Tag Archives: beer

Beer Review: Atom Smasher [Two Brothers Brewing Company]

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Atom Smasher [Two Brothers Brewing Company]

Credit: Bluebird Chicago


Atom Smasher
Brewery: Two Brothers (Warrenville, Illinois)
Style: Märzen/Oktoberfest
ABV: 7.7%

While perusing a local grocery store earlier this week, I was shocked to see boxes and boxes of fall seasonal beers already being displayed. Now, this shouldn’t have surprised me too much because so many stores start putting out Christmas decorations in October, but it doesn’t hardly feel like autumn yet. Hell, there are still plenty of summer beers I didn’t get the chance to try! I’m not complaining too much because there are always some great seasonals during this time period. The transition is a bit jarring after all this 90 degree weather, but it’s a welcome change. One particular beer caught my eye — a new offering from a local favorite: Atom Smasher by Two Brothers Brewing Company.

Labeled as an Oktoberfest style lager, this brew was aged in French oak foudres, a fancy term for large casks. It doesn’t take much for me to get excited about a beer — if it says “barrels”, “bourbon”, or “aged in”, I’m sold. This local seasonal did not disappoint at all.

In a glass, the Atom Smasher has a golden amber appearance with very little lacing. The initial taste is a bit sweet but busts out some spices — namely, nutmeg and cinnamon — and throws in an aftertaste that reminds me a lot of a caramel apple. The oak aging gives it a unique complexion that makes it stand out from other Marzen-style lagers.

Atom Smasher weighs in at a potent 7.7% ABV, but it goes down pretty smooth. Normally I don’t go out of my way to pick up Oktoberfest brews, but I’m glad I gave this a shot. Two Brothers generally churns out consistently quality beers, and this one isn’t an exception. Highly recommended if you’re in the Chicagoland area.

8/10

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Beer Review: Threadless IPA [Finch's Beer Company]

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Threadless IPA [Finch's Beer Company]

Threadless IPA
Brewery: Finch’s Beer Company (Chicago, Illinois)
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.0%

We are in the middle of a ridiculous heat wave here in the U.S., just in time for Independence Day. What better way to celebrate our nation’s birth than by gaining a slight reprieve from the heat with an ice cold beer? A new brew from local Finch’s Beer Company caught my eye, most noticably because its cans were designed by Threadless, one of my favorite t-shirt companies. Threadless + a local brewery just seems like a match made in heaven. And better yet, this is an IPA, an absolute perfect fit for the summer.

According to Finch’s website, “Our Threadless/Finch collaboration IPA is a balanced experience of both perceived hoppiness and true bitterness.” This is an accurate statement, as the hops are quite present, with a finish that piles on the bitterness. This finish lingers on the tongue, and subsequent tastings bring out the prominent citrus notes. Orange is most noticeable, and overall it is a tad sweet.

The Threadless IPA is a bit of a complex beer, but it is one that is also quite easy to drink. At 6% ABV and residing in a tall can, it won’t take too many of these to make you feel good. Hop heads in particular will dig this one.

I love it when craft breweries collaborate with others, and this effort from Finch’s and Threadless is a real winner. Keep an eye out for it if you’re in the Chicago area.

8/10

Beer Review: Rogue & Voodoo Doughnut – Bacon Maple Ale

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My birthday was last weekend (April 15, to be precise), and to celebrate I flew out to Portland, Oregon with my girlfriend. We drove out to the coast, stuck our toes in the Pacific Ocean, spent a day exploring the Columbia Gorge and its glorious waterfalls, and also took some time to gallivant around the eclectic city that is Portland. One of our stops was the famous Voodoo Doughnut — “The Magic is in the Hole!” — home to many odd endeavors.

