Alternative Beverages | Hard Sodas and Micheladas at Chicago’s District Brew Yards

It’s certainly well-known that there’s been an explosion of breweries and distilleries offering alternative beverages such as hard seltzers, ready-to-drink cocktails, hard sodas, and malt-based fruited drinks the past few years—and COVID19 has helped boost that category. Craft breweries have not been shy in cashing in on that trend, and finding their patrons to be quite receptive to their efforts. Two examples of how diverse that trend has evolved comes from Chicago’s Burnt City Brewing and Casa Humilde, two of the four breweries that make up the city’s unique District Brew Yards. They now offer their patrons a hard soda and a michelada-inspired beverage.

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Event Preview | Detroit Beer Experiment at the Detroit Fall Beer Festival

The Michigan Brewers’ Guild 11th Annual Detroit Fall Beer festival is coming up this week (Friday and Saturday, October 25-26), which means Detroit beer fans (and writers) get the privilege of having some of the best breweries in the state in their backyard. It also means the return of the Detroit Beer Experiment.  Last year, the festival provided fans with the enjoyable Faygo-infused (and inspired) beers, so what’s in store for this year?  We asked Dave Cicotte of Brew Detroit, who was able to provide a sneak preview.

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Mikerphone Brewing | Ging and Juice

Over the past few years Mikerphone Brewing, out of Elk Grove Village, Illinois has become one of Chicagoland’s most popular and sought-after breweries. From their impressive list of hazy IPAs, to Stouts, to even beer slushies (yes, please!!), they have proven time and again that they can make any style.

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Beer Cocktail | Redneck Mule with UFO White Ale

Memorial Day weekend signifies the unofficial beginning of summer. Barbecues, parties and parades represent a few traditions that Americans look forward to during this three-day holiday. A new Memorial Day weekend tradition of mine is joining my boyfriend’s family on their annual weekend-long camping excursion. Not just any camping trip, though — this is legitimate redneck camping. Campers travel in droves to the campground and park in Northeast Pennsylvania. Trailers, patio lights, lawn chairs (sometimes the random couch) and plenty of beer cans decorated each campsite, in true backwoods fashion. So, what is more appropriate than creating a cocktail as resourceful as the people I watched create an elevated camper by putting a tent on their truck bed? (Boom. Bed.) Though I do enjoy the classical version of a Moscow Mule, I was low on supplies in the woods and needed to get creative. So, with a beer and a dream, I created the Redneck Mule; a mix of beer and vodka and a bad idea. Part beer, part ginger beer and part vodka, I wanted to create something light, yet citrusy, so I wanted to pick a beer that offered me both.

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Beer Cocktail | Baby Stout Jello Shots with Yard’s Love Stout

Just because St. Patrick’s Day is over that doesn’t mean the Irish festivities need to stop! We certainly won’t and neither should you. For many, Guinness comes to mind as the beer of choice for St. Paddy’s Day, but with so many options at our fingertips, it’s hard not to branch out. In accordance with tradition, however, it seemed only logical to attempt to take an already alcoholic beverage and make it even boozier. Read More

Beer Cocktails | April Red Beer

Today I am sharing a recipe that will help you add a zest to your typical red beer or Bloody Mary. This recipe is super simple and can also act as a major hangover reliever. This is also a fun and easy cocktail to serve at brunch or even for lunch. I had this cocktail today for lunch and it was quite addition to my detox salad. This Red Ale comes from Silver City Brewery out of Silverdale, Washington and has been up and running since 1996. The Red Ale is a very approachable and versatility beer that compliments most food items and is the prefect candidate for a beer cocktail.

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Spiked Hot Chocolate = Bourbon + Beer + Hot Chocolate!

Today my recipe highlights beer from 33 Acres Brewing Company located in Vancouver, Canada. I visited the popular tasting room on a typical stormy night in Vancouver and it was packed. 33 Acres has a sleek and modern tasting room that almost resembles a New England hipster coffee house. Beaming white washed boards and elegant clean lines with adorning taps make for an apeasing aura.

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Whiskey & Gingerbread Porter Sour

The holiday season is upon us and I am ready to drink some whiskey. What better way to celebrate then a whiskey beer cocktail? The porter used in this cocktail is from Russell Brewing Company out of Strawberry Hill, Surrey, British Columbia.

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Beer Cocktails | Vanilla Vodka and Winter Ale Sour

Recently, I have been spending some time in Vancouver, British Columbia working on a special project. This has allowed me to take in all the lovely craft beers available … Read More