Chicagoland Lagers (2022)

Great insight -- and more positive evidence for decoction mashing.

Maybe even positive incentive for the use of Sinamar?

 

I'm definitely interested in trying Sinamar in that style. That, or not mashing the dark grain and adding in later in the process

 

Have you tried using a little bit of Weyermann Dehusked Carafa to achieve deeper color without roast? This 'works' for me while brewing my Tmavý Ležák (Czech Dark Lager) beers.

Cheers!

 

We use Carafa Special II. It works well, but there's still a slight bit of toasted flavor to it. Not full on roasted tasting though

 

Yeah, I guess toasted might be a good word to describe it. In my Tmavý Ležák the dominant flavors are dark bread and some hints of cocoa; I suppose there could be "toast" in the background.

Any experience with dehusked Carafa I? Maybe even less "toast" there?

Cheers!

 

Toasted (as in toasted bread or malliard character) wouldn't be bad. But husky, coffee-like roasted notes just screams Schwarzbier.

Or Guinness Extra Stout -- which isn't a *bad* thing...

 

Sorry, maillard. You'd think my auto-correct would recognize that.

 

Revisited Pipeworks Lager. I’m enjoying it much more that batch one. I don’t know the recipe for this one, but my guess is it’s an adjunct lager. And a damn fine one at that... I don’t typically go for for this style lager but this is really well done. It still has a nice hop presence, reminiscent of High Life but with a bit more bitterness behind it. And the end of the glass it started reminding me of how easy spotted cow is to drink, although that’s where the comparisons stop

@NOTpipeworks if I’m wrong, blame the spicy nachos I housed beforehand. Either way, I think it’s really well done

 

Nobody asked for it, but anyone can get it: GuyFawkes Chicago Czech Dark Lager Power Rankings!

1) Art History - Wenceslas Rye bread, fresh cream & mild woodsy notes. I was blown away by this.

2) Off Color - Town Crowns Way more roast-y notes than most other selections here, which made this right up my alley. Coffee, chocolate & faint citrus. Loved this one too.

3) Goldfinger / Nightglow / Sugar Creek - Czech Dark Lager The barley was the star here; earthy, flavor forward and instantly noticeable. Probably the most unique in this bunch, and really tasty to boot.

4) Roaring Table / Zumbier - 12° Sarsaparilla, caramel & black licorice; bold & beautiful.

5) Phase Three - P3 Czech-Style Dark Lager Another roast-y, chocolate-y treat. It speaks to how many of these were done so well around here that this is down at #5, as I really enjoyed it!

6) Dovetail - Czech-Style Dark Lager Rye bread & some nice floral notes here; a damn fine brew.

7) Hopewell - Long Haul Toffee & a nice earthiness; this one was pretty good but I wouldn't seek it out again. First one I'd say about that yet!

8) Maplewood - In Dark Trees Black licorice & mint notes that clashed a bit for me. I didn't like this very much, but it was certainly interesting.

This style, which I didn't know existed 6 months ago, has been maybe my favorite of 2022.

 

Agreed, the apparently new abundance of these dark lagers has been a great surprise at the bottom of our area's beer cereal box. Hopefully they keep popping up (and returning).

 

I'm going to have an anxiety attack just thinking about only having 2 cans left of the Goldfinger CDL.

 

Lol yes, I am rationing my one can left for the right time

 

I think we all know those mental gymnastics. Do I drink it fresh so it's at its best or do I wait for the chance to really savor it? Should I run and quick rescue it from becoming one more millisecond older than it already is or do I turn it into the most reverent ritual of my week? Definitely not overthinking this at all.

 

Lately my trouble has been not wanting to drink it gone until I have the chance to write a review.

First world problems.

 

During my two week visit to the Czech Republic in 2019 I had the pleasure of drinking many brands of Czech Dark Lager. FWIW those beers had little to no "roast-y" to their flavor profiles.

Na Zdravi

P.S. If you enjoy travelogue articles:

https://www.morebeer.com/articles/Czech_Beers

 

Has anyone had the Wisconsin Brewing Wisconsin Vacation Pils? I haven’t had a pils in a while, and all that talk in the New Glarus pils thread got me wondering about the few options that are out there. I see this occasionally but never grab it… don’t know why.

 

Few options? Dovetail, Metropolitan, Phase 3, Roaring Table, Art History, Goldfinger? Gotta be something near you.

That said, Kirby Nelson is the brewmaster at Wisconsin Brewing and is a German-style craftsman, so I'd have no hesitation trying one of his beers.

 

I’m familiar with some those and have even had some. (Maybe I meant few as in relative to some other styles.)

I was just curious about the Wisconsin Brewing option, as it seems to be a year-rounder, but it never comes up in conversations that I’ve ever seen.

 

Wisconsin Brewing seems to be one of those that flies under the radar, yet still makes some good beers. I reviewed their Wild Bock for the Starkbierzeit thread last week -- really good rendition.

FWIW -- they merged with Lake Louie Brewing a couple years ago, but I'm not sure if that's helped or hurt either company.

 

Pollyanna has a double collaboration with Goldfinger & Binny's. Available in mixed (nice!) 4 pks this Friday @ Binny's.

• Das Ist Kellerbier
• Das Ist Zwickelbier