Eric standing outside Voodoo Doughnuts

Eric standing outside Voodoo Doughnuts

Here, take a look at a few of their most popular items:

Captain my Captain: Raised yeast doughnut with vanilla frosting and Captain Crunch
The Loop: same as above but with Fruit Loops instead
Triple chocolate penetration: Chocolate cake doughnut with chocolate frosting and coco-puffs
Memphis Mafia: Fried dough with banana chunks and cinnamon sugar covered in a glaze with chocolate frosting, peanut butter, peanuts and chocolate chips on top

But, to me, most intriguing was the Bacon Maple Bar (even Anthony Bourdain is a fan!): Raised yeast doughnut with maple frosting and bacon on top

It’s as awesome as it sounds.

Later on our trip, we stopped in at Rogue Ales Public House, the downtown brewpub for one of my favorite breweries. I couldn’t believe my eyes when, as soon as I walked in, there were a dozen large pink bottles of beer sitting out. Pink bottles of a Rogue & Voodoo Doughnut collaboration: Bacon Maple Ale! This sounded so ridiculous that I had to bring back a bottle home with me.

Tonight, I couldn’t resist the urge any longer.

Rogue & Voodoo Doughnut - Bacon Maple Ale

Bacon Maple Ale
Brewery: Rogue Brewery [Newport, OR, USA]
Style: Smoked Beer
ABV: 5.60%

The Bacon Maple Ale has 13 ingredients: (list courtesy of rogue.com)
Malts: Briess Cherrywood Smoked Malt, Weyermann Beechwood Smoked Malt, House-smoked Hickory Malt, Great Western 2 Row, Munich, C15, C75 Malts
Speciality: Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Pure Maple Flavoring
Hops: Perle, Sterling
Yeast & Water: Pacman Yeast, Free Range Coastal Water

Three smoked malts and applewood-smoked bacon… yeah, smoky doesn’t even begin to describe this beer. When poured into a glass, it doesn’t look much different than your typical ale (clear amber appearance), but the taste would be quite the surprise for the unsuspecting drinker.

Breakfast. That’s what this is. Bacon and lots of maple syrup. The syrupy taste makes this an awfully sweet beer, but the smokyness helps balance things out. It’s definitely a two-headed monster, however. The bacon/maple combo appears first, followed by a smoky finish. A hoppy aftertaste also lingers on the back of the tongue.

My initial impressions were glowing — I was surprised at how drinkable this novelty beer actually was. Subsequent tastings became a little too sweet for my liking, but not to the extent that I didn’t want anymore.

A bottle of Bacon Maple Ale will pour two tall pints, so it is a good option to share with another curious beer drinker. I probably won’t go out of my way to drink this again — it is available mostly in Portland, after all — but I am glad that I was able to try this unique brew. Bacon lovers, give this a shot.

7/10

Beer Review: King Henry [Goose Island Beer Company]

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King Henry [Goose Island Beer Company]

King Henry
Brewery: Goose Island Beer Company (Chicago, Illinois)
Style: English Barleywine
ABV: 13.4%

I had a pretty good Christmas last year, especially when it came to beer. I received a four-pack of one of my all-time favorite beers, Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout, as a gift (review to come later), as well as Goose Island’s new and exclusive King Henry. The latter was a very limited release, with its bottles selling out quickly all over the city. Goose Island has a knack for delivering unbelievably delicious bourbon-aged beers, and everyone wanted to get a taste of their latest.

The 2011 release of King Henry utilized barrels that were formerly used for Bourbon County Rare, and its final ABV clocks in at an impressive 13.4%. This barleywine is not for the faint of heart.

When poured into a glass, King Henry has a dark brown (nearly black) appearance. Its aroma brings notes of vanilla with a major bourbon kick. The bourbon is the first thing that is noticed upon tasting, and then hints of vanilla and caramel start pushing through. Ultimately, this culminates in a sweet aftertaste not unlike brown sugar.

King Henry is a remarkably smooth barleywine that any beer aficionado will love. It is a doozy, but it easily ranks as one of Goose Island’s best. King Henry will surely be hard to find in the very near future, so if you are in the Chicagoland area you should really make it a point to seek it out. This is one of the best beers I have had in a while.

