Old Chicago's Winter Beer tour

[davesarman]

Last week I was at the Old Chicago in Minnetonka, MN. Here's their beer list for the Winter Beer Tour:
-Sam Adams Winter (tap)
-Rogue Chocolate Stout (bottle)
-Bell's Winter White (tap)
-Rockies Never Summer Ale (bottle)
-Stella Artois (tap)
-Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (bottle)
-Boulevard Nutcracker (bottle)
-Samuel Smith Winter Welcome (bottle)
-Breckenridge Christmas Ale (bottle)
-Red Hook Winterhook (bottle)
-Big Sky Powderhound (tap)
-Summit Winter Ale (tap)
-Superior Old Man Winter (bottle)

First of all, what the hell is Stella doing on this list?!? Must have something to do with sponsorship or money.

My first beer was the Bell's Winter White. I believe SteveH reviewed this a few weeks back. I thought it was a nice, soft, classic Belgian Wit. Not exactly what you think of for a winter beer, but I like that they've done something unusual, and (not surprisingly) done it well.

I then asked for the Rockies Never Summer Ale. I was there for lunch on a Friday, so the bar was not busy. After 2 or 3 staff spent 10 minutes looking, they declared they were out of it! Geez, the tour had only been going for less than 2 weeks! The offered no substitutions. I'll remember this when I go back and work on the tour some more. Usually if they are out of a beer, they offer up a substitute of my choice, while giving me the number assigned to the beer they are out of.

I then had a Summit Winter Ale. I know this beer well, I have a lot of it every year. This year it is exceptional as usual. Big, roasty, not overtly hoppy or spicey, but well balanced. A bit of diacetyl, but not sure if that was from the beer or unclean tap line?

Next I asked for the Rogue Chocolate Stout. Again, they were out of this beer. This is not looking good. I'm thinking I should talk to the manager...

Had the Breckenridge Xmas Ale next. Roasty beer, slightly spicy. Low carbonation. Served way too cold. Got much better as it warmed.

Finished with the Boulevard Nutcracker. Lightest color of the bunch (except for the Bell's White). Hoppiest of the bunch as well. Not unlike the SN Celebration ale.

I would have to say my favorite of the 4 was the Bell's Winter White, followed by the Summit Winter.

I also noticed they had the Schell's Snowstorm on tap, but not listed as one of the beers on the tour. My guess is that they will replace one of the beers they are out of. Bummer, because I was really looking forward to both of those beers, especially the Never Summer ale.

I never did talk to the manager, perhaps I should have. I normally go to the Eden Prairie location which seems to be better run, cleaner and the staff more knowelegable and friendly. By the time I finish the Winter Tour, I'll have gone to both locations. Sometimes thier tour lineup differs by a couple beers. Anyway, as I have more of the beers on the tour, I'll post further updates.

[steveh]

Originally posted by davesarman
First of all, what the hell is Stella doing on this list?!?

That's exactly what I was gonna ask!

Would you mind explaining the background and purpose of the Old Chicago "tours?" I mean, five beers at lunch..? Unless, of course, they were tasters.

S.

[davesarman]

Originally posted by steveh
Would you mind explaining the background and purpose of the Old Chicago "tours?"

Sure, no problem. For those of you that don't know, Old Chicago is a chain of restaurant/bars that promotes it's selection of beers. If features something called the "World Beer Tour". Every beer is assigned a number and when you order they keep track of all the beers you've had via a credit card type card you get with a magnetic strip on the back. It takes 110 different beers to complete the "tour", but you get prizes along the way that gradually get bigger (opener, mug, cap, t-shirt, sweatshirt, etc.). After you complete one tour, then you get "foamer bucks", which is essentially store credit (I think it's $20 buck at 55 beers, and another $40 at 110 beers, which is good because I have so many caps, shirts, etc.). A few times a year they have what are called "mini-tours" in which they put on about a dozen or so seasonal beers. (They do a St. Pat's tour, an Octo-fest tour, the Winter Tour is my fave, a Cinco De Mayo tour-the worst, and a couple others that escape me right now.) Those beers are then assigned unique numbers and when you finish all the beers on the mini-tour, you get a prize, usually a t-shirt. All beers on the mini-tours count towards your total for the big tour. I've completed 3 tours (over about 6 years), and I know some people who have done over 50. You get your name put on a plaque on the wall when you complete a big tour. (The "Hall of Foam"). Their food is pretty decent, especially their pizza. Each locations beers can vary a little bit, so beer #47 might be SN Pale Ale in one place and Blue Moon in another. Their beer selections are usually decent, but have gotten more macro over the last few years. Locals are usually represented fairly well, but you'll be hard pressed to find an exotic Belgian, well other than Stella. :rolleyes:

I mean, five beers at lunch..? Unless, of course, they were tasters.

