FIB War Room

[kodt]

Now that I think of it...maybe I barrel age this with wild cultures and then blend it into some young version and call it a kolsch gueuze. Piss off two countries & cultures at once.

I know but the white labs slurry says kolsch? I’m actually surprised, I figured someone would’ve gotten pissy and made them change the title to simply German ale. And for the record, i called it an American wheat when we originally released it a few years ago to which people shrugged.

Presenting our Trappist Kolsch Gueuze made with a blend of aged Czech Pilsner, California Steam Lambic, and re-fermented with Champagne yeast and then aged in Kentucky Scotch barrels and Michigan Bordeaux wine barrels. With vanilla beans added.

edit: the beer would be called Frankengueuze™

 

[DiscountMegaMall4ever]

Now that I think of it...maybe I barrel age this with wild cultures and then blend it into some young version and call it a kolsch gueuze. Piss off two countries & cultures at once.

Nothing wrong with taking a classic style and putting a twist on it.

 

[ThatJackOC]

I think that breweries are at a significant price advantage as well as a “perceived freshness” advantage. Going directly to most breweries you can assume the beer has been properly stored and reflects how the brewer intended it to taste.

Because of distributors, even the best beer bar is going to have a difficult time matching the brewery’s price and quality. I think the main reason I’ll go to a beer bar is that the bar affords something beyond what the brewery might: convenience (within walking distance), food, atmosphere, or variety/non-local drink options. Thinking about examples of where I’ll go outside of breweries are places like Beer Temple, Hopleaf or Cork Lounge. They all fall into one or multiple of those categories.

Agree with you on almost everything but pricing. Not sure consumers see a massive difference in prices at taprooms vs. bars. And in at least one instance I can think of, taproom may actually charge you more for draft beer than you'd see at a bar or restaurant. My understanding is that this may be done less out of a "gouging" mentality and more of an acknowledgment of the importance retail accounts play in terms of pushing volume for breweries.

Breweries are certainly at a price advantage in terms of margin they can collect for themselves, but I can't remember the last time I walked into a taproom and paid substantially less than I would at a bar for the same beer.

Am I way off? are there good examples of low prices at taprooms, and I've just been a fool for patronizing bars?

 

[vav1]

Agree with you on almost everything but pricing. Not sure consumers see a massive difference in prices at taprooms vs. bars. And in at least one instance I can think of, taproom may actually charge you more for draft beer than you'd see at a bar or restaurant. My understanding is that this may be done less out of a "gouging" mentality and more of an acknowledgment of the importance retail accounts play in terms of pushing volume for breweries.

Breweries are certainly at a price advantage in terms of margin they can collect for themselves, but I can't remember the last time I walked into a taproom and paid substantially less than I would at a bar for the same beer.

Am I way off? are there good examples of low prices at taprooms, and I've just been a fool for patronizing bars?

No you're right. They don't really wanna screw their retail partners, so it's priced the same as the rest of the market. They make more margin of course, so always go directly to the source to maximize their dollars in if you can, but rest assured they want you to buy that beer at retail just as much.

 

[vav1]

Agreed - it's nice to have both Maplewood and Spiteful's spots open. Congrats to both of them.

Here's a question - with so many taprooms open in the Chicago area now, will beer geeks go to beer bars anymore? Or just pop from tap room to tap room?

Overall i think that breweries that have taprooms open or close to open are in the best spot for their business, because they have the chance to become that local watering hole for their neighbors at full margin, but there are only so many neighborhoods. Old Irving Brewing is a really good example of this, actually: Old Irving is an up and coming neighborhood that's close to two other up and coming neighborhoods that's accessible and doesn't have a ton of competition around it. While it's a brewpub and the focus is a little different, it's in a perfect spot. Alarmist, same thing. Sauganash doesn't really scream Craft, but there are people there all the time. "If you build it.."

I think beer bars/tap rooms/beer focused spots in general need to be more competitive than ever. Speaking locally, Chicago has something like 3000 on-premise accounts now, and like 80% have at least one craft on now. So the destinations that were arent really destinations in the same way anymore. You can spit in any direction and hit an Anti Hero can or handle.

Tap Takeovers are old news, Beer Dinners are only well attended when infrequent and well thought out, Events in general are in oversupply and driving beer reps insane, etc. But i think fundamentally the beer geek has changed, not the business. Craft isn't for the ultra geek anymore, it's common. We're starting to see a new wave of drinkers in their early to mid 20s that were drinking craft already because their older siblings were, or that's what they're seeing other people drink at college parties, or they're from an area that's had a craft explosion, etc. So the customer themselves aren't as "into" beer as that same customer 5-6 years ago was. I think that's part of why wine & spirits (cocktails specifically) are up and beer's flat.

