Mickey Finn's Märzen

[steveh]

I was out to a business lunch at the local brew-pub yesterday and longingly noticed this new brew on tap (no drinking onna job), so I stopped in on my way home tonight for a taste. Copper colored, very malty up front with a crisp hop finish. Some great toasted malt and slight toffee flavor going on with Hallertauer and Tettnang character - comparable to a Paulaner Okto, but maltier - probably like a fresh, unpasteurized Paulaner in late September.

Also noted that a patron in the restaurant returned a .5 liter mug and asked for the American Wheat style (a brew always available at the pub, but typically bland and lacking in character) - maybe a good, back-handed recomendation!

Go forth, as the bartender told me it's been on tap for a while...and my growler is clean!

S.

[Ill hophead]

I had the Marzen about a month ago when it first came on line. I thought it was good but I noticed a bit of a banana estery flavor in it. Better than most of their beers right now but still not that great IMO. Of course, you are the local authority on good lager beer, at least in my book. I'll give it another try if they still have it next time I stop in.

Did they serve it to you in a .5L mug or a pint glass? The first time I had it they served it in a mug, last time I was there my girl got a mug and then they gave me a pint. Then she asked for another one in a mug but they brought her a pint (they said all the mugs were dirty) and when I poured the pint in the mug it only filled it to about 2 or 3 inches from the top of the mug. That's not a big deal if they're dropping the price a bit compensate for the smaller volume but I'm pretty sure they didn't change the price for the ones served in pint glasses. Just another reason I don't like to drink at Mickey Finn's.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Ill hophead
I had the Marzen about a month ago when it first came on line. I thought it was good but I noticed a bit of a banana estery flavor in it.

No banana flavor these days, very malty - maybe it's just lagered out.

Did they serve it to you in a .5L mug or a pint glass?

Yeah, I got the $4.50 .5 L mug, but asked if there was something smaller - makes me wonder if I'd have paid the same price for either - not right and it should be pointed out to "someone." Of course, they may just raise the price of the mug! :/ Still the same glass would probably cost $8 at the Firkin, you know? Maybe the quaint village is getting a bit too hoytee-toytee for us working stiffs?

Back when Finn's first opened, they served the regular pint and a smaller glass-size. The smaller was significantly less expensive, but was minutely less volume! I always made the effort to ask for a small, maybe they're getting us all back now?

S.

[Ill hophead]

I would've pointed out the mug vs. pint thing to someone but they were busy and we were with my girlfriend's family so I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I didn't even get to see the bill so I don't know if they charged a different price for the different sizes.

Another thing about Finn's that pisses me off (I've got a list) is that card carrying American Homebrewer Association members are supposed to get 20% off all food and drink according to the Brewers Association. Most of the time they only give 15% and one time the bartender had to ask a manager and he said "I don't even give 20% off to my mother".

And another thing about Finn's is that they charge more than any other brewpub in the area and they never have a cheap pint day like Flatlander's and Ram's $2 tuesdays. OK, I'll stop now.

The one thing that brings us in to Finn's is the $2 bottomless chips and salsa. Once they raise that to $5 I'm done.

[brewcrew76]

Not to hijack the thread but I have problems everywhere I go with the AHA card. I am really not trying to complain since any discount is better than nothing but why agree to it and post it on AHA if you don't really give it to customers.

Piece has told me something different everytime I am in there but mostly they don't accept the card. Rock Bottom tells me it is illegal to give a discount on alcohol and I end up getting 10% off food (instead of the 20% posted). I find the illegal thing funny since Goose has no problem giving the correct discount.

Sorry, just had to vent about the issues I've had.

Edit: Thought I would check out what the Piece discount is and they have been removed from the AHA website. I guess they finally stopped accepting it.

[Ill hophead]

What's up brewcrew. On the list I have, Piece was listed as 20% off pizza and logo merchandise and Rock Bottom says 20% off food and beverage (alcohol where legal). But yeah, that's weird that Goose and Finn's give discounts on alcohol but Rock Bottom says it's illegal. I agree, why tell the Brewers Association that you're going to give this discount and then not give it to members when they show their card. We've started taking the list that was sent to us by the BA in to Finn's to show them that they say it's 20%. But you're right, any discount is better than nothing.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Ill hophead
they never have a cheap pint day like Flatlander's and Ram's $2 tuesdays.

Hmm, $2 Tuesdays at Flatlanders...I haven't seen ol' buddy Art in a while, and I'm working right around the corner these days...

I could get into a big quality discussion over Ram and Finn's, but Finn's has been pretty hit-or-miss lately. How can we talk Emmett's into opening a Gurnee or Grayslake branch?