10/10

Beer Review: The Chairman [Half Acre Beer Company]

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The Chairman [Half Acre Beer Company]

The Chairman
Brewery: Half Acre Beer Company (Chicago, Illinois)
Style: Imperial Red Ale
ABV: 9.5%

When I bought a growler of Half Acre’s Thanksgiving beer, Avena Sativa, I made sure to pick up a 22 ounce bomber of their previous limited release: The Chairman, an imperial red ale. Released as a celebration of local Chicago zine Lumpen‘s 20th anniversary, the Chairman is a thick brew with an ABV that will creep up on you if you’re not expecting it. It’s a pretty damn good complement to their English Bitter.

When poured into a glass, the Chairman has a hazy burnt orange appearance. The beer smells very ‘malty’ with hints of toffee. The taste brings out a surprising amount of hops that leave a bitter aftertaste. While this lingering taste may not appeal to some, I love it.

For a 9.5% beer, this goes down real smooth. The alcohol content is noticeable, but it is never overwhelming, unlike others at this level. Imperial red ales are not something I see very often, so I am happy that Half Acre has delivered a satisfying brew in this style. If you’re in the Chicago area, stop by the brewery and pick up a bottle before this bad boy runs out.

8/10

Beer Review: Avena Sativa [Half Acre Beer Company]

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Avena Sativa [Half Acre Beer Company]

Avena Sativa
Brewery: Half Acre Beer Company (Chicago, Illinois)
Style: English Bitter
ABV: 5.0%

Man, it sure has been a while since I wrote about a new Half Acre release. Fortunately, tonight I was able to pick up a growler of their most recent brew: Avena Sativa, an English Oat Bitter. This was released during Thanksgiving week, and I had given up hope on acquiring any since many of the brewery’s latest offerings sell out in a matter of hours. They must have made more than enough this time around because I was told there are at least two kegs left.

Avena Sativa is bright in appearance, with a light, hazy gold color to it. Its aroma is predominantly of grainy malts, and this carries over to the taste as well. This beer is a little sweet (and bitter), but it is ultimately refreshing and goes down real smooth.

Half Acre doesn’t really brew much in this style, so I am pleased to say that their Avena Sativa is a tasty success. While everyone else is stockpiling on stouts and winter ales, these local Chicago guys have released a light beer that is surprisingly well-balanced. For something a little more drinkable during the winter season, you can’t go wrong with Avena Sativa.

8/10

Beer Review: Lager Town [Half Acre Brewery]

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Lager Town [Half Acre Brewery]

Lager Town
Brewery: Half Acre Beer Company (Chicago, Illinois)
Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest
ABV: 6.0%

It’s been a while since I have reviewed a new Half Acre release, so it’s very appropriate that I come back with a look at their return to lagers: Lager Town. According to one of the guys at the brewery, this is their first lager in years, as they have been focusing heavily on ales since their initial days. It’s nice to see them go back to their roots, even if it is temporary.

When poured out of a growler and into a glass, Lager Town has a hazy, dark amber appearance. It has a pleasant aroma of caramel and toffee, and this translates to the taste as well. This is a malty, sweet beer that also brings out hints of rye bread. Hops are modest, with only a slight lingering bittnerness.

As far as Oktoberfest-style brews go, this is one of the better offerings in the Chicago area. Lager Town goes down smooth and is very drinkable — a wonderful fall beer. Hopefully Half Acre continues to experiment with more lagers in the future.

8/10

Lager Town is only available in growler pours at Half Acre Brewery. It won’t be around for long!

Beer Review: Cut Throat Pale Ale [Finch's Beer Company]

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Cut Throat Pale Ale [Finch's Beer Company]

Cut Throat Pale Ale
Brewery: Finch’s Beer Company (Chicago, Illinois)
Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 5.6%

In my quest to accommodate myself with Chicago’s ever-growing craft beer scene, I decided to check out Finch’s Beer Company, another new upstart in the city. Finch’s is a collaboration between owners Benjamin and Paul Finch, and head brewer Richard Grant (formerly of suburb brewery Flossmoor Station). Despite being very new to the scene, the company already has two beers available in cans across the Chicagoland area: Golden Wing Blonde Ale and Cut Throat Pale Ale. I picked up a 4-pack of the latter.

