Chicagoland Lagers (2023)

I agree, Pollyanna is def underrated. Regardless of style, I've found most of their beers to be really well done.

Around this time last year, they came out with a mixed (2x2) 4pk of Das Ist Zwickelbier and Das Ist Kellerbier brewed in collab with Goldfinger & Binny’s. Both were excellent. Fruhauf märzen is solid as well.

[They also make great ales. Eleanor porter is fantastic. Humpenscrump hefeweizen, Acclamation apricot belgian golden ale, Allure berliner weisse series (raspberry-lemon, cranberry-orange) were all enjoyable.]

 

Agreed Pollyanna brews some great stuff. Really enjoy their taproom in Lemont as well.

 

Between Roaring Table and Goldfinger -- I am suddenly not missing the absence of HB Maibock in my area.

If you want to know Maibock, these two breweries are nailing the style in their own separate, but spot-on, interpretations.

 

Agree. Had the Goldfinger on draft last Friday, and a can of RTB Maibock this afternoon. Both are excellent. I think the Roaring Table may be my favorite maibock. Need to revisit Pollyannas soon, Nose Over Tail

 

Hidden Hand Flower Burial is real solid too. Foeder Maibock.

 

Made good with my promise today and grabbed a 4-Pack of the St. Geo.

Can says "We use 95% Munich malt..." I have to wonder what the other 5% is, Roasted Barley or Black Malt? Got a definite underlying roastiness. To be fair, it does say this is a German Dunkel, not a Munich Dunkel.

No ratings yet, only a first can and not my optimal tasting situation.

 

The other 5% is Weyermann special W malt. Very raisiny and dark fruity.

 

Hmm. Not getting much of that, but there is a distinct chocolate or cocoa flavor -- along with herbal noble hops. Not crazy noble hops, but maybe more than I'd expect in a Dunkel -- again, one can won't decide my opinion.

So, where is the roastiness coming from? Overly-kilned Munich malt?

 

That was literally all I got from the one can I had. I could smell the raisiny malt right when I cracked it open. It's a double roasted crystal malt, so I can see a light chocolate character, but all I really get is that dark fruity character.

 

Wow. Different palates and all, I guess. But I tasted nor smelled no dark fruits.

What's your source for the malt bill?

BTW -- canned on 4-19-23 -- how about yours? Also, how clean was your palate?

 

The brewer of art history told me it was special W at 5%. Don't remember canning date but I'm pretty sure they only canned this beer once so it was likely the same date. Pretty fresh palate when I tried it. To me, that malt is very distinguishable and I was able to pick it out before he even told me what it was.

 

I read up on the Special W and with all of its fruit characteristics it seems like an odd choice for a Dunkel.

But then again, I still ain't getting it past the mild bread and cocoa, so it must be just for supertasters.

 

Had a can of Chug Life sparkling Lager by Marz. Ususally don't buy much Marz due to their can size vs price. But thought it was pretty good.

 

Finally visited Double Clutch, it's a nice space and their beers are good. Doppelbock and Helles Rauchbier were standouts. Other lagers were serviceable, not sure i'd put them in the top tier quite yet, but they definitely show potential imho.

 

Finally got over to Alter Brewing's Oak Brook location. Pretty cool place, food was good albeit somewhat pricey for what you're getting. But really enjoyed their Alterado Mexican Lager. Nice and clean with a hint of lime.

 

Picked up a 6er of Chicago Tavern Beer by Haymarket. Clean and crisp with some biscuity character.

 

Played golf near church street brewing yesterday, went to the taproom for the first time after the round. Heavenly helles is really well done. I remember them going through some struggles years back. One of the better American made helles I’ve had this year

 

FWIW -- I had a chance meeting with the CS brewery rep at the local Binny's a couple weeks ago. He heard I was a Maibock, and overall German-style fan, and wanted me to try some of their beers -- so I was gifted a 4-pack of styles.

I've written reviews, but life has gotten in the way of posting them (and contacting the rep, as I promised I would), but as an overall assessment -- I think they're still struggling a little with some DMS problems.

That said, I think the Helles was up there in quality, and I really did like the Maibock. Maybe not as much as some of our other local lager brewers, but I wouldn't turn a CS beer down.

 

Modern Dune Jamaican Lager is drinking really nice. Anyone seen any other examples of this style out there aside from Lakefront's?

 

What characteristics make it different?