The Brit and Yankee Craft Beer Podcast

Mundelein IL is home to Tighthead Brewing, who have been around for over 12 years, and now joining them is one of our newest Illinois breweries, Tonality Brewing. Tony Bena is co-founder and head brewer, and the podcast crew headed up north to find out more about TBC and sample some of his current tap list. Set in a building which they have completely gutted and renovated, TBC also features a full restaurant menu, and an ‘artistic’ theme that changes from month to month. The Brit and co-host Ken McMullen (Fox Republic Brewing) visited on a Monday when the taproom was closed, and talked with Tony about his brewing roots and the dynamics of starting a brewery.  Then the conversation somehow turned to T-shirt quality and merch. We hear Tony’s views on adjuncts, why he loves coffee and his dislike for Rauch beers, the dart league at TBC, and we find out what he likes to listen to while he’s brewing. We found the tap list to be solid and classic, and while we couldn’t try the food on this visit, we think it is worth a trip out there based on the menu options and beer quality. Cheers! Beers Sampled: Analog Kolsch, Kölsch, 5.7% ABV Ruby Amber Waves, Amber ale,  5% ABV Dubbel Damage, Belgian Dubbel 6.9% ABV Crepuscular, Russian Imperial Stout, 12% ABV Minted Crepuscular, Russian Imperial Stout with mint, 12% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

This weeks' episode is a retrospective of our show and some of the milestones in our first 399 shows. It's thanks to all our listeners who keep us recording each episode, and thanks to all the brewers who have given their time to talk to us. Plus thanks to all my co-hosts along the way, especially the 'original' Yankee, Lingo! We've drunk a bunch of brews on our journey, and the last 17 years have been a blast, so we'll keep podcasting as long as we can.  The first podcast was published in Oct 2006 (Pubcast #1), back in 'Phase 1' of podcasting history. With the 'original' Yankee, my chum Mike 'Lingo' Lingafelter, we decided we would like to bring a little 'pub chat' to the internet. We had a different theme tune and a different approach to the show, with more variety, music, and full production segments, but still sampling beers along the way. The first beers we drank were Blue Goat Doppelbock from New Holland Brewing, and a Double Pale Ale from He'brew. Like us, New Holland is still going strong, but He'brew closed, then relaunched in 2022. In Nov 2009 and Pubcast #51, we recorded a show at the legendary, but now gone, John's Tavern in Winfield IL. There we first met with a man who was soon to become a good friend and co-host for the show, Mark Naski.  Mark was a genius when it came to his knowledge of brewing and beer styles, and was instrumental in making the podcast change into what it has become today. He taught us so much about craft beer, and along the way helped a local brewery with advice about their recipes. Sadly Mark was taken from us in 2021, and we miss him dearly. In December 2010, The Brit recorded the first brewery remote when he visited Oskar Blues in Longmont CO., and experienced Ten Fidy on tap for the first time. In 2013, the boom of the craft beer industry, we really started to visit breweries for interviews with the brewers. Some of our first recordings were with breweries that are still around today such as Tighthead Brewing (Pubcast#103), Church Street (Pubcast#107), and Penrose Brewing (Pubcast#110). It was after show 161 that we really started to focus on brewery and brewer interviews, when the Illinois craft beer scene was really starting to grow. Our first collaboration brew was with Hopvine Brewing and brewmaster Ken McMullen. It was an English pale ale called HMQ90 (Pubcast #198), brewed to celebrate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, with a recipe from Mark Naski. Ken has since gone on to become another good friend and current co-host of the show, and moved over to help start Fox Republic Brewing. Chuck Fort, Sr. Brewing Consultant (but then brewer) at Church Street Brewing, also joined the crew first as a regular guest and then by Pubcast #243, as co-host. Both Chuck and Ken continue to bring a wealth of industry knowledge...plus they're really good chums! We experimented with video back in 2018 with a beer review show recorded at Church Street Brewing, (Barrel of Monks Beer Review), and the result was 'simple' at best. We then started up our YouTube channel in 2020 as a result of the Covid pandemic shutting down our ability to have face-to-face contact with people. Like many others, we used Zoom to chat with brewers on our Virtual Happy Hours, and then used the medium to continue reviewing brews, and then test brewers' palates with a Blind Taste Challenge series. And that brings us up-to-date where today we try to go out and interview as many brewers at their breweries as time permits. Here's a link to a page that lists all our featured brewery interviews. Here's to the next milestone of 500, and here's to the craft beer industry and those hard working brewers!!  CHEERS! Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

