Chicagoland Lagers (2022)

Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed the beer! It was fun not trying to conform to a specific style on that one and just choose some interesting ingredients and see what happens.

 

Didn't want to go full fanboy, but this Riverlands Schwarzbier (Midnight Silence) is also worth tracking down.

I remember @RBCBrams17 saying lagers would be a focus this year...if the two I had tonight are any indication, this will be a great year for lager heads in Chicago.

Goldfinger, Dovetail, Art History, Roaring Table, Riverlands, Metropolitan, Off Color...hell, Revolution makes a nice pils. This could be a golden age for local lagers!

 

I also really enjoyed More’s Dark and Swerski (dunkel-weizen) in this vein.

 

If I didn’t compliment Riverlands new Schwartzbier, my bad. It’s great. But, I’m here to shoutout Art History. Two new beers recently, and both deserve attention. Levitate is a brilliant 3.8% 10° Czech Lager. If you understand beer and how difficult it is to make
small beers taste big, then you will be as impressed as I am with this baby version of Gravitace.

The other beer is Veritace, a Dark Czech lager. It’s the best dark lager I’ve had in the last year, maybe alongside the dopplebock from new glarus, and Death and Taxes by Moonlight (California). I still need to try a few recent local releases, but I’ll be really surprised if anyone finds a better made dark lager before next winter. It’s superb

 

Also had 2 phase three lagers recently. I revisted P3 Pils. It’s solid. It has a Czech type hop profile. The malt builds a lighter, more sessionable body. The label says American style pilsner lager, and I think that makes some sense. I enjoyed it. Makes me want to try their Czech pils next time it’s made

2nd is the Dark Czech Lager. It’s fine, but it’s a bit too lean, and finishes a touch too bitter. No creaminess. It’s not bad, and it’s well priced, but it’s not my cup of tea. That said, some may like it, just doesn’t fit me

 

I'm loving all of these Dark Lager releases across the area. Chicagoland is really embracing lagers!

My favorite, that's not quite out right now for some reason is More's Dark Lager. It's technically labelled as Dunkel, but it's pitch black. Nonetheless, it's fantastic.

 

I have a P3 Pils (American Lager?) on tap for a review -- tried one the other day and will say that, when keeping the style in mind, it's a great drinker and tastes a lot better than most beers of the category.

I also have a review of Roaring Table's Keller penned out. Maybe not my favorite lager from them, but comparing it favorably to Grevensteiner's Keller and UC Zwickel places it in pretty good company.

 

That UC Zwickel is so good. Miss that being on the shelves here.

 

I've seen at Binny's Gurnee... but it *has* been a while since I looked.*

*Checked the Binny's web site (yeah, not always reliable) and the UC Zwickel is shown to be available at a few locations -- including Gurnee and Vernon Hills. Not knowing your location, of course.

Then again... just look for the RT and get it over with.

 

Drinking one right now, and you're right, it really is a delicious version on the style. Worth picking up a 4 pack or two for sure!

 

Drink your schwarzbier!

 

Oh I do plenty of that! It's been my go to shift beer

 

That sounds dangerous!

 

quick (hopefully) question: can you find goldfinger lagers at Beer On The Wall Arlington Heights? Art History Brewing lagers? sorry if this has been covered. i admit i didn’t read this entire thread before posting?

 

https://botw-ah.square.site/browse-by-brewery

 

Y’all are making me *really* want to take a weekend trip to Chicago.
Cheers!

 

Really enjoying Maplewood's In Dark Trees

 

A new lager-centric brewery has opened in Evanston: Double Clutch.

https://www.doubleclutchbrewing.com/

As a far north side resident of the city, I'll be sure to check this out soon and report back!!