Actually it was four beers, two 12 oz. taps, two 12 oz. bottles. (Bell's, Summit, Breckenridge, Boulevard). I had the day off from work, so I had no place to get to or return to. They limit you to 4 beers per visit on the tour. (It used to be six, but was recently reduced to 4. Probably a liability/insurance issue.) You can of course, have more beers in a visit, but they will only put 4 beers on your tour at a time.

[steveh]

Originally posted by davesarman
Sure, no problem. For those of you that don't know...

Thanks for that. Goose Island has something similar (their Masters of Beer Appreciation), but I'm not sure how that works either.

I've only been to one Old Chicago, right around Denver, and the closest one actually to Chicago is in Peoria, I think.

Actually it was four beers, two 12 oz. taps, two 12 oz. bottles. (Bell's, Summit, Breckenridge, Boulevard). I had the day off from work...

I must have counted the Rogue you didn't get, but I feel better now - I was sitting here hoping you weren't an air-traffic controller! ;)

S.

[chazwicke]

Old Chicago Beer used to be made by Peter Hand brewery I think. And I believe it may have been made for a restraunt chain. How long has the chain been operating?

There are a few restraunts here that do the round the world type of thing but I rarely eat at those places. I think one might be Bennigans.

Tomorrow evening I am attending an annual affair in what once was a great bar with about 15 taps of good beer. The group is small and it is sort of an annual holiday dinner with comrades from over the years from my profession. Sadly last year the bar was sold and now only three of those taps have anything decent. Guinness, Sierra Nevada and Old Dominions Victory (which was contracted by the previous owner and is the house brand.) There is also one more marginal beer on tap and that would be Bass. I wanted to change venues this year but the more stodgy in my group would have none of it. Since they do have the 3 decent beers my contingent agreed for at least this year. I am saddened that what was once a nice place to sup a few has now degenerated. I will say that they have a great old Christian Heurich Brewery charger on the wall that I tried to buy from them last year for $300.00 (I already have one.) If it is still there I may offer as much as 500.00 as I know I can sell it for 800.00. beautiful piece of Heurich breweriana. Shame to have it wasted in that place.

[studentofbeer]

Originally posted by steveh
Thanks for that. Goose Island has something similar (their Masters of Beer Appreciation), but I'm not sure how that works either.

S.

just fyi, to get goose's MBA you have to drink 35 pints of different beers. At 10, 20, and 30 you get a free growler. at 35 you get a t-shirt, your name on a plaque and the right to be served in imperial pints. I ended up getting mine 2x over. I thought it was a good gimmick, and it was pretty easy since I always like trying new beers and goose makes some pretty tasty offerings. 35 is a relatively attainable number.

the growlers were also nice and i'm a firm believer in the imperial pint, so it was nice to drink out of it. Usually the waitress won't pour the stronger beers in an imperial pint as they usually come in a smaller goblet or snifter, but i do recall a time ordering a 10%+ barley wine and to my surprise had it delivered to me in a 20oz glass. whew, that was a long walk to the train.

[davesarman]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Old Chicago Beer used to be made by Peter Hand brewery I think. And I believe it may have been made for a restraunt chain. How long has the chain been operating?



Not sure how long the chain has been around, 15 years maybe? They do not serve any "Old Chicago" branded beer, at least the one's I've been to don't. They have some prizes for those who complete several tours, like 10, 20, 50 tours. I've seen some people with pewter mugs, leather jackets, etc. I think once you reach 50, you get something like 10% all your food & drink orders for life. That's a lot of beer to drink to get that many, and I don't have any aspirations to do that. Now that I've done a few tours and have my name on the wall, I mainly go when they have the seasonal mini-tours so I can taste the beers, and I'm not so concerned about where my count is, and Lord knows, I certainly have enough t-shirts!

[Beaver]

Around here you get prizes for 10,20,50 beers - not full tours. I've got like 50 beers on my first tour (I usually get the rotating taps, which always count as the same beer), and I've already got 10% off. I think around 100 beers you get 20% off food.

