I like beer. I like to drink beer all day long, especially on Sundays. The only problem is that the beers I like tend to be strong. If I drink Imperial IPA’s all day long I will be passed out on my bathroom floor by 3 pm. Luckily our friends at Short’s can empathize with my predicament. Apparently their friends like to drink as well. So they brewed a lower ABV session IPA for a friend’s wedding. I respect the commitment to a full day of drinking.

Ale le Reverand pours a hazy citrine with a ton of carbonation. The head was thick but light and airy. Even ten minutes after my pour the bubbles were still streaming like an glass of champagne. Short’s has crafted a delicious smelling brew here; it is earthy, sweet and full of hops. This beer has no signs of being a lighter version of an IPA. It actually reminded me of Stone’s IPA which is a stellar brew.

Short’s game plan is clear on this brew: make up for the lighter body with a shit-load of hops. This is one of the hoppiest beers I have had in ages. It was reminiscent of Victory’s Hop Wallop. My only real issue with this IPA is that is supposed to be a session beer. While delicious I could not imagine drinking this all day. The citrus hop smack is over powering and intense. Ale la Reverend is light in body but heavy in soul. This complex and brooding brew simply does not perpetuate good times and carefree partying.

ABV: 4.0%

Consumed: Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy A Twelve Pack.



I know I promised a week of New Glarus reviews and a few people have asked me what happened to my write-ups? Well long story short, I got really freaking sick and I couldn’t taste or smell for over a week. I actually missed three days of work in a six day span and thought about going to the doctor on more than one occasion. Fast forward about ten days and I am back, so without further delay, I continue my New Glarus spree…

Uff-da pours dark, dark brown with miniscule crimson ringlets peeking through only the outer edge of the glass where light forces itself through with sheer will. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you if this beer had any carbonation, because of the muddy complexion. I know the head is thin and sparse and was gone in a couple quick minutes. Uff-da boats a great old timey molasses smell that reminded me of these kick ass cookies our neighbor used to make when my dad and I shoveled her sidewalk.  The aroma is heavy but also woody, earthy and a little sweet.

New Glarus is getting back on track with this brew after my last lackluster tasting. Uff-da is what most Amber Bocks wish they were. The flavor is full and true with hints of cedar, toffee and leather. The finish is a crisp and dry with a great hop balancing. There is something about Uff-da that would not allow me to set this beer down. I know Wisconsin (especially Milwaukee) has a strong German tradition and this beer will not disappoint. If you like your ales roasted with hints of coffee and chocalte, you may have found your ultimate winter brew. Well done New Glarus, Prost!

ABV: 6.7%

Consumed: Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy A Case!

Denver, CO – November 3, 2011 – Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado, LLC, will sell precious few bottles of its rare beer “Summer Cab Ride” on Saturday, November 12, at its tasting room in Denver, 471 Kalamath Street. Summer Cab Ride is Breckenridge Brewery's send off to summer – its SummerBright golden ale aged in cabernet wine barrels to create a light, sessionable beer with an interestingly complex finish. The brewery has packaged just 240 hand-numbered 750 ml bottles with cork and wire bale closures which will be sold, first come first served, at 1:00 p.m. on November 12.

The bottle release party starts at 11:00 a.m. the day of the sale and includes a grand prize sweepstakes, live music by Stephen Marcus, and tastings of Breckenridge Brewery rare beers. The first twenty people in line for the Summer Cab Ride bottle sale receive a $10 Metro Taxi cab voucher. The grand prize is a certificate for a fifteen-person two-hour tour on the Denver Patio Ride – a fifteen-seat, pedal-powered bike ideal for downtown pub tours.

The brewery invites people to enter the sweepstakes for the Denver Patio Ride starting today via the sweepstakes link on the Breckenridge Brewery Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/BreckenridgeBrewery). The winner will be announced at 1:00 at the Summer Cab Ride 750 ml bottle release party on November 12 and must be present to win.

Bottles of Summer Cab Ride will be sold for $20, and are limited to two bottles per person. Cash and credit cards will be accepted. For more information, please contact Terry Usry, terryusry@msn.com, 720-490-6837.

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Breckenridge Brewery was founded in 1990 in Breckenridge, Colorado. In the past two decades Breckenridge Brewery has grown from a small 3,000-barrels-a-year brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer and restaurant companies in the nation. It now handcrafts over 37,000 barrels of fresh beer annually and owns and operates five brewpubs and ales houses in the state of Colorado.

