ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 75 - The Rare Barrel Jul 01, 2015

Show notes

We’ve been planning this one for a while, and we finally get to drink a lineup of delicious beers from The Rare Barrel. We review five beers from these young fermentation and blending experts out of Berkley, CA. Ryan did his research, so you’ll learn a lot about the brewery, including the somewhat unusual process by which they make beer, the “3 sip rule”, their naming inspirations, and how they go about finding the real “rare barrel.” There’s a good ten minute discussion about membership programs/reserve societies, and the potential advantages and problems those can present. We also play another game of Beers Against Humanity, which forces us to get pretty weird and raunchy. Gattaca!

Ryan

1. Forces Unseen (Golden Sour Beer Aged in Oak Barrels)

2. Wise Guise (Red Sour Beer Aged in Oak Barrels with Raspberries)

3. Ensorcelled (Dark Sour Beer Aged in Oak Barrels with Raspberries)

4. Shadows of Their Eyes (Dark Sour Beer Aged in Oak Barrels)

5. Another World (Red Sour Beer Aged in Oak Barrels)

Craig

1. Ensorcelled (Dark Sour Beer Aged in Oak Barrels with Raspberries)

2. Forces Unseen (Golden Sour Beer Aged in Oak Barrels)

3. Wise Guise (Red Sour Beer Aged in Oak Barrels with Raspberries)

4. Shadows of Their Eyes (Dark Sour Beer Aged in Oak Barrels)

5. Another World (Red Sour Beer Aged in Oak Barrels)

Episode 74 - New Glarus Fruit Beers Jun 24, 2015

Show notes

The fine folks of New Glarus brewing in Wisconsin have been brewing the highest quality fruit beers around for longer than just about anyone in the U.S. We invite Marie Cummins back to the show to help us review and rank eight of these outstanding brews. We pair all of the beers with Wisconsin cheeses based on New Glarus’ recommendations, and one is a spectacular failure. Also, hear us talk about booze-soaked Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Rain, Hawaiian Punch, “Still the One” by Orleans, and Star Wars. Craig explains why he is the body and face of the show, Ryan basks in sweet heartburn revenge, and Marie puts up with all of Craig’s shit. Did we mention the beer is incredible?

Rankings

Marie

1. Belgian Red

2. Serendipity

3. Apple Ale

4. Raspberry Tart

5. Cran-bic

6. R&D Sour Fruit (Very Sour Blackberry)

7. Strawberry Rhubarb

8. Enigma

Ryan

1. R&D Sour Fruit (Very Sour Blackberry)

2. Belgian Red

3. Serendipity

4. Cran-bic

5. Raspberry Tart

6. Apple Ale

7. Strawberry Rhubarb

8. Enigma

Craig

1. R&D Sour Fruit (Very Sour Blackberry)

2. Belgian Red

3. Serendipity

4. Cran-bic

5. Raspberry Tart

6. Apple Ale

7. Strawberry Rhubarb

8. Enigma

Episode 73 - The Beerists Cellar Invasion Jun 17, 2015

Show notes

The Beerists swept through this city like a drunken typhoon, and they stopped by to wreak some havoc on Craig's cellar. John Rubio, Anastacia Kelly, and Mike Lambert join us to do what they've been doing for longer than us: review delicious beers. We talk about their Austin-based award-winning podcast, highlights of their Chicago trip, and their observations on this city's beer culture. Also, Anastacia gives spot-on food pairings, Rubio sings, and Craig and Mike become closer than we are comfortable with. You're welcome!

Rankings

Rubio and Mike

1. Goose Island Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout

2. DeGarde Imperial Blackberry Bu

3. Toppling Goliath Assassin (2014)

4. The Lost Abbey Duck Duck Gooze (2013)

5. Funk Factory Framrood

Craig and Ryan

1. Goose Island Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout

2. DeGarde Imperial Blackberry Bu

3. The Lost Abbey Duck Duck Gooze (2013)

4. Toppling Goliath Assassin (2014)

5. Funk Factory Framrood

Anastacia

1. DeGarde Imperial Blackberry Bu

2. Goose Island Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout

3. The Lost Abbey Duck Duck Gooze (2013)

4. Toppling Goliath Assassin (2014)

5. Funk Factory Framrood

Episode 72 - The Mostly ME Show Jun 10, 2015

Show notes

We bust into some beer mail from Maine and New Hampshire, thanks to our new best friend Dave. We review six beers of varying styles with the help of our most regular and precious guest, Dennis. In addition to our typically eloquent aroma and taste descriptors, we bring a veritable symphony of randomness and small wind instruments. Topics include coolships, “tart” vs. “sour”, agreeable hop profiles, local IPA comparisons, Weird Al, LeVar Burton, Flintstone vitamins, that guy from Mr. Show, and weed. We also get to the bottom of why Craig doesn’t like hoppy stouts. Be one with the trees.

