ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast

Back in the summer, we grabbed this mixed four-pack from San Diego's Alesmith because of some eye-catching collaborators and unusual style pairings with coffee. This small but mighty lineup is as delicious as it is…caffeinated. But also, we question whether or not certain multitasking is necessary; Craig cements himself as a real bean squeezer; and Ryan would now like to be known as The Man of La Matcha.  Beers Reviewed Collaboration with Pizza Port Brewing and Jaunt Coffee Roasters - Dark Lager w/ Matriarch espresso, single‑origin Mexican coffee and lemon Collaboration with Mikerphone Brewing and Heady Cup Coffee Roasters - Saison Ale w/ washed Colombian coffee Collaboration with Societe Brewing and Modern Monk Coffee - Amber Ale co-fermented w/ coffee Collaboration with Everywhere Brewing and MoonGoat Coffee Roasters - Imperial Cream Ale with strawberries, vanilla, cinnamon, and tropical Maypop Caturra coffee

Join Ryan and Craig, your guides to the (sub)urban beer jungle, as they experience the eccentric, offbeat, and unexpected Wild beers of Chicagoland! They imbibe four different ales fermented with wild yeasts and bacteria while aged in oak and review them for your listening pleasure. They also look back on the heyday of local wilds and sours, make difficult sleeping arrangement decisions, pay respect to the breweries that made them want to podcast, try to catch a pass from Doug Flutie, and introduce the world to the 'Gurt Guys.  Beers Reviewed Imperial Oak Brewing - Lime Gin Barrel-Aged Straw (Foeder-aged Saison aged in lime gin barrels w/ Brettanomyces) Noon Whistle Brewing - Raspberry Funderen (Mixed fermentation foeder-aged Wild Ale w/ raspberries) Une Année Brewery - Le Grande Monde 2026-1 (Barrel-aged American Wild Ale w/ black currants and vanilla beans) Off Color Brewing - PH1 (Barrel-aged American Wild Ale)

The story of our ongoing Cellar West series goes back to a box sent to us by owner Zach Nichols in late 2020, and we've become quite literate in their mastery of many different styles in the years since. Originating from Lafayette, Colorado (just outside of Boulder) with a second location in Erie, Colorado, Cellar West has won their fair share of awards along the way - and this lineup could end up being the best we've had out of four episodes. Also, Craig is a bit in his head about shoe tying; we marvel at the strange lore and world-building offered by the sides of these cans; Ryan and Craig care about different physical points of moistness; and we get blindsided by the blanket meat. Cellar West Beers Reviewed Kneebone Pils (German-style Pilsner) Surf Sauce (West Coast Saison) Panther Dream (Hazy Pale Ale) Web Foot (West Coast-style IPA) Yellow House (Belgian Blonde/Single)

After being invited to taste through bourbon barrels by distillers for a few Mikerphone barrel picks, Mike Pallen said, "We should do that." And they have - now for the 36th time - invited industry friends, business owners, and even - yes - craft beer podcasters to sample through their barrel-aged beers with the goal of finding their own Pick of Destiny. We go through the whole blind tasting process alongside owner Mike Pallen, head brewer Mike Witkowski, and cellar man Matt Lakota to find the barrel-aged beer of our dreams. Then, we open the resulting bottle (subtitled "All Up In That Wood") to make sure we didn't royally screw up. (Spoiler alert: we didn't.) If you want a chance to try the beer, head to Mikerphone Brewing in Elk Grove Village on September 19th for the release - and toast with us to the everlasting allure of lactose.  Beer Picked (and Subsequently Drank Many Weeks Later): Mikephone Brewing (w/ ABV Chicago) - Pick of Destiny #36: All Up In That Wood (Imperial milk stout aged in Pappy Van Winkle barrels)

It's not so common anymore to see beers with just a single hop, but when we do, we embrace the opportunity to teach ourselves a little something. We have five beers, each made with a different single hop, and we dive into the background of each - and the surprisingly long hop development process. But also, we discuss if Citra is in fact the GHOAT; Craig shares a eulogy for the best way to get 12 CDs for a penny; Ryan's teeing off at the Wafting Greens; and we are about as far divided as we can be about one particular hop. Beers Reviewed Spiteful Brewing - Strata Time (Pale Ale w/ Strata hops) Hopewell Brewing Co. - Bound: Galaxy (IPA w/ Galaxy hops) Hop Butcher for the World - Meet the Nectarons (Hazy IPA w/ Nectaron hops) Bell's Brewery - SMaSH Hearted IPA (IPA w/ Dolcita hops) Pipeworks Brewing Company - Citra On Repeat (Hazy IPA w/ Citra and Cryo Citra hops)