Hop Cast

The kick off of Chicago Craft Beer Week is just days away and there are a few things to know about the week. Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder share a beer with one of the volunteer organizers Jonathan Surratt to go over a few details of the 11 day festivities. One of the important items to note are the special lanyards with maps you’re able to pick up at participating neighborhood venues that can be used to track all the locations you visit. Even if you don’t bother with the maps and stickers you’re still going to find a ton of great beers featured around the city. With around 200 participating venues and 160 featured beers to try, it’s going to be a fun 11 days.

If you’re using twitter or Google+ be sure to use the hashtag #CCBW and share all the fantastic venues you’re visiting and beers you’re drinking. We couldn’t be more excited. Cheers and thanks for watching the Hop Cast.

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During the 2012 Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski had the opportunity to visit White Labs for a private event they were hosting. White Labs makes and sells yeast for homebrewers as well as breweries offering a ton of different yeast strains for you to brew with. At the laboratory they have beers on tap highlighting different yeast strains available so you can see how each one effects the beer differently.

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In episode 173 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder crack open one belgian beer and one belgian style beer. First up is the Vicaris Generaal from a newer belgian brewery Dilewyns. The brewery officially opened in May of 2011 and currently are brewing six staple beers. The Vicaris Generaal is Brad and Ken’s first encounter with this brewery and this 8.8% ABV Abbey Dubbel was excellent. This might be a tricky beer to find at your liquor store but be sure to keep an eye out. Next Brad and Ken open a beer from a brewery they are pretty familiar with Sly Fox. Sadly we can’t typically find them here in Chicago but they are making some tasty beers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Brad and Ken open their Ichor a 10 % ABV Quadrupel. It’s really great to see how the american brewers are butting their own twist on some of these classic styles. You almost never know what you’re going to find when you crack open a bottle of something that the brewers of Belgium have been doing for years and American brewers are trying their hand at. Both beers were tasting good, so if you can find either of these, pick them up.

Cheers and thanks for watching the Hop Cast.

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In episode 172 of the Hop Cast, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are joined by Steve Wyatt as they reach for a couple beers from two local Chicago breweries. The first beer up is Double Daisy Cutter, an Imperial IPA from Half Acre Beer Co. This is the third release of Double Daisy Cutter and it’s always a treat when it shows up. If you’re a fan of the normal Daisy Cutter then the 8.0% ABV Double Daisy Cutter is going to be right up your alley. After that tasty beer from Half Acre Beer Co. Ken and Brad grab the End Of Days from the newest Chicago Brewery, Pipeworks Brewing Company. End Of Days is a 6.1% ABV milk stout that has been aged with cacao nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and ancho chilies. The result is a rich chocolaty stout, with just a hint of spice. It’s a good beer from Pipeworks and is a great sign to come from this nanobrewery.

Cheers and thanks for watching the Hop Cast.

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Cellarz takes a look inside the beer cellar of a Chicago beer heavy hitter and former Male Model of the Year, Ken Hunnemeder. Ken is the co-host of the Hop Cast and the Communications Coordinator of Goose Island Beer Co. As you’d expect Ken has some beers that any beer geek would love to get their hands on.

Sometimes you just need a beer that you can drink all day without passing out in the gutter somewhere. A great session beer for a day at the park or grilling out in the backyard. These are often the beers we reach for as the weather warms up and we know we have a long day ahead. That’s why for April we have picked Founder’s All Day IPA as the beer of the month. The All Day IPA is one of the newest bottled beers from Founder’s and is a welcome addition to their line up. Although KBS is tasty, one is all you really need but with the All Day IPA, you just can’t help but have another. When you pour out the All Day IPA you get a lovely golden yellow color with about one finger of head. The fruity hops aroma drifts from the glass. Mango, pineapple, grapefruit, and tangerine let you know you are in for a treat. Those same flavors in the aroma follow in the taste. It’s bright, refreshing, and clean. There is mild bitterness from start to finish on this guy… it does have IPA in the name so it’s not a surprise. It’s packed with a decent amount of hops without knocking that alcohol content out of the park which is what you typically see from most IPAs lately. Now go pick yourself up a six pack and head to the backyard and fire up that grill.

