Hop Cast

Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are enjoying some wood beers in episode 111. They first open up the 10% Nebraska Brewing Mélange à Trois was a gift from Hop Cast friend Dale Miskimins. The Mélange à Trois is Belgian Strong Ale that put in French oak Chardonnay barrels for about six months. A fantastic release from an excellent brewery. After the 10% beast Ken and Brad move onto another gift this time from Stephen Freshnock. The Seeyoulator Doppelbock from Boulevard Brewing. This 8.50% Doppelbock was aged in cedar and has an amazing impacted this beer. Another winner from Boulevard Brewing!

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Mom’s love craft beer too! In episode 110 of the Hop Cast Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are joined by Ken’s mother, Jeanette Hunnemeder. You might rember her from the Ireland special Ken did back in November of 2008. In this episode the three of them are checking out some interesting Belgian beers. The first one they open is from a New York brewery they know little about. It’s the Belgian Style Triple Ale from Defiant Brewing Co. If you can find this beer pick it up because it rocked! And while you’re getting a bottle for yourself pick one up for us too and send it over. After that wonderful treat they move onto the Golden Delicious from Captain Lawrence. The Captain Lawrence was aged in apple brandy barrels which gave it a very interesting taste. Perhaps this beer suffered from too much hype and high expectations, while it was good it didn’t knock our socks off. Captain Lawrence is an excellent brewery and they are always doing interesting things.

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Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are once again in the backyard enjoying the Chicago summer and drinking some fine IPAs. In episode 109, they try the Apocalypse IPA from 10 Barrel Brewing Co. a brewery neither one of them had tried before. This was a beer that Brad picked up while he was in Portland. Out of Bend Oregon, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. seems to have a good thing going. At 6.5% the Apocalypse IPA doesn’t knock your socks off with hops but is an easy drinking ale. They then move onto the Shewolf thats made by two of their favorite local breweries. The Shewolf was a collaboration between Half Acre and 3 Floyds. The aroma on this beer is amazing, it smells like a fresh bag of hops. Another winner from Half Acre and Three Floyds! They both seem to have some great stuff in the works and hopefully some more collaborations up their sleeve.

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In this episode of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski & Ken Hunnemeder are in Rick Bayless’ backyard for a fiesta. On tap that night was the Marisol, the most recent collaboration between Rick Bayless’ team and Jared Rouben of Goose Island. During the fiesta Brad and Ken were able to chat Jennifer Barozzini to find out why they chose to work with Goose Island on this project. After Rick was done recording his radio show, Brad and Ken were able to catch up with him and Jared Rouben. Rick talked about some of the flavors they were looking to find in the beer and the thought process that went into the brewing of Marisol. Be sure to make it over to Fontera and give Marisol a try, it’s on tap right now.

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In this episode of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are kicking it outside with homebrewer Brandon Boshers. Brandon supplied most of the ale for the special two year Hop Cast event that was put on a couple weekends ago. The first beer they open is the Fourplay from Upright Brewing. The beer was aged in Pinot Noir barrels with Oregon cherries. Coming in at 5.00%, it was an easy drinking tart and sour Saison. After the Fourplay the three of them dive into something a little bigger, a 9.20% wild ale from Cascade Brewing called The Vine.

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Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are outside in the backyard for episode 106 of the Hop Castt. There is something about a nice summer day in the backyard that just screams IPA. And that is just what Ken and Brad are going to do. It seems like it’s been a long time since they featured a couple of fine IPAs. In this episode the first beer they dive into is the Oakshire Watershed IPA from Eugene, Oregon. They then move onto the Lake Erie Monster a 9.10% Imperial IPA from Great Lakes Brewing.

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These are a few of the funniest moments and highlights from the last two years of the Hop Cast. This video originally played at the Hop Cast 2nd Anniversary / Drink My Ale Party.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way and all the great people we have met! We’ll keep drinking and hopefully you’ll continue to watch!

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In episode 105 Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are back in the suburbs of Chicago. This time they are at Rock Bottom Warrenville for Pop! Fest. Pop! Fest was the brain child of brewer Davin Bartosch who decided to unleash the world’s first popcorn malt liquor. Rather than only having this one beer on draft he decided to have an event and invite other local brewers to bring a beer to be paired with popcorn. Many local breweries brought different styles of beer that were paired with one of the many flavors that Popcorn Palace’s gourmet popcorn offers.

If you live in the area be sure to make it out to Rock Bottom Warrenville to try this uniquely brewed beer.

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Brad Chmielewski are at and Ken Hunnemeder are out in Plainfield, IL with Shannon McGrath at Finnegans in episode 104. The three of them discuss the craft beers that Finnegans Irish Pub offers and some of the events they have going on while sipping on some great beers. The first beer they drink is the Anniversary IPA from Anderson Valley. They quickly knock back that tasty IPA and then move onto the Ommegang Zuur.

It sounds like Finnegans Irish Pub has some great things happening and if you live in the area it’s a must visit.

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For Episode 103 of the Hop Cast, 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. Including Wild Onion, Flossmoor Station, Limestone Brewing, and America’s Brewing. They also talk with Nick Paul who is creating some really great glassware out of the empty beer bottles. If you made it out to this years Hoptacular we hope you have 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.

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