FIB War Room

[DiscountMegaMall4ever]

http://thehopreview.com/blog/50-chicago-stouts-2018

Pretty decent list for a blind taste. Barrel age all of the top 12. Oh and a #humblebrag too (RIP Harris)

Good job on your ranking.
At least the bottom 12 that got varying degrees of being **** on can still claim the consolation prize of being in a "Top 50".

 

[middlebrow]

Good job on your ranking.
At least the bottom 12 that got varying degrees of being **** on can still claim the consolation prize of being in a "Top 50".

one of the other middle brow dudes reread it, the top 13 are barrel aged so middle brow is now officially the maker of the highest rated non-barrel aged stout in illinois (as long as you dont count the two elk grove pastry boyz, more brewing and the 50 other breweries that didn't submit a stout).

 

[furley]

Posted this on the other channel- my review of the Central Waters XX Anniversary Party. Thought it would be of interest to those who don't frequent those parts anymore:

hate to say it, but i hope this event drives people away/prevents them from coming in future years.

their other events are so much better (in my opinion). it's just the anniversary that has devolved in to a mess. missed it this year.. but had been going since the 9th anniversary. it's been getting more crowded, with angrier (more entitled?) crowds each year since probably 14.

 

[jeblikesbeer]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-cigar-city-chicago-20180124-story.html

Hmm interesting I suppose?

 

[mdomask]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-cigar-city-chicago-20180124-story.html

Hmm interesting I suppose?

I think the contract brewing aspect is more interesting than Chicago availability. I've lost track of the number of hype breweries that expanded into Chicago with great fanfare only to sit on shelves after the novelty wore off.

 

[jvanaus]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-cigar-city-chicago-20180124-story.html

Hmm interesting I suppose?

I'll buy the occasional sixer of anything that makes it here - since moving here from Florida, I've always pined for an easy way to get CCB stuff.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Went to check out a couple of new (to me) breweries yesterday afternoon, and Stop #1 of the afternoon was Short Fuse Brewing in Schiller Park.

Grabbed the "full stick" sampler which was all 14 beers they had on at the moment, and it was pretty hit or miss. The Double Buckwheat Ale, Steinbier and Imperial Stout were above average while the Double NE IPA was undrinkable (they kept mentioning concord grape in the description, and you can't convince me they didn't add some kind of concentrate to the beer as that is all I tasted / smelled). Everything else was kind of in the middle with most being below average.

It's a huge space and a huge system (30bbl), and as they are only self distributing at the moment, I hope they are moving enough product to make their model sustainable. Would check it out again if I was in the area, but in no real hurry to get back there.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Stop #2 of the afternoon was Church Street Brewing up in Itasca, and while I've been here before, it was right after they opened and a friend was picking up kegs for his establishment.

Smaller draft list (7 options I believe) including their Munich Dunkel, Helles, and my favorite beer Continental (Pilsner style). Its a very small taproom that they've added a few folding tables and barrels to add to the seating, but can't accommodate more than 30 or so folks unless they moved stuff around.

The brewing system / fermenter space is really impressive, and as an equipment nerd I was pretty impressed with the ingenious way they build grain bills in containers with a removable floor that allows the grain to flow into their mash tun once it is forklifted on the deck you can see above.

While the beer quality is a step below Dovetail and Metropolitan, I'm always pleased to have other craft lager options in the area, and Chet Brett is probably the best face the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild can present (especially to local and national legislatures) at the moment.

 

[Lansman]

hate to say it, but i hope this event drives people away/prevents them from coming in future years.

their other events are so much better (in my opinion). it's just the anniversary that has devolved in to a mess. missed it this year.. but had been going since the 9th anniversary. it's been getting more crowded, with angrier (more entitled?) crowds each year since probably 14.

With the rumors that there will be ZOMG VARIANTS(!!!!) next year, we agreed as we stood in the middle of the mess that was CW XX that were that to be the case, it's only going to get significantly worse unless they divide the release across two days and cut down on the number of people in attendance each day.