Since 2021, Lisle has been home to Bubblehouse Brewing, and when we asked the craft beer community in the Chicago area where we should visit for our next interview, the Bubblehouse 'popped' up as a favorite. The Brit and co-host Ken McMullen (Fox Republic Brewing brewmaster) headed over there and sat down with Jon Miller, Head Brewer and co-Founder, to discover more about this very popular brewery and taproom! With a highly varied tap list, and a decor that is eclectic and welcoming, Jon and his wife have managed to create a place that the community can come together for conversation and good beer. We find out how the name came about, and how Jon started his journey in brewing like so many other brewers did, by buying a kit from the homebrew shop in St. Charles IL, our friends at Broken Brix. And there's a connection to Ken, as Jon took some of the Business of Craft Beer classes at College of DuPage, which Ken is now teaching some of the course topics. The Bubblehouse taproom is also home to a board game evening, and a game we'd never heard of, Crokinole, which Jon describes as the "perfect pub game". What is it? Tune in and find out, together with plenty of other conversation around the state of the industry and how Bubblehouse keeps their customers coming back for more of their great brews.  Cheers! Beers Sampled: Isle of Lisle, Mexican Lager, 4.6% ABV All Together Now, Altbier, 5.0% ABV California VooDoo, West Coast IPA, 6.5% ABV Origami Binoculars, Schwarzbier, 5.3% ABV Advantage of Absence, BA American Barley Wine, 8.5% ABV 10 Second Hug, Hazy DDH IPA, 6.0% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

In this episode we venture back up to Lake County and the village of Lake Villa, where we visit with a brewery that has been in existence for over 5 years, but seems to be a "best kept secret", at least from those in the southern suburbs!  Harbor Brewing Company is located just a short walk from the Metra station, a stop on the North Central Line, so accessible from Chicago. Plus they have a lakefront biergarten location in Winthrop Harbor that has their great brews and awesome views! Founder Kyle Wenzel and Head Brewer Adam Brose talk with The Brit and co-host Ken McMullen (Fox Republic Brewing) about how they have kept people coming back again and again, building up a solid taproom following, and now doing well with their self-distro. With an impressive 24 tap selection on hand, there is something for all tastes, and we get to sample a few on the podcast. We check out the large event space and how this has helped them host regular events that bring in the local community. With a 'wall o' barrels' on one side they tell us about how they are getting their barrel program off the ground. And with the beer fest season starting up, Kyle talks about how he likes to attend these so he can actually meet and talk to the attendees who are trying his beer.  We find out about what they are viewing and listening to these days, and Ken has a tip for a new band he's been hooked into! Cheers! Beers Sampled: Harbor Lager, American Lager, 4.3% ABV Buffer Zone, Dunkelweizen, 5.2% ABV Wintertide, Rye IPA, 6.6% ABV Camp Nights, Brown Ale, 5.8% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

