Against the Grain Brewery | 35K

ABV: 5.0% | IBU: 25.5

Another summer has come and gone. As we rapidly approach the fall season, you start to see pumpkin beers as the main focus within the craft beer industry.  But for me, it’s all about the stout! I know that you can enjoy any beer during the year, no matter what season it is. However, when the weather gets cooler and the days get shorter, I personally just love drinking stout, such as Against the Grain 35K.

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Old Bust Head Brewing Co. | English Style Pale Ale

ABV: 5.6% | IBU: 21

Old Bust Head Brewing Co. has appeared on taps throughout bars in my new hometown and because it’s made in Warrenton, which isn’t far from me, I knew I had to give it a shot. At my glorious Harris Teeter, I bought a 6-pack of their English-style pale ale, interested in both the beer but also the beer category itself — I’ve circled around English pale ales, but never dove into the style. Read More

Dogfish Head | SeaQuench Ale

ABV: 4.9 | IBU: 10

Dogfish Head has a knack for marking time — 60, 90 and 120-minute intervals. But, in the case of SeaQuench Ale, it’s not mere minutes that matter, it’s centuries. Five hundred years ago, the German brewing purity law, or Reinheitsgebot, gave birth to the prominence of the German lager we’ve all come to know and love. Sea Quench Ale honors that anniversary by simultaneously celebrating German brewing and ignoring that law.

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Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery | Dark Apparition Vanilla & Coffee Bean

Style: Russian Imperial Stout | ABV: 10.5%

Spring has practically arrived and with warm weather comes spring and summer beers. Darker beers tend to fade out to make way for … Read More

Roaring Fork Beer Company | Hoppa Road Imperial IPA

Style: IPA – Imperial/Double | ABV: 8.5% | IBUs: N/A

An 8% hop bomb; Hoppa Road is brewed with over two and a half pounds of Citra Hops per barrel. This makes for a big juicy, lupulicious brew.

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Founders Brewing Co. | Rübæus

ABV: 5.7% IBU: 15

Founders Brewing Co is one of those breweries that have a national following, and for good reason. They make incredible beer. When visiting Michigan for a … Read More

New Glarus | Hopster

This picture will no doubt look a little off to some. A New Glarus beer in front of the Chicago skyline just seems misplaced, like a John Deer tractor driving down Michigan Ave. But there is a huge amount of respect for New Glarus here, and people will travel out of their way to grab a bottle (thanks for your convenient location and large New Glarus selection, Mars Cheese Castle!). And while there is some animosity between the two states (Packers vs. Bears; Wisconsin State Troopers vs. Wisconsin Dells-Bound Illinoisans; ‘Sconnies vs. FIPs), we are undoubtedly linked by common loves: beer and sausage. Read More

Marz Community Brewing Co | Jungle Boogie

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. And after living here for any extended period of time, that phrase becomes so common and clichéd that it loses its meaning and incites a collective eye roll from any Chicagoan who hears it (as I’m sure any Chicagoan reading this has already audibly groaned at another utterance). But although it’s become a throwaway phrase, it’s still important to the city’s identity. Sometimes being a city of neighborhoods ends up creating divides and pockets of separation, as demonstrated by the city’s most recent mayoral election. Thankfully, there are dedicated groups of Chicago brewers more focused on bringing people together than providing further means of division. Read More

Russian River Brewing | Blind Pig IPA

ABV: 6.1%
IBU: 70

Bear with me, folks. I’m going to take the scenic route to my beer showcase today. And the route goes through bourbon country.

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Grassroots Brewing and Anchorage Brewing Co. | Arctic Soiree

ABV – 6% “The times they are a-changing”. When faced with extreme change, one can react in in various ways, I find that the best way for me to take … Read More

1554 – New Belgium Brewing Co.

ABV – 5.6%

IBU: 21

“Never judge a book by its cover.” -every mother ever.

We’ve all heard it time and time again, the bit of maternal guidance that we take into account every time something new comes along. If heeded, it can open doors you didn’t even know existed. And beer is no exception. New Belgium’s 1554 was my eye-opening beer that, after diving into a deep, black, creamy pint of it, and despite not being a “dark beer person”, opened the door of infinite beer possibility. All you have to do is drink the neck; within those first few sips 1554 shows its complexity and body, as well as its smooth, softer side. A perfect warm up while reading next to the fire place in the upcoming inevitable Colorado snow storms (please!?!). Read More