Hop Cast

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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Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski were invited over to Goose Island Clybourn for a special coffee tasting with Crop To Cup Coffee. The new head brewer at Goose Island Clybourn, Jared Rouben has some really great things in the works and this is just one of them. Goose Island is taking their Liquid Inspiration Stout and combining it with different infusions of Crop To Cup Coffee and various spices. Some of the varieties already seen on tap since we recorded this episode a few weeks ago at the brewpub involve lemon, vanilla and peppercorn. These seem to be going incredibly fast and you can usually find a new one at least once a week. So head down to Goose Island Clybourn and try the latest coffee and Liquid Inspiration Stout.

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Here are Ken & Brad’s ten favorite midwest craft breweries and the towns they are in.

1. Three Floyds – Munster, Indiana
Three Floyds is located just 30 minutes outside of Chicago in Muster, Indiana. These guys love the big beers. Three Floyds knows how to really bring the hops in their beers though they may be most famous for their Russian Imperial Stout, Dark Lord that tops many lists as one of the best beers in the world. Dark Lord bottles are sold only on ‘Dark Lord Day,’ the last Saturday in April where you are sure to find Brad and Ken and several thousand other fellow beer lovers in line and having a good time. Besides being an excellent brewery, they also have a brew pub that is cranking out some seriously tasty food. Don’t think you can come to Chicago and not make a trip out to see these guys

Episodes Featuring Three Floyds – Episode 3, Episode 12, Episode 23, Episode 39, Episode 66, Episode 74, Episode 75

2. Bell’s – Kallamazoo, Michigan
Bell’s was the first Michigan brewery to serve beer by the glass to the public. With over 20 years of brewing, Larry Bell has built a nationwide reputation with Bell’s Brewery. They played and are still playing a significant role in changing the craft beer landscape of the nation. They continue to produce a large variety of excellent beer and that’s why they are one out our favorites.

Episodes Featuring Bell’s – Episode 3, Episode 37, Episode 65, Episode 71

3. Founders Brewery – Grand Rapids, Michigan
Founders Brewing is talked about constantly in the craft beer community for so many great beers and they just keep coming out with more. More flavor, bigger body, huge aromatics and increased complexity is the goal of Founders and they bring it to you. They continue to push the envelope and that’s what makes them great. Both Ken and Brad are excited to see what they have coming out in the years to come.

4. Boulevard Brewing – Kansas City, Missouri
Boulevard Brewing is one of the few breweries that Ken and Brad haven’t visited in the midwest. They are a fairly large brewery and also have a rather large distribution area but unfortunately you can’t find their beers in Chicago. Outside of the quality year-round brews they offer, its what they’ve been doing with their Smokestack Series releases that has really made us drink up and take notice.

Episodes Featuring Boulevard Brewing – Episode 15, Episode 56

5. New Glarus Brewing Company – New Glarus, Wisconsin
Just on the outskirts of the small “Swisstown” New Glarus, Wisconsin is where you will find the New Glarus Brewing Company. They are perhaps the biggest of the Wisconsin craft breweries and it’s hard to find a bar in Wisconsin that doesn’t have New Glarus beer on tap. They don’t distribute outside of Wisconsin so if you live outside of the state then a road trip is in order! Luckily Ken drives to Wisconsin often enough and brings back beers to share with fellow beer lovers in Chicagoland. As well as excellent year-round offerings, what these guys are doing with fruit is incredible! It will make the ladies and the gents in your life extra happy. Just.. wow!

Episode Featuring New Glarus Brewing Company – Episode 56

6. Jolly Pumpkin - Dexter, Michigan
Jolly Pumpkin has a little something different going on there and their beers are not for everyone. Focusing on traditional rustic country style beers they use open fermentation, oak barrel aging, and bottle conditioning. Many of you know that Brad isn’t a huge fan of the sour beers but Jolly Pumpkin is slowly helping him to learn to appreciate that style and the Hop Cast really respects the quality product that Jolly Pumpkin creates.

Episodes Featuring Jolly Pumpkin – Episode 4, Episode 57, Episode 70

7. Surly Brewing – Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
If you’re visiting Minnesota and love beer it’s likely you have heard of what Surly Brewing is producing. You’ll find most of their beers in 16 oz cans at local liquor stores throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. If you are willing to brave the weather in Minnesota in October and stand in line early then you get a rare, magnificent taste of their much lauded once a year release, Russian Imperial Stout; they call Darkness.