[davesarman]

Originally posted by Beaver
Around here you get prizes for 10,20,50 beers - not full tours. I've got like 50 beers on my first tour (I usually get the rotating taps, which always count as the same beer), and I've already got 10% off. I think around 100 beers you get 20% off food.

You do get prizes at every 15 beers on Old Chicago's Tour, if it's your first tour. (In addition to the prizes for multiple tours.) If you are on your second tour or more, you get store money at the half way point and store money at the end. Which I kind of like, because I can only use so many bottle openers...

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by davesarman
because I can only use so many bottle openers...

Dang! I was hoping you'd buy my collection of old and antique openers when I put them on Ebay. I guess there is several hundred. :D

[davesarman]

I forgot to post this until now, but last weekend I stopped in to the Eden Prairie location for a late dinner. Their list was pretty much the same as the Minnetonka location, but some that were bottle were tap, and vice versa. With the one exception, that Eden Prairie had the James Page Winter Warmer in place of the Superior Old Man Winter.

Anyway, I had 3 beers, the Never Summer Ale, Rogue Chocolate Stout and the James Page Winter Warmer. Since it's been several days, and I did not take written notes, my reviews will be very basic and somewhat sketchy....

Never Summer Ale: medium brown, good carbonation, caramel-malt taste is most dominant. Hops to be sure, but caramel malt seemed to take charge. Slight spicyness that was well recieved.

Rogue Chocolate Stout: black color, mocha head. Roasted malt at first, then definite chocolate notes take over. Seems to be combination of dark and semisweet chocolate. Not really like sweet milk chocolate. Hops provide nice balance in the finish. Nice beer for a chilly December evening.

James Page Winter Warmer: Amber brown color, tan head. Malty sweet aroma. This one perplexed me a bit. After a few sips, I began thinking, "This tastes like something but I'm not sure what." So I started looking at the label, and didn't get much info about the beer from that. But what I did notice is that James Page is now brewed by Schell's in New Ulm. (I knew that, but had forgotten all about it.) Then I got to thinking, the flavor profile doesn't really seem right for a Winter Warmer, but it is malty and strong. Not bad at all, but not what I was expecting. Then it hit me - this tastes surprisingly like Schell's Dopplebock! Maybe with a hint of spices thrown in, but it definitely had the dopplebock flavor profile. I don't know for sure if this is actually the case, but I suspect that it may be Schell's Dopplebock, or at least a close variation thereof.

My favorite of the night: close call between the Never Summer and the Chocolate Stout, but I'll give the nod to Rogue and their excellent stout. Both excellent beers, but the stout just seemed to fit the eveining and situation better. Any other given night, I could have picked Never Summer.

Oh, and after striking up a conversation with the bartender, she marked off Stella from my list, so now I don't have to drink that one! See what I mean about the service being better at the Eden Prairie location?

8 down, 4 to go...I'll update next chance I get...

[Beaver]

Here's our list:
Sam Adams Winter Lager
Rogue Chocolate Stout
Bridgeport Ebeneezer Ale
Rockies Never Summer Ale
Stella Artois Belgian Ale
New Belgium Frambozen
Odell's Isolation Ale
Sierra Nevade Celebration
Deschutes Jubelale
Sam Smith Winter Welcome
Widmer Snowplow Milk Stout
Bristol Winter Warlock

[davesarman]

Not a bad lineup. I think I've had all on that last over the last few years with the exception of Widmer Milk Stout and the Bristol Winter Warlock. Have you had those 2 yet? How are they?

[Beaver]

Originally posted by davesarman
Not a bad lineup. I think I've had all on that last over the last few years with the exception of Widmer Milk Stout and the Bristol Winter Warlock. Have you had those 2 yet? How are they?

Haven't had them yet this year. I had the Bristol last year and remember it being good (didn't take any notes though). Hopefully I'll get to them soon!

[denver brewhoo]

Old Chicago is my local, on Colorado Blvd in Denver. Our list is almost the same as Beaver's....we did not have the Jubelale, and i don't know what we had instead.

The people who own Old Chicago also own all the Rock Bottom Breweries--the first was on the first floor of the Prudential Building in Denver, hence the name--The Denver Chophouse, and Chophouses in a bunch of other cities...and there's commonality (if not identity) of ownership with Boulder/Rockies Brewing, which itself has swallowed up a bunch of old Boulder breweries.

