429. Argus Brewery – California Steam
I was just in Champaign, Illinois at Destihl, having a Vertex IPA. When I called my friend Fred (head brewer at Destihl) to ask what to have, he asked me if I could pick something up from there and bring it back to him in Normal, IL. I delivered it to him and we stopped for a quick beer at Medici in Normal. I was scanning the list for something I haven’t had yet, and with it being a fairly hot day, I thought I’d go for...
428. Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works – Vertex IPA
I was just at Destihl in Normal, IL on Monday with my friend Joe, where I tried their Strawberry Blonde ale, Downstate Pale Ale, and St. Dekkera Reserve Bela Imperial Pilsner Sour Ale. On Wednesday evening, I found myself at Destihl’s Champaign location. My friend Fred, the head brewer here, recommended I give it a try if I was feeling like something a bit hoppy. Location: On tap and poured into a tulip shaped glass at Destihl...
427. Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works – Strawberry Blonde Ale
I’ve mentioned in my last couple of posts, but my friend Joe is passing through central Illinois on his way home to St. Louis from Chicago. We’re having dinner at Destihl, the local brewpub, along with a few beers. I started out with their St. Dekkera Reserve Bela Imperial Pilsner Sour Ale, and then followed that with their Downstate Pale ale with my dinner. After dinner, I thought I’d go with something a bit lighter...
426. Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works – Downstate Pale Ale
As I mentioned in my last post, my friend Joe is passing through town, on his way home to St. Louis from Chicago. He wanted to meet at Destihl to try a few of their beers, and have some dinner. I started out with their St. Dekkera Reserve Bela Imperial Pilsner, so I was looking for something a bit lighter and drinkable than the sour I’d just had. This beer fit the bill and I thought it would be a nice pairing for my bison...
425. Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works – St. Dekkera Reserve Bela Imperial Pilsner Sour Ale
My friend Joe had been in Chicago all weekend and was passing through central Illinois on his way home to St. Louis. He wanted to meet at Destihl for a couple of beers on his way through town, as he’s heard me talk a lot about their beers, as well as the opportunity to brew here when I won their homebrew contest a few years ago. They’ve become very well known for their St. Dekkera Reserve series of barrel aged beers, due...
424. Piece Brewery & Pizzeria – Dark-n-Curvy Dunkelweizen
We were wrapping up our meal at Piece Pizzeria and Brewery in Chicago, and needed to head out to go to my sister’s football game (she plays professional women’s tackle football for the St. Louis Slam, and we were up in Chicago to watch her team take on the Chicago team). I’d already had their Worryin’ Ale and Wingnut, and helped my wife with her Golden Arm. She didn’t seem to enjoy the first few sips of...
423. Piece Brewery & Pizzeria – Wingnut
As I’ve mentioned in my last couple of posts, we’re in Chicago for the day. It was finally a chance to stop Piece Brewery & Pizzeria, a place I’d heard about from several people in my local homebrew club. The pizza was excellent and they had several brews on tap. I already had their Worryin’ Ale and finished off my wife’s Golden Arm. I thought their double IPA would be a good beer before heading...
422. Piece Brewery & Pizzeria – Golden Arm
As I mentioned in my last post, I’m in Chicago today to watch my sister play football. She plays professional women’s tackle football for the St. Louis Slam. We headed up early and took the kids to Shedd Aquarium. Before going to the game, we stopped at Piece for a pizza and a few beers. I already had their Worryin’ Ale, and my wife let me enjoy about half of her beer when she ordered this one. Location: Served...
421. Piece Brewery & Pizzeria – Worryin’ Ale
We’re up in Chicago today for my sister’s football game (she plays for the St. Louis Slam women’s tackle football team), as she’s playing the Chicago team. We headed up this morning and took the kids to Shedd Aquarium. It was a great morning and I planned ahead to have lunch here at Piece on our way up to the game in Evanston. I’d heard many good things from guys in my homebrew club about both the beer...
420. SweetWater Brewing – 420 Extra Pale Ale
I noticed I was approaching beer #420, and having enjoyed this beer before I started my journey, thought it would be fun to review this beer as #420. Unfortunately, however, SweetWater is not yet distributed in Illinois. So, on a whim, I thought I’d email them to see if I could get a sample. Thank you so much to SweetWater for finding a way to get me the beer to review as #420! Location: Poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint...
419. Heineken Nederland B.V. – Heineken Dark Lager
For my wife’s birthday, I got her tickets to a concert here in town. Before the concert, we decided to go out to dinner at Jim’s Steakhouse. It’s one of these old school steak house places with dark wood everywhere and a piano in the bar. I was looking forward to the concert and wanted a couple beers with dinner beforehand. Like most places, when I asked the waiter what craft beers they had, he responded,...
418. The Lost Abbey – Devotion Ale
We had a homebrew club meeting tonight just up the street at Fat Jack’s. A few of us headed down to Flingers because they have half price craft beers on Monday nights. They have several craft brews on tap, but this was one of the only ones that wasn’t on my list yet. Location: Enjoyed in a pint glass at Flinger’s Pizza Pub in downtown Bloomington, Illinois. Numbers: 6.25% ABV, 1.050 OG, 1.005 TG, ~ 188 Calories...