Also to Kreskin it a little, i don't think they're going to replace what i think is the next big bar trend: the return of the Old Man Bar. Speaking only from experience, i stopped going to craft bars as a regular spot ages ago (with a few exceptions) and instead hide out at places like Simon's or Frank & Mary's or Cuneen's or Rabbit's.

 

[SAISON FUCK]

Here's a question - with so many taprooms open in the Chicago area now, will beer geeks go to beer bars anymore? Or just pop from tap room to tap room?

In my last year in Chicago, I can't say I went to many bars at all. It was mostly taprooms and brewpubs. I guess the exceptions were Hopleaf and Maria's. Otherwise, it was all Rev taproom, Old Irving, Half Acre, Dovetail, Begyle. Nowadays, it is more of the same, just in Western Michigan now. I guess I go to Hopcat now though.

 

[Scalzo]

I am not going out of my way for a bar but I will for a brewery, and to a combo shop/bar like The Beer Temple or Beer Cellar.
Quality breweries are easier to come by than good bars.. So many popping up, and a lot of brewpubs are offering great food options alongside tasty beverages, or they often host food trucks/ allow you to order food in...

I also do a lot of drinking while getting groceries, lol

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Can't think of the last "beer bar" I've been to in Chicago since my last trip to Northdown about 18 months ago. Delilahs / Duseks / Longman etc... I go to for the whiskey / cocktails / food more than the beer I guess.

Right now I'm more looking forward to checking out Metropolitan / Maplewood / Spiteful / Half Acre Balmoral / etc... than going to Map Room / Hopleaf. If I was a local I'm sure my perspective would be different, but grabbing food at a great local restaurant and checking out a new brewery or three is much more appealing to my suburban self.

 

[trickytunadicky]

I don’t drink outside ny house much (obvious reasons), so when I do, it’s for food or meeting friends at an event. I can’t even remember the names of half the new breweries by my house unless they have been on tap at Burger Antics.

 

[Alum]

Even though there are a bunch of new tap rooms, I find myself usually going to Half Acre or Rev on the random night I can go out after work to pick up beer / try new stuff.

I certainly like other tap rooms / breweries. But I'd rather go with the ones I can pick up packaged stuff I want (or that is only available there) and enjoy stuff I know I want on tap while I'm there.

New brewery fatigue has taken hold.

 

[Mugatu]

Agree with you on almost everything but pricing. Not sure consumers see a massive difference in prices at taprooms vs. bars. And in at least one instance I can think of, taproom may actually charge you more for draft beer than you'd see at a bar or restaurant. My understanding is that this may be done less out of a "gouging" mentality and more of an acknowledgment of the importance retail accounts play in terms of pushing volume for breweries.

Breweries are certainly at a price advantage in terms of margin they can collect for themselves, but I can't remember the last time I walked into a taproom and paid substantially less than I would at a bar for the same beer.

Am I way off? are there good examples of low prices at taprooms, and I've just been a fool for patronizing bars?

Ha i have no data to back up that breweries are generally cheaper than bars so i may be the fool. I’ll say that seems maybe true for year round or seasonal brands but the one-off or limited release beers i’m not convinced that holds. Feel like there are specific examples that i can think of where breweries are cheaper. Maybe both could be charging $8/pour but the brewery is 16oz and the bar is 8 or 10 oz.

I’ll just say that I’ve never been at a respected brewery and thought, “rip-off” but on a few occasions I’ve thought that at bars. Maybe I’m comparing across styles and not brands though. For instance Maine Lunch may be $10/10 oz and Goneaway is $5 or 6/16 oz, which I’ll admit isn’t a fair comparison.

 

[jeblikesbeer]

Can't think of the last "beer bar" I've been to in Chicago since my last trip to Northdown about 18 months ago. Delilahs / Duseks / Longman etc... I go to for the whiskey / cocktails / food more than the beer I guess.

Right now I'm more looking forward to checking out Metropolitan / Maplewood / Spiteful / Half Acre Balmoral / etc... than going to Map Room / Hopleaf. If I was a local I'm sure my perspective would be different, but grabbing food at a great local restaurant and checking out a new brewery or three is much more appealing to my suburban self.

Tony Lemmy know when you guys are rolling into town, I’ll meet ya for the Avondale adventure or the balmoral 2step any time ya want. Love what all four places are.


