Forbidden Root (2018)

It's settled then! I'll be at FR in 20 minutes with pitchforks and torches. Who's with me!!?

 

You guys should be proud; the food and beers are great! It would totally be my local spot if I lived in town

I guess I was taken a back by toro's pricing. We have TDH IPA's at $7-8 for 12 ounces. Toro would cost close to $10-11 for the same pour amount. Thats at the brewery of course. At a bar I'd expect to see $7 for 8ozs. Radio Swan also isn't a DIPA (not complaining) and would be priced similarly at $6-7. Then factor in the relatively low $16 a 4 pack and the pricing model seemed off.

 

You don't truly understand Chicago craft beer until you've lived in a Chicagoland neckbeards shoes for a day...or at least chased a truck with him/her....and if she has a beard, you probably understand a bit more....

 

I'm a big FR supporter - I agree the prices seem high across the board (especially for some of the small plates). It does also seem that the to go options are a better value.

That said, I still buy a bunch of their beer in all formats!

 

The Well in Brooklyn has Fractal Mosaic at $7 for 10 ounces. A 16oz can of a Grimm DIPA is $9. Grimm's APA is $8 for a 10oz draft. Mad Fat Unicorn is $7 for a 10 oz pour.

So basically $7 for 10 ounces is standard in Brooklyn bars.

Not taking sides, just throwing out numbers.

 

They do and that is a bar and not a brewery/brewpub. Which was my original point. Equilibrium is also $6 a pour at the brewery. Again, loved the spot but was surprised by the prices.

 

I almost tagged you in this, so nice timing.

 

Take your racism elsewhere

 

I definitely wasn't arguing. Just putting actual dollars to actual ounces.

It's difficult to compare Equilibrium pricing to Forbidden Root's given the locations. Equilibrium is in the middle of nowhere and Forbidden Root is in the heart of the city of Chicago. Overhead costs are going to be incredibly different between the two.

Head down to Triptych Brewing, which 2 hours away from the city (same as Equilibirum) and you can get pours for $6.

How much is a pour at Other Half these days?

 

Other Half prices are pretty similar outside of toro.

12 ounce pours
$6-7 for single IPA/hoppy beer
$7-8 for DIPA/DDH DIPA/TDH TIPA

Their tasters are pretty over priced at $4 for 4 ounces. They just opened a new tap room and at first their growler pricing was similarly absurd.

Really enjoyed all the beers at FR, I think I preferred radio swan over night moth and toro. Night moth was really complex with the oak aging but a little heavy on the body for me. Toro was a little too boozy for my tastes but it was really good. I hope to visit again soon and see what these guys are brewing next. Cheers!

 

Decided to stop in today, not expecting any cans to still be left, but appears there is plenty. Also, didn't realize the recipe was slightly tweaked. Having it on draft now, and imo even better than previous batches (which was always my favorite FR hoppy beer). So, excellent on both accounts for me. Night Moth and Toro are good, but as I expected going in, not as much my cup of tea. But as long as you keep brewing RS, I will be a happy guy.

 

Actually, I take it back on Toro. After having a full glass, its up there with Radio Swan for me. The hop bite at the end is what most FR hazy beers don't have. This is really damn good.

 

Thanks for sharing your perspective. Good to hear you had a nice time here. It's good to see different views from non-FIBs in this forum sometimes. And Other Half & other NY places should not be comparable on prices, they should generally be about 15-20% higher I'd think. New York's (Manhattan, Brooklyn, etc) cost of living (rent, restaurants, groceries, etc) is significantly higher than Chicago.

 

I literally just posted the entire draft board at Other Half 3 hours ago.

 

I'm sensing a "The Price is Ryeght" double version of Radio Swan in the future.

 

I think this new batch of Radio Swan is my favorite FR IPA below 8 ABV. My one quibble with the last batch was the sweetness, and with this one it's dialed back perfectly. Also love that the time between the Atomic Child cans and this release seems to have been shorter than the wait between prior canning runs. If there were weekly FR cans, I know where a whoooooole lot of my beer budget would go.

 

Do you have any idea where Other Half is located? I guarantee you the rent there is significantly lower than Forbidden Root's.

 

Images don't load at work for me.

 

FYI to anyone going, Forbidden Root does last call and closes well before their posted closing time.

Just came down for a berliner before they close and they already did last call and locked the doors despite having a closing time listed at 12:00am.

I get every place needs to have a last call and 20-30 minutes is very common but an hour before you close? Not a good look.

 

I’d think you’d be surprised with the inflation of brooklyn real estate even in gowanus. I would think at best they are the same. A quick look at zillow, even though residential, shows you the crazy property prices. Much higher in the immediate area around Other Half. And its a dump over there.