It's hard to believe we have been recording our annual barley wine show for 7 years, but yes, we have shown this style some love since our first one was recorded in the now gone but not forgotten, legendary John's Tavern in Winfield. We have tasted and reviewed over 40 barley wines from across the USA, and this year we have another 7, plus 2 from the UK! This year, Art History founders, Tom & Cindy Rau, graciously agreed to allow us to record the show from their Geneva Lager Works production brewery location, and are part of our tasting panel, although Cindy comes along later as she has AHB biz to deal with! Joining them are co-host Chuck Fort from Church Street Brewing, Ed and Mike Seaman from the Broken Brix Fermentation Emporium, and ex-tavern landlord, John Karwoski. It's a panel of brewing experts who may or may not be familiar with the ancient style of barley wines. Listen in to hear what they have to say about the style, and then they'll arbitrarily rate their favorite one, with all due respect to all the others we taste! Cheers! The Lineup: Barrel of Monks Brewing, Boca Raton FL. Trip Sitter, 7th Anniversary English Barleywine, 12% ABV Trip Sitter, 7th Anniversary BBA English Barleywine, 12.5% ABV Harvey’s Brewery, Lewes, East Sussex UK 2013 Elizabethan Ale, English Barleywine, 7.5% ABV 2023 Elizabethan Ale, Sparkling English Barleywine, 7.2% ABV Riverlands Brewing, St. Charles IL., J.A.M., American Barleywine aged for 24 months in Four Roses Bourbon Barrels. New Image Brewing, Arvada CO., Wood Reserve Series: Port Scotch BA, American Barleywine, 13% ABV Church Street Brewing, Itasca IL., Barley A Prophet, English Barleywine, 10% ABV Prairie Street Brewing, Rockford IL., BBA American Barleywine, 12% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

It was just over 50 podcasts ago in December of 2020 that we spoke with Josh Grubbs, as he was preparing to open Black Lung Brewing in 2021. It was a brave move as this was during the restrictions of  the Covid pandemic, plus at the time he was brewing his beers out of the now closed Zumbier Brewing, and who names a brewery after a deadly mining disease! You would think that he was trying to mirror Sisyphus in Greek mythology, who was forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll back down every time it neared the top, repeating this action for eternity! But no, through all this, Josh has made an impact on the community of Round Lake Beach with his brewery and taproom, and has also opened a second satellite brewpub in Fox Lake which provides great view of Lake Nippersink from the patio of a 124 year old building! We catch up with Josh at his Round Lake location to get an update on his breweries. Assistant brewer Rob Noon is also in the house, and as the Brit's usual co-hosts were busy at their breweries this week, ex-tavern owner John Karwoski (Johnny K) is along to make sure he keeps him in line. We sample some of the brews and Josh tells the full version of the story behind the name of the brewery, plus we get the stories behind some of the beer names, like "Galaxie 503" and "Mr. Willy Sub For A Day"! Johnny K is curious about some of the entertainment equipment in the taproom and Josh tells how he has had to adapt to what the public wants when you run a small business even though it is a craft brewery. Rob reveals he has been a member of local metal band Wrath, and we find out what that's all about! And finally there is some discussion about how craft beer aficionados and consumers should be using social media, for example Untappd, to rate the beers that they try...be kind folks!! Beers Sampled: Lung Light, American Light Lager, 4.7% ABV Eagle Fang Irish Red, Irish Red Ale, 5.1% ABV Caduceus, NEIPA / WineIPA, 5.4% ABV Noon Porter, English Porter, 5.5% ABV Coal River Stout, collab with Riverlands Brewing, Coconut, Pistachio, and Vanilla Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout aged for 24 months in Oppidan Bourbon barrel, 12.5% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

We are back in the pub studio for this episode, which will be the last one until the end of January , as we are taking a short hiatus to take care of some family issues. But, we do have an all-star cast in the house with co-host Ken McMullen from Fox Republic Brewing, co-host Chuck Fort from Church Street Brewing, plus the head brewer from Church Street, Sean Gregor. And this is a bumper edition, but we hope you enjoy our festivities! The Brit has randomly selected a six-pack of beers that appear at this time of year, some with those seasonal spices and some not. We'll be sampling these, passing on our comments and seeing where the conversation goes! Plus we find out what The Brit's favorite Christmas movie is, the backstory behind a well-known Christmas carol, and like most people, we all have no clue what the OED word of the year is and what it means! The Brit poses a question about distributorship and whether it is contributing to the craft beer industry stagnation. And finally, 'Pull-my-finger' Santa makes his annual appearance at Chuck's special request! We hope you have a great holiday season and we'll be back in 2024 with more brewery profiles, interviews, videos and beer reviews. Thanks for subscribing! Beers Sampled: Short Fuse Brewing, Schiller Park IL, The Tips, Holiday IPA with spruce tips and juniper berries, 7% ABV Begyle Brewing, Chicago IL, Christmas Ale, spiced beer with bay leaves and cinnamon, 7.3% ABV Art History Brewing, Geneva IL, Wenceslas, Bohemian-style dark lager, 6.4% ABV Liquid Love Brewing, Buffalo Grove IL, Jingle Bear, Brown ale with coffee, cacao. Cinnamon, maple, and vanilla , 5.7% ABV More Brewing, Huntley IL, Winter Fields, English-style brown ale, 4.6% ABV Two Brothers, Warrenville IL, Peppermint Bark Porter, Porter with dark cocoa and peppermint, 6.7% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

