Chicago breweries that don’t need their own thread (2025)

Old Irving revealed the Krampus line-up. Sounds pretty damn good to me, always love going up for a flight and a Krampus burger that stains my fingers for days.

2025 KRAMPUS LINEUP

12 months ago, we captured Krampus in a prison of bourbon barrels and are now preparing for his release. This year, we offer Barrel-Aged Krampus Cookies (the “OG”) + 4 variants! All blend beautifully with the rich flavors of bourbon and are best enjoyed while hiding in fear.

2025 KRAMPUS COOKIES + VARIANTS:

* Barrel-Aged Krampus Cookies (2025) – Blend of Buffalo Trace & 13 Year Willett Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with vanilla and cocoa nibs. The “OG”. 15% ABV.

* Barrel-Aged Double Double Krampus (2025) – Blend of Buffalo Trace & 13 Year Willett Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with double vanilla and double cocoa nibs. 15% ABV.

* Barrel-Aged Champurrado Coffee Krampus (2025) – Blend of Buffalo Trace & 13 Year Willett Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with vanilla, cocoa nibs, Saigon cinnamon, Hexe coffee, and chilis. 15% ABV.

* Barrel-Aged German Chocolate Cake Krampus (2025) – Blend of Buffalo Trace & 13 Year Willett Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with vanilla, cocoa nibs, coconut, and pecan. 15% ABV.

* Barrel-Aged Krampus Mélange (2025) – Blend of Buffalo Trace & 13 Year Willett Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with Rye Barrel-Age Ryewine and Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barleywine. No adjuncts. 15% ABV.

PREORDER SALE: Sale goes live on @get.oznr (link in bio) on Thursday, 11/13 at 10am. Mark your calendars! Get the free Oznr app and subscribe to Old Irving Brewing Co for updates and to order.

RELEASE: Pickup and Krampus on tap on Tuesday, 11/18 at noon. 9-day pickup window, 11/18-11/26.

More details to come!

 

How has the Krampus suite been the last few years?

 

So is Off Hours at Ramova just a rebrand for their Other Half situation or is something meaningfully different? I saw the posts on social yesterday but wasn’t sure

 

Given that they never got the Ramova location on OH’s website this is probably just to make it more obvious it isn’t an OH location.

 

but still with only Other Half beers right?

 

Maybe. Like they’ll license the OH recipe but if the beer sucks it is because it isn’t brewed by OH?

 

My local bar gets them on tap every year. I feel like every year 1 is incredible, 2 really good, 1 ok, and 1 that just didn’t work for me (usually too sweet)

 

There have been some really nice non adjunct ones in the recent past. This one as a sort of Firestone Anniversary style one leaves me a little cold

 

I think last year's batch of Krampus beers (Krampi?) did a little better in finding a balance between too-sweet and not sweet enough; I'm a big Krampus guy (partially because I just really like OIB) and was kind of underwhelmed with 2022 and 2023 sweetness-wise. I also usually just straight up skip the OG variant because I prefer the others and usually don't even drink through my "allotment" on time lol.

 

The champurrado was excellent last year as well as the rum barrel variant. Looking forward to the German chocolate cake variant this year

 

Goldfinger has a new beer, Winter Beer. A Rye Lager. Has a nice dark fruit and spice flavor to me. And at 4.2% to boot. Not a beer to session necessarily imo but it's a very nice lager for the season. I dig it.

 

Not sure where to put this so I'm sticking it here. Was perusing the liquor area at my local Costco (North Riverside) and saw this; Kirkland BA Imperial Stout. Not sure who brews it, but I remember reading something about Firestone Walker being involved (could be wrong though). Anyway it's only $8.00 a bomber.

Also they were selling bombers on Chimay Grand Reserve for $10.00, which I promptly bought (can see those on the bottom left).

 

I could be wrong but I believe Deschuttes does the Kirkland beers

 

Yeah, Deschuttes also makes the Kirkland lager, which is a pretty decent helles for the price point.

 

A friend told me about the Kirkland BA stout a year or two ago, and I discovered, much to my delight, that there are several states (including Minnesota and Indiana***, but not Illinois), where you are are able to purchase liquor without having to have a membership. I agree that it's a fantastic beer for the price, and the fact that I don't have to have a membership to purchase it is even better.

**This is according to a Yahoo article I referenced while responding to this. I live in Minnesota, so I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this random Yahoo article when it comes to Indiana. But I was able to purchase several bottles in Minnesota without being a member.

 

I believe it is also the case in Indiana.

 

Costco should charge $99 to use carts, but make them a free perk for members. You want to buy alcohol without a membership? Walk your ass all the way to the back of the store and carry what you can all the way to the other side of the store to pay. Then have a nice walk to your car.

 

In Minnesota the liquor/wine/beer is actually in a side store right off the front entrance but a separate entry. Other than the usual cluster that is a Costco parking lot, it's less steps to get the booze than a gallon of milk.

 

Know this is pushing the limits of “Chicago” but Crystal Lake’s variation stout is aged in wet bourbon and rye barrels for 2 years. Feel like this series is slept on, but I usually really enjoy! Cheers!