Chicago breweries that don’t need their own thread (2023)

If this doesn’t call for an Other Half Acre collab(which they may have done a few of already), I don’t know what does.

 

St. Errant has an adjunct free barrel aged English Barleywine for sale on OZNR. Picks up at Temperance in Evanston.

 

Thank god St. Errant has joined the ranks of brewers that put a nice unpenetrable, thick wax cover over the cap.*

One day, I'm sure, my obituary will read: "He died doing what he hated most; being stabbed while trying to get the wax off a beer he bought the same day because the brewery assumed he'd age it for 40 years."

*Sarcasm font

 

Probably an unpopular and dumb opinion at this point, but I did always like waxed bottles. I know they can be a pain in the ass to open, but there's something that made the bottles feel special and like it was an event to open one of them.

Another element for me is a lot more BA beers being canned.

I'm sure a lot of this is irrational, but I believe our own taste and perceptions of taste can be influenced by stuff like this. And it's an aspect of beer culture that, while minor and an inconvenience, I do miss.

 

That plastic wax is the worst. Back in the day I bought a waxed bottle (maybe Ska Brewing?like 15 years ago) that had a pull strip embedded in the wax so you could just unwrap it quickly and more easily. A shame the vast majority of brewers don’t add these.

 

I loved Rare Form but it took me 15+ minutes to open the wax and that was with a yopener and then a knife.

 

The “Rock of Ages” Steinbier by Church Street is a winner! Had on tap tonight, love that they tried it

 

Not sure what thread made the most sense, but Roggenbier in the wild alert!
Bavarian Lodge in Lisle has OEC’s roggenbier on tap. Come for the roggenbier, stay for the schnitzel and thuringer wurst!

 

Not a Chicago brewery but Lil Beaver has a collaboration with Binny's which was just released it seems. Rested & Refreshed, a 16-month BA Stout with Vanilla, Cocoa Nibs and Coffee. 4pk @ 19.99.

 

Is church street in itasaca getting away with selling their memberships? Membership(s), emphasis on multiple. Each $450 but you save 50 when you buy both lol.

have I been sleeping on CS or are they crazy?

 

Lol, I go there a decent amount, mainly due to the German styles and the sheer difficulty of finding breweries in IL with a full kitchen. Relaxing brewpub for sure. I remember when the server was selling me on a membership maybe 6-9 months ago? It seemed astronomical to me. I just can't justify that amount at any brewery. That being said, it included alot of beer from what I remember.

 

A lot of breweries doing big ticket memberships this year and I assume it's either because A. They have a lot of customers who wouldn't mind paying up front for special treatment/beers or B. They are floundering and they need to fleece $400 out of some of their best customers to get through the beginning of the new year.

 

"B" sounds more likely to me.

 

Founders CBS just hit numerous Binny's if you are still into that. I know I am looking forward to cracking one tonight.

 

I know it isn't a Chicago Brewery. Oops. Where the heck else can I shout from the rooftops.

 

Didn't know St Errant brewed up these kind of releases. Thought they were mostly high octane hazy IPAs and Stouts?

 

Flipside Brewing in Tinley Park released their first barrel aged stout today. Aged in Weller barrels for a year. It's really great. Not stupid thicc, but body of a beer you'd actually like to drink more than an oz of. Tons of vanilla in the nose and flavor despite zero additions added to the beer. Would recommend a trip out there for it, plus the food is excellent.