Our final stop takes us to another brewery that is set to open in the near future (you know how dates are moving targets in the craft beer world).
Check out this recent article on Bruce Dir and like Tighthead on Facebook to stay in the loop on what happens next.
Chicago – New Chicago Brewing Co.
Strong Artisan Ales are whats promised from New Chicago Brewing Co.
Now they aren’t planning on opening until spring of next year but their plans look really cool and forward thinking. Read this from their website: “Brothers Jesse Edwin Evans and Samuel Evans are opening a production brewery in the Whiskey Point section of the Back of the Yards neighborhood in Chicago, producing and bottling big, bold, strong ales. It will be a collaboration with insanely creative people in a 100% sustainable environment.
New Chicago Brewing Company’s planned launch date is March 4th, 2012, the 175th anniversary of the incorporation of Chicago. We are a socially conscious company partnering with- and located inside- a revolutionary food manufacturing facility called The Plant. It’s the first vertical farm facility of its kind. The Plant is a closed ecosystem that can handle its own waste and generate its own power. Every one of New Chicago Brewing Company’s byproducts will be fed back into a system that raises tilapia, grows microgreens and mushrooms and nurtures aquaponics gardens. View a diagram that helps to explain the ecosystem. It will become a culinary destination. One of the brewery’s main ingredients will be to give back by using our resources to benefit the positive things that are happening in the city of Chicago.”
Chicago is rising fast on the brewery front.
Chicago – 5 Rabbit Brewery
Usually the backstory of how a brewery came together contains some familiar elements. Hurdles overcome. Fortuitous meetings and the like. This is the first “Our Story” that I have read that includes surprising someone 4,000 miles away to re-kindle a brewery dream.
But that is the case with 5 Rabbit Cerveceria.
They have three main beers of which I want to focus on two:
5 Lizard
a Latin-Style Witbier
“5 Lizard is a creamy and refreshing wheat beer with some spicy complexity and light touch of passion fruit for a delicious and slightly exotic flavor.”
5 Vulture
an Oaxacan-Style Dark Ale
“5 Vulture is a deep ambered-colored ale with complex caramel aromas with toasted sugar notes and a long, elegant spicy finish. Roasted ancho chile is used to add depth and complexity, without adding heat or strong chile flavors.”
Chicago – Lake Bluff
Our first stop in the Windy City is Lake Bluff Brewing. Theirs is a common (and great) story about home brewing that grew into a brewery. I don’t know who is luckier? The people who received the home brew gifts and were the de facto R&D department or the people who now get to sample beers that are really dialed in and perfected.
A couple of the beers that caught my attention are…..
‘Tis the Saison
“No matter what the season, ’tis the season for our Saison. Historically a summer seasonal beer, ours is golden in color and flavored with coriander, cardamom and orange peel to give slightly spicy notes. Finishes nice and dry with the yeast providing much of that classic Belgian flavor.”
Softtail IPA
Hardtail’s little brother. Same great flavor and aroma, but easier drinking and not so heavy on the alcohol. A great summer beer.
Drink Deck
I heard about this beer-y product on the fabulous Beer O’Clock radio show and am now finally getting around to sharing it with you. Drink Deck are a combination of playing card and bar coupon. It started with a Chicago deck then to Portland and later this year San Francisco and New Orleans among others.
These are bar-centric as opposed to all beer but here is what you get…
“featuring 52 – $10 gift certificates (no expiration) rolled into a deck of poker sized playing cards that celebrates the best bar scenes in PDX!”
XMAS BEER – Mild Winter Ale
Goose Island trys a different tack with their 2010 holiday release of a mild.
Here is their description…”Toffee brown, medium-bodied, with a creamy head and an aroma of raisins and freshly baked dark bread. Mild Winter’s rich caramel malt and spicy rye flavors are sure to take the bite out of whatever Old Man Winter brews up for you this year.”
For more details head HERE
Half Acre collaborations
World Beer Cup 2010
Looks like my adopted state of California ran away with 45 medals in Chicago and my home state of Oregon was 2nd with 13. With the Trailblazers beating the Lakers yesterday, I think we are even.
For a great statistical (yes, numbers and math) round-up, check out the great Brookston Beer Bulletin HERE.
Demolition…
…is a new year-round offering from Goose Island in Chicago. Initially brewed for stalwart regulars who kept the brewery afloat while construction was going on all around their building, it is now coming out in bottles. Here is their description…
“It’s brewed with Saaz and Styrian Golding hops for a grassy, citrus aroma and lots of the finest pale malt for a ‘honey’ malt middle and intense flavor.”
Revolution Brewing
I love the words “newly opened brewery”. If you are in the Chicago area look up this Goose Island alum.
Here is their beer list…
Cross of Gold
An american blonde ale that redefines the style with bursts of fruity aroma and a dry finish.
Iron Fist Pale Ale
An amber pale ale dry hopped with a blend of American hops.
Workingman Mild Ale
Drinkable brown session beer with a nutty, toffee flavor. Served lightly carbonated from a traditional Brittish handpump.
Bottom Up White Ale
Light, refreshing wheat beer spiced with coriander and orange peel