FIB War Room

[SAISON FUCK]

LT made a connection with Mike Bacon (owner / head brewer) of Arrowhead Ales in New Lennox, IL after BUG last week, so we stopped in this afternoon for beers and lunch.

Long bar with 14+ seats and an island seating area behind it, large dining room with a huge outdoor seating section and a small tucked away video gaming section segregated from the main dining room.

4 Roses / Buffalo Trace Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout, Irish Red, Witbier were all tasty and the Hazy IPA was also good. Regular IPA and Saison were mediocre, but nothing was bad with a few genuinely great beers available.

A very nice looking hard piped 7bbl brewhouse (no HLT though which makes the brewing process tedious), x4 7bbl unitanks and x1 15bbl unitank, everything has to be kegged off and they are using the same mobile canner as a number of Chicagoland breweries for in house packaged offerings.

Fair prices on all the beers, and a full bar with a number of cocktails on the menu.

Pork Belly Reuben

Avocado Wraps

Good to better beers, decent to better food, and a restaurant / family style atmosphere that works well for the area if not exactly the environment conducive to hanging out and drinking for an afternoon. We were going to check out My Grain and Elder Brewing in Joliet, but had a good time talking shop with Mike so ended up spending a few hours here today.

Talk about burying the lede, there is a brewery called "My Grain"???

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Talk about burying the lede, there is a brewery called "My Grain"???

Had to spell it out for LT as he couldn't understand why someone would name a brewery after a headache.

I'll be honest I didn't have a good answer.

 

[zieglemt]

Well, Off Color party is lit.

 

[LSMroz]

Went to Rev for an early birthday dinner before the Cubs game and they weren't taking new customers cuz they were going to experience a power surge shortly. Severely disappointed. And a srsly how does that happen?

 

[lb304854]

Went to Rev for an early birthday dinner before the Cubs game and they weren't taking new customers cuz they were going to experience a power surge shortly. Severely disappointed. And a srsly how does that happen?

Just had one down south. Damn heat.

 

[trickytunadicky]

Went to Rev for an early birthday dinner before the Cubs game and they weren't taking new customers cuz they were going to experience a power surge shortly. Severely disappointed. And a srsly how does that happen?

it's 100 degress today early in the season. Literally everyone is cranking their AC full blast. Not sure how they knew they were about to have a power surge, but it doesn't surprise me.

 

[LSMroz]

it's 100 degress today early in the season. Literally everyone is cranking their AC full blast. Not sure how they knew they were about to have a power surge, but it doesn't surprise me.

Yeah, that's what was so shocking to me that they knew there were gonna have it.

 

[trickytunadicky]

Yeah, that's what was so shocking to me that they knew there were gonna have it.

My best guess would be smart grid. I know we participated in some program last summer where there were incentives to use less electricity during known peaks ComEd identified in our area.

 

[user 306237]

Yeah, that's what was so shocking to me that they knew there were gonna have it.

Overheard folks at the tap room saying smoke was visibly emanating from power lines. Could have been a pre-emotive closing.

Also, Rev has a syrup available for its Berliner weisse. One, at least - Woodruff from Jo Snow. Would recommend!

 

[Tooch4321]

Well, Off Color party is lit.

Oh hey, I’m in the background looking at something else...

 

[lb304854]

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeit

 

[RedCoffee]

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeit

I heard that guy doesn't even work there.

 

[vav1]

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeit

It’s gone what was it?

 

[SAISON FUCK]

It’s gone what was it?

I think it was of Laffler in a tiger costume chugging a beer while standing on the bar... So regular stuff.

 

[lb304854]

It’s gone what was it?

That's some ********. I didn't even save the picture.

 

[vav1]

I think it was of Laffler in a tiger costume chugging a beer while standing on the bar... So regular stuff.

Meh, seen it

 

[Marksy]

Fun day, just finished our first canning run. All Hubbard’s Cave IIPAs will be canned hencetoforth and fresh batch of V4 is available right meow. Tap room only for a couple weeks so I can PIUFYB if meeting in Logan Square is easier than trekking out to Niles.

 

[YellowBird1]

Anyone hear rumblings of Forbidden Root buying Baderbrau? Just heard that from someone but can’t find any news about it.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Anyone hear rumblings of Forbidden Root buying Baderbrau? Just heard that from someone but can’t find any news about it.

I heard rumblings about Baderbrau being purchased, but no information about who the buyer was / is until your post. Seems like an odd fit, but what do I know?