The greater Chicagoland area hosts many of Illinois craft breweries, but there are plenty of downstate options to visit and enjoy. In this episode The Brit, and co-host Ken McMullen of Fox Republic, travel to Kankakee IL to visit  founder and brewer, Matt Strysik, who together with his wife Emily, co-own Knack Brewing located alongside the Kankakee River. Knack has been open for nearly a year and a half, and is the only craft brewery in town. The taproom is located in a corner building, and the brewery in a separate building right next door. Matt tells us about has some of the challenges of getting his kegs down to the basement cooler, which can only be described as a 'crawl-in' cooler. Like many small breweries, he did much of the work himself in setting up both areas, and has created a unique, welcoming place to drink great, small batch craft beer. This is a grass roots operation but Matt is producing extremely high quality, and very drinkable beers, tapping in to the tastes of the area clientele, but also testing out the waters with some adjunct variants. Definitely worth a visit downstate!! Cheers! Beers Sampled: Thrilla, Kolsch, 5.2% ABV Honey Biscuit, Helles, 5.1% ABV Remy, Dark Lager, 5.1% ABV Extra Super, Doppelbock, 7.5% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

Bob Salzman has been the Brewmaster at BBGB for around 5 years, and we need to apologize to him upfront! We have no idea why we haven't been out to taste his brews before, but we're glad we have now! BBGB is the brewery arm of an amazing restaurant called Hardware, which from a distance looks like something out of a Mad Max movie, but in reality is an experiment in recycling. Opened in 2007, they describe themselves as a sustainable gastropub and brewery, but it also includes a 1.5 acre hop farm, and the harvest from that provided our first sample brew. The restaurant presents a wonderful place to dine, plus the whiskey collection is vast, but we were there to find out more about the brewery, and of course, Brewmaster Bob. Joining The Brit is co-host Ken McMullen, who find out about the beers, Bob's background and his passion for brewing, and how the heck they put their taps into a solid piece of rock that rivals the black obelisk in 2001 A Space Odyssey! Plus we discover that the bricks used for some of the construction of the restaurant came from a crematorium! Pretty scary, but sustainable which is what they are all about, and their full-time master gardener grows most of their salad greens onsite in a hothouse. Again, we regret not having tried Bob's brews sooner, and you can believe we'll be back to try the food, paired up with them!! Cheers! Beers Sampled: Bradley's 1041, Vienna Lager, 6.0% ABV Fresh Harvest 2023, Red Harvest IPA, 6.5% ABV Saison Marilyn, Farmhouse Ale Saison, 9.0% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

Home brewing is where the craft beer movement all started. President Jimmy Carter back in 1978 signed HR 1337, lifting some 50 years of prohibition on homebrewing regulations, and thereby creating a thriving amateur brewing environment that developed into the craft beer industry we have today. So many professional brewers have come from a homebrew background, and one of the organizations that has produced many of Chicagoland's brewers in PALE, Plainfield Ale & Lager Enthusiasts. One man who has remained in the club, has not become a professional, but who is very much involved in helping homebrewers with their education, is Steve Thanos. Steve is also one of the main contributors to Brülosophy, an organization that takes the art of homebrewing to the next level with their 'Exbeeriments' and discussions on brewing methods, just part of their extensive website. In this episode, co-host Ken McMullen, who was also an originating PALE member, joins The Brit in welcoming Steve down to the Brit and Yankee Pub studio where we talk homebrew, plus we undertake one of Steve's Exbeeriments! How do we fare? You'll have to tune in to find out, but whether you are a professional, a homebrewer, or just like craft beer, this episode is a fascinating story of the total experience of tasting craft beer. We held back and posted this episode AFTER Brülosophy posted the results of this Exbeeriment, at their request, so now you can also head over to their website and check out the full article on the results. Cheers to Steve and all those at Brülosophy! Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

