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...