Episodes Featuring Surly Brewing - Episode 20, Episode 62, Episode 69

8. Goose Island – Chicago, Illinois
Goose Island and Chicago sort of go hand and hand. They are widely distributed throughout the majority of states and many people know about their bottled beers including the much loved and praised, Bourbon County Stout. But a trip to Chicago wouldn’t be complete without seeing what else Goose Island has to offer. At the Goose Island Clybourn brewpub you’ll find about 10 beers that are not in bottles and exclusively only available there. They are constantly rotating in new offerings so make sure you stop on by and see what they have on tap.

Episodes Featuring Goose Island – Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 47, Episode 65, Episode 77

9. Two Brothers – Warrenville, Illinois
Head directly west of Chicago to Warrenville and check out Two Brothers and their brew pub. Since Warrenville is Brad’s birthplace, Two Brothers holds a special spot in his heart. Two Brothers beers are solid and although with the exception of Hop Juice, many of their beers may not completely blow away the craft beer lover. They are go-to beers; the kind of beers that you can also give to your average beer friends (if you have any) and they are still going to enjoy them. When you need a good, solid beer that isn’t too experimental then a Two Brothers is a dependable choice.

Episode Featuring Two Brothers – Episode 11

10. Kuhnhenn – Warren, Michigan
Kuhnhenn Brewing Company is your typical hardware store turned microbrewery story… ok there’s nothing typical about Kuhnhenn. Run by brothers Bret and Eric Kuhnhenn in the small town of Warren, Michigan these brothers have the craft beer community talking. You can find their beers in 12 oz and 22 oz bottles. And if you see them, pick them up because they are pretty amazing. A couple favorites are the Simcoe Silly, Creme Brulee Java Stout & the Solar Eclipse.

Honorable Mention
With so many great top notch breweries in the midwest it was hard to just pick 10. There were a few that almost made the list and we just wanted to give them props for what they are doing.
Half Acre – Chicago, IL
Metropolitan Brewing – Chicago, IL
Dark Horse Brewing – Marshall, Michigan
Futhermoore Beer – Spring Green, Wisconsin

In episode 77 of the Hop Cast, Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski are at Goose Island Clybourn to talk with head brewer Wil Turner. Each of them are drinking a different beer brewed by Wil and currently available on tap at the brewpub. They have the Queen B, the single hop variety Midway IPA and the Extra Pale Ale. Wil shares with Brad and Ken a little bit about the brewing process that goes into some of the beers at the Clybourn brewpub. Wil also talks about how he is changing positions at Goose Island and that Jared will be taking over as head brewer at Clybourn. Don’t worry folks, you are still going to be able to find delicious beers on tap at the Clybourn location. Jared has some great things planned and the Hop Cast hopes to showcase them as they become available. The Goose Island Clybourn Brewery is a great location to visit if you are in Chicago and they have a great selection of brews on tap. Check them out and see what they have to offer, we’re sure you’ll find something you’ll like.

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Any meal is great with a well paired beer or wine but since the holidays are here Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski take a look at turkey and Thanksgiving. Food and beer is a combination that can make your mouth sing for joy and that is exactly what Ken and Brad hope to achieve in episode 65. On the plate they have a meal prepared by Ken, it featured turkey and a Surly Brewing Bender acorn squash. To go along with this meal Ken and Brad look at two different beers. Both of these beers are pretty easily available in the midwest and might just be what your looking for to pair with this years Thanksgiving meal. The first beer is the Best Brown Ale from Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo Michigan. The Best Brown is a seasonal release and is available from October through March. After the Best Brown, they move onto the Pere Jacques from Goose Island. The Pere Jacques is a Belgian Style Abbey Ale coming in at 8%. Both these beers went well with the meal Ken prepared. Depending on how you prepare your turkey these beers may or may not work as well but I’m sure you will be able to find something to pair with this years feast. Let us know what you ended up pairing with this years meal and how it worked out.

Ken Hunnemeder and Brad Chmielewski would like to wish everyone who watches the Hop Cast a happy and safe Thanksgiving! Cheers!

