Category Archives: Craft Beer

Pubcast 244 – Fruitie Tootie and Sour

October 6, 2017American Wild Ale, Brewery, Craft Beer, Sour AleLandlord

Mark Naski has returned from the wilds of Idaho, via Utah, and has brought a plethora of brews from established and new breweries for us to taste and review. In this episode, we will focus on 4 beers that are fruit-based sours. We recorded this show last weekend and enjoyed delightful 80 degree weather, outside on a friend’s deck. Mark spent time doing what he likes best – cooking on the BBQ and tasting beers – and The Brit was happy to join in. Together with friends of the show Deb, our hostess, The Brit’s other half, the lovely Kimberlee, and tavern owner John Karwoski, we find that fruited sours are a delightful match for late Fall sunshine and good food.

We also play in some on-brewery reports from listener Lisa who met up with Mark recently at the Uinta brewery in Salt Lake City. They report on several of the beers available on tap from there, so thanks to them!

Beers reviewed are:

Laughing Dog Brewing, Ponderay ID, De Achste Hond, Belgian Style Sour Ale, 7%

Payette Brewing, Boise ID, Aura Cherry & Nectarine Sour Ale, 4%

Uinta Brewing, Salt Lake City UT, Birthday Suit Sour Cherry Blonde Ale, 6.2%

Sockeye Brewing, Boise ID, Barrel Aged Peach Creek Tripel, 7.5%

We found that all of these were highly drinkable, and would be worth seeking out through trade or visiting the breweries.

Play the show from our player below, or from SoundCloud…

Pubcast 243 – Oktoberfest Challenge

September 27, 2017Craft BeerLandlord

Oktoberfest is the time when all craft beer drinkers turn to the stein, and fill it with a plethora of seasonal marzens, or as we probably refer to it, Oktoberfest Ale. The Brit headed to a a local store and selected a 6-pack of readily-available brews from 6 different breweries, and put them up against one another in a taste challenge. Providing their personal preferences to those beers are co-host Chuck Fort, Illinois beer historian John Bittermann, and tavern owner John Karwoski.

There was some thought to the matchups, but really this episode is to find out if there are any brews that standout based on what my local store had to offer. We have 3 preliminary rounds followed by a 3-way final tasting. Which comes out on top? You should listen to the podcast to hear the conversation and reasoning behind our choices, but SPOILER ALERT, here are the results, with winners bolded:

Round 1
Erdinger Oktoberfest, Germany 5.7% vs Schlafly Oktoberfest, St. Louis MO., 5.5%
Round 2
Left Hand Brewing, Oktoberfest Marsen Lager, 6.6% vs Sam Adams, Boston MA., Octoberfest, 5.3%
Round 3
Bells, Comstock MI., Octoberfest, 5.5% vs Pollyanna Brewing, Lemont IL., Fruhauf Oktoberfest Lager, 5.4%

Final Round Winner: Schlafly Oktoberfest, St. Louis MO., 5.5%

Bonus Beers:
Schlafly Imperial Oktoberfest, 8.0%
Victory Brewing, Down

ington PA., Festbier, 5.6%

Play the show from our player below, or from SoundCloud…

Pubcast 242 – Firkin Fest

September 19, 2017Craft BeerLandlord

This edition reports on the first Firkin Fest held on a sunny Saturday, September 9, at the CityGate Center in Naperville. The festival introduced many people to the firkin and the difference of the beer that was served from it. Over 30 breweries brought their offerings for people to try, and The Brit headed out there to report on the event . This edition is a sampling of the interviews with brewers, who talk about their brews and their approach to serving firkins.
The event was in aid of Project Help, and we hear from their President, about what they are trying to achieve with this organization.

Our interviews include Hopvine Brewing, Church Street, 3 Sheeps, Sketchbook Brewing, Blue Nose Brewing, Miskatonic Brewing, and finally Soundgrowler.
Apologies to Matt from Prairie Krafts Brewing and Shane Coombs from Rushford Meadery and Winery as we experienced technical difficulties with their recordings due to a high wind causing too much noise. We’ll catch up with them in another episode. Shane experienced this visitor to his glass of cider – what’s that bee doing in my glass…literally the backstroke!

Play the show from our player below, or from SoundCloud…

Pubcast 241 – Viva Vivant?

August 31, 2017Barrel Aged, Belgian Style Stout, Black IPA, Craft Beer, Double IPA, GrisetteLandlord

The Brit joins up again with Mark Naski, beer consultant and BJCP judge, and we head down to Hopvine Brewing in Aurora to meet up with head brewer Ken McMullen. Our focus beers this week come from Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids, MI. 4 cans were donated by pod-guest and craft beer lover, Tom Ryan, who visited the brewery on his vacation. We have 3 Brewer’s Reserve and 1 limited edition to review, all which look to be unusual styles, but do they match up to the attractive packaging and reputation of the brewery?

To close out the session, we throw in a bottle that the Brit has been aching to open and share. From Odell Brewing in Fort Collins, CO., we have Brazzle, a golden raspberry barrel aged sour.

Beers reviewed:

Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids, MI

Million Pound Grisette, grisette ale, 4.75%
Nuit Serpent, Black IPA, 6.3%
Civilistic, Belgian Style Stout, 5.8%
Devastation, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Double IPA, 11.6%