Craig

1. Allagash Coolship Resurgam (2015) Gueuze

2. Stoneface Mozaccalypse DIPA

3. Foundation Forge Russian Imperial Stout

4. Stoneface IPA

5. Bissell Brothers The Substance IPA

6. Oxbow Barrel-Aged Farmhouse Pale Ale

Ryan

1. Allagash Coolship Resurgam (2015) Gueuze

2. Bissell Brothers The Substance IPA

3. Foundation Forge Russian Imperial Stout

4. Stoneface Mozaccalypse DIPA

5. Stoneface IPA

6. Oxbow Barrel-Aged Farmhouse Pale Ale

Dennis

1. Allagash Coolship Resurgam (2015) Gueuze

2. Foundation Forge Russian Imperial Stout

3. Bissell Brothers The Substance IPA

4. Stoneface Mozaccalypse DIPA

5. Stoneface IPA

6. Oxbow Barrel-Aged Farmhouse Pale Ale

Episode 71 - Crooked Stave 2: Crookeder Stave Jun 03, 2015

Show notes

We acquaint ourselves with six more of Chad Yakobson’s fine funky brews from his Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project in this episode. These 2014 Cellar Reserve offerings are all oak-aged and brettanomyces-fermented with fruits added, so rankings become difficult. Ryan is prepared this time with a few homemade heartburn remedies, so hear him experiment and suffer. We talk a lot about Chad & Brett. (4-eva), candy, cereal grain, crossbreeding, yogurt, fancy candles, and Craig’s upcoming memoir, Tough to Touch. Burundi is so happy you’ve come to visit!

Craig

1. Blueberry Petite Sour

2. L’Brett D’Or Grand Cru

3. Raspberry Origins

4. Blackberry Dark Origins

5. Passionfruit Petite Sour

6. L’Brett D’Pluot

Ryan

1. L’Brett D’Or Grand Cru

2. Blueberry Petite Sour

3. Blackberry Dark Origins

4. Raspberry Origins

5. L’Brett D’Pluot

6. Passionfruit Petite Sour

Episode 70 - Night Shift Barrel Society May 27, 2015

Show notes

Ed from Boston brought us beers from Night Shift Brewing’s 2014 Barrel Society, and we all review five of them with the “assistance” of Dennis. This solid lineup from the Massachusetts brewery includes many brettanomyces-enhanced sours and barrel-aged goodies. In addition, Dennis provides his expertise on dog food and how the food industry uses specific descriptors to trick you. We try and diagnose what’s wrong with Ryan. There’s a debate over forest floor or forest flora or forced floor. And Craig reads from the bottle and watches the Blackhawks. We somehow manage to talk beers amongst a mixed bag of distractions that also includes mousy taints, Garfield, “Hanging Yoga”, Cool Water by Davidoff, horses, and David Schwimmer. Someone please hire Dennis.

Ed and Craig

1. Pluto (Sour ale aged with raspberries and brettanomyces)

2. Nebula (Berlinner Weisse aged with brettanomyces and prickly pears)

3. Quasar (Barrel-aged ale with brettanomyces and passion fruit)

4. Orion (Sour dark ale aged in oak barrels)

5. Big Dipper (Rye wine aged in Nicaraguan rum barrels)

Ryan and Dennis

1. Pluto (Sour ale aged with raspberries and brettanomyces)

2. Orion (Sour dark ale aged in oak barrels)

3. Nebula (Berlinner Weisse aged with brettanomyces and prickly pears)

4. Quasar (Barrel-aged ale with brettanomyces and passion fruit)

5. Big Dipper (Rye wine aged in Nicaraguan rum barrels)

Episode 69 - Temperance Beer Company May 20, 2015

Show notes

Temperance Beer Company is churning out medal-winning beers from their Evanston brewery, and brewmaster Claudia Jendron invited us up to try most of their portfolio. Turns out that spending an afternoon drinking ten beers with Claudia makes for pretty great conversation. In addition to plenty of brewing notes, Claudia talks about the experience of winning a medal at GABF; her extreme commitment to quality control and customer service; and her preference for English ingredients to create a unique take on refreshing, approachable beers. She also talks about moving from receptionist to brewer at Goose Island and how the AB-InBev buyout impacted the brewery. We learn about the challenge of hop contracts, canning’s benefits over bottling, and the calculated risks in barrel-aging. This is a great listen, and by the end, you’ll want to start a hop farm.

