IPA

May 29 2014

A boozy tour of Chicago craft beers

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better way to spend an evening than traveling from bar to bar on a trolley filled with a bunch of fans of craft beer and sampling some of Chicago’s finest craft brews.

Seriously. Take a minute and try to think of something better. I’ll wait.

See? It’s not easy. And that’s exactly how I spent the evening of May 21. The tour began at Fountainhead and made its way to five other bars before the evening ended and at each, we got to try some of the latest offerings from Chicago and Midwestern breweries. I’m not going to review them all here because it would take forever. That said, we here at Metasip have a few mini-reviews for you. Hopefully, they inspire you to go out and try some new beers. Here we go.

3 Sheeps Cashmere Hammer

The tour kicked off with a sample of Cashmere Hammer, a rye stout from Sheboygan, Wis.-based 3 Sheeps. It poured a rich brown with a light tan head. 3 Sheeps brewmaster Grant Pauly said this particular beer was designed to be incredibly smooth.

“It was designed for nitro,” Pauly said.

It was indeed smooth and decently bitter, which is a plus in my book. But after a couple sips, I just wasn’t into it. It was a perfectly average beer, but nothing about it stood out. Nothing popped. It was boring.

Metasip rating: 2/5 stars

Ale Syndicate du Sable Hoppy Saison

Ok, so the tour started out on a not-so-great note. But it picked up when we got to the next bar. First up, a sample of du Sable Hoppy Saison from Logan Square’s Ale Syndicate. This is not my usual style of beer. I tend to go for dark, malty and roasty as opposed to hoppy. But I was there to experiment, so I took a sample.

And oh did I make the right call. The danger with a lot of hoppy beers – IPAs and the like – is that sometimes, they’re way too hoppy, to the point of being sharp or astringent. Not so with this. The hop flavor was prevalent, but it wasn’t sharp, making for a refreshing, easy-drinking beer.

Metasip rating: 3.5/5 stars

Ale Syndicate Omega Midnight Foreign Extra Stout

This wasn’t even being offered as an official sample, but Ale Syndicate brewer Jake Williams was buying samples for whoever wanted them, so of course I was going to try it. And let me tell you, Omega Midnight was the best beer I had that night.

Admittedly, this was odd as stouts go. There was a good bit of fruit flavor in it, but it wasn’t sweet. In fact, as Williams said, it was “bone dry” with a very pleasant bitterness. It’s smooth and sessionable, which could be a problem for me, as this beer checks in at 9.5% ABV.

Metasip rating: 4/5 stars

Summit Oatmeal Stout

The night of May 21 was definitely a summery evening. So you wouldn’t necessarily think to drink an oatmeal stout. But if you’re going to drink an oatmeal stout on a summer night, you might want to consider the oatmeal stout from St. Paul, Minn.-based Summit Brewing Company.

Oatmeal stouts (which I love, by the way) tend to be somewhat heavy. This was decidedly lighter than a lot of oatmeal stouts I’ve had. I didn’t feel full after drinking it, which was nice on a warm night. It’s a very bitter beer and the bitterness definitely lingers on the tongue. But it’s also very balanced, which keeps you from being overwhelmed by the bitterness.

Metasip rating: 3.5/5 stars

Goose Island The Ogden

Later in the evening, the trolley made its way back to North Center for a stop at the Wild Goose. Once inside, we were handed samples of The Ogden, from Chicago’s own Goose Island.

I wasn’t sure what to make of this one at first. It’s a Belgian-style tripel, but it’s very hoppy, which was unexpected. However, despite the hoppiness, it wasn’t too bitter, which was quite nice. Overall, this was a solid offering, but not Goose Island’s best. I’ll drink it if it’s around, but I won’t go out of my way for it.

Metasip rating: 3/5 stars

Local Option Dampf Loc

I’ll close out this list with another Chicago beer: Dampf Loc from Chicago’s Local Option. It wasn’t my favorite offering that evening, but it was pleasant.

I’d call this a warm weather beer, but I imagine I could enjoy it year-round. It’s a very dry beer with some mild hop notes on the back end. The reason I call this a warm weather beer is because it’s light and refreshing, but it’s got a good amount of body and I think it’d make a good session beer.

Metasip rating: 3/5 stars

Apr 11 2014

Samuel Adams Latitude IPA

Trying out something new…

Yes, as a visitor to the site, you can now rate the beer, wine, and spirits we post here.

Starting with this bad boy – Samuel Adams’ Latitude IPA. Give it 1 to 5 stars…you can do that easily in the comments!

Stay tuned…more of these ratings opportunities to come.

Jan 04 2014

This Suburban Dad Drank Fifteen Different Kinds Of Beer During The Holidays – And He Ranked Them All. His Favorite Will Change The Way You Think About Craft Beer. And Life Itself.

I’m an enthusiast, but even I didn’t think I’d be THIS enthusiastic about the top beer on my Holiday Drinking List.

Here’s the background: I’m Dave, the suburban dad. I live in Chicagoland, and I said goodbye to a friend over the holidays. That friend? Dominick’s. The Super Market.