I know I promised a week of New Glarus reviews and a few people have asked me what happened to my write-ups? Well long story short, I got really freaking sick and I couldn’t taste or smell for over a week. I actually missed three days of work in a six day span and thought about going to the doctor on more than one occasion. Fast forward about ten days and I am back, so without further delay, I continue my New Glarus spree…

Cabin Fever Lager pours the color of honey with a flacky but overly abundant, snowy head.  The honey color is not overly surprising given that this beer is billed as “Wisconsin Style Honey Bock.”  You can really get the honey in the scent as well that mingles sweetly with a wheat/malt background. This lager seemed over carbonated to me but my I like thick, groggy ales. I most say this is one amazing smelling beer, I wanted to spread it on a fresh slice of morning toast.

I was very disappointed by this beers texture and flavor. The honey flavor is the initial mouthfeel and it’s awesome but the after taste is astringent and a little cloying to be honest. Cabin Fever reminded me a of sour apple juice. This is not what I have come to expect from New Glarus! Most of us need to make special trips to Wisconsin to score our New Glarus and I unapologetically advise my fellow Chicagoans not to waste precious trunk-space on this dud!

ABV: 5.5%

Consumed: Pint Glass

Verdict: Skip it!



For reasons I’ll explain here shortly, this is a review I have been putting off for a while now.  This beer represents a lot of things to me but most of all the end of an era.  If you’ve followed this site for the last two years you’ll know that I spend an inordinate amount of time at my favorite Craft Beer bar, Finnegan’s Irish Pub in Plainfield, IL.  Finnegan’s was closed a little over a month ago and life just hasn’t been the same.  There was a lot of shit flying around about why it closed and reasons for this and that but to be honest, I don’t give a shit.  Dale & Pam Lewis are two of nicest people I have ever had the chance to share a pint with.  They welcomed me into their business & beer family and my life has been richer for having become their friend.  The larger picture involves all of the amazing people that I had got to know and become friends with over the last year and a half all due to the existence of Finnegan’s Irish Pub.  There are relationships that I forged that I know will last a life time and I know that even though Finnegan’s is no longer there, the memories will last forever.  So what does Surly’s Abrasive Ale have to do with this?  This beer was given to me by Dale the second to last night I had spent at Finnegan’s.  It was the after party for the Midwest Brewers Fest at Finnegan’s and he was given a four pack by someone and I asked if I could have one and in true Dale fashion he replied, “No problem kid.”  I haven’t heard him say that in far too long.  This review is in honor of Finnegan’s Irish Pub as well as Dale & Pam, even though it no longer exists, it will always exist in a place in my heart and soul.

Surly Brewing Company classifies this brew as a Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) and their website describes Abrasive Ale as, “We brewed this beer originally at the end of 2008 as a farewell to growler sales. As usual, we underestimated the demand for the first Double IPA in Minnesota. We brewed the beer again in the spring and released it as a draft only beer. It was originally called 16 Grit, a size of abrasive grit used at the old Abrasive factory that once stood where the brewery now resides.”

Abrasive Ale pours a dark golden orange with a ¾” tan head.  The aroma is big grapefruit up front with flourishes of hops, additional citrus notes and caramel malts.

It is a total coincidence that today happens to be Surly’s Darkness day and thankfully Steve went up to stand in line to secure me a couple of bottles.  Now on to Abrasive Ale, I’m going to go out on a limb and state that in my opinion, Abrasive Ale is a far better double/imperial IPA than Pliny The Elder from Russian River and is right up there in my book with Dogfish Head’s Squall IPA as one of the best I have had.  Abrasive Ale is quite balanced and complex.  The flavor is malty sweet with a ton of citrusy hop flavor as well as other citrus fruit notes and a hoppy bitterness that is perfectly carbonated with almost no hint of the 8.8% ABV this beer boasts.  I have to say that I was expecting a little more “abrasiveness” but at this point my taste buds are pretty tolerable to the hoppiest of Craft Beers despite the Surly website stating that Abrasive rocks a 120ish IBUs.  I love this brew.  Surly Brewing Company has a world class brew with Abrasive Ale and it’s no wonder that Surly remains one of the most coveted Craft Breweries is the country.  Surly use to distribute to Illinois but a couple of years ago they pulled distribution to keep up with demand in their native state of Minnesota.  After this brew, I can say that I will be including in my evening prayers a return of Surly to the land of Lincoln.  Maybe once their new production facility is up and running we’ll see that happen, until then I may have to resort to frequent trip to MN.  More importantly, I would not have even had this brew if it wasn’t for my boy Dale and walking through the door of Finnegan’s Irish Pub in March of 2010 and the friendship that developed from there.  Dale’s influence and knowledge truly helped me dig deeper into my journey into the Craft Beer industry and I will always be truly grateful.

