Weekend/Day Beer Adventures

I'm going to try a new line of posts for this blog that will typically revolve around my weekend activities and how they relate to beer. More often than not, these posts will be composed in a "Brewery Review" but for the days when I hit multiple breweries/bars/drinks, I cannot post on them all. So, my "Weekend Beer Adventures" will take the form of everything I did/drank/ate/who-I-met/how-I-got-there kind of heading, compiled with pictures too. These posts are meant to log down some of the fun I have, to retain some good memories and for you to relate to. Enjoy!

Friday (6/8/12): I got off work around 4:00 and headed home to pack. With only 25 minutes before my bus (Indian Trails) left for Chicago, I figured that was enough time to get in a quick post (See: Bedlam). Done. I walked the half mile to the bus with a nice buzz and arrived 4 hours later at the Greyhound Station on the South-Central side of Chicago. After several minutes of figuring out where I was, arranging a ride and seeing who else was in town, I figured I'd walk to Rock Bottom. Definitely a difficult 2 mile walk carrying a backpack full of beer! I got there and started with their Brown ale ( I forgot the name, though it started with "Amazingly") standing at 4.0% ABV. I recognized some of the bartenders there too. Oh, and I didn't mention this, but I was wearing my New Holland Long sleeve work shirt...for an extra credential. I talked with a lady about beer and running a bit. Tasted RB's Wit, and both IPA's. The normal one was a bit grassy, while the Belgian, well, I got a pint of that soon after too. I was there a bit over an hour until Jeff came and picked me up and we headed back to Lincoln park. Discussion of going out for another pint commenced, but I was too tired.
Saturday (6/9/12): Woke up early, downed 3 cups of tea and packed Jeff's car. We were heading to Evanston to move the remainder of his belongings into the new apartment. Didn't take very long, and I got a measly workout in carrying stuff up and down the stairs. Upon finishing, I decided to test out the foot and go for a run (My foot has been hurting for about a month and a half from my work boots). It was about 85 degrees and humid. Got in 7 though and a quick 6:15/mile clip. Rounded out the run with cracking open the growler of New Holland's Sundog though for some replenishing recovery.
A couple hours later Jen arrives with a $17 Growler (ridiculous) of Emmett's Red Ale and a couple bottles of Pale Ale. Here we contemplated our next stop. The decision landed on Half Acre, my favorite brewery in Chicago. We got there and waited for the tour to finish, whereupon Adam enthusiastically showed us around. I've been to HA a couple times and each time it is slightly different - something you can expect with all microbreweries these days. They had renovated their back room to become their production area, while it made room for the new 60 bbl fermenters that were to arrive in the next couple weeks. We were served pints of their new Shogun Wheat and talked to a couple of the remaining tour participants. I wish I had brought some beer to give them, but as we headed back to their tasting room, Adam handed me a case of lowfills of the New wheat! (It was shared with the NH crew, which was held in high regard). Down the street was "Chicago Ribfest" but it was already 3:30 and we needed to head to my sisters.
We arrived, unpacked, shared the rest of the Sundog growler with Monte, who just moved back from Colorado Springs, CO. He was gracious enough to let me borrow his bicycle so Jen and I could bike the town the rest of the weekend. The plan for the evening was to have our final destination in Andersonville for dinner at the Ethiopian Diamond with Jeff and April. We still had time, however so we took off and headed to Goose Island on Clybourn.

Taster at Goose Island

We arrived and ordered a taster of their Dortmunder (awesome!) Summer Wheat (not great) Bitter (decent) and Greg Halls new endeavor: Virtue RedStreak Cider. We found the guest draft list to also include Dragons Milk (good to see) but tapped at $9/pint! (not good). Finishing our tasted we rounded out with a traditional pint of the Green Line (I always get this as the final beer during my visits). We learned that Todd Britt, who graduated Augustana 2 years ahead of me (and was a brewer/assistant brewer) no longer worked at the pub but had gotten a Head Brewer position at a brewery opening up sometwhere in Chicago! Nice work man.
We finished our pint (got industry discount!) and headed North to Broadway for dinner. Note: 4.5 miles is a LONG way on a thick tread mountain bike on the streets of Chicago. Travelling at a quick clip, we arrived at 7:00pm and I was drenched.

