Chicagoland lagers (2020)

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by SeanBond, Feb 4, 2020.

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  1. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    What would you guys choose as your every-occasion, go-to (distributed) lager if you could only pick one? I want to keep something on hand in case I'm not in the mood for an IPA or stout (which are typically what fill my fridge), and I've found that even something like Dovetail's Vienna Lager isn't "generic" enough to always scratch that itch. I'd pick Metro's Stromhaus helles if it hit distro, but since it doesn't I'm leaning towards Dovetail's helles, or Cruz Blanca's Mexico Calling.
     
    #41 SeanBond, Mar 9, 2020
  2. GuyFawkes

    GuyFawkes Grand Pooh-Bah (5,630) Apr 7, 2011 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've been enjoying Schwarzbiers lately!

    Metropolitan's Magnetron is a very nice one, as is Alarmist's All In Favor. I have Urban Renewal's Schwarz Weather in the fridge!

    Glad to see local breweries making this not-so-hyped style.
     
    #42 GuyFawkes, Mar 9, 2020
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  3. mbockstruck30

    mbockstruck30 Pooh-Bah (1,800) Dec 31, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Seems like you are specifically asking for local American versions of the style? Personally, I regularly have Metro Flywheel in my fridge. PW Premium Pils is also a go to. I really wish Dovetail would can their Pils, as it would probably trump those two. I'm personally not a big fan of Maplewood's Pulaski (although the dry hopped Cashmere version is nice).
     
    #43 mbockstruck30, Mar 9, 2020
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  4. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sounds right. I barely know enough about the style to make that distinction, though. :sweat_smile:
    Flywheel is a very good call, imo; that's one of my go-tos also. I've actually never had PW's, and I keep meaning to.
     
    #44 SeanBond, Mar 9, 2020
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  5. HawksBeerFan

    HawksBeerFan Maven (1,378) Dec 24, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    Dovetail's Helles would be my choice for sure.
     
    #45 HawksBeerFan, Mar 9, 2020
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  6. kodt

    kodt Pooh-Bah (2,286) Mar 6, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just picked up Pipeworks' schwarzbier, will report back once I drink one.

    Magnetron is great, every time I buy a six pack I ask myself "why don't I buy this more often?"
     
    #46 kodt, Mar 9, 2020
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  7. beardown2489

    beardown2489 Pooh-Bah (1,966) Oct 5, 2012 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Firestone Lager, but if local it’d probably be Lu Kolsch or Rev Ghost Ride Kolsch. If Local Option ever packages Outlawger, that might be my choice though
     
    #47 beardown2489, Mar 9, 2020
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  8. CB_Michigan

    CB_Michigan Pooh-Bah (1,552) Sep 4, 2014 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Lu is great. Every time I have one I think “I should buy this more often.” But then I get distracted by some one-off IPA. Ghost Ride is decent but I got some weird vaguely-celery type of flavor last time I had it.

    On another note, I am loving the heck out of FFF’s Region X. Definitely need to get a couple more 4-packs!
     
    #48 CB_Michigan, Mar 10, 2020
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  9. 4DAloveofSTOUT

    4DAloveofSTOUT Grand Pooh-Bah (4,064) Nov 28, 2008 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Dovetail Helles was that beer for me last summer. Now that Dovetail Hefe is in cans that turned into the go to easy drinker. It’s always in my fridge. I really wish Dovetail would can the Kolsch, I would probably stop buying any other beer off the shelf if Dovetail Kolsch was in cans.
     
    #49 4DAloveofSTOUT, Mar 10, 2020
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  10. GuyFawkes

    GuyFawkes Grand Pooh-Bah (5,630) Apr 7, 2011 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    #50 GuyFawkes, Mar 10, 2020
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2020
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  11. Jaycase

    Jaycase Grand Pooh-Bah (3,858) Jan 13, 2007 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Anyone try Schlenkerla Fastenbier this year (in cans)? B United had mentioned Beer Temple, Fountainhead Market, Bitter Pops & The Green Lady as Chicago area options. It's likely these are the only places around as B United offerings are sadly usually nowhere to be found (fresh anyway), particularly in the suburbs.
     
    #51 Jaycase, Mar 15, 2020
  12. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Had it last year (the B United cans) and was really surprised at how much I liked it. Its very smoky, but I think I'm getting used to the style and that beer was the first schlenkerla I had that I actually genuinely enjoyed drinking through. I actually, at the time, drank a can along side an old bottle I found at a store in Southern IL and the can was so so much better than the bottle. The smoke in the can as more balanced and it actually had discernible hops. The bottle just tasted like liquid smoke.
     
    #52 FBarber, Mar 15, 2020
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  13. OleWorm

    OleWorm Devotee (341) May 20, 2008 Illinois

    Hi all — as you're mindfully doing as-needed runs to the store in the next couple of weeks and need to re-up on beers, keep in mind Dovetail—we’re open daily from 3-7pm for to-go sales and in addition to our core brand of cans (Helles, Vienna Lager, and Hefeweizen), we’ve been able to short-runs of canning for beers you've been telling us to can!

    Available in our little shop for the first time in cans, these Chicagoland lagers:
    LAGER
    DUNKEL
    RAUCHBIER
    BALTIC PORTER
    CZECH DARK LAGER
    RAUCHDOPPELBOCK

    Stay healthy out there — and hope to see you in our taproom again soon.
     
    #53 OleWorm, Mar 18, 2020
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  14. HawksBeerFan

    HawksBeerFan Maven (1,378) Dec 24, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    OH SHIT
     
    #54 HawksBeerFan, Mar 18, 2020
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  15. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Can you package 4 of each into a mix pack and sell it as an "Global Event Survival Kit"?
     
    #55 HouseofWortship, Mar 18, 2020
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  16. 4DAloveofSTOUT

    4DAloveofSTOUT Grand Pooh-Bah (4,064) Nov 28, 2008 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Exactly what I thought!
     
    #56 4DAloveofSTOUT, Mar 18, 2020
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  17. 4DAloveofSTOUT

    4DAloveofSTOUT Grand Pooh-Bah (4,064) Nov 28, 2008 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    this is absolutely brilliant!!! Starting slow clap
     
    #57 4DAloveofSTOUT, Mar 18, 2020
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  18. HawksBeerFan

    HawksBeerFan Maven (1,378) Dec 24, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    Some people be hoarding toilet paper, others hand sanitizer.

    Me? I'm hoarding Czech Dark Lager.
     
    #58 HawksBeerFan, Mar 18, 2020
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  19. HawksBeerFan

    HawksBeerFan Maven (1,378) Dec 24, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    Some savages bought out all the Czech Dark Lager before I got there yesterday :slight_frown:
     
    #59 HawksBeerFan, Mar 19, 2020
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  20. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Same. Hoping to flip some toilet paper for a 4-pack. Might have to throw in a bottle of hand sanitizer as a +1 ...
     
    #60 FBarber, Mar 19, 2020
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