ABV: 8.8%

Consumed: Founders CBS Snifter Glass

Verdict: Buy a Keg

Fort Collins, CO. – On November 5, 2011, Odell Brewing will celebrate the return of darker days with the arrival of Mountain Standard Double Black IPA. This year, the brew returns as a four pack offering.

Named for the time zone in which the brewery resides, Mountain Standard Double Black IPA features hops grown on Colorado’s western slope. In late August, the brewery production team ventured west to hand select the hops used. Cascade and Chinook varietals present a robust hop aroma and essence that complements the rich and roasty malt backbone.

According to the Draft Magazine review, “this brew’s enduring malt character and citrus hops illustrate how the two ingredients can find equal footing, even in a bold version of the emerging style.”

Odell Brewing will host a “Mountain Standard Bash” on November 5th to kick off the brew and celebrate Colorado’s ski and snowboard season. The outdoor event begins at 6 p.m. and will feature samples of the brew, live music, food trucks, a variety of local ski and snowboard purveyors, and a screening of the Teton Gravity Research film, Under the Influence. The brewery will also raffle a custom Odell Brewing snowboard by Oz Snowboards with proceeds benefiting the CSU Snowriders.

Mountain Standard Double Black IPA will be available November – early spring in the brewery’s ten state distributor region.

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Founded in 1989, Odell Brewing was started by Doug Odell, his wife Wynne, and his sister Corkie. Twenty-one years later, the culture of family and collaboration still thrives fostering a brewery full of beer-centric people. It is this passion for beer that inspires Odell Brewing to create quality, hand-crafted, innovative brews. In 2010 the brewery completed its fourth expansion, adding a wood-aging cellar, a 750 ml bottling line, and a 76 kilowatt photovoltaic system capable of providing 25% of the brewery’s peak energy demand. As a regional craft brewery, Odell Brewing is committed to serving the communities in which it distributes by sourcing local raw materials, and through its charitable giving program known as Odell Outreach. Odell Brewing was recently named a “Top Company of 2010” by ColoradoBiz Magazine and is an award winning brewery, nationally and internationally: 2011 Great American Beer Festival® - gold medal for Friek. 2010 North American Beer Awards – gold medal for Woodcut No. 3. 2009 BrewNZ Awards – gold for 5 Barrel Pale Ale. 2008 World Beer Cup® – gold for IPA. 2007 Great American Beer Festival® – gold medal for IPA.

A couple of weeks back, Steve, Rafael and I made the trek up to Grand Rapids, MI for our allotment of the coveted Canadian Breakfast Stout.  On our way back home I asked the guys if they minded that we stop at a liquor store to stock up on some local brew that we can’t get in Illinois.  They agreed and we made a stop at the Liquor Cabinet in St. Joseph, MI.  I had been there back in March for a friend’s wedding ad knew that they carried a great local selection.  I walked the isles looking for something to jump out at me and as I reached the cooler I noticed a decent selection of brews from Short’s Brewing Company.  There were a couple that I know I’ve had or had back at the house but one in particular didn’t sound familiar.  I grabbed a six pack of their Nicie Spicie and proceeded to read the description on the bottle.  It read, “American Wheat Ale with orange zest, lemon zest, coriander & peppercorns.”  Yep, I started drooling right there in the store.  I knew that if the beer lived up to the decription I’d be in heaven, let’s find out.

Short’s Brewing Company classifies this brew as a spiced wheat ale and their website describes Nicie Spicie as, “A Northern Michigan spiced wheat ale made with a 50/50 blend of malted barley and malted white wheat. Packed with fresh citrus zest, then spiced with coriander and a three peppercorn blend, this light bodied ale is complex yet scrumptious. Exemplified by its gorgeous golden color, this beer is crisp and refreshing.”

Nicie Spicie pours a bright yellow with a ¼” off white head.  The aroma is white pepper up front followed by lemon and coriander.

