Category Archives: Lager

Pubcast 358 – Erik Pizer of Milk Money Brewing

Milk Money Brewing was a victim of the Covid pandemic insomuch as it delayed their opening and when they did open, it wasn’t the ‘hurrah’ that normally accompanies a new brewery opening. Erik Pizer is the brewer at the LaGrange location, and in this episode we hear from him about his beers and what Milk Money is doing to set itself apart from other brewpubs.

Ken McMullen and The Brit sample some of his brews, and the great food that is being served up. Erik has managed to produce a great range of classic and new styles, and The Brit finds a pal who also doesn’t like coconut in beer! We recommend a trip to LaGrange for brews and dinner! Cheers!

Brews Sampled:

  • Queen Takes Pawn, English Bitter, 5% ABV
  • LaGrange Lager, American Lager, 4.2% ABV
  • Milk Money, Milk Stout, 7.5% ABV
  • Amai, Witbier, 4.9% ABV

Here’s a link to the YouTube channel video:  

Play the audio podcast on our player below…or your favorite smartphone podcast app…we have a direct link to iTunes for iPhone users, and Google Play for Android users:

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Pubcast 355 – Larry Hough of Soundgrowler Brewing

Our first pod/vid-cast of the year is an extended interview with FOBAB medal winner Larry Hough from Soundgrowler Brewing Co. in Tinley Park. We recorded this just after Thanksgiving but reserved it for release in the New Year.

Soundgrowler has been around for just over 3 years and this past 2020 FOBAB gave them their first medal for a BA brew, which we were lucky enough to get a can of to taste! Join The Brit and co-host Ken McMullen for this extended interview to learn about Soundgrowler and Larry’s beers!

This is available as a podcast or as a video-cast on our YouTube Channel.

Brews Sampled:

  • War Blood, Red IPA, 6.8% ABV
  • Leather Apron, American Porter, 5.6%
  • RYVERN, American Pale Ale, 5.6% ABV
  • Tequila BA Tortilla Hands, Lager, Bronze Medal 2020 FOBAB
  • Plague of The Locusts, 9% ABV, Mixed culture Brett beer barrel
    aged in port wine barrels on blackberries

Our YouTube video…

Play the audio podcast on our player below…or your favorite smartphone podcast app…we have a direct link to iTunes for iPhone users, and Google Play for Android users:

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Hops Outside: Ep. 27 – Goldfinger Brewing

We have an exciting, exclusive edition this time round and another video/audio edition. There’s a new brewery in Downers Grove that is getting ready to open at the end of July (as of the release of this video the date is July 31st). Goldfinger Brewing is a lager-only brewery owned and operated by Tom and Alison Beckmann, and their brews are already causing a stir locally, and selling out kegs before the tap room is officially opened!

The Brit, and co-hosts Ken McMullen of Hopvine Brewing, and Jay Rosicky of Malted Tales and Milk Money Brewing, jumped on a Zoom call and chatted with Tom and Alison, plus we were able to sample the brews for ourselves. In the video, you will get Tom’s background and how they came to build out their brewery, and a sneak peek at what it looks like, 2-3 weeks ahead of opening.

Then in the extended audio podcast, we carry on the conversation with Tom, finding out what styles will be brewed in their future, what the taproom experience will be like, and why they went the ‘classic style’ route as the mainstay for their brewery.  Tom talks to their distribution direction, why he likes bottles but has to look to cans practically, and we all postulate on what might be allowed now that wasn’t before lock-down. Cheers!

Brews Sampled are their core three offerings:

  • Original Lager, German-style Helles, 5.2% ABV
  • Vienna Lager, 5% ABV
  • Pils, German Pilsner, 4.9% ABV

Our YouTube video…

Play the audio podcast on our player below…or your favorite smartphone podcast app…we have a direct link to iTunes for iPhone users, and GooglePlay for Android users:

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Pubcast 233 – Everyday Beers

This week we pull out a number of brews collected from across several states, ones which which we think could be everyday, very drinkable beers.  We visit Colorado, Ohio, North Carolina, and of course we had to include one from Illinois.  Joining Phil this week is Chuck Fort, assistant brewer at Church Street Brewing, who now seems to have taken over the reins from Mark as our resident smarty-pants and BJCP judge!  John Kaworksi from John’s Tavern comes by for our last 2 brews.

Our first trio of beers come from Bristol Brewing Company out of Colorado Springs, CO.
Beehive, Honey Wheat, 4.4 ABV
Laughing Lab, Scottish-Style Ale, 5.4 ABV
Compass, IPA, 6.9% ABV

Next we hit Ohio, and a quartet of brews from Sibling Revelry Brewing
Sublime, Lager brewed with Lime, 5.0% ABV
Red, American Red Ale, 5.5% ABV
Swing State, Dry-hopped Pale Ale, 4.5% ABV
IPA, India Pale Ale, 6.5% ABV

At last we’re back in Illinois, and our beer from the home state is Prairie Kraft’s Trishul Pale Ale, 6.0% ABV

And finally, we end up at Ass Clown Brewing from North Carolina, and try their Imperial IPA, 8.0% ABV.

Play the show from our player below, or from SoundCloud…