Episode 634 - ESBs

A proper British Bitter actually exists on a spectrum of Ordinary, Best, and Strong - or as we mostly know them in the U.S., Extra Special. We try to make sense of this moving target of a style by trying five pretty varied examples - and yes, some are very special. Also, we appeal to the Girl Scout Cookie subreddit by testing out a Thin Mint theory; we're only a little worried about boat rot; and we wait a full 20 minutes before bringing up Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Beers Reviewed Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen Goose Island Beer Co. - Honkers Ale Noon Whistle Brewing - NWB ESB Off Color Brewing - Beer For Bowling 3 Floyds Brewing - Lord Rear Admiral  

When you spend any amount of time in Wisconsin, you'd better leave room in your trunk for a whole lot of delicious beer - and that's exactly what Craig did on a recent stop in Madison. We throw caution and care to the WI-nd, as we open five beers from New Glarus and Madison's Working Draft with a range of styles that all do what we'd hope for - and better. Also, Craig accidentally stumbles into some stolen valor thanks to some brewery apparel; Ryan's ready to whip up that Matzo Ball Soup Sorachi Ace beer; some beers get poked that should never have been poked; and one host discovers that his jowls are not where he thought they were. Beers Reviewed New Glarus Brewing Company - Coffee Stout New Glarus Brewing Company - Back 40 (Bock) Working Draft Beer Company - Serpent's Blood (Irish Dry Stout) Working Draft Beer Company - Hello, My Name Is: Simcoe (IPA) Working Draft Beer Company - Defrostinator (Maibock)  

Though beer has long lived in wine's shadow as a prestige drink, it can do an impressive job of borrowing flavors or even mimicking them from the grape-based beverage. We open four very different takes on wine-inspired beers, some that have aged gracefully, and some that go places with styles in a way we haven't experienced. Also, Craig discovers a new innovation in frozen pizza technology; we re-examine the arch of sour programs in the U.S. over the last decade; Ryan's trying his hand at being a Zoom-based magician; and we try to avoid the crash of flabby sweetness. Beers Reviewed Maplewood Brewing Company - Softcore Mutation: Foeder Pinot Noir 2022 (Mixed culture sour aged in oak foeders w/ Pinot Noir grapes) Mikerphone Brewing Company - Red Grape Supernova (Italian Red Wine Sangria-inspired fruited sour w/ Italian Sangiovese grape juice, Sicilian lemon puree, and tangerine puree) New Glarus Brewing Company - Champ Du Blanc 2023 (Bière de Champagne spontaneously aged in oak on white grapes) Half Acre Beer Company - Bazalt Wilderness of History (Double Barrel Barleywine aged in bourbon barrels & finished in Tokaji wine barrels)  

In a time before hazy, there once was the Double IPA: malty, boozy, bold, and bitter. While some trends suggest the days of haze are a bit behind us, will we see a resurgence of the old school DIPAs of yesteryear? Or will it just be more of the same pale and fruity modern "West Coast" versions? We drink five classic examples that we hope separate themselves from the current trends, and find that some hit that nostalgic target just right. Also, Craig faces a hospital TV dilemma; we remember when breweries kept hop recipes a secret; and Ryan needs a big train beer just for himself.  Double IPAs Reviewed Dogfish Head Brewery - 90 Minute IPA Bell's Brewery - HopSlam Pipeworks Brewing - Ninja vs. Unicorn 3 Floyds Brewing - Arctic Panzer Wolf Great Lakes Brewing Company - Chillwave  

We know from various beer festivals that Ohio has a pretty incredible craft beer scene, and this show courtesy of listener Ryan Lamb focuses on Cincinnati beers that take it easy on the ABV. We try six beers from three different breweries - including one now-closed legend - and find ourselves mapping out a road trip by the end of the episode. We also get our minds (and appetites) freaked by the Criss Angel Breakfast Lunch and Pizza (CABLP) menu, comment on those Arnold Palmer rumors, appreciate the art of the subtle pastry, and try not to lose that grain feeling.  Beers Reviewed Listermann Brewing Company - Losantiville Pre-Prohibition Lager Sonder Brewing - Voss (Kölsch) Sonder Brewing - Divot (Lemonade & Iced Tea Ale) MadTree Brewing Company - Legendary Lager MadTree Brewing Company - Queen City Pale Ale MadTree Brewing Company - Dreamsicle (Orange & Vanilla Ale)  