 

[kodt]

hate to say it, but i hope this event drives people away/prevents them from coming in future years.

their other events are so much better (in my opinion). it's just the anniversary that has devolved in to a mess. missed it this year.. but had been going since the 9th anniversary. it's been getting more crowded, with angrier (more entitled?) crowds each year since probably 14.

GABF (Great Amherst Beer Festival) was really special in 2014. No FIBs (cept for me and a couple friends I guess) and just a really chill event. Locals who had no interest in scoring all the whales meant no lines for drafts. Many of the locals where cracking open their bottles of Black Gold as soon as they got them and just sharing them, not a thought given to cellaring or secondary value. It was just people having a good time.

Really amazing how FIBs didn't catch wind of what was essentially 2 year barrel aged 1414 and ruin it. (Until the next year when it was extremely crowded and there was a 40 minute line for the rar drafts).

Anyway I guess what I'm saying is blame me for being one of the FIBs that ruined GABF.

 

[middlebrow]

Stop #2 of the afternoon was Church Street Brewing up in Itasca, and while I've been here before, it was right after they opened and a friend was picking up kegs for his establishment.

Smaller draft list (7 options I believe) including their Munich Dunkel, Helles, and my favorite beer Continental (Pilsner style). Its a very small taproom that they've added a few folding tables and barrels to add to the seating, but can't accommodate more than 30 or so folks unless they moved stuff around.

The brewing system / fermenter space is really impressive, and as an equipment nerd I was pretty impressed with the ingenious way they build grain bills in containers with a removable floor that allows the grain to flow into their mash tun once it is forklifted on the deck you can see above.

While the beer quality is a step below Dovetail and Metropolitan, I'm always pleased to have other craft lager options in the area, and Chet Brett is probably the best face the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild can present (especially to local and national legislatures) at the moment.

church street also brews some nice belgian style beers . short fuse is all the rage on the other site in the chicago neipa thread...I tried one at this fest saturday and umm i was surprised 30 helens on BA agreed because ummm, ya. then again that site on a consistent basis says my beer is good but it has this belgian twang or belgian finish as if wallonian and belgian aren't on the label.

 

[thewimperoo]

Gonzoillini is probably the only person that would also care about having something like this, but I made a checklist of all of the area brewery taprooms/brewpubs/etc. Started with the lists on http://thehopreview.com/blog/chicago-brewery-list Left only the ones that had spaces you could drink their beer on premise.

There's 44 in Chicago proper & 102 in suburbs and parts of NWI.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MGi4FGYcOU-Zq6GxYF_ayk7mgvEFSATP9Of8uyUGqPY/edit?usp=sharing

There's a lot of random ass breweries in the suburbs that I've never even heard of.

JP Hyde Park, Whiner, Band of Bohemia, 5 Rabbit, Evil Horse are pretty much the only ones left that I need to go out of the way to try for the first time.

 

[RedCoffee]

Gonzoillini is probably the only person that would also care about having something like this, but I made a checklist of all of the area brewery taprooms/brewpubs/etc. Started with the lists on http://thehopreview.com/blog/chicago-brewery-list Left only the ones that had spaces you could drink their beer on premise.

There's 44 in Chicago proper & 102 in suburbs and parts of NWI.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MGi4FGYcOU-Zq6GxYF_ayk7mgvEFSATP9Of8uyUGqPY/edit?usp=sharing

There's a lot of random ass breweries in the suburbs that I've never even heard of.

JP Hyde Park, Whiner, Band of Bohemia, 5 Rabbit, Evil Horse are pretty much the only ones left that I need to go out of the way to try for the first time.

Cademon can probably be safely considered dead at this point. But if Genoa counts, this little place in Sycamore is worth adding too:
https://forgebrewhouse.com

Beer is exactly what you'd expect for a place you've never heard of but the pizza is really good.

