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

Saint Errant releasing a new Barrel Aged stout today that will be packaged as a 'beer in the box', which apparently will be similar to wine in a box. I dunno. I've liked the recent BA beers that they've released but I am on the fence on this one. Not sure about the concept and it's a lot of BA beer in that box (1500ml). Has anyone had beer in this format before? Details:

SKOSH is a blend of four stout recipes aged over years in various barrels. The intention of this beer was to provide purest expression of what barrel aged stout can be, giving the experience of a blending session among the barrel stock. There is intentionally minimal carbonation, allowing only the carefully selected blend of grains and spirits to create the finished product.

Barrels: Blanton's, Sazarec Rye, Woodford Reserve Rye, Heaven Hill
Time in Barrels: 22 to 37 months

And yes. We're doing it. What started as whimsical idea morphed into a pragmatic reality. The packaging format for this beer is a BAG IN A BOX. This allows for unlimited pours at your leisure, much like opening one of your favorite spirit bottles. The beer is mostly still, as intended. A raw, unadulterated drinking experience. This box contains 1500ml of liquid, or for those who skipped math, the equivalent of two 750ml bottles or three 500ml bottles.

 

Hopefully not all in one night

 

I've never had an issue with 750s (or crowlers), so although the convenience is negligible for me it's an interesting idea and I can see how it would be appealing to others with more conservative consumption.

However, I tend not to enjoy still beer. For that reason, I'm out.

 

It sounds like 2 weeks is about the time for an opened box of bagged beer to be consumed by. And I’m in the would prefer to drink carbonated beer camp. Not sure on the thought process behind this decision. Something very weird about designing a really gimmicky beer and then putting gimmick into gimmicky packaging. If you’ve spent all this time making good barrel aged beer you are proud of why sell it like this vs a guaranteed traditional format? And the only reasons I can think of are it either the beer isn’t very good or they really want to sell people on their transition to more bagged beer…

 

On the plus side you can probably tape the bag of beer to your stomach and smuggle it into events.

 

It's the same amount as drinking a magnum. Which I mean, is daunting, but with some friends it's very doable.

 

The box-o-stout is still available. I wish they shared how it sold.

I think it could be a fun format for bottle shops to do pours of.

 

Sold out baby

 

Saw the post on Instagram and thought that the beer in a box idea was brilliant. Have no issues with bombers. But once you open it, you have to commit. Just wondering why other breweries haven't tried this before with their high abv brews (cost, freshness?) Wine makers have been doing this for decades.

 

Here is 1 reason:

Here is another:

Beer is typically carbonated whereas wine is not. Once opened the bag of beer
Is going to lose carbonation like an opened bottle of beer Kind of like how your better of with cans of soda than a 2 liter that goes flat after a few days.

 

Vera, their pistachio cream ale is VERY good. It has a nice creamy texture that goes down easy.

 

Highly recommend checking out District Brewyards, where they've got beers on tap (along with Burnt City, Casa Humilde and Twisted Hippo). I'm a big fan of pay by the ounce, even though it ends up costing me as much (if not more) than I'd typically pay at a brewery, because it gives you a really good chance to sample as many beers/as many times as you want.

 

ATB brews some solid stuff. Their Juice Trials hazy IPA is pretty underrated and their Villainous is a good classic IPA. Dream Weaver Vienna Lager is also solid.

The owner Dan is a really nice guy and I've talked to him several times over the years at some local beer tastings in the Oak Park area (he's an Oak Parker).

 

A bit appropriate to this thread I thought. World Beer Cup 2024 Winners were recently announced (see this thread for additional details). Listing below the winners I could see from Illinois. Might be of interest to some. Some new to me breweries anyway. Certainly congrats to them as well.

 

Pretty cool that Chicagoland breweries are still churning out award winning stuff. Crazy that Beezer won again for best hazy (won back in 2019).

 

Its now a Gold medal winner at GABF and the World Beer Cup.

 

Now if only they could get people to drink it.

 

I would argue the exact opposite: Never seen so many overpriced mediocre beers in one building.