April and Jen at Hopleaf

After dinner we made our way to April's apartment, just blocks away, to set up camp. Once we were settled, and done playing with her new kitten, we left for the HopLeaf, which was only a couple blocks away. Fortunately Midsommerfest was in the works and the place was unusually empty (Yes!). We went upstairs and I got a Pale ale from some brewery I hadn't heard of, Jen got Three Floyd's Zombie Dust, and April ordered Lindmans Framboise (she hates beer). Called it a night after finishing those pints.

Haymarkets Dry-hopped Belgo-pale ale

Sunday (6/10/12): Woke up, performed the same daily routine (Downing large amounts of tea and some yoga) and we hit the streets on our bikes (following a brief look at the local organic grocery store). Jen and I attempted to check out Metropolitan, but as usual, they tend to passively shun people away by fences, closed doors and vicious attack dogs (jk about that last one). We then turned around down towards the Lakeshore bike path. Found a spot on the rocks, drank a Fat Tire, attempted to swim (too cold) and headed down the lakefront. Again, mountain bike on path = too difficult to be a practical means of transportation. We made it all the way down to Buckingham Fountain for a quick break and then found ourselves at Haymarket Brewpub. I ordered their Dryhopped Belgo-pale ale and en had the Pilsner. Haymarket is a bit on the expensive side, but with boastful alcohol and loads of Amarillo, I can understand from an industry point of view. Finishing our pints we ordered (and blew the tap) of Solemn Oaths Ultra-high-frequency Red ale, which was apparently gaining quite a reputation already around Chicago for being fantastic. I agreed. I asked for a quick look-around of the brewhouse, where Janna attended and answered any questions we had. By the way, this place has an incredibly innovative set-up for their tap system. We got on the topic of cans, and how I had never had Sunking before. Janna thought that was absurd and sent us on our way with a couple cans of Chaka: Belgian-style ale made through a collaboration between Sun King and Oskar Blues. We headed out from there and made a stop at the Green Grocer to pick up some food/dips and check out the beer selection (they have a great local one). We then went and sat on Aubrey's new patio and enjoyed lunch and some recovery from the already long day. We arranged our next plans to hit Revolution Brewery in enough time to make it back in time to meet the rest of the family for dinner. Back on the bikes!

Sunking/Oskar Blues in a CAN (like-thing)

The ride was longer than I expected, but we got there and sat down at the front bar. The place was packed for a Sunday evening. It was here that we ordered the Anti-Hero IPA and the Gold Ale. I was greeted by Matt, Revolution's first employee and now brewer whereupon he invited us to take a tour! The establishment was a lot larger than I had expected. We were shown the typical brewery equipment and process's and their barrel cellar.  We headed back up to the bar and discussed a few more things with Matt and his friends who also attended the tour with us. We ordered one more pint to try their Rosa Hibiscus Ale - which was pretty good, definitely tending away from the tea flavor, but enough to get a nice bite of floral fruit. Need I say Industry discounts are great? Thanks Matt and the Revolution!
We hopped on our bikes and headed back to Aubrey's. The ride was better, but the day of biking was beginning to tax us both - even Jen on her roadbike!
Once we were back, I made a quick trip to Green Grocer once again to pick up beer I need to buy for people back in Holland. We ate dinner, napped. Jen headed back to RI and I went back to Jeff's. Being as I work 2nd shift the upcoming week, I could afford to stay one more night.
We drove back to Holland the next morning

Iron Works Alt

Reviewed following a 9 miler with a 4:56 mile put in at mile 7. I bought this beer from the Binny's by Goose Island during my trip to Chicago with Joe Wietlispach and his wife Liz to tour the Chicago area Breweries.

