February 2012
5 posts
Dupont Monk's Stout
Brasserie Dupont was an early favorite of mine and made famous through their Saison Dupont in the US. For 2011 they’ve revived a recipe from the 50s to give us their take on a “Belgian Stout” using some of the same characteristics of the Saison style to dry up a typically creamy, sweet recipe.
Dark, dry, some mild herbal qualities — this Monk’s Stout is a bit outside...
Data Data Everywhere, But Not a Drop to Drink —...
As a interaction designer, I’m excessively aware of the wide range of apps out there that enable you to track everything from flights to calories, expenses to pregnancies, Cylons to package deliveries. And of course, from the beginning there have been services like FourSquare that help you game your real-life errands into virtual clout — seemingly just for the fun of it. I’m also keenly aware of...
The Long March to Greenbush and Three Floyds — A...
I’m pretty sure this was all Paul’s idea.
Greenbush has recently entered the Chicago market with as many kegs as they can produce — which is far more than they thought they’d be producing — and you can read all about their growth plans on Paul’s newly-redesigned blog, Chitownontap.com.
But what most people don’t know is that they’ve also begun bottling. I’ve left Greenbush with numerous...
Left Hand Brewing — Milk Stout Nitro
The fine folks at Left Hand Brewing have been winning awards for the Milk Stout as far back as 2006. This sweet, creamy version of a stout derives its unique flavor from lactose (hence “milk” stout), which goes unfermented by beer yeast, leaving behind sugar, sweetness and body in the finished product.
Randy Mosher, in his book Tasting Beer, describes this style:
Stout derived to...
Revolution Brewery's Low Country (High-Brow)...
It’s not often you get a +1 invite to a beer dinner by someone you’ve never even met. But beer geeks are generous folks, so when Nkosi White from Chicagobeergeeks.com got a special welcome from Revolution Brewery for their Low Country Dinner and beer pairing, he went looking for a comrade. A Monday night beer dinner is an ambitious way to start a week, but with a chance to pair some of...
January 2012
6 posts
Homebrew — Take Two
After struggling through my first homebrew, an all-grain honey ale from Brooklyn Brew Shop, I decided to back up and get comfortable with an extract brew this time out. I stopped in to see the boys at BrewCamp, the new homebrew supply shop in North Center, explained my situation, and walked out with a kit for a Baltic Porter from Brewer’s Best. I figured if I could simplify the process by...
A Pairing Fit for a King
I made a paella this weekend. While simple and rustic, this dish calls for a cornucopia of clams, shrimp, lobster, chorizo and chicken. But the most extravagant ingredient, by an order of magnitude by volume, is saffron. And as anyone who knows will tell you, don’t bother making a paella without it.
After stuffing my basket with WholeFood’s proteins, I swung by the beer aisle to...
Seriously missing summer right now
Even as I embrace winter, appreciate the snow that’s finally fallen, and finish brewing a porter to get through the long winter months ahead, I find myself reminiscing about summer today — sandwiches, IPAs and the office rooftop in the sun. Does anyone brew a beer with vitamin D? Sigh.
Gushing over glassware
If you drink a lot of beer, chances are you have a lot of glassware. Tulips dominated my tabletops for awhile, and are still a stand-by for most Belgians. Then I went through a phase where I sipped from 6oz tasting glasses to regulate temperature. And at any point I’d use a pilsner glass, a goblet, an English pint or torpedo — whatever the occasion called for. My cupboard is cramped.
But...
HUNTER/Gatherer
Justin Rheinfrank (@justrhein) is an interaction designer in Chicago and has joined me on a number of beer adventures. Every time I see him strike out into unknown territory he always returns home quickly — to his beloved IPAs. This guy has a serious tolerance for hops. He joined me a couple months ago for the Empircal Brewery tasting event and snapped some photos as part of the event coverage....
To the Bottom of The Abyss — a Five-Year Vertical...
