Midwest Brewpubs

[deanna]

Tell me about your favorite brewpubs and their offerings.

I've been living in the western suburbs of Chicago for the past ten years and frequenting Goose Island for most of those years. One of the little things I like about the place is they serve each style of beer in a glass appropriate for the style. The pub is comfortable and friendly and full of beer lovers.

I couldn't choose a favorite brew, but here are some recommendations off the top of my head:


IPA My favorite everyday beer at the pub or in a bottle. For a time, the pub offered a nitro version, but I much prefer the draft.
Honkers Ale Their flagship brew. My description won't do it justice. It's a great beer for about anything. However, the bottled version falls short of the great stuff at the pub.
Old Aberration Barley Wine Usually offered around January. It'll take the chill off.
Bourbon County Stout I hear it's their most requested brew, though I can't verify it. I know it is delicious.
Blonde Ale I mention it because some of you, like me, may have stayed away from it thinking it may be too light. I was quite surprised. It has a heavier mouthfeel than expected, is floral, flavorful and crisp. A great everyday beer -- especially in summer.
Icarus Oh my god!
Red Felt I recommend this if you are heading to the Goose soon. (Dec.) Its a beautifully colored, hoppy, red ale.
Also, don't miss John the Younger this winter. A wonderful English bitter.


Try anything] they offer in a Belgian ale glass or brandy snifter.

[Beer Nazi]

I've only had Honker's from Goose Island and I really like it.

It's pretty easy to drink, moderate hoppiness and a little more than moderate sweetness.

That's all I've been able to find in San Antonio, but I have my eyes open.

We go up north just about every summer and we really need to spend an eveing at Goose Island.

[irishmac13]

Is that right? Goose Island Hexnut Brown. I'm from NW IN and whenever I get back to visit the folks I bring some of this and some Honkers Back to CO with me. We have great beers, but Its always nice to have something new. I'll have to make a special trip up to Goose Island next time I'm home. What is the address?

Sean

[deanna]

The original brewpub is at 1800 Clybourn not far from Halsted & North Ave. There's another now on Clark in Wrigleyville. visit www.gooseisland.com for details.

[davesarman]

I live in Minneapolis where there are several very good brewpubs. I guess my fave would be Town Hall. The beer is outstanding and there are usually at least 2 or 3 cask ales being served. They also usually have one or two outstanding guest beers. Only place I've ever seen Lindeman's Frambosen on tap! Food is great, building is very old and true to the style of old Minneapolis.

If you're up in Duluth, the Fitger's Brewery complex is outstanding. A 4 star hotel, shopping complex and brewpub with amazing beer. Plus wandering around Duluth is always fun too. We were there over Labor Day and it was foggy, so the foghorn would blow every 2 minutes or so. Very romantic!

Had a Goose Island winter beer on tap a year or two ago and was surprised at how smokey it was. Must have been a Scotch Ale that year. They must change from year to year?

I'm off to Blue Max liquors today to buy all my holiday beers! Awesome beer store. Over 800 beers with a knowlegeable and helpful staff. I only go once or twice a year, because I always walk out spending way too much money. Especially this time of year!

[deanna]

Mmmmm. Town Hall. I was in MN for Tgiving, but did not get to Town Hall this time. I love Masala Mama IPA. Instead we tried a brewpub we hadn't visited before -- Vine Park. Not bad. Good chili.

Visited Brit's while we were there too. Nice to get Fuller's ESB on tap. Enjoyed it with my curry.

And yes, you are right about that Goose Christmas Ale from a couple of years ago. Quite peat smoked. Was a surprise. I wish they'd brink back their anniversary ale.

[tjthresh]

What's happening!

Mishawaka Brewing is in Mishawaka, IN which is basicly South Bend. They have Founder's Stout which I would put up against any stout out there. They also have an Four Hourseman Ale, INDIAna Pale Ale, Lake Effect Pale Ale, a wheat, and a couple others. There seasonals are usually very good. They should ber getting ready to serve the Resolution Ale. Yummy! But if you go in the fall, beware of the Pumpkin Ale.

[tbendajr]

I live in Dubuque, and lived in Chicago from 88-93. I visited Goose Island a few times in those years, and maybe once since. I'm visiting in late February and Goose Island is on our list to check out, as is The Maproom, which I've heard wonderful things about. We had the Dubuque Star brewery here, which brewed and bottled for many small breweries, so we had some interesting stuff on tap, like Alpha Kings 3Floyds. It's been shut down for a few years now and is supposed to reopen soon after a "major brewery" has bought and renovated it. I have a feeling it's Bud via Lienenkugel(sp?) It could be worse I guess.
Tom

[QCbeerguy]

My favorites are both in Wisconsin. First one is The Great Dane, they have probably at least 12 beers on tap, all of course hand made at the pub. Also they have at least one beer on a beer engine and served at cellar temp. Their beers range from a light wheat to a dark stout. They also have a very good Scottish Ale and a Porter. Great Dane is only a couple of blocks from the Capital in Madison. The food is great, the atmosphere is unbeatable and it is just a great place to people.

My second is Delafield Brew Haus in Delafield near Milwaukee. They have made some great Belgian ales, especially the Tripel. They usually have about 8 beers on tap with one on a beer engine. The "brew room" is the center piece of the building, it divides the dinning area from the bar area. The bar area is of course the more lively side. The bartenders are friendly, especially Eddie.

Both of them have web sites. They are www.greatdanepub.com and www.delafield-brewhaus.com. The delafield brewhaus web site is under construction so hopefully it will be back up and running soon.

[Ray]

GLB neat the West Side Market is always worth a stop when you are in Cleveland. The Dortmunder Gold is always reliable and the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is great for sipping on a cold winter night. The food is always excellent and the dining room in the basement with its exposed brick and stone walls is a great setting. Cleveland Rocks !!!

[billisaacson]

My favorite brewery would have to be the New Glarus Brewery near Madison Wis. Delicious beers and a variety of styles. Unfortunately, they're only available in Wisconsin. The brewery limited their distribution so that they could maintain their quality.

But the point I really wanted to make is that you should all support your local brewpubs and brewers. I've never had a bad beer in them, and the brewmasters have always been receptive to inteligent conversation with knowledgable people with an eye to improvement. In the Lake Superior region I can highly recommend Fitger's in Duluth, MN., South Shore in Ashland, WI., and Jasper Ridge in Marquette, MI. For great Meads, check out the White Winter Winery in Iron River, WI.

Nothing beats a well crafted, well stored, fresh beer. I don't care if you think globally, but drink locally,

[davesarman]

You are right on the money about New Glarus! Fantastic beer, nice people! I stopped by the brewery a couple years ago hoping to get a tour, but it was an off day and nobody around except for the gift shop, but they said go walk around and give yourself a tour! I think every one of their beers is outstanding, especially the Uff-da Bock, Spotted Cow, and of course the Belgian Cherry. I live in MN, so I can't buy the beer here, but I have a brother who lives in WI, so whenever he comes to visit, he's required to "smuggle" some New Glarus beer in, ala Burt Reynolds in Canonball Run. (wouldn't that have been a better movie if they would have used New Glarus beer instead of Coors?)