 

[thewimperoo]

I hit up Alarmist a couple of weeks ago. Fairly standard taproom. I tried a couple of hazy IPA's and a porter. The Le Jus Deux was good, but the Juice Pedal was a miss. Porter needed more roast. It's such a weird location for me, and their beers aren't so good that I need to detour for them that it's probably unlikely that I'd ever find myself there again.

 

[thewimperoo]

I dropped my wife and kids off at Disney on Ice at the Allstate on Sunday, so I had a couple of hours to kill.

Made a quick stop at Mikerphone and then visited Une Anee for only the 2nd time.

Mikerphone Drop & Bass Cannon (Berliner w/Boysenberry, Blueberry, Raspberry). The Mikerphone Drop was really good, one of the better hazebros I've had from them. Bass Cannon was about what you'd expect. Fruit and yogurt.

Tried a couple of flights at Une Anee. One of the 3 Fresh IIPA beers, and 1 with various Le Grand Monde. The V5 was head and shoulders above the other two, with V10 tasting pretty old. All 3 of the Le Grand Monde, I tried were really good. #3 was tons of peach with a little vanilla on the finish. Didn't get any cinnamon from it. Assertive sourness, but not overbearing. #7 was my favorite. A cucumber mojito in beer form. #9 was also pretty good. Deep cherry flavor.

After the show, we all went to Hofbrau Haus in Rosemont since we had a gift card. I'd say the beers and food were both good. I'd definitely go back there versus other chain breweries or ****** chains in that general area.

 

[thewimperoo]

Cademon can probably be safely considered dead at this point. But if Genoa counts, this little place in Sycamore is worth adding too:
https://forgebrewhouse.com

Beer is exactly what you'd expect for a place you've never heard of but the pizza is really good.

True on Cademon. I've actually been to Forge a couple of times when I lived out in South Elgin. The pizza is good. Beer not so much.

I'm sure there's others that they missed in the list. I just keep adding them as I see them.

 

[DiscountMegaMall4ever]

Gonzoillini is probably the only person that would also care about having something like this, but I made a checklist of all of the area brewery taprooms/brewpubs/etc. Started with the lists on http://thehopreview.com/blog/chicago-brewery-list Left only the ones that had spaces you could drink their beer on premise.

This sounds like a couple strikes short of a perfect game.

"Our goal is to raise $1000 to purchase a system that would allow us to keg 10 gallons of beer and get all the licensing in order. Brewing 10 gallons of beer every few weeks will help us perfect our recipes early and often. This will also allow us to take our beer to local tasting events and competitions. By doing so will allow us to get honest feedback before we take the next step of opening Strike Ten Brewing Company."

 

[kodt]

Gonzoillini is probably the only person that would also care about having something like this, but I made a checklist of all of the area brewery taprooms/brewpubs/etc. Started with the lists on http://thehopreview.com/blog/chicago-brewery-list Left only the ones that had spaces you could drink their beer on premise.

There's 44 in Chicago proper & 102 in suburbs and parts of NWI.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MGi4FGYcOU-Zq6GxYF_ayk7mgvEFSATP9Of8uyUGqPY/edit?usp=sharing

There's a lot of random ass breweries in the suburbs that I've never even heard of.

JP Hyde Park, Whiner, Band of Bohemia, 5 Rabbit, Evil Horse are pretty much the only ones left that I need to go out of the way to try for the first time.

Great list. There are a few I think you could add:

Wild Onion Tied House - 1111 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302 (Brewpub)
Two Brothers Social Tap - 100 S Marion St, Oak Park, IL 60302 (Brewpub)
Elmhurst Brewing Company - 171 N Addison, Elmhurst, IL 60126 (Should be open next week)
Cary Ale House - 208 W Main St, Cary, IL 60013 (Brewpub)
95ate5 Brew Pub - 9585 N Industrial Dr, St John, IN 46373 (Brewpub)

In Chicago:

Crazy Mountain Brewery - 108 N State Street, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60602 (This one is inside the Latinicity Food Hall, I think it counts as a Taproom) Actually, is this still open? I don't see it listed on the Crazy Mountain website anymore, or any mention on the Latinicity Food Hall webpage... could be gone.