Glen Ellyn IL is home to The Beer Cellar, one of the first craft beer bottle shops in the area, and a couple of blocks away is Glen Ellyn's intriguingly-named craft brewpub, Two Hound Red. Steve Woertendyke has been the head brewer there for 3 years and has managed to provide a well-balanced variety of brews that will be sure to suit everyone's palate. The Brit and Yankee team of The Brit and co-host Ken McMullen, were long overdue for a visit, so we rectified that this week and headed out to sit down and chat with Steve in the soon to be full of barrels, barrel room. We talked a week ahead of their Oktoberfest celebration, so his fest marzen and the companion smoked marzen started off our interview in great style. Steve  and Ken worked together many years ago at the long-defunct Limestone Brewing, so it was nice to get the two old chums together again for some pub chat! As a full brewpub with an extensive restaurant menu, we feel 2HR is definitely worth a visit so you can judge for yourselves...Cheers! Beers Sampled: Angel of Lite, American Lager, 4.1% ABV Steel Machete, Mexican Lager, 5.5% ABV Oktoberfest, Marzen-style, 5.0% ABV Smokektoberfest, Smoked Marzen-style, 6.0% ABV Pale Horse, IPA, 6.4% ABV Boathouse, IPA, 6.0% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

This weekend is Labor Day and there's going to be plenty of barbecues and parties held across the state. Why not offer your guests something that won't leave them with a headache the next day, or perhaps you have guests who don't drink, but want to be part of the craft crowd. In this edition we visit with what we believe is the only non-alcoholic craft beer brewery in the state, Go Brewing Company, located in Naperville IL. Joe Chura is one of the co-founders and the President of GBC, and James Bigler is their head brewer. The Brit and co-host Ken McMullen (Fox Republic Brewing) sat down in their brewery taproom and talked with them about their 'meteoric' rise as one of the premier NA breweries in the country. By the time this episode has published, their Oktoberfest Märzen will have been released, but we get a pre-taste of it, and a look at the awesome can art. This brew will be a hit at Oktoberfest celebrations for those who don't drink alcohol, but want to raise their glass for a Prost toast! We think they are going to only grow more, and The Brit has certainly been converted! We think you will be as well once you try them...cheers! Beers Sampled: Suspended In A Sunbeam, Pilsner, 0.49% ABV, 45 calories New School Sour Berry, Sour with strawberries &blueberry, <0.5% ABV, 63 calories Damn Good Oktoberfest, Marzen, 0.47% ABV, 65 calories Vanilla Porter, 0.5% ABVr, 0.5% ABV Street Cred Nitro Bold, Nitro Stout, 0.35% ABV, 60 calories Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

There have been two new breweries opening in Illinois in the last few weeks. We visited with Fox Republic in the last episode, and this week we focus on the one that opened just a week before, Sundial Brewing and Blending. Co-owners/brewers, Mike DeMalpartida and lan Swanson, together with co-owner Diana Carlini, have taken over the space previously occupied by Flesk Brewing, in Barrington's Icehouse Mall. There they are producing some exceptional beers using blending, barreling, and fermentation methods which are not your 'standard' styles, even though you will find a pils and a hazy on the taplist. By the way, that hazy is called a farmhouse IPA, as their twist is to use a Belgian yeast. In our conversation we talk about how they came to start this venture, their approach to the styles they are producing, and the challenges they will face in storing and stacking their barrels. As we continue chatting it becomes more apparent that these guys really know how to produce the beers, using their experiences from home-brewing, and in the restaurant industry to understand what flavors can be obtained using a variety of different adjuncts. For example, their wit has the addition of coriander but also is changed up by using a citrus tea, making the result a wonderfully refreshing beer. We are excited about Sundial, and highly recommend a visit to sample their brews. Tell them The Brit sent you! Cheers! Beers Sampled: Wit, Farmhouse Wheat Beer with citrus tea and coriander 5.2% ABV Posh & Dodgy, Farmhouse Dark Mild fermented and aged in oak barrels, 4.5% ABV Field Stone, Farmhouse IPA, 6.7% ABV Dolce Far Niente, Port barrel aged Imperial Stout, 15% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