In 2009 I received a gift from my Nike client in the form of Deschute’s famous imperial stout, The Abyss. She waited in line for hours to secure two bottles of the beer she’d heard me mention many times during my trips to Beaverton, Oregon that year. As a wine aficionado herself, I think she appreciated my passion for the good stuff. And thank god she got me two, or else this would have been the...
Happy New Years — A reason to celebrate
photo: Steven Michael Photography
This has been an incredible year for Good Beer Hunting. From the beginning, I wanted this blog’s primary purpose to be about meeting new and interesting people along my craft beer journey. I’ve met homebrewers, brewmasters, restauranteurs, delivery drivers, investment bankers and other beer bloggers, but I’ve also met plenty of craft brew fans...
December 2011
6 posts
Tenth and Blake — Friends in Low, and High Places ...
12.29.11, 2:00p — a few updates in italics On its rise to becoming a national movement, the craft beer community has developed a rebellious vitriol for anything connected to “big beer.” There’s a lot of wisdom and experience behind the criticisms of the way companies like Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors and now InBev have strangled the market in the past few decades. While you can get into arguments...
HUNTER/Gatherer
Mike Hosinski is lucky enough to live near Sawyer, Michigan, home to one of the area’s newest and best breweries, Greenbush. Around those parts he’s known as the Yankee Sipper, a nickname he earned by visiting the brewery 110 days in row, smashing what started out as the 56-day “DiMaggio challenge.” After breaking 100, brewmaster and co-owner Scott Sullivan let him take a...
Greenbush Celebrates — Beer, Faith and...
2011 is ending with some serious partying. I’ve had birthdays, office celebrations, even a Festivus. But in terms of beer offerings, nothing is likely to top Greenbush’s Feliz Mazel Tov Holiday Extravaganza.
We knew we were in for a big night with a 26 tap menu featuring “barrel-aged beers, high-gravity specialties and some rare odds and ends,” so Hillary, her brother...
Spreading the Holiday Beer
A friend of mine, Tony Ruth of the Chicago branding firm Vessel, made a very special gift for his clients this year. With a friendly connection to the Buffalo, NY area, Tony was able to get ahold of some bottles of Souther Tier Krampus Imperial Helles Lager and Imperial Oatmeal Stout to work with.
Being an illustrator (aka Lunchbreath) and a bit of a punster, Tony and co. came up with some...
Giving Thanks — An Reflective Side Trip to Battle...
I’ve worn a pretty good path from Chicago to Grand Rapids over the last few years. Hillary’s family lives in GR, so we always find a way to stop off at Greenbush, New Holland or a couple of brew shops like Siciliano’s on the way. But this year, we tried to pack in a double-header for Thanksgiving, driving south to Peoria for one side of the family, and north the next morning to...
November 2011
3 posts
The Man in the Moon — Four Moon Tavern in Roscoe...
A couple weeks back I met up with Matt, a follower of the blog and a serious beer guy, on my quest for a Duvel art glass. Four Moon Tavern in Roscoe Village was giving them away, and they had the one I was after — the one with the little bats flying around. Simple pleasures.
Arriving at the tucked away bar on a Tuesday night, me and my crew immediately found Matt and we started combing the...
HUNTER/Gatherer
Matt is an in-house graphic designer for a specialty tool wholesaler in Chicago. He gets out of the city more than most, especially to downstate Illinois, Wisconsin, and some uncharted territories of the craft beer boon. He’s authored over 2,000 beer reviews, is an avid chronicler of beer travels, and collects records, books and art. The internet is awesome, and so we met up for a beer at...
Dust Bowl Brewing — A Central Valley Oasis
After an epic week in Yosemite, me and Hillary decided to take the highway up the central California Valley for the trip back to San Francisco. Not only would this avoid the glorious, but perilous switch-backs that run through the Sierras, but it was a chance to see a part of the country that I have almost no impression of.
So after a couple of hours of pistachio farms and endless gold hills...
October 2011
3 posts
Empirical Brewery — Gathering Evidence of...
