Dark Lord (2018)

To add to what kodt said, depending on where you are staying, Reggie's Rock Club also has a shuttle. I'd estimate it to be a comparable drive time from O'Hare to the Open Bottle as O'Hare to Reggies.

 

Well, I haven't experienced sherry and port when it comes to Dark Lord, so I guess I don't really have a foundation for an argument... I'll allow it

 

Just curious did you go to the Miller/Gary location or the Hammond spot? 18th Street can run the gamut in terms of quality I think. My biggest knock is that aside from cans and jumping into DDH and NEIPAs, they are so similar to FFF in terms of branding, atmosphere, experience (metal at the pub, foodie menu) that they don't necessarily have an identity that is their own.

I also think there seems to be a catch 22 in brewing one off, small release IPAs. It draws people in to try something new and limited, but it doesn't really allow for improvement of that recipe.

 

While I love what Port and Madeira have done to some Barleywines, Muscat and Madiera haven't been my favorite pairings with DL, and can't imagine Port and Sherry being much better. Sherry, really?!

 

Yeah, sherry is gross, I'm sorry.. And I know it's only one example, but I keep thinking of that Sherry Noir from PAA and that shiz is nasty

 

Sherry has done some unique things with a couple lighter bodied, funkier sours. But I really can't imagine it with Dark Lord...hope we're being trolled.

 

Yes, I should specify, that I just wouldn't want it associated with my darker/heavier-bodied beer

 

I suspect FFF's DL variant game will be upped significantly once they start using their own barrels...to my knowledge they don't have any plans to make dessert wines on site....

 

Hammond...service was pretty bad. Got there early afternoon, sat outside, wasn't very busy. Took forever to order beers, and forever to get them. Couple beers were kicked and notthing replaced them...thought it was odd the day before DLD they weren't prepared. FWIW I'm usually not the complainer type when it comes to service.

I think they were understaffed, again the day before DLD they had to be expecting an influx of people? Now on the flipside, we got to Hailstorm much later, it was much more packed and service was excellent.

 

But wouldn't we want to know if they produce any good spirits with those barrels before thinking DL variants will be stepped up? If they're a crappy distillery, that's not a good thing, right?

 

To each his own...but if they are going to stumble into the city while here, I would preference Forbidden Root, Revolution’s Kedzie taproom, and Corridor (or if heading to suburbs, Mikerphone, Noon Whistle, More).

If they’re staying local to NWI, then after Three Floyds my Top 5 would be...18th Street, One Trick Pony, Windmill, Beer Geeks (not a brewery but good stuff on tap usually) and TwinCade (also not a brewery but usually good stuff on tap and I think they usually throw a bunch of BA stuff on during DLD weekend).

 

18th Street usually has their Barrel Massacre Day a few weeks after DLD. Last year they had a small keg of ChemTrailMix and they pull out a lot of their own BA Hunter variants. BA Hunter Coffee is one of my favorite stouts ever.

 

It can't be any worse than Jim Beam and look how BCBS turned out....

 

They need to go with Rum Barrels, Bourbon Barrels, Brandy/Apple Brandy Barrels (maybe cognac).... Just keep it simple.

 

If I get a rum barrel variant it is immediately up for grabs.

 

OK.... I'll work out a deal if you don't want it.

 

Don't worry, it's FFF so it'll be red rum barrels...

 

Deal.

 

Nothing like setting up trades for theoretical variants.

 

In that case, I'm putting up my Temeculon 4000