Their loss is our gain, as their Going Out Of Business Sale meant 30% off on a whole bunch of stuff. We stocked up and then some and I said “ALL THE BEERS” in all caps and the drinking commenced.

THEN…I went to a beer hall place, and they did a Flight Thing and I enjoyed that, too.

So it’s A LOT of BEER!

In true Metasip fashion, here all all of the ones I tried. However…we’re going to rank them in reverse order because that’s the way to ensure that you make it all the way to the bottom. Because you won’t believe what was Number One.

Horray, Beer!

Here goes nothing:

The Average…

#15 – Smithwick’s: B-

Part of the “Six Pack Sampler” from ye olde brew pub. I’ve had this before, and I’ll have it again, I’m sure. Nothing to write home about. Grade: B-.

(Let’s talk just a little bit about this “Six Pack Sampler.” I paid, I don’t know, ten bucks? For a flight of six beers. And each pour was 5 ounces. Math was never my strong suit…But upon further review, if a “B-” beer is the worst of the six, and you’re getting 2 1/2 bottles of premium stuff for ten bucks…this, my friends, is a deal.)

Let’s now talk about the biggest surprise of the batch:

#14: Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale – B-

Why was this the biggest surprise? I thought, frankly, that it would be atrocious.

It wasn’t.

Dare I say it was at least drinkable – but, sadly, it can’t get a grade of “B.” It’s a B-, because…

Well, I was expecting “gingerbread” the whole time. I got some of the molasses and a little of the sweetness, but not much else by way of flavor. Incredibly average, but exceeded expectations.

The Pretty Good…

#13: Anchor Christmas – B

5.5%ABV (according to YOBP*) and didn’t knock you down. Special Holiday Ale, whatever that means. Not insanely hoppy, folks. So that’s good. Give it a grade of “B.”

*Ye Olde Brew Pub.

BTW, it’s lower left in the photo of the six little glasses above.

#12: Samuel Adams Double Agent IPL – B

I’m guessing that “IPL” means “India Pale Lager.”

I didn’t know what to expect…so this wasn’t unexpected in that it tasted like something I didn’t expect (thus making it expected, I guess, and making this a run-on sentence).

Should have called it “IPA.” Came as part of a Samuel Adams Multi-Pack. I give it a solid B.

The “Yes, I Would Like Another” Group…

#11: Bell’s Midwestern Pale Ale – B+

On like a pot of neck bones.

Everything Bell’s does is pure hoppy goodness. This, too, but, in true “Pale Ale” fashion, not overly hoppy.

This also makes us pine for summer and think about Oberon. “B+” grade.

#10: Blue Moon Rounder Belgian-Style Pale – B+

Not “Pale Ale.” Just…”Pale.”

Pales in comparison to their other stuff, though. I expected a little bit more – this one was tried AFTER one of their other brews was tried. (FORESHADOWING: it’s one we really really liked.)

#9: Allagash Hugh Malone – B+

Hoppy, with an extra dose of alcohol. 7.8% ABV. I only finished one-half of the 5 ounces. Good thing.

As is the beer – “Floral Belgian…brewed with Maine Barley.” Thanks to YOBP for the notes. Liked it.

Pictured above, second from left in the front.

#8: New Belgium Rampant – B+

Most of what New Belgium does is gonna be rock-solid. This, too, falls into that category. But it’s also served with a fair warning:

8.5% ABV. See above about “not finishing the whole thing.”

(It’s also part of the photo above of the sixer.)

BREAK TIME…Random Liquor…

Dr. McGillicuddy’s Mentholmint – A-

Beautiful stuff. Not your father’s Peppermint Schnapps.

(Actually, this WAS my father’s Peppermint Schnapps. He loved this stuff. Cheers!)

The “Make a Special Trip” Category…

#7: Old Speckled Hen – A-

This British ale has “wonderful warm flavors of malt and toffee.” And it does. Plus, it’s not TOO heavy – 5.2% ABV – and has a nice color to it. (The lightest of the six in the photo above – upper right corner.)

#6: Stone IPA – A-

Boom! And from San Diego. Like hoppy? This is for you.

They’ve got a tremendous reputation out west. As well they should.

#5: Revolution A Little Crazy IPA – A-

Chicago represents! If you’re in San Diego and you’re a Stone fan, you should probably hunt these Revolution folks down. Good stuff – this, though, is not as hoppy as Stone, or as other stuff from Revolution. “Belgian Pale Ale.” Right about right.

#4: Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA – A-

Color me SHOCKED. This was quite quite good – just a hair short of an “A” grade. The “Latitude 48” refers to just where they get the hops from. Says so on the bottle, but check your map, too.

The Primo Stuff. Grade A. Top-Flight…

#3: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – A

You can’t expect that I, the one who at one point anointed this “BBKTM*,” would give this anything less than an A, did you?

(*Best Beer Known To Man.)

It is still one of my all-time faves. People who are really into craft beer will call me a sell-out. I don’t care. It’s a beaut.

#2: Three Floyds Robert the Bruce – A

Also, beer snobs point to Munster, Indiana as the HQ for all things hip, since that’s where Three Floyds operate. All three of them. The Floyds. (Above, it’s in the middle of the back row.)

