
The past two decades have seen lagers in American culture take a backseat to IPAs, stouts and sours. For some brewers, it is a pristine accomplishment to make a clean, crisp lager with no flaws. For others, they specialize in seeking out the newest hop, or see themselves as the Gordon Ramsey of pastry stouts and sours, crafting concoctions that explode with flavors of your favorite food and desserts. Then there are brewers like Tanner Vaughn of Pathlight Brewing that embody the ideals of both styles of brewing. Kha Point Rice Lager is his newest food-inspired beer.
Urban Brew Labs | Currantly Unavailable (Gose)
June 28, 2022 | Jeff Knese
Some beers are easy to categorize. Then there are beers like Currantly Unavailable. Currantly Unavailable from Urban Brew Labs is not a beer that fits neatly into any one box and that’s a great thing. This black currant and lime Gose has a unique taste that is worth experiencing.
Barrel + Beam | Precocious Barrel-Aged Sour
June 23, 2022 | Eeva Sharp
Barrel + Beam is a brewery located just outside of Marquette in the rustic landscape of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Co-founders Nick VanCourt and Marina Dupler carved out a niche for farmhouse ales and ciders. Barrel + Beam Precocious Barrel-Aged Sour with Apricot showcases the place and the taste of their northern home. Read More
The PorchCast Ep 93 | CBC Edition: More Brewing + Forager Brewing
June 13, 2022 | Tristan Chan
In a very special CBC edition of The PorchCast we broadcasted live from First Draft Taproom & Kitchen in Minneapolis, MN. During these episodes we had the opportunity to chat with four incredible breweries while sampling beers at the PorchDrinking takeover events. In the first of our CBC edition episodes, we sat down with Aaron Keefner, Director of Business Operations, and David Ziebel, Head Brewer for More Brewing in Illinois, to talk about their meteoric rise.
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Main & Mill Brewing Co. | NLCS Pilsner
May 20, 2022 | Givon Blakney
In recent years, many breweries have caught cease and desist letters from corporations like fly balls in center field. Cartoon characters Bart Simpson, Cap N Crunch, as well as the restaurant In-N-Out have somehow made it onto trendy IPA cans across America. Instead of taking the easy road and stealing intellectual property, Main & Mill Brewing Co. has decided to combine their love of art, baseball, and beer with charity. A can with a cause. They will be donating 20% of every can sold of their Negro Leagues Celebration Series American Style Pilsner to the featured players’ families, and the Negro League Baseball Museum. Read More
Cinder Block Brewery | Cinderveza Mexican Style Lager
May 19, 2022 | Katie Camlin
Few things are more satisfying than a well-crafted lager on a warm day. Crisp, clean and cold… it’s better than water. Add a lime, and it’s borderline euphoria.
Sonder Brewing | Voss Kölsch
May 18, 2022 | Jereme Zimmerman
There’s nothing quite like whiling away a hot summer day with a six-pack of a well-done Kölsch. Sonder Brewing, a Cincinnati-area craft brewery located in Mason, OH, has just the ticket for you.
Dry Dock Brewing Expands to Kansas
May 10, 2022 | Scott Grossman
After 16 years of exponential growth, first in the Denver area and later across Colorado, Dry Dock Brewing of Aurora, CO, is sharing the love with its eastern neighbors. Kansas craft beer lovers can now find Dry Dock beer at retailers, restaurants, and bars. Read More
Great Lakes Brewing Co. | Crushworthy Collection
May 6, 2022 | Kevin Risner
In 2021, a dreamy wheat ale entered into the brewing landscape. Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) introduced Crushworthy Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat to our parched lips, and we were all instantly love-struck. Now, after the beer’s one-year anniversary, one of northeast Ohio’s favorite mainstays has returned with three additional versions of this brew just in time for warmer temperatures. GLBC’s Crushworthy Collection is here, ready to tantalize and titillate the taste buds of picnickers and patio-goers.
Imperial Oak Brewing | 2020 & 2022 BBA Quiet Giant Preview
May 5, 2022 | Mathew Powers
The Imperial Oak Brewing BBA Quiet Giant series doesn’t quite get the attention that other Chicago-area BBA releases receive, but its quality is on par with some of the best in the metro area. And the brewery’s annual, crowded anniversary party and Quiet Giant release speak to the love affair many have with the series. Though we have covered the release as a preview each year, we wanted to appeal to those beer-cellar lovers by opening a 2020 Quiet Giant Aged Two Years in Bourbon (and then aged in this writer’s basement “BBA fridge” for two additional years) to see how well Quiet Giant ages.
5 Essential Minnesota Brewery Day Trips Outside of the Twin Cities
April 29, 2022 | Kim Thiel
Minnesota is known as the “Land of 10,000 Beers,” or is it the “Land of 10,000 Lakes?” Either way, with a little over 200 breweries currently located in the state, exploring the Twin Cities and beyond will lead you to some of Minnesota’s finest beers. Listed below are 5 essential day trips to breweries outside of the Twin Cities that can be completed in a day or less. This article is by no means an exhaustive list of all the day trips that could be planned to visit breweries in the “Land of 10,000 Beers” but rather a launchpad to begin exploration.
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