Barrel-aged beers in Chicago?

Do they really not have any of those in your distro range? Solid beers, but most of these are such available common staples here this is almost the beer equivalent of asking what the best thing to try at McDonalds is. If they aren’t available in your distro range by all means proceed and enjoy.

 

Domain DuPage is a solid, tasty, easy-drinking beer. Probably the one of the best beers to have with pizza. Definitely worth bringing back home. Two Brother's Ebel's Weiss is an awesome Hefeweizen, if your tastes run that way.

 

I would also check out Hop Butcher For the World and Phase 3 brewing if you like the hazy IPAs (they also brew some some pretty good stouts). Probably 2 of the hottest brewery's in the Chicagoland area for the last several years.

 

OP, the only thing I can add is Pipeworks Galaxy Unicorn (aka Unicorn Galaxy) hasn't been brewed since 2019 I don't think. So if you happen to see it on a shelf...run...run away.

 

I don't know where in Minnesota you are but Revolution distributes up there now so Straight Jacket and Deths Tar should be findable.

 

Grab Dovetail or Goldfinger if you are into more traditional styles of "old world" beer.

 

If you're going to Binny's in LP, Goose Island Clybourn is right across the street. They have a pretty good selection of vintage Bourbon County bottles, although some of them cost an arm and a leg (or at least a particularly valuable finger).

 

Regarding west coast IPAs with Galaxy - you won’t find any. Galaxy hops are not the same as they were 4 years ago.

The only Galaxy ipa that consitantly impressed me these days is Rev Ddh Galaxy hero. It returns this week so you should grab that if you want to have a nice Galaxy beer. They blend other hops into it, which really makes a difference

 

What styles of barrel aged beers are you looking for? Your list confuses me a bit, as many are not barrel aged.

Post some styles you love, and we can get this thread back on track and help you find some excellent options

 

Yes, and this is a damn shame. There was a stretch back then when all I seemingly wanted to drink was PW Infinite Galaxy. It was drinking that well. Other great galaxy hopped IPAs as well but that one really stood out for me. Maybe one day galaxy hops will recapture their past glory. Craft beer drinkers would certainly be better off for it.

 

It was the greatest hop in the world for 3 or 4 years. The Galaxy era ended in ‘18 or ‘19 depending on what harvest your favorite local brewery was using. Since then, the crazy passionfruit/peach notes get muddled by earthy notes like dirt and grass.