This, according to YOBP, is 6.5% ABV. And yes, it out-ranked the BBKTM on this ranking. Maybe it was our mood.

But…it wasn’t the winner. The winner…well, let’s just say that, before you start judging books by their covers – like WE DID – remember that it’s what’s inside the bottle that counts.

Here goes…

#1: Blue Moon Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale – A

Something jumped out about this one. It was downright glorious – “red ale” to us means closer to “Belgian” or “pale.” But also enough hop, enough malt, and a little bit of that toffee…Without a doubt the “best in breed” on this holiday.

So, what was the point of all this?

And how did “His Favorite…Change The Way You Think About Craft Beer”?

More than just clickbait – the goal is to get you to think a little differently about what you buy, what you try, and what you think.

Happy drinking!

Aug 05 2013

Battle of the New Belgium Brews

Five Beers. One Multi-Pack. Five Ratings. One Blog Post. Here Goes…

Sam’s Club near me (Chicago’s suburbs; a burb without a Costco) was selling cold beer from New Belgium. And I thought, why not? I’ve had – and quite enjoy – Fat Tire, but there’s other stuff they produce out there in Colorado that might be worth a try.

Price was right: $14-ish for the 12-pack. Here goes…

Battle of the New Belgium Brews

We could do this a whole number of ways – best-to-worst, or alphabetically, or by coolest label. However, I think it makes the most sense to look at this chronologically.

Here’s a hypothetical week – imagine, hypothetically, of course, that you’re a suburban dad and you pick up some brewskis at the Sam’s Club, and, because they’re cold, you try one. On a Tuesday.

Tuesday: Loft

This is an…interesting name for a beer. And it’s a flavor that I can’t quite place.

It’s not BAD, but…I’m not turning cartwheels over it either.

Hoppy – Ale-y – Slightly Bitter. Beyond that, does it say “summer?” Does it say “go fly a kite?” Not sure.

Loft – Metasip Grade: B-

It’s fine. There are four bottles in the 12-pack, so maybe it’ll grow on me. If so, I’ll change the grade. But I don’t think I’ll change the grade.

Wednesday: Sunshine

“Wheat beer brewed with spices.” I’m already scared – wheat beer to me equals a surefire headache after just one.

My other mistake is that there’s supposed to be some sort of citrus involved – like an orange slice or whatnot. Didn’t have it – and, now that I realize what beers like Blue Moon do to me, I have to draw the line at anything marked “wheat beer.” Can’t do it.

This had some spice to it, but I couldn’t place what spice, and I lost interest after a couple sips anyway.

Sure enough, the next morning, the headache would erase any positive thoughts about this beer.

Sunshine – Metasip Grade: B-

We’re 40% through our tasting, and New Belgium isn’t showing so well thus far.

Of course, we may have stacked the lineup: 1 and 2 are light-hitting infielders. Might as well give the big boys an at bat or two.

Thursday: Fat Tire

Ages ago – must be at least a dozen years now – a friend heard we were making a trip from Chicago to St. Louis and implored us to get him some Fat Tire. We didn’t know why this was important…until we tasted it.

Since then, this is the beer that has come to define New Belgium’s prowess.

This is an ale that is up there among the finest brews you’ll try. Hops? It’s got ’em. And then some. An alcohol kick, too. (ABV of 6.5%.)

We wouldn’t be a real review site if we didn’t give this our highest score yet.

Fat Tire – Metasip Grade: A-

Why not an A? Why the minus? We run a tight ship over here in the beer department.Maybe it’s familiarity that keeps us from handing out a straight “A.”

N.B. Only one beverage in our history has an A. Read a review of it over here. Bulleit Rye Review. It’s outstanding, actually.

Friday: Ranger IPA

This is exactly what you think of when you think IPA. Packs that wallop. Hops – probably hoppier than Fat Tire. Some bitterness on the finish – but not too bitter. And, darnit, this is another outstanding brew from New Belgium.

Ranger IPA – Metasip Grade: A-

We actually drafted a review of this beer a couple months ago – but we stopped short because we weren’t sure we were giving it a fair shake. Then, we had it pegged as a high-B+. But, trust us, it’s worthy of the “A-” grade.

Saturday: Blue Paddle

If there were an award for “Most Surprising Beer,” this would win hands down.

In fact, this is the kind of beer that, if it were a student, you would be certain it was cheating. This came out of nowhere.

From the “judge the book by the cover” category, your professor (me) was guilty of doing so – and that’s because it said “Pilsner Lager” on the label. Immediately, thoughts of mass-marketed, mass-produced, watered-down swill crossed my mind.

This was the exact opposite of those things. And more: clean finish, but a powerful beer. I was wishing there were more than two in the 12-pack.

Blue Paddle – Metasip Grade: B+

But it’s the highest “B+” you could imagine. Let’s just say this was like a solo homer after the other beers cleared the bases with extra-base hits.

So there you go…5 beers, maybe 3 winners and two average brews…all from New Belgium. Cheers!