I’m going to start out by saying that last year I had mentioned to Steve about an idea I had for a home brew, the flavor and taste I imagined is Nicie Spicie to a T.  This is a brilliantly crafted, unique brew that I am so freaking glad I had the opportunity to try.  The flavor is simply amazing.  Nicie Spicie starts out with a nice wheat beer flavor, then you get hit with the citrus and coriander and then the peppercorns kick in ever so perfectly complimenting a spectacular citrus finish that leave a hint of pepper lingering in the after taste.  All I have to say it, “Fucking WOW.”  So far this year I have only had a few brews that completely blew my mind, Short’s Nicie Spicie is on that short list (no pun intended).  Seeing that this is a Summer seasonal, there is a good chance that you may have to wait till next year to experience this epic brew.  This is definitely another example of, “had I known it was this good” I would have bought them out of their inventory.  That being said, I will be making a trip up to Michigan next year to stock up on this one for sure.  This is a can’t miss brew in my book and just reinforces some of the rumblings I heard last year at GABF about how Short’s Brewing Company is the next Dogfish Head, I believe!  This is seriously in the running for my GBOAT 2011.

ABV: 4.5%

Consumed: Mother Earth Brewing Glass

Verdict: Buy a Keg! (Hell, buy a truck load!)

Yes, I’m going Short’s again.  This is one that thankfully I found out about and had Wes relay to his mom in northern Michigan to keep an eye out for this brew.  I believe that it was on www.thefullpint.com that I read about this August seasonal brew that was originally brewed for Joe Short’s wedding and went by the name of Ale la Reverend.  It was intended to be a celebratory brew that was not only enjoyable but sessionable.  The last thing you want is a bunch of complete and total drunks at your reception on your most special of days, well maybe.  I got the indication that this was originally brewed in August of 09’ and since has been a bit of an anniversary brew celebrated every year.  This one in particular was bottled on August 22^nd of this year.  As the bottle reads, “Two people who belong together make a world.”  Well, let’s see if the result of this union will make a world class brew.

Short’s Brewing Company classifies this brew as an India Pale Ale (IPA) and their website describes Ale la Reverend as, “A distinctively dry, light bodied IPA with an appealing golden hue, thirst-quenching crispness, and laden with pungent hop aromas of citrus and spruce. Semi-sweet malt provides a backdrop for some mild earthy flavors and slight grassy notes. Doubling the dry-hop additions allows for lower alcohol levels, while still providing the entire hop effect expected of an IPA.”

Ale la Reverend pours a beautiful butterscotch color with a 1” beige head.  The aroma was full on citrusy hops but as it warms a bit the pine/spruce really shows through with a hint of lemon and woodiness.

Wow, this was nothing like I expected.  From the aroma, I was expecting a very citrusy flavor but not even close.  Ale la Reverend is bitterly hoppy and the taste is similar to that of a pine needle and some earthy hops with a slight malt backbone hidden in the background.  When I tell you that it’s bitter, it is freaking bitter.  I love bitter, but this bad-boy is off the charts.  I was surprised to find on the Short’s website that Ale la Reverend is only 66 IBUs and even thought I knew that it was sessionable, I didn’t think that it was as low as it is in ABV sitting at 4.0%!  Now that’s sessionable!  Man am I glad that Ma’ Riley was able to find Wes & I these brews because I am lovin’ Ale la Reverend.  I can say with certainty that if you like your IPAs with a really nice hoppy bite you may want to marry your taste buds to this brew and as a man of the cloth, I can perform the ceremony but don’t call me Rev, call me Friar!

ABV: 4.0%

Consumed: Mother Earth Brewing Glass

Verdict: Buy a Case

I have to admit, I’ve be slacking on the reviews lately.  Shit’s just been too damn busy and I haven’t MADE the time to sit down and put some effort into it.  Life’s been coming to a head here as of late and I have a feeling that stuffs about to blow up and I don’t necessarily mean in a good way.  Thankfully, I’ve got a cellar and fridge full of some yummy brews and I plan on drowning my sorrows until I figure out a game plan to rid myself of the hassles.  Lucky for me, Wes always manages to keep me stocked up on a variety of Short’s brews.  So far, when it comes to me & Short’s, it’s about 50/50.  The brews are either epic or just don’t cut it for me.  I’m hoping that this Soft Parade is in the epic category.  As the label states, this is an ale fermented with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries and I for one am very curious how this combination is going to play out in the flavor department.  I’m ready to find out.