Last weekend I received an incredible invitation to a private tasting of Empirical’s soon-to-be portfolio of beers thanks to Good Beer Hunting fan and Empirical Brewery social evangelist @julesinchicago.
The setting: a beautiful condo in the sky looking down over Soldier Field. The people: a mix of friends and family, and a carefully selected group of beer geeks. Some people fit well...
Overdue KC Props — The Foundry, Beer Kitchen and...
Back in August, I spent a couple of days in Kansas City with my fiance. We flew down to meet our wedding photographer, Steven Michael, and shot a couple of sessions. I scouted a few locations for a beer-related setting, and after checking out the local scene we found our way to the The Foundry. This space is incredible.
Attached to McCoy’s Public House, a brewpub and anchor of the beer...
Labor Day (Observed) — at Brewery Vivant in Grand...
My birthday falls on Labor Day weekend each year, which often lends itself to a bonus round of celebration for the three-day weekend. This year was exceptional however, as my shiny new wife, Hillary, booked a private brewery tour/tasting for me and the family at Brewery Vivant, one of Grand Rapid’s newest beer destinations.
Known for their Belgian-inspired, but accessible beers, Vivant...
September 2011
2 posts
A Boulevard of Big Dreams — Boulevard Brewing Co.,...
Boulevard’s big beers, known as the Smokestack Series, have recently started showing up in Chicago’s more tuned-in pubs. A few months ago I had my first run-in with Tank 7, a farmhouse ale that’s less funky, a bit more citrusy with an incredible body. Eyes up here.
So with Boulevard newly on my radar thanks to Northdown Taproom, I was elated to find a sudden opportunity to go...
Mugging for the Camera
It’s Labor Day weekend (aka my birthday weekend) and I’m on the road to Michigan to apply for my wedding license in Muskegon. We were cutting it close on the clock, but we decided to stop off in Sawyer to visit my new personal mug (#80 on the rail) at Greenbush for the first time. This is how you start an early weekend.
I filled #80 up with Bantam, a Belgian pale ale with a...
August 2011
6 posts
Kansas City — Our Midwestern Kin
Kansas City is an unusual place, even for someone who’s been in the Midwest for almost 8 years now. On first inspection, it’s slow, sparse and eerily quiet. But wandering around in the direct sun of the morning (there are only a few buildings large enough to cast a shadow) reveals the remnants of a lively after-dark culture. This is the kind of place where prohibition drove people...
Greenbush Revisited, Again and Again
For the number of times I’ve been to visit the crew at Greenbush in the last six months, I might as well look into property in Sawyer, MI. Although, I hear there’s a casino bus that’ll drop you off at the gas station at the end of the street, so maybe I’ll experiment with alternative transport first. Oh, take note of the hot new signage! So classic.
Me and a few friends...
All Grain, (Almost) All Pain — My First Homebrew
My first homebrew attempt was a rough one — but despite the many challenges (inconsitent instructions, jargon, various tubes and temperature control) my all-grain batch tastes and smells like beer — and it’s officially bottled.
I purchased a full 5-gallon kit from Brookly Brew Shop for a Grapefruit Honey Ale thinking it’d be a nice end of summer brew. It was probably unecessary...
Poker Night — Going All In
At our monthly poker night, we tend to maintain a strict standard of hi-lo brow. Sure, there will be some incredible craft beers, but there will also be Domino’s pizza. There will be fancy bourbons, but there will also be M____’s e-cigarette steaming away across the table. In other words, we achieve a manly balance — and eventually play some cards.
Our latest lo-brow gamble is...
A Surly Bunch
A rooftop, 82 degrees and a low sun are pretty remarkable ingredients for a Wednesday afternoon. Add to that a bag of A+ Surlys pack-muled from Minneapolis by a native co-worker and you have yourself an evening.
From the pond-pocked state of Minnesota, Surly is a consumate maker of ales. We went light to dark the way any civilized tasting crew would, starting with Cynicale, a slightly hoppy,...