 

[middlebrow]

Yr site is missing d litch beer, the worlds first pico brewery that operates outta a Mexican restaurant in wilmette.

 

[PHBoiler]

I’m assuming most here don’t care but I’ll post anyhow. Those two new RAM pastryarchy stouts were open at a Royal Rumble party I was at on Sunday night. The berry one was medicinal and super thin. If you bought a $12 6 pack you’d extra all the other cans. The chocolate peanut butter one was less offensive. Still thin. Some peanut butter. Some burnt coffee.

Basically they both sucked famously. I’ve had none of the previous hypewhalez RAM stouts so no clue how they compare.

 

[dgoogle]

Anyone know if that wine barrel Lake Effect Stout is available anywhere? Looks like it was a taproom only release. Not sure how plentiful they were, but I would love to get my hands on one.

 

[SAISON FUCK]

Yr site is missing d litch beer, the worlds first pico brewery that operates outta a Mexican restaurant in wilmette.

I thought this was a joke, but no. This is real.

 

[vav1]

I thought this was a joke, but no. This is real.

pico.....de gallo?

edit: oh woah i just found it. That's crazy!

 

[middlebrow]

pico.....de gallo?

edit: oh woah i just found it. That's crazy!

I try not to slight anyone that brews but it strikes me like some rich guy gets up at noon on a saturday, puts some ingredients in trays and takes a lil kitty nap. he wakes up, moves a carboy and two weeks later spends 15 minutes transferring it to a keg. if eric trump was into homebrewing, he'd be a picobrew guy.

also there's a strong chance before I die, I make a pico de gallo beer with popcorn, tomatoes, limes & jalapenos. drink it up Dunt

 

[YellowBird1]

also there's a strong chance before I die, I make a pico de gallo beer with popcorn, tomatoes, limes & jalapenos. drink it up Dunt

Onions & cilantro or GTFO

 

[haveyouseenmymikkeller]

Question for you guys:
Are there bottle shops in Chicago that sell by the can instead of 4-packs, preferably close to the Loop? I'm new to the area and trying to get variety outside of going directly to breweries/taprooms.

 

[capnmike]

Binnys Grand (north) or South Loop, maybe even Mariano’s or Whole Foods have mix-a-six. Can’t speak to the variety or freshness from a firsthand experience.

If you want to jump on the brown line for a visit to Half Acre/Dovetail/Begyle/Spiteful, you could hit Bottles and Cans where they allow almost any 4 or 6 pack from the shelf to be broken up into their mix selection.

 

[haveyouseenmymikkeller]

Binnys Grand (north) or South Loop, maybe even Mariano’s or Whole Foods have mix-a-six. Can’t speak to the variety or freshness from a firsthand experience.

If you want to jump on the brown line for a visit to Half Acre/Dovetail/Begyle/Spiteful, you could hit Bottles and Cans where they allow almost any 4 or 6 pack from the shelf to be broken up into their mix selection.

Thanks, I still plan on doing a Half Acre, Dovetail, Begyle, Spiteful trip, so I'll definitely hit up Bottles and Cans when I go. Will probably hit up Bad Apple or Taproom as well.

 

[middlebrow]

Thanks, I still plan on doing a Half Acre, Dovetail, Begyle, Spiteful trip, so I'll definitely hit up Bottles and Cans when I go. Will probably hit up Bad Apple or Taproom as well.

beermiscious (terrible name, nice selection) is sorta over there and has everything in singles.

 

[middlebrow]

FIBS don't care bout that BPA... (courtesy of dontdrinkbeer )