Mikerphone Brewing (2020)

I think this is hugely underrated for Mikerphone - their draft availability. They always keep a good amount so that you know you can go grab something on tap if you want it, which is great if you can’t make a release day or don’t want to commit to a whole 4 pack or bomber or whatever else packaging format they’ve decided to undertake. Meanwhile, some other breweries sell out of drafts the day of release or a day or two later.

 

There were like 8 Cerebral taps on. I was surprised by that. I wished I had the time (and DD) to explore the menu more thoroughly.

 

Like ~2:30, probably missed you?

I gotta say Mikerphone's can program has really done well lately, been incredibly happy with their carryout product. Mike Check, Mike Solo, Mike Drop, Say UHHHH!, Teleport Massive, Bass Cannon.

Haven't had a problem with their cans for a while now. Kudos to Mike and the crew for dialing it in.

 

Agreed. There have been a few DIPA's that have been really good recently. He is still in the extreme upper tier of pricing, so I don't pick up many to go but it is nice to meet friends over there.

 

Will hope Super Duper Sauce is as good as it originally was and grab some cans this week

 

double blue hast mich has me wanting to make a trip too. fingers crossed some might get distributed to tbc.

 

Speaking of Special Sauce - I've never understood why SS is called a "New England Style" IPA. When I think "New England Style," I think hazy and soft body, and Special Sauce usually isn't either of those things. It's more of a really old school DIPA body that's slightly "syrupy" for lack of a better word.

I've never tried Heady Topper though, maybe Mike was trying to emulate that?

 

Maybe different palates but in its heyday I thought Special Sauce was the closest thing to Tree House you could get around Chicago. Did some side by sides and it held up well. They use a different yeast I believe for that beer.

 

Seems like they only run with Super Special Sauce lately. Back in the day Mike released just Special Sauce variants pretty regularly. I wonder why we aren't seeing that in cans more.

 

Yeah, it seemed like once a month he was putting out a single-hop SS with a different hop. Those were great.

 

I think I remember him saying on some podcast he'd only do the original (mosaic) with special sauce going forward.

 

Yeah he said triple dry hopping is too much. Not sure what changed

 

"We brewed an Imperial Stout that will see some coffee and coconut."

The "some" decision clearly wasn't on Mike's end

 

I wonder if he drove down to STL with a van full of candy bars to throw in it, and was turned down.

 

"All cars be on the look out. We have reports of a man with a van full of candy trying to lure local brewers into doing a collab."

 

Smells Like A Beerfest:

https://www.facebook.com/MikerphoneBrewing/posts/2747864275289679

Cost: $75 per person, includes unlimited beer samples, fest glass, & fest bag

Wow an empty Fest Bag!!!

 

I've never been, but this sounds like the most interesting festival in Chicagoland now that Far & Away is canceled / on hold. $75 isn't cheap, but for 4 hours is a completely reasonable/fair price IMO.

 

Yea historically he has had some great breweries bring some great beers.

 

Let’s hope they figure out the entry situation after last year’s mess (which they did address by letting everyone in)