This episode we are down in Yorkville IL, and one of the newest breweries to open in the Chicagoland area, Fox Republic Brewing. Of course, it was a shoe-in getting an interview here as the Brewmaster and General Manager is one of my co-hosts on the podcast, Ken McMullen. Joining him is his brewer, Sam Walstaff, who we are christening “The Tallest Man in Brewing”, coming in at a fine 6′ 9″!! FRB has been open for just over two weeks at the time of recording and has shown themselves to have great promise for solid beers served in a great space with a community spirit. The Brit chats with Ken and Sam about the process of opening a new brewery and their approach to the opening days. Of course we sample some of the styles available, of which there should be something to suit all palates. It’s an exhausting process opening a new brewery and these guys have been working 7 days a week to bring Yorkville and exciting new gathering space. It’s worth a visit, so head on out there! Cheers! Beers Sampled: Button Factory, Kolsch, 5.5% ABV Confessions of The Fox, collab w/ Church Street Brewing, English Pub Ale , 4.3% ABV Floating West, West Coast IPA Tequila Seltzers, fruit flavors, 4.5% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

McHenry County in northern Illinois, is home to several great craft breweries, all of which you can check out on the McHenry Co. Craft Beverage Trail. This week we are visiting one of the two located in Woodstock IL, Kishwaukee Brewing who recently won a silver medal for their Bufflehead Brown Ale at the 2023 World Beer Cup. Kishwaukee Brewing Co., is the pride of founders and owners, Dan and Cara Payson, and we visited with Dan and his head brewer, Mark Gres, to find out a little more about their success. Joining me for this interview was my co-host, Ken McMullen from Fox Republic Brewing, who may have assisted in starting the career of one of Kishwaukee's  future employees...more on that in the interview. We talk with Dan and Mark about how their brewing careers started, and how they came to join forces at Kishwaukee to produce classic, award-winning beers. Dan's approach has got them through building the brewery at the start of the pandemic, then opening after the first shutdown, only to be closed a week later with the second one. All that being in the past, they have emerged from those dark days, and are moving into a strong position as a producer of great beers in the Illinois craft beer scene. Their tap room is a wonderful space, as is the outdoor patio, and you won't be disappointed when you make a visit! We must offer our apologies to Mark, who apparently had a mic which had 'technical difficulties' and caused him to sound like he was at the other end of the brewery. We've done our best to improve his sound in post-production, so hopefully it won't detract too much from the conversation! Beers Sampled: Bufflehead Brown Ale, American Brown Ale, 6.8% ABV Sandhill Lager, India Pale Lager, 5.5% ABV Tart Peach Saison, Wild Saison, 5.5% ABV Pollinator, Doppelbock, 7.7% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

We jump in the car and head south to Route 66 in Wilmington, IL., where located on an island between the Kankakee River and the Mill Race channel is Old School Brewing. Paul 'Pauly' Bidne is the head brewer there, and we chat with him about his brewery which can literally be described as an 'old school' tap room/brewery producing great beers and full of friendly people and lively chat! Pauly was a home brewer (and ex-plumber) and now one of many who have turned to brewing professionally, and learned his craft at Flossmoor Station brewery. He talks to us about his beers, and some of other stories are the friendly rivalry with the lads at Metal Monkey Brewing, OSB's relationship with Unpossible Mead, brewing NA beers and craft sodas, and some of the challenges of keeping up with beer production on a small system. Pauly is one of the characters we love in the craft beer industry and we encourage you to take that trip down Rt 66 to visit OSB and try his beers, especially the California Common!  Cheers! Beers Sampled: Wildcat, Cream Ale · 5.5% ABV If We Build It, IPA · 6.5% ABV Whatcha Gonna Do, California Common · 5.0% ABV Mango Is Our Middle Name, Berliner Weisse · 3.9% ABV Malty Monkey, English Mild · 5.8% ABV Sax Solo, Saison · 7.0% ABV Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