 

[Hopping Tiger]

Fun day, just finished our first canning run. All Hubbard’s Cave IIPAs will be canned hencetoforth and fresh batch of V4 is available right meow. Tap room only for a couple weeks so I can PIUFYB if meeting in Logan Square is easier than trekking out to Niles.

Nice. Hubbard's Cave IIPAs are pretty damn solid if ya ask me. I will be scooping some cans.

 

[ThatJackOC]

I heard rumblings about Baderbrau being purchased, but no information about who the buyer was / is until your post. Seems like an odd fit, but what do I know?

Would make a hell of a lot of sense to me if true. Speculation of course, but if Forbidden Root wants to increase production for packaged sales and Baderbrau has unused capacity/tank space/etc. they fit together.

Both strong local brands that hit different points of the market IMO. Baderbrau on the everyday-drinker side and Forbidden Root on the botanical/HazeHype side.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Would make a hell of a lot of sense to me if true. Speculation of course, but if Forbidden Root wants to increase production for packaged sales and Baderbrau has unused capacity/tank space/etc. they fit together.

Both strong local brands that hit different points of the market IMO. Baderbrau on the everyday-drinker side and Forbidden Root on the botanical/HazeHype side.

Well and Forbidden Root has been using 5 Rabbit for contract brewing for quite a while now (Randy Mosher has a small interest in both places which I'm sure is the connective tissue). I just can't see Forbidden Root continuing the Baderbrau "brand", but again I have no insight into either places business models / ownership / etc...

Interesting perspective nonetheless.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Come and hang out Friday / Saturday with me and a bunch of other suburban TB folks.

Taplist is stupid long, and I don't want to spam the **** out of this post so I'll just post it below.

http://www.imperialoakbrewing.com/4th-anniversary-party-and-quiet-giant-release/

They have roughly 275 6 packs that contain x4 Bourbon Barrel Aged Quiet Giant with Cocoa Nibs and Vanilla and x2 Rum Barrel Aged Quiet Giant with Coconut and 225 4 packs of the Bourbon barrel version. However, there is a lot of draft for all weekend so don't wait in lines (unless that is your thing) and drink the fun stuff at your leisure.

Hope to see a bunch of familiar faces this weekend!

 

[Ferowcious]

Come and hang out Friday / Saturday with me and a bunch of other suburban TB folks.

Taplist is stupid long, and I don't want to spam the **** out of this post so I'll just post it below.

http://www.imperialoakbrewing.com/4th-anniversary-party-and-quiet-giant-release/

They have roughly 275 6 packs that contain x4 Bourbon Barrel Aged Quiet Giant with Cocoa Nibs and Vanilla and x2 Rum Barrel Aged Quiet Giant with Coconut and 225 4 packs of the Bourbon barrel version. However, there is a lot of draft for all weekend so don't wait in lines (unless that is your thing) and drink the fun stuff at your leisure.

Hope to see a bunch of familiar faces this weekend!

I really enjoyed whichever version of Quiet Giant was poured at BUG, and the taplist for the event this weekend looks good, but man, I can't justify buying a $60 6 pack of 12oz cans.

 

[TheJB]

Gonzoillini is the Blanc that’s to go in 500ml bottles the same gin BA one that was at BUG, or is it the non gin Ba version?

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Gonzoillini is the Blanc that’s to go in 500ml bottles the same gin BA one that was at BUG, or is it the non gin Ba version?

That is not the Gin Barrel Aged version, although they did receive x4 more Gin barrels yesterday that should see some more Blanc and Straw (Brett Saison) in about a year.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

I really enjoyed whichever version of Quiet Giant was poured at BUG, and the taplist for the event this weekend looks good, but man, I can't justify buying a $60 6 pack of 12oz cans.

Totally hear you, and I'm not a huge fan of the transition from bottles to cans. Last year it was $20 for a 22oz bottle (.909 $ per oz) and this year it comes out to $40 for a 4pack/12oz of the Bourbon or $60 for a 6pack/12oz of x4 Bourbon / x2 Rum (.833 $ per oz) so it is actually cheaper on a per oz basis.

Sunday is the best day to come out honestly as leftovers will be on draft and there should be a non-existent crowd compared to Friday / Saturday.

 

[trickytunadicky]

We’ll be there Saturday. Couldn’t pass up a low key hang we can walk to on friday night. Looking forward to seeing everyone we can and dranking some Akavit QG.

 

[lb304854]

Last year I was such a shitshow I might just show up Sunday for the low-key leftovers.

 

[danidavid]

Gonzoillini you be around Sunday? Think it may be tough for me to make it through Saturday.