Chicagoland Lagers

No. Metropolitan has a draft only helles called haus helles as well.

I like hailstorms. I love metros.

 

Nah the whole point of that beer is that it should be consumed fresh direct from the tap. As much as I would love to take that beer home it really does belong as a draft only beer.

 

Love Haus Helles, but I have to respectfully disagree. Dovetail is just so much more rich. Metro is still excellent though.

 

The interesting thing is that hailstorm, metro, and dovetail have 3 pretty different helles lagers. So it’s certainly all preference. I think all three are pretty well constructed.

I think metro haus helles might be their best beer. But that’s cuz it really fits what a like.

I’d still drink dovetail lager over most pale lager made in this state.

Excited to see what Pipeworks is going to do to this conversation and love the diversity that is beginning to be found in this market.

I don’t like most of these generic undefined lagers popping up in the market. Lager is a category, not a style. You don’t see this kind of ambiguity in the Ale category.

 

I probably still prefer Heliostat or Arc Welder in their portfolio (I'm a sucker for dunkels and rye separately, so that beer is particularly good to me), but I do really like Haus Helles a lot. I agree that it's all preference between that and Dovetail (haven't had Hailstorm's).

I totally agree on the lager ambiguity thing, too unless there's a good reason, like Dovetail Lager, which I was told they didn't really feel fit into any existing style, so they just left it undefined. Most other lagers named similarly end up disappointing since they're overhopped messes or slightly upscale Hamm's for 3x the cost.

 

Just reading this thread for the first time, and wanted to give a heads up that New Oberpfalz in NW Indiana (Griffith) brews top notch lagers. Their flagship Helles is excellent, and I prefer it to Dovetail's version. (That said, I could drink Dovetail's Vienna Lager forever - that beer is sublime.)

NOs Schwarzbier (which they haven't brewed for a while because they have a good problem - they can't brew enough beer) was my favorite brew for a while (and I'm a West Coast IPA guy by trade), but they have a pils and a hefe on tap now. If you're slumming here in Da Region, check them out.

 

I like Dovetail’s Helles better by a bit but absolutely agree that NO’s Helles is outstanding. Just picked up a couple sixers last weekend.

Feuergeist is also an incredible IPA.

 

Finally made it to Metro's taproom over the weekend, and now I'm furious that 1) I didn't get there sooner and 2) I can't drink the Stromhaus Helles whenever I want

 

Do they officially have the dock patio opened yet?

 

Nope. Still waiting on the good 'ol City of Chicago for the permit!

(which was pretty disappointing, because the taproom was a little stuffy and it was perfect outdoor drinking weather)

You can stand around outside, but there's nowhere to sit, yet.

 

I do really love black lagers, the dark Czech one Dovetail put out was fucking awesome.

As a side note, I'm also really getting into low ABV stouts again. Love the stout flavors without all the alcohol.

 

Absolutely beautiful taproom there!! Dock patio is damn cool!! And Stromhaus and Heliostat can be taken home also!!

 

Almost forgot...may as well stop by Maplewood too for some Lounge Lager. Brewery only release!

 

I think about this beer much more often than I'd like to admit.

 

Drank a Kinslahger Sauvin Blanc tonight. I’ve had a few of their lagers in the past and enjoyed them all. But this might be my favorite. Can’t say I’ve had a brut lager before, but this is exactly what I envisioned reading the description. Highly recommend picking up a 4 pack.