Category Archives: Marzen

Pubcast 367 – The Curious Case of Banging Gavel Brews

October 1, 2021Brewery, Craft Beer, IPA, Kolsch, MarzenLandlord

It was beautiful Fall weather when we headed down to Tinley Park to record our latest episode outside in a beer garden. We’re at Banging Gavel Brews who have been brewing since the end of 2014 but still have not been able to brew or serve at their chosen location, the historic Vogt House, for a variety of reasons. Instead, they have opened up a fantastic beer garden, complete with their version of a ‘jumbotron’ so their patrons can enjoy the outside, drink their great brews, and watch their favorite college and pro sports.

Owner Jim Richert and head brewer J.T. Rea welcome The Brit and co-host Ken McMullen with samples of their current tap list, and relate the tale of their historic house that will eventually become their brewpub. We hear about the buildings’ origins and the problems encountered during the reconstruction, but the end is hopefully in sight!

Join us to hear about the brews, the beer name origins and the the theme of their brewery, plus we find out about J.T’s background and how he started in brewing and the path life took him to be at BGB. We recommend a visit before the beer garden closes on Oct 31st. After that it is back to cans only as the way of obtaining some of their very drinkable beer

Brews Sampled:

Civil Code, Märzen, 5.7% ABV
Amicus Curiae, Kölsch, 4.5% ABV
Offshore Trust, Tropical IPA, 5.1% ABV

Play the audio podcast on our players above…or your favorite smartphone podcast app…we have a direct link to iTunes for iPhone users below…and lots of other links on the sidebar, including Spotify!

Pubcast 207 – Illinois 6-Pack

October 28, 2016Craft Beer, IPA, Marzen, Pale Ale, Rye Session, WitbierLandlord

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 158 – Fall Beers and Fall Guys!

September 26, 2015Craft Beer, Marzen, Oktoberfest, Pubcasts, Sour AleLandlord

It is at this time of year that the annual Fall styles begin to appear. While all the brewers are at GABF, the pub crew plus guests get together and try three October styles, and horror or horrors, one pumpkin ale!
We try Two Brothers Atom Smasher, Church Street Itascafest, Urban Chestnut Oachkatzlschwoaf, and Almanac’s Dark Pumpkin Sour.
Prost!