Chicago breweries that don’t need their own thread (2024)

Has anybody checked out Dueyrr Fermenta/Moderne Dune brewing? Looks like a hip winery/brewery on Michigan Avenue in the Motor Row neighborhood?

Picked up their Moderne Pilsnor the other day and realy liked it. Clean and bready with just a little lemon at the end (brewed with Zuper Saazer and Callista hops). I've also had their Hazy et Blanc which is NE hazy that has a dry white grape finish. Been seeing their stuff at Binnys lately.

 

Very cool spot. Owner/brewer is always working. Their natural wine is fantastic. Wine/beer hybrids I have enjoyed mostly and the beers have been good. Hit or miss on a few. But have made it a somewhat regular visit.

 

I went to EisFest Saturday and yes, Jotunheimr was better than last year in my opinion. This is essentially my favorite bear when they release it every year, but this year takes the cake. So smooth for an 11.75% Bock type beer. The coffee variant was solid and the 14% barrel aged version was excellent. Pollyanna is one of the few breweries that can legally make this beer and I hope they continue to do it every year.

 

Please explain.

 

It is freeze distilled. They have a distillery license. The process turns the brewed 8% Bock into the 11.75% Eisbock.

 

Well in this case it would seem disingenuous to say that Pollyanna is one of the few breweries that can legally make one when there are plenty of national brewer/distillers and many larger local brewer/distillers who could meet that criteria.

 

Yeah get your facts straight, @jmk , there are like 3 brewery/distilleries in Chicagoland area. None of which make Eisbock lol.

 

Yeah. There definitely aren't many. Maybe Maplewood? Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen a local Eisbock. Fantastic beer.

 

My heart skipped a beat when I saw your post starting with “Alarmist” thinking it was going to be another brewery going out of business post. What a cool sounding collab up until the OZNR part. Not sure how much they made, but please post here if they have extra to go on pick up day.

 

Tribune featured a solid article covering Turner Haus Brewery located in Bronzeville.

 

Finally got to taste this year's Pollyanna Eisbock, Jōtunheimr.

11.75% ABV is both present and hidden, dangerously.
Clearly the strength is prominent, but the body is still short of syrupy. Good on them.

 

Known Chief Alarmist Gary for many years, good bloke

 

For those in the near west 'burbs, Kinslahger in Oak Park is celebrating their 8th anniversary today (Saturday) with the release of their Ein Beer #9. Will also have #8 shaped pretzels, and some other food and giveaways and new merch. Will be stopping over for a few brews.

For those in the city Hopewell is celebrating their 8th Aniversary as well with new and vintage brews, food and merch.

 

So...if you get out Southwest...to Lemont... relatively soon...you must try the double frozen barrel aged Eisbock!!

Last year's 11% Eisbock was aged in Pollyanna Inception bourbon barrels...and then...
Yes, frozen again this year.
14.5% abv that is completely hidden, relatively, and really good.
I dare you.

 

They started as a pretty European inspired brewery. They used to sell bottles of hefeweizen, English mild, and a pale ale. They’ve pivoted to make more popular styles but I’m pretty sure they’ll still pour you a pint of nitro English mild. Not a bad brewery. It’s wild to me that they have so much property. They even sponsor the Kane County Cougars and have their own concessions booth to sell draft. The park has great a great craft cave, but it’s all cans. Tangled Roots has a lions share of the draft beer sales in the craft category

 

Had it yesterday. Would never know it’s that high an abv. It’s really good.

 

are the barrels frozen or the beer?