Nope those aren’t beers in front of Ken and Brad, but they do contain a good amount of alcohol. In episode 171 of the Hop Cast, Ken and Brad decide to take a look at a couple local ciders. Both of these ciders are from Vander Mill in Spring Lake, Michigan. The first cider they open is the Traditional Hard Apple Cider. This 7 % ABV cider uses a blend of Michigan apples to balance acidity and fresh apple flavors. You’d almost never guess this guy was 7 % ABV. Next Ken and Brad open the 6.8 % ABV Apple Blueberry Cider. Again using Michigan produce, this cider uses Michigan blueberries to add a nice fruity flavor to the cider. Both Ken and Brad have had a few Vander Mill ciders around Chicago but this was the first time they picked up bottles. From how delicious these ciders tasted, I bet it won’t be the last time they reach for ciders at the liquor store. The amount of quality ciders coming onto the market is exciting. Although ciders are something Ken and Brad haven’t explored much. With Vander Mill and a number of other cider makers coming onto the market, you can expect to see them making another appearance on the Hop Cast.

Cheers and thanks for watching the Hop Cast.

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After a couple big beers in the previous episodes Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski decide to dive into a couple lagers for episode 170. First up is Jinx Proof from 3 Floyds. This continental-style pils was brewed in collaboration with Jinx Proof tattoo in Washington D.C. At 5.10% ABV it’s the kind of beer that you can sip on pretty much all day. Next up, Ken and Brad move onto a bit bigger of a beer. The 8.2% ABV Surly Smoke. This beer is Lager-brewed, like any true Baltic Porter. Made with smoked malts from Bamberg, Germany, the home of Rauchbiers, then mellowed by oak-aging. Maybe not a beer to sip on all day but this would be a great beer with some food straight from the grill.

Cheers and thanks for watching the Hop Cast.

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In episode 169 of the Hop Cast Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder explore a couple of beers with Brettanomyces. The first beer they open is the Galaxy White IPA from Anchorage Brewing Company. This White IPA was brewed with 100% Galaxy hops, kumquats, coriander & peppercorns. Then fermented in French Oak Foudres and Bottle conditioned with Brett. This was Brad and Ken’s first experience with Anchorage Brewing Company and if this is the sort of stuff we can expect from them, we are all going to be in for a real treat. Next Brad and Ken open a bottle of New Glarus Brewing’s R&D Golden Ale. This 7% Belgian Pale Ale is funky and refreshing. If you’re a fan of slightly funky beers this one is fantastic and makes for something that you just can’t get enough of.

Cheers and thanks for watching the Hop Cast.

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Everyone seems to be getting out there on their bikes since the weather is un-seasonably warm. There is no better way to cap off a great bike ride then with a tasty beer. That’s why for this month we’ve picked Lakefront’s Fixed Gear for the beer of the month. This 6.5 % ABV American Red Ale is a new six pack offering from Lakefront and we couldn’t be happier. Originally you could only find this in 22 oz bombers, as far as we know. Which isn’t very bike riding friendly. You all know that the Hop Cast loves beers and bikes so a beer named after biking is perfect. Only thing better would be if this was in the can, but we’ll take it. When you pour this out you’ll notice a pale amber color; lighter then you’d find from a typical American Red Ale. Piney hops drift from the glass which isn’t a surprise because this guy was aggressively dry hopped. Hopefully you like hops because this guy drinks like an IPA; the Cascade and Chinook hops dominate. You’ll also find a nice toasted malt and carmel that tries to balance out some of those hops. If you’re a hop head you’ll find this beer very easy to drink and even easier if you just finished a long bike ride.