Side Project / Shared (2022)

2022 is the year…

 

Where’s the Chicago zwanze?

 

Beer Temple

 

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/zwanze-day-2022-beer-temple.668523/#post-7590130

Here

 

I like Beer Temple, but I'd still rather experience Zwanze Day at a place like Side Project. You know the on-site bottles besides Zwanze offering would be very good.

 

new beer on cask at the Cellar from Shared. Windjammer - small export stout (6.0%)

https://www.sideprojectbrewing.com/pages/the-cellar

 

On Nitro at Shared as well

Shared Brewing (toasttab.com)

 

Am I the only one who ignores most of the adjunct stouts but had to make time out of a busy weekend to go try the cask export stout?

 

How is it?

 

Excellent. Very much like Guinness Foreign Export or Schlafly's that they do once in a while. A lot of flavor in a moderate ABV. Black licorice, hints of chocolate, roasty, love the mouth feel on cask.

 

Want to express my appreciation for this group, and the community culture that Side Project has created at their establishments. I love the community aspect.

Got back from finally visiting Prairie, and was disappointed to find people don't share bottles there. I guess I took it for granted that I would be able to split a few of the cellar bottles while on site, which is never an issue at Side Project. Still a fun visit, but I'd much rather have been at The Cellar bar.

 

Out of curiosity, what is the size and cost of bottles? Not knowing (or caring) much about prairie, I'd assume they are all 12oz bottles, and no more than $30 (unless you want some type of Pirate Paradise from years back when it was hype).

 

They were $20 per 12oz bottle for on site. The to-go bottles were ~$15. Considering they're 13-15% ABV though, I did not want to solo two (and there were a couple beyond those two that I would've loved to try.)

 

So, not in any way trying to suggest that it isn't great that the culture at SP includes the sharing (splitting) of bottles, but this seems pretty common at "destination" breweries where people want to try a bunch of stuff, especially when you can't just get it on draft. Two great examples where cost isn't much of a factor (compared to side project) is at Drie Fontein and Cantillon.

I suspect that if Prairie's beers were in bombers (22 or 25oz), you'd have been more likely to find someone to share.

Again, not saying it isn't great that this occurs at SP, but it's function that follows form. It's not unique to SP. At SP you're pretty much limited to trying only 1 bottle if you don't share. 2 if you have someone to split it with. If you find another couple, you're easily at 3 or 4 depending on how long everyone wants to stay. Compare that to places with 12oz bottles, and, well, just double that. Plus the cost of waste isn't nearly as high compared to someplace like SP.

 

Just want to put something crazy out there for the Anabasis lovers/BiL folks. I had this year’s Anabasis over the weekend and it was great as always. Now the crazy……I went to a local KC spot in July, Pathlight Brewing, and had their BA BW - No Touchy. No Touchy had this big, beautiful slug of fig and a little more front to back sweetness than Anabasis, and ultimately it was what I would consider every bit as good. Maybe I was surprised by the quality of No Touchy and gave it a ratings bump, whereas I expect a pristine BW every time I hit Anabasis, but they’re at least in the same ballpark? I’ll have to try side by side to be more fair about it, I’m sure. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

 

I don't disagree, but that also doesn't take away from what SP has created. Prairie isn't a big "destination" for beer lovers - i.e. they serve a lot more 'regular' beer with 'regular' patrons. Most of their stouts are available on shelves (and at this point - sit on shelves.) The likelihood of running into someone who wants to sample all their membership bottles available for on-site during a visit is much more slim than running into someone who wants to run through SP's list. Most everyone at Prairie was drinking lighter beer.

But again, I still think that speaks to the culture that SP has created. I got weird looks / replies ("never seen it") when I asked if people split at Prairie. Meanwhile, the bartenders help you find people to split with at SP. Hell, sometimes the bartenders at SP join you to split a bottle after their shift ends.

 

No Touchy gets slept on. Both versions have been absolutely incredible so far. I've also been surprised how long this Elijah Craig version has been sitting.

Even the locals with memberships to other breweries (and have tried a lot more highly rated barleywine than I have) absolutely raved about it. Happy to hear you enjoyed it!

I have yet to try Alma Mader's Rainchaser, but it's getting good remarks online. If someone wants to split a bottle of Anabasis for Rainchaser sometime, that's a share I'd be willing to help create. The I70 Barleywine Showdown.

 

Is the Elijah Craig No Touchy still on draft? Haven’t been over there since early July but would absolutely go back for another pour.

Anabasis and No Touchy are better than Rainchaser for me. Rainchaser on the dry side of BiL.

 

Ah, time flies. Looks like I had my second pour of No Touchy Elijah Craig right at a month ago. Last Untappd check-in was 11 days ago. Oops!



Since I didn't get any Anabasis, this will have to sustain me for awhile. Nice to have the BA work improving on our side of the state (although, Pathlight is a KS brewery).