Chicagoland Lagers (2022)

Lakefront Maibock is out in WI, shouldn't be long before we see it in IL.

Just beware with partying with Maibock, it didn't earn the nickname "Mindblock" for nuthin'.

 

Zlotonator is out on shelves. I picked up a 4 pack at bitter pops yesterday (bitter pops is sold out now but I’m guess other shops have some around).

 

excellent haul!

 

Not shown in the pic was the flu which I also apparently brought back from my trip. The 4 day weekend was ruined. Imagine buying all this then being repulsed by the idea of drinking any of it because you had a few the day before you got sick. This day cannot end fast enough so I can finally start cracking these sum bitches!!!

 

Pollyanna's maibock Nose over Tail and Imperial Oak's dopplebock Intoxicator are out. Not sure of their distro, though.

 

Gaak -- fingers crossed that it's only flu.

 

@REVZEB totally misread your post so I’ll try to be more helpful this time around
I’ve been doppelbocks from Pipeworks, riverlands, miskatonic recently. The pipeworks and riverlands were good (I haven’t had the one from miskatonic).

 

I just found Art History‘s Levitace— fantastic. I also love Gravitace, but haven’t had it recently.

I’ve seen some mention of Off Colors’ You Never Take Me Anywhere Nice- when available this is worth seeking out.

 

Got around to my Czech Dark Lager blind tasting and…

Phase 3 was the winner. Followed by Maplewood, Dovetail, and then Goldfinger in that order. Although all are good.

Phase 3 and Maplewood are the darkest and most roasty. But Phase 3 is just better.

Dovetail is that lightest, more of a deep amber. It is also the most drinkable. But in a side by side taste test comes across as less flavorful, but drinking multiple it would benefit.

Goldfinger came in last. Which surprised me, but was still good. It had a very strong bready yeasty aroma, with a kind of grainy almost spicy finish. It grows on you though.

Anyway we are lucky to have so many great examples of this style on that shelf right now. I also saw Hailstorm’s on the shelf but I don’t need that many dark lagers.

 

Hopewell also has a Czech Dark Lager, Long Haul. Glad I bought one, but also glad I didn't buy 4. Good not great, in my opinion.

 

Thanks for sharing. Always interesting to see blind tasting results. But this is the key takeaway imo. This is a great time for lager fiends in the Chicago area. There are 5, 6, maybe more CDLs available now in the area? Unheard of 2-3 years ago. And many bocks, doppelbocks and hopefully maibocks on the way as well. Plus all the other pilsners and lagers. Sure, one may not enjoy all the available lager options but at the same time has to admit the availability has never been better. A great time to be a lager fan in the Chicago area.

 

As a Chicagoan who got into beer via English-style ales...I chose a great time to fall in love with lagers. It's all due a chance encounter with Dovetail's Vienna Lager. I'm eternally grateful. @OleWorm

 

Hey, thanks! It’s always nice to hear when people came into a new-to-them beer through Dovetail, and it’s great to have so many great lagers to enjoy in the Chicago area.

Also, as the person who wrote the Dovetail CDL recipe, I made it a point to make sure it wasn’t too roasty — IMO, the style should be less like a porter, and more of a bread crust expression of Czech lagers, with just a touch of roast and chocolate. It’s also been great to see all the Czech Dark Lagers emerge lately too—obviously a favorite of mine

 

Having a Fastenbier from Art History...it seems to be a take off of Schlenkerla's Fastenbier, which is a Lent-only beer. Based on that, yes, it's a rauchbier.

It's smoke-forward but not punishingly so; you also get notes of acorn & faint hop bite.

I liked this a lot, but if you're not down with the smoke, this won't be for you.

 

I have been homebrewing a Tmavý Ležák (Czech Dark Lager) annually for the past 6 years and it was my goal to achieve in that beer the qualities you detailed here. I was in the Czech Republic for a two week beercation in 2019 and I had the pleasure of drinking several brands (and types) of Czech Dark Lagers and those beers did not have much in terms of roasty character.

I wonder if some US breweries chose to brew their versions more roasty since they think this is what their customers want? Those sorts of beers would not be true to style IMO but perhaps they are appealing to the craft beer drinkers who demand 'moar' from beers?

Na Zdravi

 

Probably. I knew right away when drinking them that whichever was strongest and the most roasty/chocolatey would likely win in a side by side tasting. It's just going to stand out more.

The Dovetail and Goldfinger offerings are likely more authentic.

Kind of reminds me of when someone says their favorite porter is some 14% barrel aged monster stout that the brewery just decided to call a porter to differentiate it from their 15% stout.

 

It's the same with most Ami-made Dunkel. I'm not sure why brewers think they all need to be closer to Schwarzbier -- all of the Dunkel I drank in Munich was pure liquid bread with no harsh roasted grain at all.

 

If I can awake early enough, I may try to get there for this luncheon.

 

Speaking from personal experience, if you're brewing on a system that isn't capable of doing decoction mashing, it can be hard to get the color right without adding a bit of roasted malt. You don't want to get a ton of caramel/crystal malt in there either for color adjustment or it can make the beer finish too sweet tasting. The style is wonderful when it's done right, it's just a tightrope walk to get that balance of little to no toasty character, finishing dry enough, and still having proper color.