Piece Brewery

[Prankasaur]

Has anyone been to Piece latetly? I was there on Wed. and had their APA and thought it to be terrible. I was rather surprised due to the general exceptional beers they make. It seemed it was either spoiled or nautiously sweet ( I assume I spelled nautiously wrong but I am to lazy to look it up). Anyway the waitress said that this was a sweet APA. I am rather new to beer appreciation, but isn't a sweet APA rather contradictory?

[steveh]

Originally posted by Prankasaur
Anyway the waitress said that this was a sweet APA. I am rather new to beer appreciation, but isn't a sweet APA rather contradictory?

Huh? A sweet APA? Sounds like she's improvising on the fly a bit... The only "new" things I've heard Jonathan has come out with lately are an American style wheat and another Hefe-Weizen (aside from the Hefe that's on all the time).

And, funny you mention that particular stretch of North Ave., I'm going to be visiting an art show in that vicinity this Sunday and was thinking lunch at a certain brew-pub might be in order...

S.

[chazwicke]

Check out that "Sweet" APA and let us know what you think. Never heard of such a thing.

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Check out that "Sweet" APA and let us know what you think.

Oh, okay - if I have to... ;)

S.

[unkle bik]

Without sounding naive & facetious, where in the hell is Pierce?

[steveh]

Originally posted by unkle bik
Without sounding naive & facetious, where in the hell is Pierce?

Piece - it's a great Pizza Joint/brew-pub on the borders of Chicago's Wicker Park and Bucktown Neighborhoods. The restaurant's owner likes good beer so he added a small brew system and hired one of the assistant brewers from Goose Island.

It's a great little joint - and not as trendy since it's not featured on MTV's "Real World" any more (I didn't discover it until after that pparticular segment of the show ended - thank goodness), great eastern style pizza, great beer - with guest tappers open to other micros, and a fun place to hang out.

S.

[unkle bik]

Sounds like a pretty nice place. Especially the fact that someone from Goose Island has a hand in it.
The Akron area could use a place like that. Since Burkhardt's closed a couple of years ago.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Prankasaur
Has anyone been to Piece latetly? I was there on Wed. and had their APA and thought it to be terrible.

Well, if nothing else - I'm dilligent! ;)

I spent a relaxing lunch at Piece yesterday afternoon - their street windows wide open allowing the soft Summer breezes to blow through - adding to the already comfortable atmosphere of the place.

I tried the "My Pale Ale" first and, while I agree that it was very under-hopped for a Pale Ale, and somewhat off-flavored in the malts (under fermented?). it wasn't awful. Not to mention that the glass I was served was near frozen! C'mon guys, yer a brew-pub!

I think you'd have been happier with the "Worryin' Ale," Prank. More in-line with a nicely hoppy, yet balanced APA. Funny thing though, the waitress told us it was "More of an English bitter." Uh, huh - I wonder if she had her descriptions confused as I'd have found the APA more of a Bitter - if it hadn't been so cold!

But I did take home a growler of the Worryin', good stuff! Went well with the Artichoke and Bacon, white pizza.

S.

[BenP78]

Last time I went to Piece was more than a month ago, but I remember my waiter not having a clue. Don't trust these people, I don't think training them is a priority for the place.

Which is too bad, cos their beer is quite good. I asked my server if the Dysfunctionale was and IPA and he told me 'no,' but I distinctly remember ordering it the previous time I was in and enjoying its hoppy goodness. So I said bring me one anyway, and sure enough, IPA yummy pine-cone nose and grapefruit taste. And their pie is tasty as well!

For the person who asked where it is located: it's about a block east of the Damen blue line stop at Milwaukee/Damen/North on North Ave. Not too far from the Map room at Armitage and Hoyne. Both places worth a visit!

[studentofbeer]

i was at piece last week and i agree, the staff, while nice doesn't totally know about the beer. when a friend of mine asked about the pale ale the waitress told him it was an IPA, which it surely wasn't.

The worryin' ale was very good. it's not an english bitter, but not exactly an APA in my book either. Sorta between the two maybe, because the malt taste definitely has some of the caramel characteristics i associate with british beer.

and that pizza is good. i love chicago-style and all, but some really good thin crust is something i dont have very often.

[steveh]

Originally posted by studentofbeer
The worryin' ale was very good. it's not an english bitter, but not exactly an APA in my book either. Sorta between the two maybe, because the malt taste definitely has some of the caramel characteristics i associate with british beer.

I brought home a growler of the Worryin' and enjoyed a couple glasses a night (and it actually lasted/stayed fresh longer than a week). It was pretty tasty, and though I know what you mean by the caramel characteristics, they were light in my batch - more biscuit malts, and the hops were the dominant flavor - so I'll stick with my APA categorization - at least in the particular batch I was drinking.

S.