Chicagoland Lagers (2023)

This is confusing (to me, at least). Fred Huber sold the Huber brewery in 1985 to a Milwaukee-based company called MTX, headed by a former Pittsburgh and Pabst president, William Smith. (He, along with a lot of other execs, was booted out of Pabst when Paul Kalmanovitz and his S&P Corp. bought Pabst).

Smith did sell the Augsburger brand to Stroh in 1988 and - what a coincidence! - got a job with Stroh, too.

Fred Huber, heading the new Berghoff-Huber Brewing Co. bought back his Monroe, WI brewery in 1989. It was then that the brewery began brewing the Berghoff-branded beers.

The new Sieben Brewing Co. (later Sieben's River North Brewery) on Ontario was announced to open in Spring, 1987 by president James Krejcie w/brewmaster Peter Burell. In 1989, the company was being run by Richard Welsh, with Alfred Busch as brewmaster.

 

Any info on when Sieben's River North closed (a sad day in my book) and was reopened with the Berghoff name?

FWIW -- when Sieben first opened in '87 it was being "run" by a committee -- most of whom were Siebel (confusing, yes) Brewing Institute executives. It was for this decision-making system that Sieben's (allegedly) failed. Their beer was great, too.

 

Yeah, one of the six general partners was Joseph S. Pickett (who was the son of the senior Pickett that had run the old Dubuque Star brewery for awhile, as we discussed recently). Pickett also worked at the Iowa brewery for his father, and was at the time of Sieben's opening, was working for S&P, although it was referred to as "Falstaff/General/Pearl" at the time. He also worked for J E Siebel Sons and Heileman.

Interestingly, the first brewmaster Peter Burell, had also worked at Pearl.

Yeah, I always get them confused...

Looks like the Fall of 1990.

A connection with Fred Huber: Apparently in the 1970s Huber had bought the German-manufactured 1950s brewhouse used at Sieben's and sold it to an Ohio brewery than never opened in the 1980s. It was then purchased by Sieben.

 

I got caught up in a rabbit hole. Someone posted a few years ago Adams Street Brewing is contract brewed, but I don’t think this is the case after reading the Tribune column.

Will have to try it next trip downtown. The downstairs Berghoff Cafe was a regular dtop for me when I worked downtown.

Yes, it was confusing to me as well, wish I could have nailed that part (hence the question mark). Thanks for clarifying / correcting!

 

The few times I visited (new) Sieben in the mid-80s I never heard any mention of their using the same brewhouse as the old, original Siebens.

Interesting research to do. The crazy thing is, that brewhouse was still in place at the location when it became a middle eastern restaurant after Berghoff closed it -- might even still be there, unused!*

*It's now an Italian restaurant called "Victory," and it looks like the brewhouse is gone based on StreetView.

Funny thing is, it still has the big Reza's sign from previously -- and Reza's still stencilled over some windows -- and Siebens still stencilled over one too!

 

No, (this time it's confusion of Siebens with Siebens ) Huber bought a German brewhouse in the 1970s. He sold it in the 1980s to an Ohio brewery that never got off the ground. (New) Siebens bought it.

 

Oh, I got what you meant -- just never heard any mention at the new place using equipment from the old place. Something I'd think they would have advertised a lot.

 

Czech Dark Lager scene report:

Revolution has cans of Pragueress, their unfortunately punny Czech Dark Lager for sale and on draft at both locations. Haven't had this yet, but I'm excited.

Dovetail* is returning their Czech Dark Lager, notably called "Czech Dark Lager", as well.

*I overheard one of the owners/brewers of Dovetail (the one with the huge beard) saying they are releasing a Dubbel soon, and I can't wait. Please refrain from commenting on their canning "issues" for the sake of my sanity, if you will.

 

No activity here for a while, but I found Urban Chestnut's new Czech Pilsner this week and felt the need to report it's a winner.

Some great, crackery malt, good touch of noble hops, and even a hint of diacetyl -- as is acceptable in a Bohemian. Interesting that the web site reports only Munich and caramel malts used in this beer. No Pilsner in a Pils?

Only tried one can so far, but I'll have to focus on a review.

 

I did, very good rendition of a Baltic Porter. Roasty and a touch sweet, but very smooth.

Again, only one can, so a full review will be forthcoming.

 

FWIW -- @grantcty just sent me links to Ron's great articles on German Porter. I think he'd be happy with this beer because it's far from the thinner modern Porters he mentions.

Although, UC doesn't use any licorice juice.

 

Just wrote up a review on the Porter (to be posted as time permits) -- what a very nice beer... that hides its 7% very well.

It begs for two cans, but...