S.

[Osh]

[i]Originally posted by steveh Maybe the quaint village is getting a bit too hoytee-toytee for us working stiffs [/B]

I do believe thats the case. Finn's is nowhere near it's former self and Firken's rediculous price structuring is just out of hand. Jeez!!!! a snifter of barleywine for a pint price??? I do tip damn good when I go there buy it's like it's expected cause your in friggen downtown Libertyville

So much for hometown quaintness. The Ram is a much better deal $ for $. $40 to get your cornies filled there.

[Ill hophead]

The Ram is a much better deal $ for $. I agree. I actually think they have the best beer of the 3 brewpubs on Milwaukee Ave. I love Firkin because they have such good beer and I'm friends with the bartenders but Ram is definitely the best deal, unfortunately it's also the longest drive for me.

Hey Steveh, when was the last time you tried Ram? I know I've heard you say that you don't think they're that good but I think you should give them another try. They've got a really good pilsener right now I think you would like.

Hey Osh, I've still got your growler and I'd like to return it with some beer in it. I've got a mai-ur-bock and a chocolate stout on tap at my house right now or I could get it filled at Ram. We should get together for a couple pints sometime.

[Osh]

Hi Il Hophead, how you guy's doing? You just seemed to disappear after the firealarm went off. LOL. I wouldn't mind sampling some homebrew for sure.

I'm not saying I'll never go to Finn's or the Firken again so if you're in the mood for a pint or so and your going to be in town let me know.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Ill hophead
Hey Steveh, when was the last time you tried Ram? I know I've heard you say that you don't think they're that good but I think you should give them another try. They've got a really good pilsener right now I think you would like.

I was in the branch near O'Hare (Des Plaines?) a little less than a year ago. I was quick to be sure our server brought our beer in unchilled glasses and asked if the IPA they had on tap was pretty hoppy. I was told that the APA was hoppier, so I ordered the APA and my friend had the IPA. We traded because she's not a hop fan - or maybe we were served the wrong glass, dunno. I'd try them again, but I'm in no hurry.

S.

[Alidade]

Originally posted by steveh



Still the same glass would probably cost $8 at the Firkin, you know? Maybe the quaint village is getting a bit too hoytee-toytee for us working stiffs?


S.

I wish we could serve Delirium Tremens, Guldenburg, Old FogHorn, St Bernardus 12, Prima Pils, Bear Trees Barley Wine Weiss (on cask), etc... ON DRAUGHT for less then $4 dollars in a pint glass with no head also, but until we either brew our own beer or open a bar in Happymagicland, it's not going to happen.
This is the first place i've ever worked where if we get a deal, we LOWER prices instead of trying to maximize profits. I don't see where paying $4.25 for Alpha King/Hoegaarden/Hop Devil/Burning River Pale Ale is such a problem. We just want the best variety for our guests for the best price. Maybe you guys are thinking about the Samichlaus on draught, which we were one of six bars in the country to get it, and served it in a snifter for $6 a glass. Again, i'm sorry, but I don't see what the probem is...

[Ill hophead]

Don't be sorry, you're totally right. You guys get the best selection of beer in Lake County and I know most of those beers aren't cheap. I think sometimes people know what a bottle of beer costs in a store and when they order a glass of it at a bar and it's twice as much they think they're getting ripped off. Unfortunately, I've acquired a taste for the best beers in the world on a very low income so I can't afford to go out that much. I like to drink at home so I can try more expensive bottles for the price I'd pay for pint of something else at the bar. However, I do enjoy the company of Firkin's outstanding bartenders and their excellent food so hopefully I'll get a full-time job soon and you'll see me in there more often.

Mmmmm.....Samiclaus. Now you've got me craving a barleywine. I'm going to Happymagicland. ;)

[steveh]

I agree, the Firkin does have the best selection around, but having worked in the Happymagicland of retail before, I know what sort of profit is being had here.

When I walk out of a bar after having 4 beers (sometimes three) and have dropped a Jackson, I feel it in the budget - that's where the problem is Dave - and it's really not just the Firkin, it's happening everywhere!

S.

[Alidade]

Tell me about it. When we see a forty dollar price jump in a keg of beer, you wonder how much is extra cost (shipping/gas prices/bad hop season/actofgod/rareness) and how much is "that's what people are paying nowadays".

It's funny, but we have all have unwittingly and officially turned craft beer into a free rolling juggernaut and prices one day in the possibly not too distant future will reach and maybe rival that of a fine wine for more complex beer and rare beer. You will start seeing more breweries serving vertical tastings of beers also, which I am excited about, but who knows...Maybe this is a start:

A good start (http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002909.php)

Remember 20 years ago when there were only 3 wines in a any restaurant, a chablis, a red, and maybe a white zin? I understand the budget crunch. Personally, beer helped me quit smoking years ago. $4 for a pack of smokes, or an extra pint.