Our Top Beers

Ryan

1. Grapefruit Escapist IPA

2. Restless Years Rye APA

3. Smittytown ESB

Craig

1. Smittytown Tart ESB

2. Restless Years Rye APA

3. Gatecrasher English IPA

Beers Sampled:

Gatecrasher English IPA

Restless Years APA

Escapist IPA

Smittytown ESB

Grapefruit Escapist IPA

Smittytown Tart ESB

Greenwood Beach Blonde

Quotidienne Dubbel

Root Down Porter

Manhattan Barrel-Aged Might Meets Right

Episode 68 - Imperial Oak Brewing May 13, 2015

Show notes

Imperial Oak Brewing is approaching their first anniversary, and we visit them at their Willow Springs brewpub to sample their beers and talk about their operation. Brewers and owners Grant Hamilton and Brett Semenske are getting the most out of their 7-barrel brewery through constant experimentation with post-fermentation additions and barrel treatments. Owner Chris DiBraccio talks about his decade-plus experience running Brixie’s Beer Bar in Brookfield and how it’s helped keep Imperial Oak flowing smoothly. We learn a bit about their unique artwork, the plethora of growler and merchandise selections they sell, and why the local bikers love them. Craig also geeks out a lot on Star Wars, and someone finally calls Ryan out on his shit. It’s a trap! (Please don’t sue us, George Lucas.)

Craig

1. Billy Dee’s Coconut Pecan Porter

2. Barrel-aged Admiral Ackbeer It’s a Barrel-aged Trap!ist Dubbel

3. Barrel-aged Odin’s Beard Imperial Red Ale

4. Brother’s Keeper Imperial Honey Saison

5. Crank It Hop - Amarillo IPA

6. Admiral Ackbeer It’s a Trap!ist Dubbel

Ryan

1. Barrel-aged Odin’s Beard Imperial Red Ale

2. Crank It Hop - Amarillo IPA

3. Billy Dee’s Coconut Pecan Porter

4. Brother’s Keeper Imperial Honey Saison

5. Admiral Ackbeer It’s a Trap!ist Dubbel

6. Barrel-aged Admiral Ackbeer It’s a Barrel-aged Trap!ist Dubbel

Episode 67 - Mexican Hot Chocolate Blind May 06, 2015

Show notes

It’s adjunct stout hour featuring chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and peppers - all tasted and reviewed blind! We review and rank six “Mexican hot chocolate” style beers, and only you - the lisener - will know what we are drinking. Get ready for some Telenovela-sized plot twists in this one, as we ruin Craig’s favorite beer for him forever and an unexpected local brewery handily defeats all the others. Bring your mouth!

Ryan

1. Spiteful Malevolence: Chocolate Caliente

2. Perennial Abraxas

3. Cigar City Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout (2014)

4. Westbrook Mexican Cake (2013)

5. Hailstorm Vlad the Conquistador

6. 18th Street Bitches’ Bank

Craig

1. Spiteful Malevolence: Chocolate Caliente

2. Cigar City Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout (2014)

3. Perennial Abraxas

4. Westbrook Mexican Cake (2013)

5. Hailstorm Vlad the Conquistador

6. 18th Street Bitches’ Bank

Episode 66 - Café Au Craig Apr 29, 2015

Show notes

Craig hates coffee, but he loves coffee beers. Ryan makes Craig taste and smell coffee, and then we drink five high alcohol coffee beers. With the help of massive amounts of caffeine, we answer all of your questions about coffee and coffee beers. What are the best coffee beers out there? How do brewers add coffee during the brewing process? What happens when you pour cheap canned espresso into BCBCS? How does Craig put his cream in? Why do we talk about Four Loko for so long? Remember Goldfinger?

Craig

1. Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout (2014)

2. Off Color Coffee Dino S’mores Stout

3. Epic Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout (Release #30)

4. Lagunitas High-Westified Imperial Coffee Stout

5. 4 Hands Three Kings Barrel-Aged Tripel

Ryan

1. Epic Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout (Release #30)

2. Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout (2014)

3. Off Color Coffee Dino S’mores Stout

4. Lagunitas High-Westified Imperial Coffee Stout

5. 4 Hands Three Kings Barrel-Aged Tripel