Mikerphone Brewing (2020)

I’ll take “Unpopular Opinions” for 500, Alex.

“Smells like a Canceled Beer Fest” is one of the best stouts they’ve produced in a long, long time. Not overly sweet or cloying. Earthy, bitter, roasty complex notes from the adjuncts. Mouthfeel was creamy and pleasant - not overly thick or thin. Nose was a little funky / earthy / mushroomy, but I didn’t mind it.

A thinking man’s pastry stout.

 

I have to say, the Bottle Logic collaboration sounds pretty good.

 

I usually find a few good draft beers here, but disappointed by the three I tried tiday, with the Bottle Logic collaboration the only beer I would want to drink again, but not enough for the $8 can price to bring home.

Hoping Smells Like Cancelled Beer Fest to go will salvage the trip here, based on your recommendation which has been on point over the years.

First disappointing trip here, at least the weather is perfect, the primary reason for the trek to enjoy good beers and sunshine. Will report back regarding this beer which I’ll try this weekend.

 

@ChicagoJ did you happen to try the BA pumpkin spirit?

 

No, pumpkin is the one flavor / beer style I avoid. Blasphemy this time of year to most.

 

Which beers did you have?

 

I liked the Bottle Logic / Mikerphone Collaboration, Name Dropping. Matches the description, was a good balanced flavorful stout.

I own partial blame on the Maplewood Mikerphone syrup beer collaboration Self-Titled. The menu stated 30% was used in fermentation. I admittedly didn’t know what the percentage a typical maple stout has (BA or non BA). I love their It Smells Like Bean Spirit Beer series, thought it could be sweeter but the barrel would help offset and provide balance. I really should have stopped after the first few sips, but I finished the 6 oz pour. Drank a lot of water and took time to clear the palate before the next beer ( Name Dropping).

I like El Dorado hops, and ordered their pale ale with Big League Chew added called A World of Beer Imagination, brewed for Mike’s daughters 8th BD. It was 100% bubble gum on the nose and palate, expected something more balanced. Couldn’t detect any hops or beer. I’ve had at least one previous BD beer and liked it.

It was my fifth trip to Mikerphone, enjoyed just about every beer in the previous visits. Still glad I enjoyed the day, and hope the Cancelled beer fest can will be a great stout, also glad to support the advertised cause.

I will also definitely return to Mikerphone, will just try to avoid anything with added sweet additives or ask about the sweetness level and balance before ordering based on this experience, beyond ISLBS. Also, the staff and space was great as always, was just surprised at the extreme level of sweetness for two of the three beers I’ve tried.

 

Last time they just tried to create a new IPA from hops and/or technique? I am an OG Mikerphone guy but if slushees and cones are the current identity then I will be around less.

 

New beer coming out next week:

"Gobble me, Swallow Me, Drip Down Inside of Me" is a Thanksgiving dinner inspired cream ale brewed with raspberries, sweet gravy and cornbread. Slushee versions will be available.

 

Just going to assume this is a troll post.

(Looks at thread name)

Nope, this is 100% true.

 

Mikerphone has another BA stout coming very soon. Based on inference, it looks like it's a rye stout collaboration with Other Half that has been sitting in Willett bourbon and rye barrels for at least 15 months. No idea whether there are going to be adjuncts. Although who am I kidding, it's Mikerphone. Let's just hope they go easy, because I want to get that barrel flavor.

 

I think you’re missing the “other half” of that collab. OH pretty much adjuncts the hell out of every stout they do as well. I may even say their stouts are generally the sweetest I’ve had from any brewery.

 

Have you tried anything from Listermann? I feel the same way about them.

 

I've never had an OH stout, but they seem like a "hype chasing" brewery, so that would make sense.

Angry Chair holds the "sweetest" title for me. Their non-BA stuff in particular tastes like literal sugar water. That Mikerphone Self Titled was honestly not that much sweeter than some Angry Chair stuff I've tried.

 

Other Half also commonly goes high ABV for their stouts. 15-16%. I'm curious what this'll be.

 

I thought about stopping by for some To-Go beer this week so looked up the current list and upcoming beers. Wow, just when you thought they couldn't take it any further, they have really gone all in on the gimmick beers. IPA's with four fruits added? Sports drink beer? Yikes...

 

At this point, I only continue to watch this thread for the comedy.

 

I just tried it on Friday, and I agree it was pretty good. It tasted a LOT like it was probably the ISLBS base, which isn't actually a very sweet base. The sweetness in ISLBS comes mostly from the maple, and without that, it wasn't very sweet at all. I didn't get the earthiness though. My only complaint was that it was a little too "fizzy," but maybe I'm just getting too used to drinking beers that are 30% maple syrup.

 

Mikerphone’s FoBAB entries are going on sale tomorrow at a random time:

DROP THE NEEDLE w/Other Half Brewing (LIMIT 2 BOTTLES PER PERSON) Imperial Stout aged 17 months in Willet Rye & Original Bourbon Barrels, Conditioned on Madagascar & Tahitian Vanilla Beans, 16.22% abv. Brewed in collaboration with Other Half Brewing. Available in 750mL bottles for $30.99 each plus tax.

SIR BLENDS A LOT (LIMIT 1 BOTTLE PER PERSON) Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Blend. A blend of Buffalo Trace, Willett, & Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrels, all which aged from 12 to 17 months, 15.22% abv. Available in 750mL bottles for $27.99 each plus tax.