[newsomer]

Admittedly a crosspost but I think my original post in the Extreme Beer forum really belongs here. I wrote of the Hopleaf in Andersonville, IL just north of the Chicago suburbs. Read on [HERE (http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&postid=384#post384)]

[Kalleh]

Being from the Chicago area, I am happy to hear of some of the close brewpubs. I will definitely go to one!:)
My husband and I were at the American Club in Kohler Wisconsin, and in their Horse and Pough restaurant they had an excellent beer menu, including many unique beers from Wisconsin breweries. Some of them were excellent!

[deanna]

Originally posted by QCbeerguy
[B]My favorites are both in Wisconsin. First one is The Great Dane, they have probably at least 12 beers on tap, all of course hand made at the pub. Also they have at least one beer on a beer engine and served at cellar temp. Their beers range from a light wheat to a dark stout. They also have a very good Scottish Ale and a Porter. Great Dane is only a couple of blocks from the Capital in Madison. The food is great, the atmosphere is unbeatable and it is just a great place to people.


I too like Great Dane. Haven't been there is quite some time. I agree it's a great place to hang out. Food is good as is the brew.

[deanna]

Originally posted by newsomer
Admittedly a crosspost but I think my original post in the Extreme Beer forum really belongs here. I wrote of the Hopleaf in Andersonville, IL just north of the Chicago suburbs. Read on [HERE (http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&postid=384#post384)]

I've been hear about the Hopleaf a lot lately. I think I'm going to have to visit soon.

[schuman1973]

Many good brews here in Wisconsin. I'm in Mlwaukee and my favorite Milwaukee beer is from Lakefront Brewery. Riverwest Stien. Also there Pumpkin beer is great. The tour is a great one as well. They actually have Bernie Brewer's old Chalet in there brewery. At one time Pabst was the sponsor of the Chalet. Another good brew pub is Milwaukee Ale House. Louie's Demise is my favorite.
I have to agree with all who say New Glarus Brewery is great. The Spotted Cow rocks!

[Kalleh1]

Having met some English friends online, I am desperately looking for an English beer: Hog's Back T.E.A. My local Binny's said that it was in their computer, but they couldn't find any stores that have it. Does anyone here know if it is available in the Chicago area? Thanks!

[bob haskell]

If you're in Chicago, you should drop by Piece on North Ave near Damen and Milwaukee. They have a good selection of beer, including some with a distinctive "Arrogant Bastard" influence. For those not in the know, that means you should remember to fasten your seat belts.

[hops99]

I live in Ohio, and I've taken several trips around the Midwest over the past few years. While I love several micros on both coasts, I honestly think that the Midwest micros edge the East (and possibly even the West) in total quality and variety of styles (not too many lager brewers at the ocean...). I could list 30+ micros that are must-stops to me in the area, but I'll whittle it down to my top 10:

10) Lakefront (Milwaukee, WI) - Someone else mentioned the pumpkin ale, and I think it's one of the two or three best I've had anywhere. The Stein and Pale are also top-notch, and their Holiday Ale this Christmas was terrific.

9) Boulevard (Kansas City, MO) - No better unfiltered wheat on the market. The Pale is great, and the Bully Porter is one of my favorites.

8) Buckeye Brewing (Bedford Heights, OH) - A beer geek's brewery; not much in the way of atmosphere, but they offer an incredible selection of outstanding beers. The Hippie IPA is big and balanced (reminds me of HopDevil), the marzen lager is great, scotch ale, stout, pale, hefe, are all great.

7) Goose Island (Chicago; Clybourn location) - I love this place, and it sounds like everyone else does too. I usually stock up at Sam's across the street when I'm passing through. The variety at Goose Island is always impressive, and I've never had a bad beer here. Honker's is great, IPA is better, Nut Brown is tasty. They had a Dunkel Weizen a few years ago that was superb; haven't seen it since, but I only get there a few times a year. Oh, and the homemade potato chips are the best anywhere!

6) New Glarus (New Glarus, WI) - What a cool little town. Unfortunately, the brewery isn't open on weekends (when I stopped by), but the beers I've had there are fantastic. The Belgian Cherry gets all of the attention, but I think the best beers are the Uff-Da Bock (best bock in the country), and the Copper Kettle Weiss (awesome). Even the Apple Ale is tasty...

5) Schlafly (St. Louis, MO) - St. Louis isn't just swill after all! The tap room has a great atmosphere, and the variety and quality at this place are reminiscent of Goose Island. Their Pale is my favorite Pale Ale in the country (hence the higher rating), and the Hefe, Oatmeal Stout, Winter ESB, Smoked Porter, Barleywine, and Oktoberfest are all first rate.

4) Kalamazoo Brewing/Bell's (Kalamazoo, MI) - They brew and bottle somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 stouts, and specialize in big beers. Their Two-Hearted Ale stacks up against any big, balanced beer on the market, and their Summer Oberon is an enigma (think of a hoppy wheat beer). The porter, brown, and pale are all great as well.

3) Capital (Middleton, WI) - I'm surprised nobody mentioned Capital (located on the outskirts of Madison). The Amber is my favorite everyday-beer, the brown is excellent, and the Autumnal Fire is awesome. The Kloster Weizen is also my favorite bottled hefe in the area, and both the Winter Skal and Oktoberfest are understated malt gems.

2) Michigan Brewing (Webberville, MI) - Awesome beers right down the line. The tasting room is relaxed, and the Pale, IPA, Wheat, and Nut Brown are perfect. Throw in some other seasonals, and the fact that they now brew Celis White (yes, THAT Celis), and this place is only outdone by...

1) Great Lakes (Cleveland, OH) - Just the best beers up and down the line, and the quintessential brewpub experience. The Dortmunder Gold is the best Dort available in the US, and the Eliot Ness is the best Vienna Lager. Burning River Pale is hop heaven, the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is my favorite regional porter, and the Christmas Ale is still the best representation/interpretation of the spiced ale style in the country. Beer mecca for me.

Honorable mentions:

Ohio - Miami Trail in Xenia (before they closed); Liberty Street in Akron (before they closed); Rocky River (Zeus Juice is awesome); B&O in Youngstown (fairly new, and very promising); Barley's in Columbus; ThirstyDog (both in Centerville and Canton).

Michigan - Dark Horse in Marshall; Kraftbrau in Kalamazoo; Arcadia in Battle Creek; King Brewing in Pontiac.

Indiana - Mad Anthony in Fort Wayne; Three Floyds in Munster; Oaken Barrel in Greenwood.

Illinois - Flossmoor Station and Two Brothers (Warrenville).

Wisconsin - Delafield Brewhaus; Sprecher in Milwaukee; Gray's in Janesville (love the Pale); Tyranena in Lake Mills; Great Dane and J.T. Whitney's in Madison.

Just my humble opinion....

What a great topic!

:rolleyes:

[Kalleh1]

Thanks, Bob for the tip about Piece. Is it a bar or a liquor store? I was able to locate only 1 Hog's Back T.E.A. at a Binny's in Buffalo Grove, and they don't know if they can get more. In one word it was "exquisite"--smooth and full-bodied. I have also been trying to get hold of a Fuller's 1845, though that has been on back order. The Fuller's, as well as the Hog's Back, are both bottle-conditioned like the Goose Island beers. If anyone knows where I can get these British beers on an ongoing basis, I would be soooo happy!:p

[drstandley]

In Columbus Ohio we have 3 local mico-brewerys. Barleys, Columbus brewing Co. and Hosters. They all hold thier own when in comes to making good consistant beer.

I also really like Great Lakes and Bells from Michigan. Being from Columbus it's hard to say you like anything from Michigan, but Bells makes several great beers.

Although, now that I make my own, who needs them. :o)

[redlem]

As for an authentic lesser known midwest brewpub try Mickey Finns in Libertyville, IL.

For actual brewers Great Lakes is the best, followed by Capital WI, Lakefront WI, Bells in MI, and New Glarus in WI, in that order.

GLB makes the 4 best styles of any beer on the planet, Edmund Fitzgerald porter, Dortmunder Gold, Elliot Ness Vienna, and Burning river pale ale.

Capital for its Kloster Weizen which is the best wheat on the planet and for its great lineup of german beers and rare beers, rice and doubleweizen.

Lakefront for the best Pilsner and great Vienna.

Bells makes great dark beers, their stout, porter, and imperal stout are great.

New Glarus for a great coffee stout and lineup.

Great Dane is also very good.

Bells in Michigan has very good dark beers

[fidcastro]

Ok, the Great Lakes Brewery has been mentioned several times already, but I have to put my two cents in.

I lived about 45 minutes outside of Cleveland for what was the most miserable 10 months of my life. No offense to the natives, but Cleveland doesn't really rock that much. If it wasn't for the GLB I wouldn't have even made it as long as I did. Edmund Fitzgerald nursed me through the cold winter, and I honestly believe I owe the GLB my life.

I really wish we could get the GLB beers out here on the west coast.

I also wanted to mention that one of the best beers I had at the GLB wasn't one that they bottled. I can't even remember what style it was or what it tasted like. I just remember dirinking it and saying it was awesome. I believe it was called Nosferatu. Anyone have more info on it?

Fid

[steveh]

I'm going to date myself here some, but I started going to Goose Island the first year they opened. At the time, there were a few other BPs in Chi that have since gone the way of many, but Goose has remained a stalwart. The new pub on Clark is great, especially for a Cubs game, and the Goose Fest in the Summer is always a ball.

AFA others in the area, I've been to many that have been mentioned - Great Dane and Delafield are very good. The Delafield boys used to own Wisconsin Brewing but got flooded out too many times, they've done well with Delafield. Angelic in Madison is also good.

Someone mentioned New Glarus, which sounds like a fave around here - and I like their brew a lot, but Capital is my favorite Micro - all around.

I've also had the pleasure of visiting Great Lakes in Cleveland - great place, great beer, great food! Grotto anyone?

No one has mentioned Mickey Finn's in Libertyville - that's close to where I live and I used to frequent the place when it was a reg. pub. Not bad beer.

S.

[mickstepp]

Cleveland certainly does rock but only if you actually live in Cleveland. The suburbs suck there (as they do in many midwestern cities). GLB is in my opinion the best brewpub in America. Nosferatu (one person mentioned it) is a super heavy hopped Amber ale. Most delicious. It's a seasonal that they serve around Halloween.

[QCbeerguy]

it is unfortunate that New Glarus no longer distributes to Illinois. I will certainly miss it. I guess I will just have to go up to Wisconsin more often.

[Kalleh1]

I am still looking for a place to buy Fuller's 1845 and Hog's Back T.E.A., hopefully in the Chicago area. I have called some of the distributors in the area, but they don't carry either anymore, they say. Any ideas?

I can only tell you that Hog's Back T.E.A. is absolutely wonderful (Binny's in Buffalo Grove had one pint left). I have not tried the Fuller's 1845 because I can't find it anywhere. I have heard it is absolutely delightful. Here is the description in Michael Jackson's, "Great Beer Guide":
"It has a sherbety, orangey aroma; a smooth liqueurlike body; faintly chocolatey, toasty malt flavors; and a crisp, very dry finish. for a relatively strong ale, it is perilously easy to drink." Sound good??? Richard English, on this site, was the one who recommended both these beers to me.

[deanna]

Originally posted by QCbeerguy
it is unfortunate that New Glarus no longer distributes to Illinois. I will certainly miss it. I guess I will just have to go up to Wisconsin more often.

I still see a few bottles around in the Chicago suburbs. I guess we should grab them while we can.

[steveh]

Originally posted by QCbeerguy
it is unfortunate that New Glarus no longer distributes to Illinois. I will certainly miss it. I guess I will just have to go up to Wisconsin more often.

Might I suggest the Great American Beer festival in Madison around the second week in August? Also, around early October, is the Quivey's Grove Beer Fest - just west of Madison and pretty close to New Glarus. Always some good beers there and NG always makes a good showing.

I'm not sure how close you live to Wisc., but there is a large grocery store called Wodeman's (Woodman's?) right over the border - on Route 50 at I94. They always carry many of the Wisconsin micro-brew offerings in their liquor section.

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
I am still looking for a place to buy Fuller's 1845 and Hog's Back T.E.A., hopefully in the Chicago area. I have called some of the distributors in the area, but they don't carry either anymore, they say. Any ideas?

At one time Mulligan's Public House (2000 W. Rosco, on the corner of Rosco and Damen) had the 1845 on tap - I haven't been in there in a while, so I'm not sure if they still have it.

Have you tried one of the larger Armanetti stores or Sam's Liquor? I'm pretty sure that it's still available.

S.

I just looked at http://www.dicarlowine.com, used their product search (typing in Fullers - no apostrophe, it screws up the search engine) and found 6 different Fuller's beers - including the 1845. Happy hunting!

[warmstorage]

hello all,

i also adore the Great Dane: first rate brews, nice menu (which is quite vegetarian friendly), huge depth and quality of brews: the Barleywine, for years in a row, is often my favorite in the country, and when they grace us with a vintage barrel from the basement, it's always a treat.

to get to their home page quickly, i just went to pubcrawler.com, which bizarrely, has a bunch of reviews trashing the place:

http://www.pubcrawler.com/Template/ReviewWC.cfm/flat/BrewerID=2471

i guess things could've changed since i was last there (about a year ago), and since i used to patronize it several times a week when i lived in Madtown, but i doubt it's changed this much. of course, pubcrawler is often (notoriously) full of trolls and people writing in to service a grudge for perceived poor service or some other slight. and if you read the reviews for all three, they all have posts that say to 'forget this place, go to ______ ', cross-referencing the others.

but i actually replied to this post to put a plug in for both Angelic and J.T. Whitney's, both solid brewpubs which are often passed up in favor of the Great Dane:

Angelic Brewing, http://www.angelicbrewing.com/ , often does solid Belgian styles, the porter is solid, and the blonde often a pleasantly tasty surprise;

J.T. Whitney's, http://www.jtwhitneys.com/ : while it's a hike out into the suburbs, Whitney's has a wide, solid menu of brews: the Red Badger, Black Diamond Porter, IPA, Bamberg-style smoked ale, APA, and IPA rarely disappoint, the fruit beers are often a pleasant surprise though they tend to the sparkly-sweet end, and seasonals like the imperial stout and holiday ales are usually awesome.)

if i'm in town and only have time for one, it's definitely the Dane. but if i have time for lunch and dinner (and a designated driver!), it'll be the Dane for lunch and numerous samplers, then Angelic for a sampler set, then Whitney's for dinner.

[steveh]

Originally posted by warmstorage
if i'm in town and only have time for one, it's definitely the Dane. but if i have time for lunch and dinner (and a designated driver!), it'll be the Dane for lunch and numerous samplers, then Angelic for a sampler set, then Whitney's for dinner.

And miss the Essen House with its great menu of German beers? ;)

Madison is, indeed, a beer drinker's haven. I wish I lived closer.

S.

[Kalleh1]

steveh,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I will definitely try Mulligan's, and I cannot believe that they would have Fuller's 1845 on tap!

I had tried Sam's (800 number), spoke to their "expert" on beer, and was quite disappointed in his apparent lack of knowledge. They did not have Fuller's 1845 nor Hog's Back T.E.A. However, I am looking for good bottle-conditioned beers, and he acted like he knew what I meant. Yet, when I looked at the ones he recommended, not one of them was bottle-conditioned. I have not, however, tried Armanetti's. I will!

Coincidentally, today I got a call from Binny's, and they got some Fuller's 1845 in for me. So--tonight, for the first time ever, I am going to try it. Can't wait!

Thanks again!:D

[Richard English]

So far as I know (and according to the Fuller's site and their magazine [I am a member of their Real Ale Club]) 1845 is not available on draught anywhere in the world. Fuller's ESB and London Pride are both available as draught or bottled, although neither is bottle-conditioned.

[steveh]

I wonder if the Chicago pub had the London Pride, since Richard found that 1845 is never kegged. I don't think it was the ESB that I sampled.

Nonetheless, I'm glad Binney's accommodated you on the 1845, Kalleh - I hope you enjoyed the first taste. My local store acquired a few cases of a new import from Ireland, and I tried O'Hara's Celtic Sout last night (sorry, I can't recall the brewery right off hand, I'll look it up).

Richard, as a footnote from the Beer in the UK section, I contacted Young's to try to learn some history on their oatmeal stout, but haven't heard back from them. And their Double Chocolate Stout is available in both can and bottle "over here."

S.

PS - http://www.carlowbrewing.com for O'Hara's. It was very good, great blends malted barley and black patent without being harsh. Tasty and low in alcohol, great session beer.

[Kalleh1]

Steve,
I can only tell you that the Fuller's 1845 is heavenly. I had learned of it, as well as Hog's Back T.E.A., from Richard. It so happened the Chicago area had 1 Hog's Back T.E.A. left (and distributors have discontinued it), so I bought it and tried it. It, too, was fantastic--much different from any of our beers in the U.S. Therefore, I lusted for the Fuller's 1845, and we bought a case of it. It is soooo much better than any others I have tasted.

My husband and I bought several English beers, and they all were better than any American beers that I have tasted. Our other 2 favorites were Fuller's ESB and Young's Special London Ale. My husband loved the O'Hara's Celtic Stout (Irish, I know!), though it left a bit too much of an aftertaste for me. We liked the Young's Double Chocolate Stout, though a bit too heavy for me. Sam Smith's Oatmeal Stout was, again, good, but nothing like the Fuller's 1845. If you can find it, try it! I doubt that I will be able to find the Hog's Back T.E.A. again, though that was absolutely wonderful, as well. Thanks, Richard! :D

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kalleh1 If you can find it, try it! I doubt that I will be able to find the Hog's Back T.E.A. again, though that was absolutely wonderful, as well. :D

Kalleh,
I have tried the 1845 and agree, it is quite good. I'll have to see if I can track down the obscure Hog's Back, I have some out-of-the-way sources I can check into...

The Young's Special London has been my favorite ale of choice lately - and I love a full-bodied beer such as stouts once in a while. But don't rule out *all* U.S. beers, there are many good ones out there to be enjoyed.

I'm glad your beer hunt was successful, and fruitful - enjoy!

Cheers,
Steve

[Kalleh1]

Steve,
I am sorry if I sounded a bit arrogant--I didn't mean to at all. I am just so excited about some of the new English beers I've tasted! Yes, I do hope to try more of the American beers.

It was only recently (thanks to Richard) that I have been introduced to really exceptional beers. Before about 2 or 3 months ago, I thought the best beer in the world was Harp! Richard (as well as a few beer books I have now bought) has taught me a lot about quality beers. For example, I can definitely see the difference between beers that are bottle-conditioned versus those that aren't. Richard, being from England, has introduced me to the English beers. Now that I have a bit of knowledge, I hope to try more of the American beers from microbreweries, as well.

I don't suppose, steve, that you would be willing to share your "out-of-the-way sources"??? My biggest problem is finding some of these beers.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
I am sorry if I sounded a bit arrogant--I didn't mean to at all. I am just so excited about some of the new English beers I've tasted! Yes, I do hope to try more of the American beers.


Kalleh, I wasn't taking you as arrogant at all. I just didn't want you to give up the fun of looking for a variety of beers - even American beers. And I really did mean that I enjoy the Fuller's and Young's beers.

I am enjoying Richard's insight and input as well. In fact, this site is terrific because of all of the great info from its members.

AFA my hidden source for beer, it's far north - near the Wisconsin border. If you want to travel that far I'll certainly share - it's an Armanetti's in Antioch, Illinois. They stock a wide variety of imported beer, unfortunately they don't sell a lot of it and it tends to go stale on the shelf. That's the chance you take buying there. Of course, a bottle conditioned ale may have gotten even better I suppose!

Steve

[kpo]

For anyone looking for an amazing selection of draft Big Beers, Rich O's Public House in New Albany, Indiana has a high-gravity beer fest going on NOW!

Just in the last two nights I have sampled (on *draft*):

AMERICAN BREWS:
Bell's Expedition Stout
Bell's Consecrator Doppelbock
Bluegrass Brewing Company Bearded Pat's Barley wine
Browning's Doppelbock
New Albany Brewing Company Solidarity (Baltic-style Porter)
Rogue Old Crustacean Barley wine (vintage 1996)
Rogue Oregon Brewers Festival 2002 ("Charlie") IPA
Rogue Russian Imperial Stout
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine (vintage 2002)
Stone: Old Guardian Barley Wine
Three Floyds Behemoth Barley Wine (vintage 2001)
Three Floyds Dreadnaught IPA
Upland: Winter Warmer Barley Wine

UK BREWS:
Burton Bridge Thomas Sykes Old Ale (cask conditioned)

...the Midwest clearly has plenty to offer....

[Kalleh1]

Well, steve, I am glad that I didn't offend you! I shall travel to Armanetti's in Antioch; it really isn't that far from me. Thanks for the tip! I wonder if, by chance, they might carry, or be able to get, the Hog's Back T.E.A. I have really hit a deadend in trying to find that marvelous beer. I received an e-mail from Hog's Back Brewery that gave me a phone number of a distributor in New Jersey, but they no longer carry it. However, at least I have found the fabulous Fuller's 1845. I cannot imagine a better beer than that, though I am always open to suggestions! :D

[steveh]

Kalleh,
I don't know if I'm saving you a trip or not, but I got to the Antioch Armanetti's on Sunday, the 16th, and they had no Hog's Back. They
had a few Fuller's offerings, but no 1845. There were a few new English ales available, but none that I've heard discussed on this forum. I bought a bottle of Hook Norton's (Special Bitter, I believe?) because I remember tasting the brand in London when I visited. I'll report on it soon.

Just a little disappointed to not find the Hog's Back - I'll keep looking.

Steve

[Richard English]

Hook Norton brewery (near Banbury) produces very good draught session beers. However, its bottle beers are not bottle-conditioned and, to my mind, a little light in flavour.

Good, but not outstanding would be my judgement.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Richard English
Hook Norton brewery (near Banbury) produces very good draught session beers. However, its bottle beers are not bottle-conditioned and, to my mind, a little light in flavour.

Good, but not outstanding would be my judgement.

I would say that you hit the nail on the head with that assessment of the Hook Norton, Old Hooky I tried Richard. Here are my notes:

Thin body and complexity of flavor. Light malt nose, little hop nose or flavor. Hooky reminds me of the Bitter (in comparison to Special Bitter and Extra Special Bitter) I sampled while in London. Interesting to note that HN's beers are being imported by Capital Imports - a subsidiary of Capital Brewing in Wisconsin.

Also sampled, Fuller's London Pride: Labled as a Pale Ale, I tried this beer in London when I visited, but have little recollection from then. Light hop in nose, light in flavor as well. Malt character to flavor, but light in body. Flavor characters seem to derive from warm fermentation and the yeast used. Some diacetyl in flavor. Not a memorable beer, but not offensive in any way either. Certainly not of the same characters as its American Pale Ale cousin. BTW - There was a best-consumed-by date on the label - Feb. 17, 2003 - what's 28 days? ;)

S.

[Richard English]

Fullers draught beers are all excellent and full of flavour, even the Chiswick - the weakest. London Pride is the most popular by far in the UK and has a depth and complexity that belies its relatively modest 4.1% a.b.v. Fuller's ESB, on the other hand, belies its 5.5% a.b.v. strength in a different way - it's just too easy to whoof down until, when rising from the bar, one finds that one's legs have mysteriously become uncontrollable.

Both London Pride and ESB are stronger in bottle than in cask but neither is bottle-conditioned. My preference is for the bottle-conditioned 1845 which is, by any standards, a beer of outstanding merit! Just beware its 6.3% a.b.v. since it, too, is dangerously easy to drink.

All consumables in the UK must carry a best-before date but in many cases it can be ignored (and in some cases, should be. 1845 has a "best-before" date that is typically about a year from bottling. However, it will improve for some time after that). See my posting elsewhere about the life-span of bottled beers.

[Kalleh1]

Steve,
Thanks for checking for me. I remain frustrated!

Richard has been surprisingly right in all his recommendations of English ales. I, too, have tried many now, and, except for Hog's Back T.E.A., by far prefer the Fuller's 1845. There is definitely something to this "bottle-conditioned" beer. When I have requested some of these English ales, I have often been referred to the stores' experts, or even to distributors. Many of them are not aware of "bottle-conditioning". Funny!

I have tried all of those beers you describe and feel much the same way. I liked the Fuller's ESB and the Young's London Pride (or something????) as second-best beers--better than any American beers I have tasted.

Have you heard of a "Hennepins"--or something similar (???) --from Ohio? I saw that when I was looking, and it is bottle-conditioned. I will try that next time.

[skar]

Originally posted by Kalleh1


Have you heard of a "Hennepins"--or something similar (???) --from Ohio? I saw that when I was looking, and it is bottle-conditioned. I will try that next time.

Hennepin Farmhouse Ale is actually from Brewery Ommengang (who's flagship beer lost yesterday to Rogue's Shakespeare in BOB 2003) in Cooperstown, NY. All three beers they make are very good (among the best Belgian style brews made in the US), but I prefer the Ommengang.

http://www.ommegang.com/ourbeers.php

[rabidbeerjunkie]

Actually, Ommegang has a fourth beer called Three Philosophers, with very limited distribution thus far. I don't know what the future plans are for this beer. It is a recipe created by Noel Blake of Oregon, and was the winning entry in the 2001 "Create a Great Beer" contest hosted by Real Beer. It is described as having "hints of dried apricots and black figs in the aroma, raisins and pear on the palate, and a dry bracing finish". It is truly a delightful experience. I got mine on-line @ Belmont Station in Oregon. If you find it, get it. Ommegang also has their flagship beer(limited availability, as well) in a cave-conditioned/cellared version also.
Prost!
Todd

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by QCbeerguy
My favorites are both in Wisconsin. First one is The Great Dane, they have probably at least 12 beers on tap, all of course hand made at the pub. Also they have at least one beer on a beer engine and served at cellar temp. Their beers range from a light wheat to a dark stout. They also have a very good Scottish Ale and a Porter. Great Dane is only a couple of blocks from the Capital in Madison. The food is great, the atmosphere is unbeatable and it is just a great place to people.

My second is Delafield Brew Haus in Delafield near Milwaukee. They have made some great Belgian ales, especially the Tripel. They usually have about 8 beers on tap with one on a beer engine. The "brew room" is the center piece of the building, it divides the dinning area from the bar area. The bar area is of course the more lively side. The bartenders are friendly, especially Eddie.

Both of them have web sites. They are www.greatdanepub.com and www.delafield-brewhaus.com. The delafield brewhaus web site is under construction so hopefully it will be back up and running soon.

The "Great Dane"! Their pale ale is wonderful (if you like hops exploding in your mouth!). I first had it at the Oconomowoc Brew fest this past September (I think it was Sept. :confused: I know the WI football game was on). I live not far from Delafield, but haven't been there in a while.
The Grumpy troll has some great beers also, but their website is currently down; they were also at Oconomowoc. If you live around that area, watch for this next year; they have many WI breweries represented, and good live music.

[Bman]

Best Midwest Brewpub/Taproom?

My favorite 10

Goose Island, Chicago
St.Louis Brewery & Taproom, St.Louis
Rocky River, Rocky River, OH
Maumee Bay, Toledo, OH
Libertyville, Libertyville, IL
Broad Ripple, Indy
Lily's Seafood, Royal Oak, MI
Hair of the Frog, Grand Rapids, MI
Court Avenue Rest & Brewery, Des Moines, IA
Dragonmeade, Warren, MI

[Bman]

oops-should be Mickey Finn's in Libertyville-not Libertyville

[steveh]

I'll add:

The Library, Hancock, MI
Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, OH
The Map Room, Chi, IL
The Hop Leaf, Chi, IL
Chief O'Neill's, Chi, IL
Milwaukee Ale House, Milw, WI
The Lake Front tasting room, Milw, WI
The Great Dane, Madison, WI
Angelic, Madison, WI
The Essen Haus, Mad, WI
The Capital tasting room, Middleton, WI

2 questions BMAN; which Goose Island? Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville? The Wrigleyville pub is really growing on me. And - how is Broad Ripple doing? That guy was making some outstanding beers, but I haven't sampled any in a while.

S.

[Bman]

Hey Steveh-I am thinking of the Original Goose-are the beers much different at the Wriglyville location?

Have not been to Broad Ripple for awhile-with ya on Milwaukee Ale House and Great Lakes.

Can not wait to visit Madison

[steveh]

Bman - no, the beers aren't really different at Goose Wrigleyville, it's all an atmosphere thing - and Wrigley being only a block away helps too! Although, Goose Island Fest is always right near the Lincoln Park pub - so that's also great.

AFA Madison - GO!

S.

[brewmonkey]

Can not wait to visit Madison

Madison is just a kick ass town.

[Kalleh1]

Steve, have you ever found Lion's Stout (from Sri Lanka) in Chicago? I am told it is available here in the states.

[b3s]

Originally posted by brewmonkey
Madison is just a kick ass town.

haven't been there in years, but i went to college there...yeah, great place. i used to frequent joe hart's pub...good pull of guinness back in the day.

[Bman]

Lion Stout was available last year in Ann Arbor, MI-had a few 6-packs then-can not say if it is still available there or not

[Kalleh1]

Darn! I was in Ann Arbor last weekend. Have you had it? Is it good? A friend, who is a beer expert, highly recommended it to me.

[Redbird Fan]

I'll be in the chicago land area june 14 - 16 and have decided to give goose island a try -

Is there a brewpub I should visit instead? or is goose island a must - if you only have time to make it to one???

Thoughts?????

[Bman]

it was very good-I picked it up at the Merchant of Vino on Plymouth road

[kpo]

My favorite *Midwestern* brewpubs so far are:

Uplands Brewing in Bloomington, IN.
They serve their own beers including a Weizen that won the gold at GABF in 2002 + lots of interesting foods including wegetarian and vegan fare, but also burgers, fajitas, et. al. made with local Bison Meat!

Rich O's Public House in New Albany, IN (across the river from Louisville)
http:///www.richos.com
Serve their own beers starting fall of 2002, and fill out the 25 taps with an incredible variety of beers the-world-over. Annual festivals include "Gravity Head (all 9% or higher) and Harvest Hop Festival; widest and most ecclectic beer menu in a 200 mile radius.
Incredible pub food: knockout pulled BBQ that competes with Arthur Bryant's of St. Louis; Pizzas that knockout even Giordano's of Chicago.

In August 2003 I'll be visiting Great Lakes brewery in Cleveland - heard good things about that place, and I look forward to it!

[BluesHarp]

Went to the Delafield Brewhaus for fathers day...the food was average, but the beer!!
I started with the sampler; each selection was very nice; a couple of highlights:

Pale Ale - I am a hop head; no if, and, or buts, the more hops the better. This PA tasted like a glass of fresh hop flowers, balanced by a nice bit of malt. Some would probably say it was too hoppy, in a "purist" sense, but I loved it.

Grand Cru - A strong Belgian ale conditioned in whiskey barrels, OMG!!... another beer that may not have universal appeal, but...I'm not even sure how to describe it. Imagine a fine port wine that taste like whiskey; bread pudding with bourbon sauce in a glass. This stuff is very sweet, but with a good hop bitterness for balance, accompanied by a definite whiskey flavor (and aroma) unlike anything I have ever drank, and I am talking top shelf whiskey here.
I brought a growler home, and am currently working on a pint. This is not a fast drinking beer, it commands respect at a listed 6.5 ABV (I suspect higher, based on my buzz:D ). The problem is, once a growler has been tapped, it has to be finished. I believe I am up to the task.

At any rate, I found all of their beers to be very good; each was very different from the last, no real "house" flavor.
The IPA and Grand Cru are seasonals. as well as a nice Maibock.
They have a pilsner, amber ale, porter, and another I can't remember (d'oh!) that are sold year around.

They also have a seasonal Barleywine, but I forgot to ask when it was available; however, I can assure you, I will be there to try it!

I can highly recommend this establishment; as far as food, I would probably stick to burgers (which are quite good) as opposed to fancier fare, which is somewhat uneven.

[Dr J]

Flossmoor Brewing in the Chicago burbs is a real brew pub sleeper. Broad Ripple in Indy is one of the more underrated. Great Dane is great enough to make me wish I had chosen UW as my undergrad school. Great Lakes is the next national great. Three Floyds in Northern IN is next year's midwest darling. But what do I know?

[Bman]

I plan on hitting Flossmore next month when I am in Chicago on business-I visited Piece Brewing last week in Chicago-enjoyed the beer-kind of laid back place-I am going to go back and try the pizza

[steveh]

Originally posted by Bman I visited Piece Brewing last week in Chicago-enjoyed the beer-kind of laid back place-I am going to go back and try the pizza

I was in Piece this past Saturday night enjoying their IPA and a guest tap of Oberon! Did we cross paths? I had one of our interns from Stuttgart, Germany with me and he enjoyed Piece's Hefeweizen greatly - a ringing endorsement from the land of Hefeweizen.

Yes, you must try the pizza - not traditional Chicago style, but very good nonetheless.

S.

[Bman]

I was in on Friday-if you make it to Holland MI you must try New Holand Brewing-we get their beers in Ann Arbor-but they are nice on tap.

[steveh]

I get over to the third coast once in a while, I'll have to look for New Holland. Didn't see it when I was in Lansing last year.

S.

[Bman]

Mad Hatter is a good IPA-they have a new beer called Common Thread-which is billed as A single batch beer-what ever that is-but it is malty- and my favorite.

[Kalleh1]

Re: Piece in Chicago

Yes, Steve, I had 2 recommendations for pubs in Chicago, Piece and the Map Room. As I posted elsewhere, my husband and I were at the Map Room last night. The beer was good, though the atmosphere was anything but laid back. We will have to try Piece next time.

BTW, I travel a lot in my job, and I think the pubs in the East are better than the ones in the Midwest. However, there may be some pubs that I just don't know about (like Piece and the Map Room) in Chicago. There is a difference, in my mind, between a bar and a pub, though. I see a pub as being more laid back, allowing good conversation, with a focus on good beers. I definitely thought the Map Room to be more of a bar because of the loud music. Yet, the beer selection was excellent.

[steveh]

Kalleh - I agree with your comparison of bars and pubs (I suppose taverns fall somewhere between the two - and the Maproom on a Saturday night can be quite boisterous, especially if there was a band.

Piece is definitely more restaurant than bar or pub, but they do have a nice bar for sitting and sipping. AFA good taverns, pubs, bars in Chi - see the new forum topics on American Beer Month. Under the ABM Challenge Cup you'll see that a few more laid-back spots are suggested. One of my favorites is Chief O'Neill's on Elston. In the same vein of Irish style pubs, The Irish Oak on Clark, about 2 blocks south of Wrigley, is a nice quiet place to enjoy a pint and conversation. The Duke of Perth - further south down Clark, or the Hop Leaf - in the opposite direction from Wrigley by a few blocks, are great pubs too.

S.

[Bman]

East versus Midwest-I would say that the brew pubs are not much different-having visited a great number in each place-I just visited Flossmore station, in Flossmore,IL-very good beers-nice pub in a an old train station-kind of nice to see the train pull up in front of the pub.

[Kalleh1]

Thanks, Steve for the tips! I think I will "give 'Piece' a chance" then (I have been waiting to say that!):D

Bman, I am not talking about brew pubs; I am talking about pubs in general. I was recently in Vermont and experienced a wonderfully quaint pub, the likes of which I have never seen in the midwest. In Savannah this spring they had an authentic British Pub that had been moved from England many years ago. This latter pub had many British beers on tap, and the atmosphere was wonderful. I think the east has more of a British influence, and therefore they seem to have pubs versus bars.

Interesting, steve, that I have always thought bar to be a synonym of tavern. But, I think you are right that taverns may be in between.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
Thanks, Steve for the tips! I think I will "give 'Piece' a chance" then (I have been waiting to say that!)

That's all we are saying! :D

S.

[Bman]

I think a tavern as a place to drink and nothing else a pub as a place to drink and talk-any one been to Flatlanders north of Chicago?

[steveh]

I always picture taverns in the era of a young USA. More like the English pubs they are trying to emulate, but a bit more rustic. Today, I see taverns as the older, neighborhood joints - a good place to meet a friend for a quiet beer and catch a ball game - but not in the same vein as a (bleh) sports bar. Whenever I think of a pub, I think of the English or Irish variety and any place that does its best to mimick them. Maybe a bar covers them all?

Yes, I've been to Flatlander's Brew Pub many times, it's just down the road from me. It's not a tavern or pub, too freaking loud in the bar area most evenings to talk comfortably. The beer is up and down, and the tenders seem on and off in their knowledge.

A few years ago they had a great brewmaster named Steve Huber (I think it was Steve, and no - he wasn't related to Huber Brewing in Monroe, WI). He had some great beers, including a kick-ass Oktoberfest. He resigned from FL to attend the Weihenstephan (sp?) Brewing School in Munich - don't know what happened to him after that. Steve? You out there?

S.

[steveh]

Oh yeah - Flatlander's usually has one or two of their beers on the hand pull. I'm not sure if they're actual cask conditioned versions of the beers - the tenders don't seem to be able to answer the question, but they're usually a pretty good choice.

S.

[Kalleh1]

Perhaps I was too hard on the midwest with my comments about pubs. I do think, in general, the east has more of a British influence than the rest of the country, and, to me, pubs are more British than taverns or bars.

However, another observation about beer in the midwest is this: Have you seen the difference in the number of posts in the midwest forum than on any of the other travel forums? We do like our beer!:D

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
another observation about beer in the midwest is this: Have you seen the difference in the number of posts in the midwest forum than on any of the other travel forums?

I have noticed that - maybe it's just that old midwest friendliness? Maybe we're all just blowhards? ;) But you're right, we do like our beer!

S.

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by steveh
I have noticed that - maybe it's just that old midwest friendliness? Maybe we're all just blowhards? ;) But you're right, we do like our beer!

S. Yes, yes, and difinitely, yes!

[Bman]

Made a trip to Brewmasters in Kenosha, WI-OK beer,OK food. I also, the day before, hit Flatlanders in Lincolnshire, IL-Good Stout (avoid the Cherry Ale) and good food-of the three new brewpubs on this trip- Flossmore Station (Flossmore,IL) is the champ.

Mmm.. Mar's Cheese Castle

Ciao

[steveh]

Originally posted by Bman
[/i]Made a trip to Brewmasters in Kenosha, WI-OK beer,OK food. I also, the day before, hit Flatlanders in Lincolnshire, IL-Good Stout (avoid the Cherry Ale) and good food-of the three new brewpubs on this trip- Flossmore Station (Flossmore,IL) is the champ. [/B]

I used to be an avid visitor to Brewmasters' - knew all the (actual) brewmasters as friends, even helped brew beer there often. It has really gone downhill lately, I guess the second/northside pub is closed now due to lack of business. There are many theories, but I don't know why the business has fallen off.

I was at Flatlander's on Sunday, then headed to Mickey Finn's, then the great beer-bar The Firkin, across the street from Finn's. I only had the Abe's Honest Ale on the hand-pump at Flatlander's - pretty mediocre. And Finn's doesn't have anything new on tap - but there's promise of their Kolsch on the way. Firkin has 23 beers on tap - had Anchor's Summer, Bell's Oberon, and Great Lake's Pils - all very good on a warm, muggy afternoon.

Still need to get to Flossmore, I heard lukewarm reports about them when they first opened, but that was a while ago.

[/i]
Mmm.. Mar's Cheese Castle

[/B]

Did'ja have an Optimator (or is it Salvator they have on draft?)?

S.

[Bman]

Give Flossmore Station another chance-this was my first visit and I was impressed by their Pullman Red, and the IPA. Good food-like the Fish Sandwich. On the way back to Ann Arbor I hit Mystic Brewing (my second choice for lunch) in Kalamazoo- I stopped by Magic Hat in Lawton-but they are closed on Tuesday. Mystic had only one beer on tap-an IPA-which was good-they also had 3 Meads on Tap- Skip the food-I was not impressed by the Burger-one of my measuring sticks for a place is if they can make a good Burger. In speaking with the Bartender-Mystic was having some problems with a grain delivery truck flipping over in front of the brewery-and just plain selling out-he said they were going to have two more beers on tap by the end of the week.

[Kalleh1]

This belongs in the midwest forum, but perhaps not in this thread. However, did any of you read the Chicago Tribune's article today on the advertising for Budweiser Beer? I thought it was so funny in that it never once mentioned the taste of the beer as being important in the advertisements. When will we Americans stand up and admit that our best-selling beers are lousy and that we want beers that taste good?