For maplewood specifically due to the size of the space I’d recommend a week day rather than weekend if you don’t want obnoxious people crowding around you as you drink thru the beers and their booze (ps the booze is DAMN good!)

 

[RedCoffee]

Ha i have no data to back up that breweries are generally cheaper than bars so i may be the fool. I’ll say that seems maybe true for year round or seasonal brands but the one-off or limited release beers i’m not convinced that holds. Feel like there are specific examples that i can think of where breweries are cheaper. Maybe both could be charging $8/pour but the brewery is 16oz and the bar is 8 or 10 oz.

I’ll just say that I’ve never been at a respected brewery and thought, “rip-off” but on a few occasions I’ve thought that at bars. Maybe I’m comparing across styles and not brands though. For instance Maine Lunch may be $10/10 oz and Goneaway is $5 or 6/16 oz, which I’ll admit isn’t a fair comparison.

I agree with this. If I'm at a brewery worth its salt, their beer will just about always be reasonably priced for what it is. At a bar I have no idea how they set the price or if they even know what the hell they're serving.

Only exception is the off chance a bar gets ahold of something special and doesn't know it so they throw something great on for cheap. But that's not often enough to make me choose a beer bar over a taproom.

 

[Hopping Tiger]

Don't worry, Chris. Beer Temple Bar is still one of the best beer drinking spots in town.

 

[mjohnson171]

One buzzword: Omni-channel.

Consumers, beer or otherwise, are looking for that Omni-Channel experience in interact with a brewery. This includes physical locations, social media, events, etc. Customers value the ability to be in constant contact with a company through multiple avenues at the same time. It's how retail in almost every space is trending, but beer is such a gleaming example of this. Beer drinkers are passionate people, who may not necessarily be exclusive to one brand/brewery, but love to be a part of lots of brewery's omni-channel experiences.

So having a tap room is more important than a tap handle at a beer bar. This allows a brewery to give that brand's cultivated experience, and consumers value the experience more than just the liquid in the glass.

Beer bars do hold an important place and I don't think they're going anywhere. But I think there's just more of a shift for consumers to consume the experience rather than just the liquid.

 

[Hopping Tiger]

One buzzword: Omni-channel.

Consumers, beer or otherwise, are looking for that Omni-Channel experience in interact with a brewery. This includes physical locations, social media, events, etc. Customers value the ability to be in constant contact with a company through multiple avenues at the same time. It's how retail in almost every space is trending, but beer is such a gleaming example of this. Beer drinkers are passionate people, who may not necessarily be exclusive to one brand/brewery, but love to be a part of lots of brewery's omni-channel experiences.

So having a tap room is more important than a tap handle at a beer bar. This allows a brewery to give that brand's cultivated experience, and consumers value the experience more than just the liquid in the glass.

Beer bars do hold an important place and I don't think they're going anywhere. But I think there's just more of a shift for consumers to consume the experience rather than just the liquid.

 

[thewimperoo]

Living in the suburbs I don't get into the City more than a couple of times a month, but my usual pattern is to rotate a few brewpubs/taprooms and a visit to Beer Temple for shopping and now a couple of draft beers. As others have said, the experience and value seems better at brewpubs/taprooms these days.

Half Acre/Dovetail/Rev Kedzie/Forbidden Root have been the mainstays over the last 6-12 months. Mousetrap will certainly be in that rotation now.

Once or twice a year I'll go to Map Room because of the nostalgia value. I try to get to Hopleaf a few times a year because they have great food and an eclectic selection. Northdown was also in the rotation, but RIP Other than that, I can't think of any beer bars I'll go out of my way to get to.

Off the top of my head, I'd say that Half Acre, Revolution, Three Floyds are the biggest ones that have a much better value proposition for their beer at their own facility than their beer in the wild. Most of the biggest offenders to the value proposition at a brewery, I've come across are in the suburbs. Penrose and their $6+ 8-12oz pours the biggest.

 

[kodt]

Mikerphone charges $7-8 for a 12oz pour in the middle of an industrial park behind O'Hare.

 

[DiscountMegaMall4ever]

$7-8 for a 12oz pour in the middle of an industrial park behind O'Hare.

By that measure, explain to anyone who doesn't understand beer that people spend $300+ for a weekend in NW F'n Indiana each spring. And the nicest accommodations between the exit ramp and the entrance ramp is a hotel room in Hammond or Schererville, and maybe not an overflowing portapotty.
And for people that don't care about any of that, it's a good time.

 

[Scalzo]

Mikerphone charges $7-8 for a 12oz pour in the middle of an industrial park behind O'Hare.