When poured into a glass, Cut Throat has a hazy orange appearance. Its aroma brings out citrus notes, but these are not as apparent when tasting. I noticed a very malty taste, with a lingering bitterness on the tongue. This has a heavier body than other local pale ales (such as Half Acre’s amazing Daisy Cutter). Hints of caramel are also present.

Cut Throat is a worthy entry into Chicago’s pale ale market, but I feel that it still has room for improvement. Finch’s Beer Company is an up-and-coming brewery that is still very new, so I am eager to see what else they have in store. As it stands, Cut Throat is a good, drinkable beer, but could be even better if refined.

7/10

Beer Review: Pegasus IPA [Argus Brewery]

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Pegasus IPA

Pegasus IPA
Brewery: Argus Brewery (Chicago, Illinois)
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.5%

New breweries are popping up like daisies here in Chicago. Argus Brewery, located deep in the South Side, is one of the latest in town to start selling bottles locally. As someone who is always willing to support area craft beer, I picked up a six pack of one of their flagship offerings: Pegasus IPA.

After pouring Pegasus into a pint glass, I was very surprised with its color. This is significantly darker in appearance compared to most American IPAs, as it has a copper-like red look to it. Its aroma is very subdued, with only slight hoppy notes. The taste, however, piles on the hops, and they leave a lingering bitterness reminiscent of grapefruit. Traces of caramel are also present.

Pegasus IPA is a reasonably drinkable beer with a good ABV kick, but it lacks a special “oomph” to make it stand out from the rest of the pack. I still enjoyed my sampling, but this is not something I will go out of my way to get again. I have to admit that I found it somewhat amusing that the brewery puts a mini-review directly on their labels, though, even going so far as to include an “overall impression”.

6.5/10

Beer Review: Mr. Ouroboros [Half Acre Beer Company]

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Mr. Ouroboros [Half Acre Beer Company]

Mr. Ouroboros
Brewery: Half Acre Beer Company (Chicago, Illinois)
Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 6.0%

Last month’s release of Half Acre’s Sticky Fat was a huge hit in our household. With the brewery’s leftover wet hops from the Sticky Fat batch, Half Acre opted to brew Mr. Ouroboros, what they call a “German-Americo Wet Hop Pale Ale.” Like its predecessor, Mr. Ouroboros has an amusing little backstory. From Half Acre’s blog:

Mr. Ouroboros is the ghost of Coney Bottoms, the one and only concrete evidence of the StickyFat Bear. Coney Bottoms, a simple minded farmer that happened to be puttering around in the wrong row when the StickyFat bear was gorging on the ooey-gooey, was taken down by the bear. Since then, the ghost of Coney Bottoms, who the hill-people call Mr. Ouroboros, resurfaces each cycle to loom, to lurk, to gurgle.

As one farmer’s 11 year old son recounts:

“Daddy, I saw the Mr. Ouroboros creaking and cacklin’ in the field…….gumming all he’s got left of his hand and makin’ creepy.”

This wet hop brew pays homage to this cycle and Mr. Ouroboros.

Outside of entertaining tales, the two beers have another thing in common: they are both delicious.

Mr. Ouroboros has a hazy orange appearance, and it smells of floral and citrus goodness. This is a juicy beer, one that oozes of those same floral and citrus notes. It reminds me a lot of Daisy Cutter, but hoppier with an even longer-lasting bitterness. Grapefruit is also very noticeable.

At a solid 6% ABV, Mr. Ouroboros is an easily drinkable beer. It smells delicious and tastes just as good. Some people may be turned off by the lingering bitterness, but this is right up my alley. Another wonderful beer from my favorite local brewery.

9/10

Mr. Ouroboros is currently available for growler pours at the brewery. It may not be around long, so make sure to pick it up ASAP.