Category Archives: Craft Beer

Pubcast 164 – O’Fallon Brewery

American Pale Ale, Brewery, Craft Beer, Music, Pubcasts

The pub staff recently took a trip to St. Louis to visit some of the plethora of craft breweries in our neighboring state.
In this episode, we meet Brian Owens, head brewer at O’Fallon, and explore their new production facility, and hear about some of his brewing philosophy.

Also, our Style of the Week is American Pale Ale, and we discuss some style notes and sample a couple of examples from Ballast Point and Brickstone Brewing.

And finally, we have opened our new pub stage, in association with Railway Records, and we present this week, Midwestern Lull – the first of many independent bands we will feature. Grab a good pint of your favorite brew and listen in!

MidwesternLull
Midwestern Lull

Pubcast 163 – Tasting, Tasting…1,2,3 – To Infinium and Beyond

Barrel Aged, Craft Beer, Imperial Stout, Pubcasts

We are back in the pub studios for this edition, and it’s all tasting for Mark and Phil.  The lovely Kimberlee makes a guest appearance to keep us in line!

We have a brew that is past the best-by date by 4 years, Sam Adams / Weihenstephaner collaboration, Infinium,  and it has changed it’s profile, perhaps for the better.

Then we go back and retaste Noon Whistle‘s Bob Ross Did It, Bourbon Barrel Aged Scotch Ale, and we discover that it is a darn fine brew.  The first bottle had lost it’s carbonation, but brewer Paul Klein have us another to taste, and it passed our rigorous taste test!

Finally, we are tasting a beer that is 30 years in the making, Bell’s 30th Anniversary Imperial Stout.  And it’s pretty darn good!

Pubcast 162 – Heartland Beverage

American Wild Ale, Barley Wine, Barrel Aged, Craft Beer, Kombucha, Pubcasts, Sour Ale

This week we welcome Brian Kerby from Heartland Beverage to the pub. He brings some of his brand’s brews for us to taste, and we learn about a new beverage, kombucha. We chat about the big merger news and how Brian is growing his business.
Brews we taste are:
Middle Brow‘s Parklife – A wheat beer with sorachi ace hops, fresh lemon zest & fresh mint.
Unity Vibration‘s Bourbon Wild Peach – an American Wild Ale, or Kombucha Beer – your choice!
Middle Brow / Unity Vibration Collaboration Moscow Mule – another American Wild Ale / Sour
Cahoots Brewing AmEn! – a barrel-aged Barleywine Ale

It’s a great episode, and is longer than usual, so please pace yourself! Cheers!
Here’s the Soundcloud version to play, and a gallery of photos


Pubcast 161 – John Bittermann – Illinois Beer Historian

Beer History, Craft Beer, Mild, Pubcasts

Mark and Phil start the podcast by discussing the Style of the Week, Mild, but don’t actually drink any – that’s up to Phil when he meets Illinois beer historian, John Bittermann.  What they do drink is a 51st Ward, Krispy Kascadian, and you find out why no Mild.

Meanwhile, at Hopvine Brewing, John and Phil are drinking Weekday Mild, and chatting about GABF, Illinois and Joliet beer history, and the Illinois beer scene in general.  It was a great pleasure meeting John who has wealth of knowledge and breweriana waiting to be shared!

Joliet John - Expert
Check out this article on John while you listen to the podcast!