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This past Friday was the 2009 Yelp Summerfest at the Irish American Heritage Center in Irving Park. Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder made it out to the event to represent the Hop Cast and to enjoy some of the free food and beer. Some of the breweries at the event were Metropolitan, Goose Island, Half Acre, Two Brothers, Harpoon and Magic Hat. Since there were going to be a few local breweries at the event Brad and Ken figured this was a chance to do a few interviews with some more people. When Brad and Ken first got there the first beer they went for was the Metropolitan Flywheel, it seemed like a perfect refreshing way to start of the evening. The plan was to interview a few brewers and see what was happening in the craft beer world. But unfortunately everyone who was pouring the beer was extremely busy all night and didn’t have a chance to talk with the Hop Cast. With 900 + people at the event there were just too many thirsty people. But Brad and Ken did run into Courtney Baldy who is the pastry chef at Three Floyds. Courtney gave a little insight into her love of desert and beer and the kind of things she is doing at Three Floyds. Over all the Yelp event was great. The beers were excellent, especially the Metropolitan Flywheel and the Half Acre Daisy Cutter. There could of been more food since they did almost ran out of pizza at one point. If you have a chance to make it to one of the yelp events do it!

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This New York Times article was passed on to me the other day and I figured it was worth sharing with the Hop Cast audience. The article talks about the rise of craft beer in Chicago. More and more of the beers you see being served are brewed right in Chicago. Just a few years ago, you wouldn’t of seen this, it would of been PBR, Miller and Bud. Only lately has Chicago experienced a brewing renaissance of its own like you have seen over the years in Portland, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Today, local beer is popping up all over town. Now the tap handles read, Goose Island, Half Acre, Three Floyds, Metropolitan, and Flossmoor. The article is worth a read especially if you live in Chicago or if you have plans to visit. One place that the article didn’t mention was Hamburgers Mary’s new Sports Bar and Brewery, located next to the restaurant. They just started brewing beer and currently feature three home brews. Or even Moonshine who has been brewing beer for about a year now. But read the article and look for a Hop Cast review of Hamburger Mary’s beer and Moonshine in the future.

For episode 47 of the Hop Cast Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder are joined once again by Steve. Steve told Brad and Ken that he had never had a barelywine; so Brad decided to pull out a couple big guys from the cellar for them to enjoy. In this episode they sample and review the Old Aberration, a bottle from Goose Island’s 20th Anniversary Cellar Collection. The second beer they wet their pallets with is the Alaskan Barley Wine from the Alaskan Brewing Company. Both these beers come in at over 10 % ABV, which isn’t something to be taken lightly.

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Saturday March 7th marked the annual Night of the Living Ales festival at the Goose Island Wrigleyville location in conjunction with the Chicago Beer Society .  The festival involves cask/real ales from many local breweries as well as others from around the country.  This is one of my favorite events of the year.  There were quite a few standouts this year including last years’ winner, Surly Tea-Bagged Furious.

Much hype surrounded the premier of Popskull , a collaboration between Three Floyds and Dogfish Head.  This brown ale was aged on the famous Palo Santo Wood and will also be available at Dark Lord Day according to rumors.  Goose Island also had quite a showing with their Madam Rose(Kriek), Bourbon Sherry Beer, and Saison Le Chance. 

There were some great IPA’s tapped that night and the Hop Cast wouldn’t have it any other way!  Rock Bottom Chicago impressed with their Neil Diamond IPA and Flossmoor Station’s Ore Gone IPA was wonderful as well.

Rock Bottom Orland Park brought their experimental ShamRock Stout.  Looking at the name, I was hoping it was a take on the delicious Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s.  They didn’t disappoint!!  This mint stout was delicious and would probably make a damn fine beer float.

Overall this was a fantastic event, especially since this was the first year that they split into two sessions.  I would certainly say this was a success because the crowd was much more maneuverable than years past.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience so many great craft beers.  Don’t miss it next year!!

Ken and I were at the Goose Island Clybourn Brewpub for the release of Night Stalker and the monthly beer swap. The Night Stalker is part of Goose Islands new Fulton Wood Series coming in at an ABV of 11.7% and 60 IBU’s. If you’re a fan of the famous Bourbon County Stout then the Night Stalker is something you’re going to want to check out. Next to the Night Stalker tap they also had Summertime as well, which is a solid beer but nothing amazing. But what was very interesting was they were doing blends of the NNight Stalker and the Summertime. The blend was super interesting and made the already drinkable Night Stalker even more so. Since the Night Stalker was being released, the beer swaps theme was porters and stouts; the idea was that you bring a stout or porter to share. A huge stand out of the night was the Duck-Rabbit Baltic Porter someone brought to share. Overall this past Thursday’s beer swap was a blast. Shout outs to all the great people we had a chance to chat with including Jonathan Surratt of Draft Magazine & beermapping.com, P.J. Fisher the event coordinator at Goose Island and Randy Mosher. See everyone at the next event.