Milwaukee Trip - Lakefront Brewery

Tour de Fat - Chicago 2011

the 2011 incarnation of my Rat bike

Adventures in June/July of 2011

Revolution Brewery 

At MilRose

Drinking Beer somewhere

Lucky Monk Thursday Pitcher nights = the best

When boating drink what you can find

Tour de Fat 2011!

Finch's Cutthroat at Lunar Brewery

at Three Floyds Brew Pub

Botteling duty at Metropolitan Brewery!

Portobello Mushroom Burgers with homemade Krankshaft Buns

A quick shot of the ingredients just before we mixed them all together. 

My wife Lindsey preparing the ingredients for the bread maker which will be preparing the dough. 

Fresh buns right out of the oven, made with Krankshaft Kolsh Beer, bread is better when made with beer.

Mushrooms have been marinated in a balsamic vinegar, oil, onion and garlic for 60 minutes

The final set up just after taking the mushrooms off of the grill.

Craft Beer Week Beer - Revolution Brewery Tour

Chicago Craft Beeer Week - kickoff

I was lucky enough to recently be able to volunteer at the Metropolitan Brewery and help pour at the kick-off party for Chicago Craft Beer week at the garfield Park conservatory. There was a lot of great brews and a lot of great people that I met at the event. 

First week of summer beer

Shiner - Ruby Redbird: Summer beer

Schlafly - Unfiltered Wheat Ale

Reminds me of Goose Island 312. verdict: B-

Two Brothers Brewery buys Aurora Roundhouse

Two Brothers Brewery purchases Aurora Roundhouse

Schlafly - Bavarian Style Weissbier

A real clean and crisp Weiss beer, not a strong flavor as a Triteca or an Ebel Weiss.Verdict: B+

Mix pack - Friar Tuck in Champaign, Illinois

It looks like an awesome week in beer tasting, these are all brands of brew that I can't find up in the Chicago area. 

New Belgium - Fat Tire label

Something seems off with the labels this year!

Blind Pig Brewery

The Blind Pig in Champaign Illinois

Sampler from Blind Pig brewery, left to right: American Dark (Black IPA), Summer Ale, Apricot Ale.

Lagunitas - New Dogtown Pale Ale

Dogfish Head - 60 minute IPA

at Anyways in Bloomingdale, decent craft beer selection

Metolius- Dolly Varden IPA

Samuel Adams- East West Kolsch

From the 2011 Sam Adams spring seasonal mix pack. verdict C

Victory Brewing - Hop Devil

I tried the HoopDevil from Victory Brewing at Healy's Westside. It was extremely hoppy and was like a glass full of grass clippings. Interestingly enough, I would probably order it again. Verdict: B-

Two Brothers - Monarch

Half way through the variety pack and we realized that our Monarch had a vintage label orphan inside!

Walgreens-Big Flats

 

I am 99% sure that this is the same pallet of Big Flats beer from December 2010.

Revolution Brewery News

With the recent news of Goose Island being bought by A-B InBev,  I think it is great that some of the smaller brewers are taking the next step. From the brew pubs to the store shelves.

Revolution Brewery will soon Bottle and Can Beers

Magic Hat - Demo IPA

Southern Star Brew Co. - Bombshell Blonde Ale

Big Sky Brewing - Powder Hound / Summit brewing Co. - Winter Ale

Summit Brewing Co - Winter Ale

at The Lucky Monk for Josh's 32nd Birthday!

New Brew Lucky Monk Belgium Pale Ale

Lindz Tried the Monk Mrtini

Bitterest Brews in America (HuffPo)

I found a nice list of popular IPA's with high IBU's posted on HuffingtonPost. They point out two IPA's that I have on my wish list: Ruination IPA by Stone Brewing Co. and 120 minute IPA by Dogfish Head

The Bitterest brews in America