One of the many reasons I have only been twice

overpriced, lacking variety and quality

 

[mishuggah]

One buzzword: Omni-channel.

Consumers, beer or otherwise, are looking for that Omni-Channel experience in interact with a brewery. This includes physical locations, social media, events, etc. Customers value the ability to be in constant contact with a company through multiple avenues at the same time. It's how retail in almost every space is trending, but beer is such a gleaming example of this. Beer drinkers are passionate people, who may not necessarily be exclusive to one brand/brewery, but love to be a part of lots of brewery's omni-channel experiences.

So having a tap room is more important than a tap handle at a beer bar. This allows a brewery to give that brand's cultivated experience, and consumers value the experience more than just the liquid in the glass.

Beer bars do hold an important place and I don't think they're going anywhere. But I think there's just more of a shift for consumers to consume the experience rather than just the liquid.

This is the only Omni-channel I care about

 

[thewimperoo]

Anyone know what Spiteful's taproom hours are going to be? I can't find anything online besides the fact they were open at 11am on Saturday.

 

[Tooch4321]

Anyone know what Spiteful's taproom hours are going to be? I can't find anything online besides the fact they were open at 11am on Saturday.

http://www.spitefulbrewing.com/contact/

 

[mdomask]

Speaking locally, Chicago has something like 3000 on-premise accounts now, and like 80% have at least one craft on now.

 

[mdomask]

Living in the suburbs I don't get into the City more than a couple of times a month, but my usual pattern is to rotate a few brewpubs/taprooms and a visit to Beer Temple for shopping and now a couple of draft beers. As others have said, the experience and value seems better at brewpubs/taprooms these days.

Half Acre/Dovetail/Rev Kedzie/Forbidden Root have been the mainstays over the last 6-12 months. Mousetrap will certainly be in that rotation now.

This is pretty much my experience, but less often, and I'm normally driving myself so I can't full on indulge. Value isn't even really that much better, but the Kedzie experience is so chill it's hard to pass up.

Once or twice a year I'll go to Map Room because of the nostalgia value. I try to get to Hopleaf a few times a year because they have great food and an eclectic selection. Northdown was also in the rotation, but RIP Other than that, I can't think of any beer bars I'll go out of my way to get to.

Replace Map Room with Twisted Spoke in nostalgia value for me, but pretty much this. Hopleaf gets some weird import stuff like BFM and unfiltered Pilsner Urquell that makes it worth stopping in.

Speaking of spirits/cocktails, though, most of my city drinking tends to be with mixed groups of friends who don't want to hit taprooms all night, so we gravitate towards the various haute cocktail places. The various arcades get put on the list because people like video games.

Off the top of my head, I'd say that Half Acre, Revolution, Three Floyds are the biggest ones that have a much better value proposition for their beer at their own facility than their beer in the wild. Most of the biggest offenders to the value proposition at a brewery, I've come across are in the suburbs. Penrose and their $6+ 8-12oz pours the biggest.

Three Floyds is surprisingly cheap on their own beer, especially carryout. Even without the case discount, it's somehow a better value than any retail channel. Maybe that's leftover markup at retailers from the days when anything FFF just flew out the door, though.

FFF also mastered the omni-channel thing really early on. Blaring heavy metal and Kaiju movies at the brewpub, D&D-themed events, not completely inundating the market with beer dinners and tap takeovers...

 

[middlebrow]

speaking of taprooms....while at half acre grabbing a lunch burrito -

-can I get the red potatoes as the side?
— umm sorry, they’re baked today the fryer broke?
-you don’t need to apologize for that. Potatoes accidentally healthy, sorry for the convenience.

He stared at me with no laugh or subtle smile, clearly not picking up the slight hedberg reference or the fact that it was a decent joke. I’m never returning to half acre.

 

[trickytunadicky]

speaking of taprooms....while at half acre grabbing a lunch burrito -

-can I get the red potatoes as the side?
— umm sorry, they’re baked today the fryer broke?
-you don’t need to apologize for that. Potatoes accidentally healthy, sorry for the convenience.

He stared at me with no laugh or subtle smile, clearly not picking up the slight hedberg reference or the fact that it was a decent joke. I’m never returning to half acre.

Please tell me you didn't get that reuben burrito monstrosity where bread was stuffed inside a tortilla.

 

[Alum]

Wooden Hell "Reserve" taps today apparently.. a day before the bottle release for those interested.

 

[Alum]

In even cooler news..

 

[lb304854]

Any Frederiksdal kicking around Chicagoland right now? I've decided I need some for Christmas dinner and NYE white girl wastedness.