Recently, our friends over at Broken Brix, Ed and Sue Seaman, took a trip out to Iceland. Aside from traveling the country and going to see Chicago's legendary band Wilco for their 3-night tour in Reykjavik, Ed was on a quest to find what the Icelandic nation drank during all those long winter days! He brought back (or was it 'smuggled' back?) a suitcase of goodies, including craft beer, and who did he think of sharing them with but of course the Brit and Yankee team! We welcomed Ed and Sue to the Brit and Yankee Pub studio for this recording of a travelogue and tasting session, and joining the Brit is co-hosts and brewers, Ken McMullen from Aurora's Hopvine Brewing, and Chuck Fort from Itasca's Church Street Brewing. We didn't know what to expect, and the beers were tasted with an open mind. What we found out was that Iceland sounds a cool place to visit and that the craft beers are pretty darn good. We're not sure that any of them are exported to the USA, but hopefully Ed and Sue paint a picture of a place that you can visit to try them yourselves. One of the reasons they went there at this time of year was to see the Chicago band Wilco, who were performing 3 nights in Reykjavik, and Ed and Sue went to all three performances!! So listen in while we hear tales of thermal pools, great food, and struggle with the Icelandic language, but are rescued by Google Translate! This is a fun episode, and many thanks to Ed and Sue for sharing the beers with us! Cheers or as they say in Iceland, Skál (pronounced “sk owl”)! PS - sorry about the sound quality for Ed's mic...he sounds a little distant! Beers Sampled: Dokken Brugghus, Paska Puki, California Common, 4.7% ABV Dokken Brugghus, Dynjandi, American IPA, 5.9% ABV Viking Brugghus, Krummi, Stout, 5.8% ABV Gaedingur Brugghus, Namm Namm, Milk Stout, 5% ABV KHB Brugghús, Gellivör, IPA - English, 6.2% ABV KHB Brugghús, Steinbui, Pale Ale, 4.5% ABV Gaedingur Brugghus, Sweet New England, NEIPA, 8% ABV Gaedingur Brugghus, Baltazar, Baltic Porter, 6.6% Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... for pictures and more! Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

Buffalo Creek Brewing is located in the northern Chicagoland suburb of Long Grove IL, and boasts one of the largest biergarten's in the area. Owner/brewer Mike Marr produces several excellent German-style beers (very suited for drinking in the biergarten!), and The Brit asked Mike to take the blindfold taste challenge on one of them. He selected their Munich Dunkel, Bus Wedgie, as the beer to identify. Did Mike pick out his beer and style? Check out our video and find out! Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Ln, Long Grove, IL 60047 Check out other episodes at our YouTube Channel...

We're having some fun with owner/brewer Alex Drayer over in St. Charles, IL. Alex produces a very drinkable Kolsch and he was up for the Blind Taste Challenge! The Brit paired his brew against one of the world's best examples of this style and asked Alex to see if he knew his beer. We're finding that the blindfold challenge is more difficult than it seems, so did Alex choose wisely...check out the video and find out! Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM

This week we are releasing a video episode, also available on our YouTube channel. Art History Brewing has opened a production brewery, hidden away in Geneva IL, and we get to take a tour of the new facility. As of this video, it is not open to the public, but it is brewing all your favorite beers. The day we visited, Greg Browne was brewing up a batch of APA Lincoln Highway. Join us to take a peek in all the corners and get a flavor for life in a production brewery. Thanks to Greg, brewer Matt Johnson, and owner Tom Rau for letting The Brit poke around and get in the way!! Cheers! Website: ⁠⁠⁠www.thebritandyankee.com⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BritAndYankeePodcast⁠⁠⁠ YouTube channel - ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/6QreGGD2CrM