Category Archives: IPA

Pubcast 219 – Back in the Pub with Heroes!

American Wild Ale, Barrel Aged, Craft Beer, IPA, Sahti, Saison

​After a month’s break, the Landlord is back and fully bionic!
The professional recommendation was no alcohol for 4 weeks post-surgery, so tonight will be the first brew since January 23.  We have two honored guests in the pub completing our panel of tasters; the always entertaining John Bitterman who is always willing to beg, borrow, and steal to enlarge his Illinois breweriana collection. And a man who always keeps us supplied with new brews, and can be considered a craft brew aficionado, but from sensible consumer perspective, my pal Tom Ryan.

It’s a packed show including real Finnish Sahti, a blind review of Revolution’s League of Heroes limited 12-pack releases, a quick visit out to Cademon Brewery in Genoa, where brewer Andrew Nordman has risen like a phoenix thanks to a successful crowd-funding effort, and a bonus beer review from Blue Blood Brewing in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mark’s lovely wife Tina returned from a trip home bearing a bottle of Strong Sahti from Finlandia Brewery in ​Sastamala, Finland. Clocking in at a whopping 10% this ‘rough and ready’ traditional beer has been brewed for over a thousand years in one from or another, and gallons of the stuff has been drunk over the years, and now it’s our turn to sample it.

Then we head out to Cademon Brewing, in Genoa IL, for a chat with brewer / owner Andrew Nordman, and hear how he managed a successful crowd-funding campaign to get the brewery re-opened after having to close up on the day of their second anniversary. They’re back now and we hear about his new approach to beer.

Then the panel gets to blind-taste the new variety pack from Revolution Brewing called League of Heroes. This pack focuses on their ‘Hero’ IPA series and showcases the latest offering in this series. It’s a great way to get to know what hop style you prefer, and we test our tasters to provide their opinions and pick their favorite. Nobody is wrong, and it’s all a matter of personal preference.

Finally, and just because it’s been a while since we got together, we end up trying a ‘bonus’ beer. This is from Lincoln, Nebraska’s Blue Blood Brewing, and one of their barrel-aged Outlaw series. This is a ​wine barrel fermented wild ale, bottle conditioned with Brettanomyces, clocking in at 6.5%.

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

Pubcast 207 – Illinois 6-Pack

Craft Beer, IPA, Marzen, Pale Ale, Rye Session, Witbier

​Recently a local liquor chain sent out a coupon for a couple of bucks off their pick-your-own 6-pack, so we stopped by and selected 6 cans from local suburban and beyond, Illinois breweries. We reviewed them a mind to introducing the breweries to folks who may not have tried them yet, and all are readily available.

In addition, at mid-point in our 6-pack review, we’ll take a break and visit with Brian Pawola, head brewer from Pollyanna Brewing in Lemont, and we chatted with him at the brewery’s recent 2nd Anniversary party. We talk about his recent GABF bronze medal for his Fruhof Oktoberfest, and his 2nd Anniversary releases, including his smoked lager and several editions of Personal Chain Letter (PCL), Imperial Stout. Head to 37:00 minutes in to the podcast if you want to skip our chatter.
The 6-pack we try is:

​

Crystal Lake Brewing, Lakesider, American Marzen Ale, 5.6%, 22 IBU – Crystal Lake, IL
​Brickstone, Forbidden Wheat, Blood Orange Wit, 5.4% – Bourbonnais, IL
Temperance Brewing. Restless Years, Pale Ale with Rye, 5.8%
​Miskatonic Brewing, Catchpenny, Session Rye, 4.5%
​Wild Onion Pub & Brewery, Misfit IPA, 6.5%, 75 IBU – ​Lake Barrington, IL

​Destihl Brewery, Vertex IPA, American IPA, 6.3%, 76.0 IBU – Bloomington, IL

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


Pubcast 195 – Bittermann and Beer Camp

Brown Ale, Craft Beer, IPA, Pale Ale, Session Rye, Stout, Table Beer

This week we have a bumper edition, and we welcome John Bittermann to the Brit and Yankee studios to help us test the new Beer Camp variety pack from Sierra Nevada.  This 12-pack contains 2 each of 6 collaboration brews from 6 geographical areas of America, and features 31 breweries!
We try the beers in no particular order other than light to dark:

  1. South East Collaborators, Sweet Sunny South Table Beer
  2. NorCal Collaborators, West Latitude Session Rye with Hibiscus
  3. NE and MidAtlantic Collaborators, Pat-Rye-Ot Revolutionary Pale Ale
  4. PNW and Rockies Collaborators, Moxee-Moron Imperial Session IPA
  5. Midwest Collaborators, Family Value Imperial Brown Ale with Cocoa
  6. Southwest Collaborators, Stout of the Union Robust Stout

Listen in and see why we think these brews are good…if you are fond of hops, and see which 2 each of the lads puts as their favorites.

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

Pubcast 188 – Beer and a Curry: IPA Challenge

Craft Beer, DIPA, IPA, Pubcasts, TIPA

This week we are joined by Sketchbook Brewing co-founder, outdoors man, urban farmer, brewer, Untappd moderator, and cool dude, Sean Curry. Well, at least that’s what his Facebook page says!  Also joining us is beer aficionado and Sean’s buddy, Tom Ryan.
Together, we talk IPA and conduct a small East vs Midwest challenge. Sean obtained a couple of cans of Alchemist Heady Topper so that Phil could taste this legendary brew, usually found on many Top USA IPA lists.
Along with this, we try All Orange Everything (collaboration with Other Half Brewing), and Boat Beer from Carton Brewing, and match those up with Sketchbook’s very own IPA, Orange Door.
Join us for a great tasting session, and hear Sean’s beer knowledge overflow…luckily none of the beer did!

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