Being stuck in the winter that will never end isn't so bad when you've got some dark and roasty beers, so for this show we get five different dark styles from some of our local favorites to warm us up. This set of nourishing beers has us wishing for a hot pokin' while considering our blanket fort construction tactics. Also, we try to decide on two arcade cabinets for our own imaginary pizza joints; Ryan's not afraid to throw some things during playground basketball; and Craig imagines a glass girthier than has ever been.  Beers Reviewed Brother Chimp Brewing - Novia (Schwarzbier) Goldfinger Brewing Company - Chela Negra (Dark Mexican Lager) Flipside Brewing - Blanket Fort (Oatmeal Stout) Dovetail Brewery - Czech-Style Dark Lager Blind Corner Brewery - Boreal Dawn (Black IPA)  

The painful reality of 2026 craft beer is seeing great breweries make the decision to close, and this episode is a tribute to two of those that we admired greatly: Miskatonic and Alarmist. We drink up three beers from each brewery as a way to show appreciation to their contributions to Illinois craft beer - and for making all those weird styles that helped us plan many a podcast episode. In addition to sharing some nostalgia to help us reckon with these huge losses, we also talk about why the roller rink is so dangerous; we briefly join the Lace Gang; and Craig's looking for lactose and cosplaying a milkman. Cheers to over a decade of great beers courtesy of the fine folks at Miskatonic and Alarmist - your beers (and taprooms) will be sincerely missed.  Miskatonic Brewing - Vox Pilsner (German-Style Pilsner) Miskatonic Brewing - West Coast Wizard (West Coast-Style IPA) Miskatonic Brewing - Goblin Couch (Smoked Porter) Alarmist Brewing - Crispy Boy (German-Style Pilsner) Alarmist Brewing - Le Jus (Hazy IPA) Alarmist Brewing (w/ Old Irving Brewing) - Runemaster (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout)  

The West Coast is still best when it comes to hoppy beers, and this episode provided to us by listener, Patreon supporter, and Californian Dave Adams has us considering the past and future of hops through a variety of IPA styles. Recorded back on Halloween in 2025, the only thing spooky about these five breweries' beers is just how quickly they decimate our sobriety. Also, Ryan's found a new hill to die on that involves Bruce Springsteen and jorts; Craig tries (and fails) to guess the number of locations each of these breweries operate; and we are inspired to establish Pellets & Cones Brewing (a subsidiary of Schwimmer Vintage Ales) - now hiring. Beers Reviewed Societe Brewing Company - The Coachman (Session IPA) Pure Project Brewing - Noc-Turtle (Murky IPA) North Park Beer Company - Stratacadabra (West Coast IPA) Pizza Port Brewing Company - Mongo (Double IPA) Duck Foot Brewing - Duckzilla (White Double IPA)  

To close out the most recent season of Revolution's Deep Wood series, we have quite an array of barrels in this foursome that - once again - has us smitten. With two 12-ounce cans and two big old pipes, we're staring down a blend for the ages once we can successfully reckon with our arbitrary rankings. Also, we're looking to get deep into the Bread Rave scene; Ryan's going to piss off a lot of folks in the cognac Facebook group; and Craig dons a new persona (and an old hat) to stir things up. We're going to need our moms to pick us up after this one. Beers Reviewed Dethurana (Imperial stout aged in bourbon and Amburana barrels) Mineshaft Gap (Barleywine aged in Cognac barrels) Sur Lie [collaboration with Surly Brewing] (Imperial stout aged in bourbon and red wine barrels) Barleywinery D.B.X.O.J. La Cerise (Barleywine aged in bourbon and French cherry liqueur barrels)  

We're celebrating a dozen years of providing our arbitrary craft beer opinions through a half-blind episode focused on six different styles (out of a possible twelve) that include both long-made stalwarts and brand-new (to us) Chicago brews. Craig and Ryan try to guess each other's blind beers while also attempting to solve some hidden themes - with some surprising results. Also, we hold our first ever Cheese Draft (vote in the comments of our social media posts, please!); we say hello to 10 Sack Craig; and we relive memories of infected beers we drank for the podcast. Thanks for listening and helping us get to 12 years. Beers Reviewed, Half-Blindly Crushed by Giants/DryHop Brewers - Patio Padre (Mexican-style Lager) Brasserie Dupont - Saison Dupont Adams Street Brewery - Open Czech (Czech-style Pilsner) Revolution Brewing - Eugene (Porter) Burning Bush Brewery - Broken Pillar w/ Raspberry (Imperial Chocoalte Milk Stout w/ raspberries) Central Water Brewing Co. - Brewers' Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout