Mickey Finn's..?

[steveh]

I stopped in Mickey's (http://www.mickeyfinnsbrewery.com/) this past weekend for a couple and to see what was new. Seeing a helles and kölsch available I immediately gravitated to them. Only now did I stop to wonder if their was any cask ale on draught. I can remember hearing someone order a nitro-pumped IPA, but I don't recall if their was anything drawn from the hand-pump.

Checking their new web site, I see that they list "Regular Draft" and "Nitrogen Pour" beers, but no cask-conditioned. Mickey's has been under new management for over a year or so now, and I've noticed some subtle changes in the beers and even service - enough to make me aware, but not enough to perk up just yet. But have they discontinued cask conditioning? Anyone have any insight?

S.

[Ill hophead]

I stop in there about once a month and I'm pretty sure they still have cask conditioned beers. I think last month it was the scottish ale they have right now. They have a small chalk board with the cask ales listed.

What'd you think of the helles and kolsch? I just had a taster of the kolsch and, well...it was no Reisdorff. But I haven't had many kolsches so I can't really say if it was good or bad, just not really my style. I had their hefeweizen last month and thought it was really good with sweet banana fruity flavor.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Ill hophead
I stop in there about once a month and I'm pretty sure they still have cask conditioned beers. I think last month it was the scottish ale they have right now. They have a small chalk board with the cask ales listed.

Good to hear, yeah - I know about the chalkboard, just failed to be observant that day and the web site's lack of info had me worried.

What'd you think of the helles and kolsch? I just had a taster of the kolsch and, well...it was no Reisdorff.

I posted a little about the Helles over in Tasting Notes (http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7898), in comparison to Emmett's Helles - but I liked it. The Kölsch? Um, well - maybe it was my palate being set by the two Helles', but I was getting an odd sour flavor from it that shouldn't have been there - yeah, no Reissdorf, or even Goose Island Summertime.

S.

[Osh]

The Kölsch? Um, well - maybe it was my palate being set by the two Helles', but I was getting an odd sour flavor from it that shouldn't have been there

S. [/B]

I was there Friday nite and had the Kolsch also. It seemed to have a sour pickle taste to me, could hardly finish it. The Hefe isn't what it used to be either. Sorry to say, but I think the place has gone downhill in the last year. To bad cause Greg Brown who I think is the brewer there made some good beer at the old Weegman Park brewpub in Chicago that's now Wriglyville Goose Island . I had a Belgian Strong Ale at Delilah's barlywine fest years ago brewed by him and that was dam good.

Greg also brewed at Flatlanders but I think was handcuffed by corporate guidelines cause their beer never impressed me at all.

Enuff ranting for today.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Osh
Greg also brewed at Flatlanders but I think was handcuffed by corporate guidelines cause their beer never impressed me at all.

I didn't realize that's who was brewing at Finn's now - it scares me some because it was when Brown took over at Flatlander's that I noticed their beers' quality fade. I don't think it was "corporate" guidelines at all either (there's only about 5 owners), because when Keith Huber (think it was Keith) was brewing at FL about 5 or 6 years ago, their beers were outstanding.

S.