Appearance: The beer maintains a rustic amber more on the darker side of the spectrum. Initially exhibiting a 1/2" densely foamed off white head, it left little lacing in its path. A little bit of haze adds to the perceptive appeal. Still looking.
Aroma: Huge toasted malt and caramel bill. Bready even, though perhaps more of pumpernickel. Earthy nose dominated by peat and an underlying brown sugar sweetness. Very perfumy.
Taste: The sweetness doesn't truly hit until the very end of the taste. Much of what happens in the beginning is carbonated rush and the slight hop bitterness. To follow, the toasted peat malt and big caramel barley sweetness finishing in a bouquet of earthy flavors. A bit of an under attenuated wortiness to it, yet balanced by a rather neutral hop so as it isn't as forth coming as other beers I've had. Spiced finish at the very end and especially as the beer warms it develops a chocolaty characteristic. Clean finish, but with an ever-remaining toasted aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: As I said earlier, the carbonation hits more at the front of the beer than anything else, yet characteristically maintains a micro-bubbled fizz. Body is medium to heavy with lofty thickness for a
Overall Impression: I've read it somewhere before, but this is an interesting relative to New Castle brown ale with a bigger body and more of a peat flavor. I must say I dis-liked the beer at first because I drank my way through the first four, but once I was able to write this review and deconstruct the flavor profile, everything became more enticing about it.


84/100

Flywheel Bright Lager

The First of my beers of the night at Finnegan's Irish pub. Fortunately for the day we were there, it was $2 pints and I didn't even realize until after ordering! A big 16 Oz pint that went quickly as we sat writing our notes at the bar. Thanks to Todd for being a great bartender.

Appearance: Clear straw color with a soapy white foam head. No haziness with some visible carbonation within. Looks very watery.

Aroma: Mild but pungent. Some lemon character that over arches a grainy base malt. Some yeast and a lagered element burrow through the nostrils accompanied with candied sugar and perhaps a corn syrup element. Relatively reminiscent of sparkling white grape juice. Quite estery.

Taste: Some clean sweetness in the foretaste. Lagered pungency and hop character remains from then on out. Some apple and ester undertones as well as a little tartness and funk common to some Ice House lagers gone warm, then cold, then warm, then cold? Much of the taste resides in the back of the through. Gradually some nice hop character emerges the further one gets into the glass. the hops balance the fore malt/candy sweetness and contributes to a generally refreshing taste. Some tartness remains throughout the entire drink. As I finish I'm reminded of predominantly pears and fruity astringency.

Mouthfeel: Apart from the look, this beer did pack a fuller body than most lagers. Medium body with a poorly low carbonation. A little stickiness and mild crisping element. Not drying. Smooth drinking lager.
Overall Impression: I'd admit I very much disliked this beer upon the first couple sips. It was plain and uneventful, it didn't exhibit much aroma until several gulps in. As it warmed and the taste buds became accustomed, it blossomed into a strong complexity that truly did distinguish it from other drinking lagers and econo-beers. But the low carbonation and that warm-like astringency of Bud and Coors was the biggest deterrence.


77/100

Dynamo Copper Lager

Thanks to my dad for getting me the winter beers of the world which oddly enough included this beer. I had been meaning to try it and had in fact almost picked up a six pack. Tasted at the Carpenters Christmas party in a wine glass.

Appearance: Rich copper amber. I'm quite impressed with the color. The beer exhibits total clarity with little visible carbonation. Unfortunately no head develops from the pour.

Aroma: Mild caramel sweetness embraces the nose. Following there is a pungent lager smell that adds a unique twist. More prominently a nice toasted sweetness develops by the 4th sip.

Taste: Toasted malt start with a crisp finish and a mellow lagered profile. There is somewhat of a candied or honey sweetness. Nutty and simply flavored. Bitterness is subtle but still maintained like most lager beers consistent with hallertau or saaz like hops. By the end, I sense a chocolate note develop. On 8/8/11 I retried it and the chocolate notes have become far more apparent, leaving a rish and savory malted barley and toasted malt sweetness about it that remains on the palate. Far more enticing than that of the last time I tried this, nearly 8 months prior.

Mouthfeel: An even, medium carbonation on the tongue that leaves a gloopy texture after washing down. Somewhat cloying. As the beer washes down, the carbonation is even felt in the throat. Medium body and hefty mouthfeel.

Overall Impression: Very flavorful lager. Toasty addition really appeals to the palate. Yet still maintains a lagered character. Nuttiness becomes more pronounced as the beer reaches the finish.


12/26/10: 83/100
8/8/11: 87/100