April 2012
10 posts
14 tags
Les Sans Culottes from Brasserie La Choulette —...
Farmhouse ales, or Saisons, have always been my favorite beer style — since my first experience with the funky French brews at the Hopleaf in Andersonville.
Saisons are typically a mid-range ABV pale ale originally brewed in the autumn or winter months for farm workers in France as part of their daily allowance (about 5 liters per work day). It kept them cool, refreshed and happy, just as the...
15 tags
Bringing a Group Hunt Home — KBS, King Henry, and...
Beer geeks talk. And beer geeks share. Every once in awhile, you realize that you and a few close friends end up with a serious score all at the same time — and a home tasting is almost mandatory.
This month, my friend Kunal got ahold of a couple bottles of Founder’s Kentucky Bourbon Stout. No, he didn’t sleep in a tent overnight in Grand Rapids to get it — he’s a patient...
22 tags
HUNTER/Gatherer #7 — Aren Rabe + Jamie Wilmoth
I shouldn’t haven been surprised to find Michigan beer geeks in Portland, OR. But these aren’t your average beer hunters — Aren Rabe is a professional. He was “on assignment” for Kent Beverage out of Grand Rapids, MI where he’s a team lead with accounts like Brewery Vivant, Bells and most recently Greenbush Brewing out of Sawyer. When I walked in to Hair of the Dog...
29 tags
Chef Cleetus Friedman of City Provisions Gets His...
If you live in the Ravenswood / Lincoln Square / North Center area — chances are you know City Provisions. And if you know City Provisions, you know Cleetus Friedman. He’s the force of nature behind one of Chicago’s best eateries (and one of our few legitimate delis on the north side). He’s received praise from almost every major Chicago news outlet, including Chicago Magazine,...
Good Beer Hunting, The Shop — Open for Business
This has been a great year for Good Beer Hunting. I’ve met more brewmasters, craft beer drinkers and other bloggers than ever before. And many of them have helped me up my game in terms of content quality. Since I started Good Beer Hunting, I’ve sought to offer compelling stories and unique photography from the world of craft beer. And many of you have started asking about purchasing...
11 tags
Joel, Keith and Claudia's En Passant — Goose...
This one completes the story from my two other posts: a full-out documentation of the main Goose Island brewery and another visit to the barrel room with John Laffler where En Passant, the latest in the Fulton + Wood Innovation Series beer was released.
En Passant is an English Mild Ale made with rye, blood orange concentrate and rind meant to mimic the flavors of an old...
8 tags
John Laffler Rolls Out the Barrel — Goose Island's...
A couple weekends ago, I had the chance to spend some time with Goose Island’s brewer, John Laffler. What’s special about John is that he’s specifically in charge of overseeing Goose’s incredible barrel aging program. And with Anheuser Bush’s recent investments in the company, this barrel room might be what puts Goose Island out in front — for good.
The...
18 tags
Goose Island the Next king of Beers? — A Good Look...
A couple Thursdays ago, I had the unique opportunity to visit Goose Island during working hours for some photo documentation. I’ve been here a few times for hosted events, but never to document the brewery itself. I was psyched to get some extended access. Paul from Chitownontap.com put together a reflective article about Goose Island, post-AB buyout, for the Chicagoist and this was a...
7 tags
A Long Spring Calls for a Second Round of Huitzi
Have you tried 5 Rabbit’s Huitzi Midwinter Ale yet? I first got a taste at a pairing dinner down at Nana’s Organic on the southside that I shared here and I’ve had it a few times since. It remains one of the delights of the season.
From the previous post:
Ginger, hibiscus, thai palm sugar and chamomile are the highlights in this mid-winter brew concept. It perfectly captures...
24 tags
Central Pennsylvania Calling — A Beer Tour in the...
Most people don’t know that I’m a native Pennsylvanian. Out here in the Midwest, they see the beard and assume I’m from Wisconsin. And while there’s no reason to balk at that assumption, there’s simply no comparison for me — the Endless Mountain region of the Appalachians, wide, winding rivers, and the undulating pastures. But maybe that’s how anyone feels about their home state. It’s biological...