On the whole, they are a force for good, not evil, but there are a lot of things I have gripes about. For one, they serve all their beer too cold. For two, as evidenced above, they make strange corporate decisions about their mini-tours that are blatantly about the $$$. For three, the number of bullshit Rockies beers (example: Buffalo Gold) taking up taps is ridiculous. And given their size and purchasing power, they could spearhead a cask revolution in this country if they wanted to. Oh and their English beer selection is appalling.
Fuller's London Porter. John Courage. Sam Smith's Nut Brown. (all in bottles) Speckled Hen. Boddington's. Young's Double Chocolate Stout. (all in Nitro widget cans) And on tap: Bass Ale.

Now they do have the Samuel Smith's Winter Warmer on the Christmas tour, every year.

Having said that, the too-cold beer does warm up, and they do a pretty good job with American micros. I can be happy with an awful lot on Beaver's list, plus they frequently have good stuff from Rogue, Deschutes, and Stone on tap (including the Bastard but more recently the basic Pale) and even more in the bottle. And some of the Boulder stuff is pretty good, eg the Hazed & Infused, the Mojo, and the Never Summer. It could be a lot worse.

[chazwicke]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by denver brewhoo
[B]
And given their size and purchasing power, they could spearhead a cask revolution in this country if they wanted to.




That is an interesting idea / thought. There are two Rock Bottom Breweries in th DC area and the District Chophouse. You may really be on to something here. There are not that many large chains of micros who could pull this off. John Harvards and Gordon Biersch come to mind but GB is mainly into producing lagers and they do a decent job. I really, Really like the idea of Rock Bottom / Chophouses spearheading the cask revolution. Wonder if they might be receptive. (Kalleh, Maybe we will have that American Camra yet!)

[davesarman]

I think there are at least 5 or so Old Chicago's in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, plus a Rock Bottom. That would be cool if they decided to go the route of cask beer. Even if they just put one beer on cask in each location, that would be a large volume overall.

I'll echo some of denver brewhoo's comments. Overall, Old Chi's are good, but plenty of things I'd change. Serving temp and selection being at the top of the list. Their list used to be better a few years back, but has gradually shifted to more macro and bland imports (i.e. Stella). In fact I looked at their list recently and I think they had more beers from Mexico than they had from England-Ireland-Scotland combined! Didn't used to be that way.

But there are still good beers to be had there, the food is decent and the staff is friendly, at least at my location.

[Beaver]

Yep the serving temp is kind of annoying. Whenver I get bottled beer there, I make sure to ask for a non-frozen glass.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by davesarman
I think there are at least 5 or so Old Chicago's in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, plus a Rock Bottom. That would be cool if they decided to go the route of cask beer. Even if they just put one beer on cask in each location, that would be a large volume overall.

.

I think all three DC locations usually have at least one on cask but to use the chain and PROMOTE cask ale would be awesome.

[davesarman]

OK, so I finished up the tour the other weekend and got my shirt, although because of the different order of the beers between the two locations, I ended up having to have a couple of duplicates in order to do it, but having another Sam Adams and Summit Winter wasn't too bad.

I went in last week and decided I need to have the one's I missed out on, those being SN Celebration and Sam Smith Winter Welcome. They were out of the Winter Welcome and it was replaced with Goose Island Christmas Ale on tap, so I had one of those and the Celebration Ale (also on tap). Let me tell you, those were probably the best beers of the tour. Celebration was a symphony of flavor with remarkable balance and drinkability for such a flavorful beer. The Goose Island was dark, roasty, warming and wonderful as well (once it warmed up, that is). I didn't get a whole lot of hop flavor in it, as I think someone eluded too in a different thread.

Great beers, but alas, duplicate numbers on my tour card. But for some reason when they scanned my card they told me I won the "Pizza For A Year" contest! They gave me a coupon book for 12 free pizzas, each effective for one month of the year! I looked at the fine print on the coupons and I can't seem to see anything that says "small one topping pizza only" or any limitations like that, so "Wahoo!!" :)

One other change on thier tour I should note...the previous trip I made it to the halfway point of my 4th tour, which in the past meant I got $20 in "Foamer Bucks" (five pieces of Monopoly type money with the store logo in $5 value). This time, at the bottom of the printout of my card, it said that they added $20 to my account. Which makes sense I guess, because when I asked the bartender about it she said they were having a problem with people counterfitting the "Foamer Bucks", which would not have been hard to do. Only negative to doing it this way, is that the bonus money has to be used within 30 days or it is deleted from the account. With the "Foamer Bucks" you could use them whenever. I guess it's a way to get you back into their business sooner and more often. Which really isn't an issue for me anyway....