[Richard English]

I note that the article (quite unwittingly) makes one statement with which I concur 100%. It says "...The latest campaigns don't even sell beer, per se, ..." and then goes on to point out that the campaings are selling lifestyles, situations, aspirations, etc.

Those of us who know what real beer is, and know that Anheuser Busch haven't made any of it for many years, will grasp the irony of the statement that A-B advertisements don't sell beer!

[steveh]

Not that I am a supporter of the Chicago Tribune (based on its ignorant editorial policies and its less-than-accurate reporting), but their weekly food section is usually very informative - and two weeks ago they published an article titled: A Case for Beer (yeah, clever). The story was based on an interview with Brooklyn Brewery's brewmaster Garrett Oliver at the recent National Homebrewers Association conference in Chicago.

Garrett is stumping for his new book about pairing (good) beers with food, but that doesn't shadow the fact that he has great insight about the state of beer in the U.S.:

"Comparing beer to other artisanal products that have mass-marketed counterparts, Oliver said, 'Most people in this country have not had a real cup of coffee, a real glass of wine, or a real cheese, and almost always, people who say they don't like beer are thinking of a mass market beer.'"

It's an interesting article for beer lovers such as we on this forum, and in great contrast to the 'Trib's article on A-B marketing. However, the Tribune's true colors show if you try to find this article on-line, you will have to pay a fee to read it. :/

S.

[Kalleh1]

No, Steve, I believe you can read it free online. In fact, I e-mailed a copy of the article to Richard in England for free.

[steveh]

Kalleh, I did a search at the Tribune web-site for the July 16 article I quoted and all I could find was a "pay-per-view" version. I think it's possible to read the Trib articles on the same day of their run in the paper, but after they get archived you have to pay for them. If you can find the "A Case For Beer" article let me - and the rest of us - know. It's an interesting read.

S.

[Kalleh1]

Okay, I see your point. Articles in the last 7 days, such as the one on beer adverstising, are free; however, articles older than 7 days you must have to pay for.

[Tash]

Originally posted by steveh
I always picture taverns in the era of a young USA. More like the English pubs they are trying to emulate, but a bit more rustic. Today, I see taverns as the older, neighborhood joints - a good place to meet a friend for a quiet beer and catch a ball game - but not in the same vein as a (bleh) sports bar. Whenever I think of a pub, I think of the English or Irish variety and any place that does its best to mimick them. Maybe a bar covers them all?

Yes, I've been to Flatlander's Brew Pub many times, it's just down the road from me. It's not a tavern or pub, too freaking loud in the bar area most evenings to talk comfortably. The beer is up and down, and the tenders seem on and off in their knowledge.

A few years ago they had a great brewmaster named Steve Huber (I think it was Steve, and no - he wasn't related to Huber Brewing in Monroe, WI). He had some great beers, including a kick-ass Oktoberfest. He resigned from FL to attend the Weihenstephan (sp?) Brewing School in Munich - don't know what happened to him after that. Steve? You out there?

S.

His name is Christian Huber. He is living in Germany and selling malt. I've run into him a few times in Antwerp.

Tash

[steveh]

Originally posted by Tash
His name is Christian Huber. He is living in Germany and selling malt. I've run into him a few times in Antwerp.

Now that you say Christian, I think you're right Tash! I guess we can assume that you've talked with him about brewing at Flatlanders? Does he still have the Huber Brewing, Austria beer mat I gave him? ;)

If you run into hime again, tell him that we miss him and his beer here in Northern Illinois! Do you recall which malt company he's working for?

S.

[Tash]

Actually I'm fairly certain that Christian would probably drop dead if he went into Flatlanders. Ever since Greg Browne left the place has really started promoting Budweiser and Miller products big time. It sounds as though they wish they brewery would just go away.

Trying instead to make it into a gregarious sports bar instead. Mickey Finns and The Ram have both about 5 miles away have taken too much 'beer' business from them for them to be willing to compete.

I don't recall where Christian is working or for whom. He did say it was by far more lucrative than brewing itself at least in Germany.

Tash

[steveh]

Originally posted by Tash
Actually I'm fairly certain that Christian would probably drop dead if he went into Flatlanders. Ever since Greg Browne left the place has really started promoting Budweiser and Miller products big time. It sounds as though they wish they brewery would just go away.

Yeah, I saw the swill on the shelves the last time I was in there - what the heck is up with that? Did you see that Browne is now out in Barrington at the new Brass Restaurant and Brewery? I was never overly-thrilled with most of his beers, but he made an Oktoberfest I went out of my way for.


Trying instead to make it into a gregarious sports bar instead. Mickey Finns and The Ram have both about 5 miles away have taken too much 'beer' business from them for them to be willing to compete.

Do you like the Ram? I stopped in there one Saturday afternoon last year and was surprised to get my beer in a frosted glass! When I asked that I not get another, the bartender gave me that funny, "Are you nuts?" look - this at a brew-pub!


I don't recall where Christian is working or for whom. He did say it was by far more lucrative than brewing itself at least in Germany.

Well that's sort of sad to hear, I hope he still gets to brew once in a while.

S.

[Tash]

I guess before I write anymore I should state that I'm a brewer at a local brepub in Chicagoland. It would be 'in bad form'
to take pot shots at anybody individually though 'overall' impressions are OK...

That being said the Ram is very much a CHAIN and there are people that have probably determined that most of their customers want their beer in a frosty mug. Beer Geeks reel in horror from this but by and large the beek geek market won't sustain a flea much less a huge
brewpubs like the Ram in Wheeling and Schaumburg. They keep their brewers on a very short leash and will not accept
to much BS before you're out the door if you change recipes etc.

I'd go to Emmetts in a heart beat over anything on Milwaukee Ave anyway!

Tash

[steveh]

Hey Tash, do you know how to access the forum system e-mail you have as a member? I sent you a note over that-a-way.

S.

[Brownbeard]

Couple of good breweries in Eastern Iowa. We have the Stone City brewery in Solon, and the Millstream Brewery in Amana.
Stone City's Artist Colony Ale is really good as is their Wheat. AS for the Millstream, I like the Colony Oatmeal Stout.

WWW.Stonecity.com
WWW.Millstreambrewing.com

[Bman]

good call on both of those breweries in Iowa-I brought a six pack of the Schild Brau and one of Stone Bier back from Ames-enjoyed both

[QCbeerguy]

Brownbeard I agree with Bman and yourself, both are very good micro beers. I am partial to Bent River in Moline though, my home base for micro brew.

[Brownbeard]

I've never tried Bent River, I wonder if it is available in Iowa City or Cedar Rapids anywhere.

[Brownbeard]

Just found my way to bentriverbrew.com and got an add to see Becky naked. No beer info though.

[QCbeerguy]

Brownbeard,

The only place you might find Bent River in IC/cr area is John's Grocery in IC. Yep, you can see her ad, they no longer have a web site. Other wise you will have to come to Moline and try the beer there.