Sorry we got off topic about the Marzen. It was very good. I love Gregs beers, especially when the let him bust out. They just tapped the Kolsch also.

[chazwicke]

I think the creeping rise in prices is a planned thing. The Brewers Conference (Was it last year in Philly?) some discussions were held as to how better to market craft brew in the premium catagories. And to price them accordingly. Retailers are aware of the trend of American consumers being willing to pay higher prices for items perceived as being top quality or premium. It is happening with beer, wine, olives, coffee, cheeses, and other foodstuffs. Look for the prices to continue their climb and watch as new items will be added to the premium catagory. (Sorry if this makes no sense, I'm a little spacy right now from pain meds.)

[Sladek]

Originally posted by Alidade
I wish we could serve Delirium Tremens, Guldenburg, Old FogHorn, St Bernardus 12, Prima Pils, Bear Trees Barley Wine Weiss (on cask), etc... ON DRAUGHT for less then $4 dollars in a pint glass with no head also, Why "no head"? If I got any of those beers, particularly Prima Pils, with no head, I would have to say something to the bartender.

[Ill hophead]

Sorry we got off topic about the Marzen. It was very good. I love Gregs beers, especially when the let him bust out. They just tapped the Kolsch also.
That's OK, i think we were done with the Marzen. How's that Kolsch? And I'm curious, what do they serve it in? I might go visit Greg today and try one. I've been wanting to talk to him because he said I can come observe and help out during a brew session there sometime.

[steveh]

Sladek - I think Ali was just making a point of saying a "full glass." The Firkin pours a perfect Chechvar.

Hophead - Last year's Kolsch at Finn's wasn't all that hot, hopefully Greg has worked on that - IIRC, it was sort of sour.

Alidade - A friend is telling me that he's paying $130 per half barrel of good beer (Spotted Cow, Oberon), what do the distributors nick you guys for?

Oh yeah, and why no comment on my wanting to petition a local Emmett's...I seem to recall you having a strong affinity for the boys from Dundee!

S.

[Osh]

Originally posted by Alidade
Maybe you guys are thinking about the Samichlaus on draught, which we were one of six bars in the country to get it, and served it in a snifter for $6 a glass. Again, i'm sorry, but I don't see what the probem is...

Hhmmmm!!! Seem's to me when me and the wife went there for dinner and Samichlaus and Delerium Noel were on tap. Those 2 beers totaled $15 or $16. Had a gift certificate so it wasn't a big deal but even the OL commented about it. Can only imagine what a snifter of Dark Lord would be.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by Osh


So much for hometown quaintness. The Ram is a much better deal $ for $. $40 to get your cornies filled there.

I wonder if your "The Ram" is the same as Big Horn Brewing here - do they have stuff like Total Disorder Porter and Buttface Ale? If so, it's a good place. I have a growler of a Chicory Brown Ale chilling down as we speak. By far the best Brown I've ever had! (Like I'm some authority on them or something...)

[Ill hophead]

Osh- I had the Samiclaus a couple times there and it was $6. It must have been the $8 or $9 snifter of Delerium that jacked your bill up to $15. I had a Delerium there once and was shocked when I saw the price of it on the bill.

Fret- Yes, it is the same Big Horn Brewing that you have in CO. They started in CO and now have locations in ID, IN, IL, WA, OR, and WY. It's kind of odd that we have 3 locations within about 30 miles of each other around here but it's because there's a LOT of money in the Chicago suburbs and the restaurant/brewery combos are pretty popular. Yeah, the do have pretty good beer. I like that Total Disorder Porter but I've never seen a Chicory Brown Ale here, sounds good though. You may not be an authority on them but with almost 9000 posts on realbeer I trust your judgement.

[Alidade]

What happened with Emmetts?

[steveh]

Originally posted by steveh
How can we talk Emmett's into opening a Gurnee or Grayslake branch?

I was just referring to my comment above from page 1 of this thread.

S.

[Alidade]

Ahhh... I was told, not by anyone from Emmitts since they're all in Belgium, but by another bar in Palatine, that Emmetts in Palatine was closing :( Just a rumor I heard. You should ask 'em.

I'll be doing a beer mail soon with some very good news for rare beer/excursions.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Alidade
that Emmetts in Palatine was closing :( Just a rumor I heard.

Say it ain't so! I hope it's just sour grapes from the other bar, Emmett's locations always seem to be booming with business.

S.