Hop Cast

In episode 163 of the Hop Cast Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are at The Farmhouse for the Revolution Brewery tap takeover event. The Farmhouse focuses on local midwest beers so the idea of a local brewery tap takeover is perfect. Robert Diaz joins the Hop Cast to talk about what The Farmhouse has been doing and what they have in store for the future. Along with live music and great eats, it makes for a fun event that you wouldn’t see anywhere else. The Farmhouse plans to do a tap takeover event every month with different local breweries so make sure to check one out in the future.

Cheers and thanks for watching the Hop Cast.

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Join us Friday, January 27 for another great cask night at SmallBar Fullerton. There will be four casks for the one night only.

Firestone Walker – Union Jack IPA
Greenbush – Closure Pale Ale
Half Acre – Daly Double IPA
Dark Horse – Tres Blueberry Stout

Hope you can join us!

In episode 162 of the Hop Cast Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder dig deep into Brad’s cellar and pull out 10 years of Doggie Claws from Hair Of The Dog. This 11.5 % ABV Barleywine was first first brewed by the Portland brewery, Hair of the Dog in 2001. Brad didn’t have a bottle of that very first years Doggie Claws but the ten years start at 2002 and move up to the most current release from this past holiday. It was great to see how this beer changed over time and to speculate on how the recipe might have been adjusted from year to year. If you’re hiding any bottles in your cellar for that special occasion, you’ll see that we didn’t come across any major issues with any of the years which was pretty surprising and amazing for such a big vertical.

Hope you enjoy this very special episode and thanks for watching the Hop Cast.

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There is no sense in not starting off 2012 big. So lets kick off the beer of the month series for 2012 with Surly Brewing’s 9.0 % ABV Double IPA. Sadly we can’t get Surly Brewing cans here in Chicago but that doesn’t stop us from finding them in other people’s refrigerators. Surly Brewing’s Abrasive Ale used to be called 16 Grit, it was renamed and put into those nicely designed cans. You know here at the Hop Cast we love can beers and the Abrasive Ale is fantastic.

If you pour it into a pint glass you’ll be greeted with a hazy amber color liquid and a dense creamy white head. Isn’t that lacing beautiful? That aroma of fresh citrus should hit you as soon as you’ve begun to pour it out. Grapefruit, lemon, tropical fruits all balanced out with a hint of caramel malts. If only all beers smelled this fresh. The flavor is soft, smooth and fresh. Those sweet malts come in to add a nice balance before the bitter finish. This is a fantastic Double IPA and rivals some of those delicious treats we in Chicago usually get from Three Floyds.

Knowing we can’t get fresh cans whenever we want makes you sad when that last can is gone. Get yourself some Abrasive Ale and enjoy it fresh and be glad you were able to have it because many folks out there haven’t had the joy of experiencing Surly Brewing Company.

In this holiday episode Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski have cozied up in front of the fire for a couple of tasty beers. The first beer they crack open in episode 161 is the Biere Au Nougat from Brasserie Bourganel. Biere Au Nougat lives up to its name in that you’re not going to miss the nougat. This beer is unusual and outside of the holidays might not go over that well with a lot of people. But if you’re in front of the fire with this 5% ABV beer surrounded by smells of holiday cookies in the house then this beer might just work for you. Ken and Brad switch things up after the Biere Au Nougat and go with a highly hopped ale. The Mikkeller Hoppy Lovin’ Christmas. This 7.6% ABV beer wasn’t overly sweet or brutally bitter, has a nice balance. This beer seems to have nothing to do with Christmas besides the name and could easily be right at home with all those summer IPAs.

Thanks for watching the Hop Cast.

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The holidays are here and for episode 160 of the Hop Cast Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are sitting down in front of the tree for some liquid holiday cheer. The first beer they open up is the 4 Calling Birds, the latest holiday beer from The Bruery. This tasty Belgian Strong Dark Ale comes with a big ABV at 11.00% and should be shared with friends and family. The second beer they open up is the Fantome de Noel. This Saison also comes in with a big ABV, 10%. Unfortunately Brad and Ken picked off DMS in this beer so they weren’t really able to enjoy it but don’t let this discourage you from picking up a bottle from Fantome.

Instead of milk and cookies this year, why not leave Santa a delicious beer. Happy Holidays from the Hop Cast and thanks for watching.

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In episode 159 Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder reach into the depths of the cellar to pull out another couple Anniversary beers. This time the two beers are both from Ithaca Beer Co. in Ithaca, NY. Brad and Ken weren’t that sure on the years that these two bottles were released, but since the thirteen was recently retired and likely the fourteenth is on the way that would put the Eleventh at coming out in 2009 and the twelve at 2010. The first one they opened was the Eleventh which was a malt beverage with coffee. The coffee used was locally roasted Sumatra coffee beans. After that little pickme up Brad and Ken crack open the Twelve, a 10% Quadrupel. If you are holding on to either of these beers in the cellar Brad and Ken would recommend opening them up now, they didn’t hold up that well for them. It’s a risk you always take when cellaring.

Thanks for watching the Hop Cast!

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In episode 158 Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder decide to open a couple Anniversary Ales. First up is a beer they got from Lee Williams, AKA Hoptopia. It’s the Captain Lawrence 5 Years Later Ale. Brewed with five different malts and five hop varieties; this deep, dark and hoppy 10% ABV ale is meant to be enjoyed with friends. Next up, they love on the Bell’s 25th Anniversary Ale. This strong 8.50% ABV amber ale carries on the Bell’s tradition of flavorful, balanced beers. Brewed with 100% Michigan-grown barley. Both Brad and Ken would recommend opening up this bottle if you have one in the cellar, it is tasting excellent.

Thanks for watching the Hop Cast!

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In episode 157 Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are at The Ninth Annual Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers. This festival is held once a year and if you’ve seen the last couple years episodes, you know how great it is. Ken and Brad had a blast this year! It was great to see so many people excited for craft beer. This years Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers featured over 170 beers from over 50 different breweries. Ken and Brad again attended both the day and night sessions, clocking in over 10 hours of drinking. The two of them took a few breaks from sampling these fine beers to talk with Hop Cast fan and craft beer lover; Mike Rybinski. As well as talking with brewer Mike Rybinski about his new project. They chatted with Steve Hamburg, the man in charge of making sure everyone has a chance to taste these rare beers and they even managed to grab a few minutes with the man behind this festival, Pete Crowley.

FOBAB continues to evolve and get better every year. Hope you enjoyed seeing the coverage from the event and thanks for watching the Hop Cast.

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For the second time Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are at the Aragon Ballroom for the beer Hoptacular. In this episode Ken and Brad sample a ton of great beer and even find a few moments to talk with a few brewers / owners. They even wander into the midwest distillers room where they sample some fine local spirits. If you made it out to this years Hoptacular we hope you had a great time and if you missed it, be sure to keep your eye out for the next one.

Thank you for watching the Hop Cast.

Thanks for watching the Hop Cast!

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