Chicago Stout Releases (2022)

I’ve never pulled the trigger on the BA membership because it includes a lot of their wild ales, which I don’t drink enough of to quantify it. But I do load up on many of their BA stouts when they release them. They don’t have the nuance of some other bigger breweries and they are sippers for sure. But I’m a fan.

 

Binnys on grand has lots of thundertaker left as well as crushing mass and the 2 new pipe works ba offerings if anyone looking

 

If these new Pipeworks have a bunch of sweet stuff in them I'll probably pass.

If they are just straight up barrel aged beers, I'll probably cop.

In general though, I agree. I buy next to nothing from Pipeworks these days.

 

Yes and I typically like to love their offerings including their SuperDawg Super Shake BA stout. So glad they will finally be able to open their new brewery and taproom, though it will be further from me than their current location or their originally planned Jefferson Park location.

3076 N Milwaukee Ave. - Taproom expected to open this Spring or Summer.

https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/0...to-repair-shop-after-firehouse-deal-unravels/

Among their current offerings, the Whoopskibier six pack + Superdawg GC ($27) is a great value (they sometimes pair this deal with the BA Super Shake). Also really liked their Loch Effect if you like that flavor profile. May go there this week to pick up these and also their Pipeworks Collaboration beer. I really hope they make more batches of their Chipp Inn Pale Ale they released for the first time this Summer, really liked that release but it's been gone since the first batch (though perhaps the Chipp Inn who they make it for still has cans).

 

It seems an easy two-fer would be the new Lake Effect space and Sleeping Village.

SV is mostly known as a music venue, but they have a FANTASTIC beer menu any day of the week. And if google maps is to be trusted, it's a 7 minute WALK between the two.

 

Been to a couple of their meetups at the brewery on Montrose and Clint usually has a pretty nice spread of samples to try. Some of Lake Effect's brews are hit and miss with me, but glad as well that they're finally moving forward with the new location.

Did see that they just released a BA Oatmeal stout called Niagara Falls that looks interesting.

 

I have similar experience, both with the wider variance between ok/good and excellent from Lake Effect beers, and also his VIP meetups that can be really fun when you learn about the beer and have good conversations.

I didn't have their year's batch yet, but their 2020 BA Imperial Stout (at 12.5%) was excellent. On the hit or miss side, their milk stout aged in Fernet Barrels a few years ago was incredible, but their recent milk stout collaboration with Fannies and Stivers Coffee aged in bourbon barrels was a boozy mess on my end.

Still working through my refrigerator at home so didn't go this week, but perhaps later this month I can pick up a few bottles and 4/6 packs.

 

Niagara Falls is worth a try. Previous years have been a bit boozy, but the base stout is excellent. Haven’t tried this batch yet but I’m looking forward to it.

 

The Fernet BA brews from a few years back were pretty good.

 

Forthcoming Binny's BA collaboration with Bell's. I have always trusted Bell's with their BA beers but I would have preferred a no nonsense stout.

 

Icebox cakes are a "Midwest tradition" that has eluded me for an entire lifetime...never heard of 'em.

Also, agreed on wishing this was a just a barrel-aged stout without the funny stuff...but I'll absolutely be trying this.

 

Yeah, that icebox cake thing is not something I've come across in my corner of the Midwest either. Google says it has some ties to Nabisco, which was founded in Chicago but that's all I know.

 

Add another to the tally of, "Never heard/had icebox cake".

WTF is graham flour? That's not a real thing, huh? (OK, I googled, it "is" a thing, but it's just wheat flour with a particular type of grind/filter.) I can't imagine that adding flour does anything for the flavor or the body. Right?