Hi! If you were to create a care package to bring to the east coast of 4-8 beers from Chicago, what would be on your list? Emphasis on cans. Previously, I’ve brought the full FR lineup, Half acre deep space, fresh pipeworks (LK, pf guppy), Deborah pseudo sue, and Maplewood Son of Juice... and some others I can’t remember. What would you say are the top tier, not insane to get (corridor cans seem unlikely, although I might try) beers to give to a childhood friend far, far away?
Isn’t that Hop Butcher Portillo’s cake stout dropping this week? That could be interesting, and deliver multiple levels of Chicago at once. Beyond that, Radio Swan just dropped and is phenomenal (my favorite FR beer), and you already mentioned these but I’d also include Sue and LK. Dunno when you’re going but Galactic Dbl Daisy might be out by then. Hearing Fader is great, too—that might be a good lager option. Let us know what you settle on!
Great ideas so far - forgot GDDC is coming up this Friday. And now that HB is dropping once a month, I can definitely swing that. I also have a HA Big Hugs that I’ll probably include. Considering a Marz NEIPA. On the Corridor crowler front, is that something that could hypothetically be included in a mailed package? Ahem. Theoretically. For science!
If you're asking if it's safe to ship crowlers, the answer is yes. Packed as well as any other container, they'll ship fine.
I would say Corridor cans/crowlers for sure, along with Half Acre GDDC. I haven't had this batch of Radio Swan yet (hoping maybe there are some cans left at FR tomorrow, or I catch some in the wild), but everyone seems to say it's on point. I think it's good to get some non-IPAs as well, so the aforementioned beers like Fader and the new HB stout would be good ideas (although we don't know if the HB stout is good at this point).
Not sexy, but Pollyanna Eleanor Porter is a fantastic take on a classic style. Can't argue with many others on here either.
Sticking to cans: Id definitely try to have a Corridor crowler of whatever DDH/haze is available at the time. Temperance Gatecrasher? You might be able to find some Revolution Deth's Tar somewhere. Hailstorm Prairie Madness? Whiner Le Tub for non-hop focused variety?
Cans of half acre (ipa and tuna), pipeworks (nvu, lizard king), and some fresh ipa from forbidden root or hop butcher. A growler from dovetail and/or corridor. Something barrel aged from rev and pipeworks. A sour from une annee and off color. If its the right time of year, also yuzu fierce
If Crowlers are in play, I would add More Brewing + Mikerphone, in addition to Corridor. Noon Whistle Gummypocalypse (dropped last Thurs), Maplewood Pulaski Pils, Revolution Fist City as far as cans go. I would say Apex Predator, but you mentioned cans only. You mentioned Marz NEIPA's, which is a good call if you can justify the cost for a special occasion.
One thing I thought of that I don't believe has been mentioned are Revolution Deep Woods beers. I think those are a must. I know most of them are gone now, but I have seen Straight Jacket in the past week, and wouldn't be shocked if there is some Deth's Tar still floating around.
Yeah, I was going to include a Deth’s Tar, cafe Deth, and VSOD. If you’ve known someone for over 30 years, ya gotta look out for them!
You didn't list it but if you're interested I saw about three cases of Straight Jacket at Binny's SLoop yesterday afternoon.
First iteration will be a small one. Three new hop butchers, HA Big Hugs, and Rev Cafe Deth. Was hoping to throw in some GDDC but haven’t had the chance to go up there.