HUNTER/Gatherer
Kunal Bhat (@kunalbhat) is an interaction designer at gravitytank in Chicago. In his spar(s)e time, he thinks about robotics, animation and fly fishing. He avoids public pools like the plague, because he’s pretty sure that’s where it started.
What’s your favorite beer and style? For me, it’s consistently been Saisons/Farmhouse Ales — and Sam Smith Organic.
What’s...
July 2011
4 posts
Finch's Beer Co. — Another Chicago Up-Start Takes...
In a spread out, light industrial and commercial area of Chicago’s far NW side, a new brewery discreetly opens its doors for only their second-ever brewery tour. This is Finch’s Beer Co., and they invite you to put a bird on it.
Just behind the vacant-looking doors of 4565 N. Elston, past the “yes, this is where you enter for the beer tour” sign taped to the window,...
Miller Brewing Company — The High Life Never Felt...
My expectations of the Miller Brewery tour were decidedly low in terms of beer appreciation and process. Where else can you see a historical timeline that includes Sparks? I mean, let’s be honest, this is a factory, not a brewery in any meaningful sense. But getting to see a beer factory the size of Miller has its own appeal, and I was excited to get a good look.
“What’s that? You want to...
5 Rabbits Starts the Race
5 Rabbit is a new brewery in Chicago, or more accurately, a cerveceria depending where you look. Claiming to be “the first Latin microbrew in the US,” 5 Rabbit is pushing their connection to Latin culture as much as their unique brewing perspective.
Founders Isaac Showaki and Andres Araya, both marketing consultants who met in Mexico City, recently launched their brewery with a...
Milwaukee's Summerfest and the "Big Gig"
Milwaukee’s Summerfest claims to be the biggest music festival in the world. While that may be technically true, it’s hard to see it as more than an oversized Chicago neighborhood festival. And before you take that as a criticism, let me explain.
Summerfest is remarkably approachable and local. The food, beer and music are all recognizably Milwaukee-based (aside from a number of headliners)....
June 2011
7 posts
Siciliano's Market in Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids, MI has no shortage of great craft brews available. From Founders to Bells, Dark Horse to New Holland — you can find almost anything here. But you have to really dig to find the good stuff sometimes. Enter Siciliano’s Market.
My soon-to-be brother-in-law lives in GR, and has recently taken the oh-so-memorable leap into craft brew with Founder’s Centennial IPA. And it’s made him...
Greenbush is Burning, and the Prophesy is Good
On the way home from Michigan this past weekend, I took a quick detour to check out a brewery rumored to be opening soon in tiny Sawyer, MI, right near the Indiana border. And while the grand opening party is still a few weeks away, Greenbush Brewing Company couldn’t feel more ready.
Housed in a nondescript, former industrial building just off I-94, the former auto shop, plumbing supply,...
Don't hate La Playa — hate the game
Anyone who thinks that the everyman beers at Trader Joes are a cheap play on the craft brew market misses the point. These beers are a barometer for the entire market, and they’ve been missing for quite some time.
It’s a bit of a “rising tide raises all ships” scenario. These brands and private labels such as Trader Joe’s in-house monikers like “Name...
The Beer Cellar Giveth
Another summer night of pong and beer cellar picks got underway last night, and unlike last time, we departed from the porters and stouts and attempted, despite the worst spring weather I can recall, to embrace the “season.” Lots of IPAs and farmhouse ales, with a few surprises.
The standouts included the Harvest Dance from Boulevard Brewing Co. out of Kansas City, MO. This was an incredibly...
Watershed's Quiet Presence in Chicago
I’ve taken too long to share the secret of Watershed, hiding out like a speakeasy below Pops for Champagne in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. I haven’t even told some co-workers yet. Sometimes a guy just need to have his place, you know?
Owned and operated by the Pops crew above, Watershed features an amazing curation of craft beers from the Great Lakes region (hence the name),...
