Chicagoland Lagers (2022)

Well since you asked, here's a whole day rundown:

11am start at the Central Waters barleywine spectacular. Met up with a buddy @just_in and copped an extensive shopping list for another BeerAdvocate buddy. The 3 year brandy BA is what brought me out but couldn't pass on the 4 year BBA and the Iced. They also have a Baltic Porter with BA coffee beans on right now that's really fantastic.

Get in the car and gun it straight down to Goldfinger. Arrive about 2pm. Place is packed. No tables. Stand over at the wailing wall by the window. My arrival was apparently well-timed as the line was out the door by the time we have a pour of the Dark Czech Lager. Cleanest dark beer I've ever had. Can't wait to crack a can and have it again in the comfort of home. People were coming in and seeing how busy it was and leaving. It's their place and they make the rules, but I'd suspend that bringing in your own food rule on big event days like this. Just saying, I'd be low-key pissed standing in the doorway for 45 minutes watching a family of 4 slowly chomp down an entire pizza when all I want is a damn beer.

Went to Beer & Now to try and score Art History. Nothing. Decent selection of P3 and Riverlands stuff. Bought a few and headed to Lake Zurich. Finally captured the elusive Art History unicorn at the Binny's there.

Met up with @Hoppity1 whose bottle share a week or 2 before pandemic hell broke out was my last beer event. We go to Consume for dinner and what's this? Casey beers on tap? Yes please.

Finished the night at Roaring Table which was very quiet. Great vibe there. Easy to have a conversation and just hang out. Was a great place to end a long day. As promised the Keller was fantastic. Great spicy earthiness to the hops. Was also impressed by the winter IPA and thought the mild was 4pack worthy as well. Bought a ton of to go stuff there. Biggest bill of the night.

Is that thorough enough @steveh ? If my SO catches me looking in the direction of a bottle shop at any point in the next 3 months I'm sure none of you will ever hear from me again. Thanks everyone in this thread for the great suggestions! Haul pic: https://untp.beer/0z3L7

 

@Number1Framer -- Mild at RT? Or ESB?

I don't recall a Mild on tap last week, but I could have missed it.

 

Sorry Thatch Whistler was called a "Pub Ale" on the order sheet. It was an ESB.

 

That's a beer that is much nicer from cask than the can, but it's still enjoyable.

 

I just ordered it and sat down. I didn't ask about the specifics. I did make sure to also get the Helles on the Lukr which was great.

 

That Helles passes my "take me back to Munich" test.

BTW -- I'm impressed you're up and at it so early this morning after.

 

Quality over quantity. Didn't really drink much as I was driving all day. The Casey on draft was a hell of a surprise though.

 

Tried the P3 Czech Dark Lager and it is very nice. Going to wait for Goldfinger's to hit shelves then I'll do a comparison between Dovetail, Maplewood, Phase Three, and Goldfigner.

 

Nice. A blind tasting? And Mikerphone released a CDL (Flipped The Switch) recently if you are willing.

 

Is Roaring Table's/Zum Bier's 12° sold out?

 

Made it to Double Clutch, the (mostly) lager brewery recently opened in Evanston. Had two flights, and was overall impressed.

Best were the Rauchbier Helles (smoke-forward but balanced) and the regular Helles Lager (extreme drinkability).

The Schwarzbier was lovely, and the doppelbock was above average. A nice dark lager game.

The marzen was good, while the Altbier didn't do much for me...I'm not really even sure what that style is supposed to taste like, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

The Citra Harvest Wheat and the Little Juice Coup were least impressive. Drinkable, but the German stuff is clearly their bag.

Food was above average bar food, with some higher end stuff like Mussels (which were tasty).

I'll be back! (I'll be bock?!)

 

If interested, another one you can add is Ten Crowns from Off Color. Releases this Friday.

 

A March marzen release from Art History? Untraditional, but I don’t hate it

 

Untraditional just in its timing, or in style interpretation?

I'll be on the lookout if it's a traditional take.
@FBarber

 

Timing as I haven't tried it yet

 

So, semi-traditional.

For me it all depends on the balance they achieve between the modern and traditional hops. RT's German Pils uses Saphir hops -- which I usually don't like, but they got the recipe right for Pils.

 

I got a 4 pack so I will report back accordingly. Might have to wait for march madness though since I got buddies coming in from out of town who want to try.

 

Speaking of march madness, we usually do a beer theme each year for the weekend. Has been crushable pilsners and lagers, but this year I am hopeful it can be a proper springtime bock weekend!
Have seen Metro's Generator, Goldfingers Zlotonator, and Church Street Pontificator, anyone seen any other local bocks, doppelbocks or maibocks out yet?