Short’s Brewing Company classifies this brew as a Fruit Infused Rye Ale and their website describes Soft Parade as, “This gourmet specialty is engineered of toasted rye flakes and two row malted barley. Loaded with pureed strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, we refer to this fermented potion as a fruit infused rye ale. The result is a refreshing fruit delicacy that’s easy to drink, appealing to look at, and finishes dry.”

Soft Parade pours a fruit juice/ruby red with a 1” pink hued white head.  The aroma is sour and tart at first but then you start to get the raspberries and strawberry, I didn’t detect any hint of the blueberries or blackberries but let me just say that the aroma is fantastic.

I have to say that I was a bit concerned at first when out from the bottle comes this pinkish hue beverage.  The head truly was a light pink color and my gut told me that this was all fruit all the way.  My concerns were unfounded, this is a great brew.  Soft Parade is a fruity, slightly sour and tarty brew that is absolutely fruitastic!  You get a slightly fruity sweetness right off the bat then BAM; you get a wonderful tart and sour flavor that finishes with just a hint of hoppiness.  The body is fairly light and Soft Parade goes down all too easy with no hint of it being 8.0% ABV.  Because I can’t get Short’s brew here in Illinois (unless Wes gets me some) I hate finding a brew of theirs that I really enjoy because I typically know that I most likely won’t get to enjoy another one anytime soon.

ABV: 8.0%

Consumed: Trinity Brewing Company Glass

Verdict: Buy a Case

The Scene: Columbus Day. Evening. Two young women are sitting in the living room of a suburban townhome, a bomber of Green Flash Brewing Company’s Le Freak (not to be confused with "Friek") and two goblets between them on a sturdy oak table adjacent to their empty pizza plates. An uneasy feeling settles upon the room as they prepare to open the bottle.

Me: This is gonna be weird. I feel like Columbus about to approach a Native American tribe on an alien shore.

Friend: YOU’RE weird. Why are you being so cryptic?

Let me begin by stating that I firmly believe Columbus Day is a crock of BS. Chris Columbus was an ill-informed, self-aggrandizing asswipe who destroyed the lives of thousands of innocent people, and had NO IDEA where he actually was on the globe. That being said, Le Freak was a suitable beer to review on such an occasion. It’s an awkward, forced union between two beer "cultures": the American Imperial IPA and the Belgian tripel. I was unsure what to expect, but I will report what I found (and in much more accurate, honest terms than Columbus the Douchebag would have). I asked my friend Courtney, who is even greener than I in craft beer knowledge, for her input throughout this tasting. What’s more appropriate on Columbus Day than the totally objective observations of an outsider, after all?

So! The head was about an inch thick, off-white, and had a soapy, foamy texture. The beer itself was quite pretty, a kind of glowy reddish-amber in color and bubbly like champagne. Courtney called the color “caramel apple.” Cute. The aroma was decidedly Belgian, with clear whiffs of banana, clove, sugary candy, and tropical fruit. Not too much on the hop front. My friend thought it smelled like sweet, fruity wine, and I couldn’t disagree; I smelled white grape intermingling with the other aromas. There was a spiciness about it, too, almost white pepper-y. It’s rare that I can actually smell the alcohol in a beer, but that’s the case with Le Freak—the 9.5% ABV was apparent.

The flavor: Green Flash Brewing Company’s Le Freak packs a punch that would knock out the Santa Maria’s sturdiest seamen. It’s one of those beers you taste and involuntarily let slip an “Oh!” after the first sip. The hops were freakin’ sneaky; this beer was way hoppier and bitterer than the nose suggested. Courtney, not having had her taste buds hop-seared like most nerds I know, declared it was “super bitter with a bizarre aftertaste.” This made sense after I realized it had 101 IBUs! There was a brief banana and clove flavor up front before a blast of piney hops, some peppery notes, and dry clove on the way down. Le Freak had an excellent, full, smooth, satisfying mouthfeel as well!

We played around a little, swirling our glasses, sniffing, sipping, and trying to observe any changes as we drank. Courtney, a bit buzzed, threw out “Gobstoppers!” (Err, sort of...) and  “Apple juice!” (Totally!!). It was a lot of fun watching her process what she experienced.

Conclusion: Unlike Chris Columbus, I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated exploring the strange territory that is Green Flash Brewing Co.’s Le Freak. The skill involved in making this beer actually work blows me away. I’m hoping that Courtney (and other friends, coughcough!) will do another tasting with me soon!

ABV: 9.5%

Consumed: Allagash tulip

Verdict: Buy a Case!