Meet Your Chicago Home Brewers
First Thursdays at Goose Island this week didn’t bring out the crowds I’m used to, but it still brought the talent.
While this event usually spares little elbow room in the Siebel Institute at Goose Island’s Clybourn location, it was clear from the start that this would be a lightly attended affair. Possible factors discussed were the chilly weather, the recent sale of Goose Island to InBev, or...
First Thursdays at Goose Island — Tonight!
Tonight is First Thursdays (or Thirst Fursdays) at Goose Island, hosted by the Chicago Beer Society.
Some pals and I went to grab our contributions at lunch (home brews aren’t ready yet), and having never been, we decided to hit up the Artisan Cellar in the Merchandise Mart. It’s a wine shop that sells sandwiches and such, but like most wine shops these days, they also carry a shelf or two of...
May 2011
5 posts
Sprecher Brewery, Milwaukee, WI — Revisited
It’s been about four years since I first visited the Sprecher Brewery in Milwaukee, WI. More importantly, it was my first brewery tour. It was time to make another visit.
I recall my first impressions: exceptionally organized, clean, and generous with the post-tour tastings. I’ve seen behind the curtain of almost a dozen breweries at this point, and my first impressions hold true. Sprecher...
Best Place — Rehearsal Dinner Edition
This is my second visit to the historic tasting room of the old Pabst brewery in Milwaukee, WI. But this time we were set up for a wedding rehearsal dinner, which really showed what this space, still in the midst of a large restoration, can really do.
The courtyard is beautiful and rustic, leading visitors into the main bar area where tours of the brewery used to end. Standing over the...
Spring Cleaning in the Beer Cellar
My buddy Doug has an impressive, overflowing beer cellar. But he buys and trades some of the most exclusive beers in the world. So maybe it’s because the Playstation network has been down, maybe we’ve been working too much, who knows. Either way, it was time to put a dent in the collection and make room for some new blood. The starting line-up was impressive (above).
Commence Saturday.
We...
The Diet of the Gods - J. Wilson's Personal...
J. Wilson embarks on a beer diet, and describes the Dopplebock that got him there, 46 days later.
One 12-ounce serving contains 288 calories, and it’s completely unfiltered—just like the kind the German monks consumed in the 1600s. As a result, it retains plenty yeast and B-complex vitamins, making it a hearty, nutritious brew—especially compared to, say, a Budweiser, which has been filtered...
Beer Hunting in Portugal — The Wisdom of the Hunt
Beer hunting in Portugal seemed like an exciting journey. But that’s because I didn’t do my homework.
I chose Portugal over many other potential European destinations because of its literary history (Pessoa, Saramago, etc), rustic landscape, and isolated culture compared to the rest of the Mediterranean and Western Europe. And all these hopes proved true. But what I didn’t account for was how...
March 2011
3 posts
Fork — Lincoln Square, Chicago
Lincoln Square is starting to do brunch, catching up to some of the city’s other foodie neighborhoods in terms of stand-out Sunday morning fare. And Fork is the latest to hop onto the gastropub-meets-brunch trend.
The former concept, Fiddlehead Cafe, was centered around the wine and dine experience. And while Fork is clearly taking a stance with microbrews (over 100 available), they...
Stout Fest 2011
Pictured: Matty Kemp from Revolution (center) and BeeJay Olson, Gerrit Lewis from Pipeworks. As they are known to do, Goose Island once again played host to a variety of small and medium-sized local Chicago breweries, this time for Stout Fest 2011.
It was an ambitious afternoon. In attendance were folks from Destihl, Revolution, a few different Rock Bottom locations, newly created...
Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids, MI
As a new Belgian brewer in the historic East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids, MI, Brewery Vivant takes an impressive stance. Not only are they brewing some serious Belgians, but they’re experimenting with flavors, setting up shop in a converted funeral home chapel and even planning to can their beer to align with their sustainability mission.
The space is like a great hall out...