ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast ABV Chicago

In the 10 years since Maplewood started producing beers in Chicago, the brewery and distillery has become one of the most recognizable, available, and consistent craft brands in the city. We sit down with the crew of Roger Cuzelis, Adam Smith, and Adam Cieslak to talk about how the company has evolved over the last decade with their multiple medal-winning beers and spirits leading the way. We also drink through a 4-pack of their “Heritage Series” beers for their 10th anniversary which resurrects some old favorites - albeit made with the technical skill and top-notch ingredients they’ve acquired through ten years of business. Furthermore, we bring our own 4-packs back to our respective bunkers to give them a thorough dissection by mostly just raving about how perfect they all are. Plus, Ryan can’t help but look awkward in photos, and Craig just wants the corn dogs to come back.
Maplewood Interview (0:00:00 - 01:01:30)
Beers Reviewed
The Charlatan (Pale Ale)
Azacca Morris IPA
Creepy Ginger (Belgian-Style Strong Golden w/ ginger)
Husky Pants (Hazy Double IPA)
 

CHICAGO (ABV) - With the 15th anniversary of the American Pale Ale that changed craft brewing in Chicago - Daisy Cutter - we file an urgent report on Half Acre beers recently released and break some news about the potential beer of the year (already). Expect to hear memories of early Daisy Cutter experiences, some slight pandering for a Firestone Walker Invitational ‘25 invite, a philosophical issue with variant beers, and a top beer/life experience for Ryan. Also, shout-out to all the Spreadsheet Wizards out there, re-open the Lava Lamp stores, and no, you don’t need that Train-inspired beer. 
Beers Reviewed
Trailing West Pils [collaboration with Firestone Walker] (Italian-style Pilsner)
Daisy Cutter (American Pale Ale)
Daisy Cutter 15 (Tropical Pale Ale)
Daisy Cutter Select [collaboration with Sierra Nevada] (Double IPA)
Smoking Gull (American Pale Ale)
 

After years of pushing boundaries with flavor, craft beer has come all the way back to banking on uncomplicated light lagers built for summer coolers. For this episode, we test out five local versions of lighter lagers in a blind tasting, finding ourselves surprised by the amount of variation contained within. Also, Craig is reaching unprecedented levels of comfort, Ryan’s confronting his lager biases, and we take a little run through the corn field. 
Beers Reviewed Blindly
Hop Butcher for the World - Butcher Gold
Pollyanna Brewing - Lite Thinking
Noon Whistle Brewing - Frothie
Old Irving Brewing - Windy
Revolution Brewing - Cold Time
 

Our fourth installment of drinking more barrel-aged beers (MoBAB) at about the halfway point to FoBAB lifts off into orbit with four different styles aged in bourbon and whiskey barrels. Sipping these leads to talk about length of barrel stays, some cocktail inspirations, and the hopeful regular return of a once-mighty barrel program. Also, Ryan’s got an unexpected “kids in taprooms” take; we sort out some John Cusack 80s movie details; and Craig gets knocked off of his socks - which he was apparently standing on. 
Beers Reviewed
BuckleDown Brewing - Barrel-Aged Wee Heavy (Wee Heavy aged 10 months in Four Roses barrels)
Third Space Brewing - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Ice Bear (Baltic Porter aged 2 months in Central Standard Cabin Strength barrels)
Pipeworks Brewing - The Murderous [2024] (Barleywine aged 4 years in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels)
Old Irving Brewing/Forbidden Root [Columbus] - Barrel-Aged Peace Treaty (Imperial Stout aged in Old Elk & Wild Turkey barrels w/ vanilla bean, cocoa nibs, and peanut butter)
 

Science beckons us to drink these side-by-side versions of similar IPA recipes: one hazy and one clear. We want to know how much difference the yeast makes in the flavor, whether bitterness levels will be noticeably changed, and how the mouthfeel transforms the experience. We also want to know why we got so drunk by the end of this one. Plus, Craig’s curious about condiment-based Monopoly, Ryan reveals the true worth of blue Jolly Ranchers, and we assert that we are indeed a grown-up podcast for serious grown-ups.
Beers Reviewed
Hop Butcher for the World - Unwind Your Mind (Hazy Double IPA)
Hop Butcher for the World - Clear Your Mind (Clear IPA)
Alarmist Brewing - Le Jus (Hazy IPA)
Alarmist Brewing - Le Jus Clear (Clear Hazy IPA)
 

Austin, Texas’ Live Oak Brewing has been making world-class lagers and traditional styles through step-mashing and decoction mashing going back to 1997, and their regionally-available beers have inspired brewers worldwide to embrace not taking any short cuts. Thanks to Craig’s Austin trip, we have five stellar beers here, a lineup bookended by their other speciality: smoke. Also, Ryan explains how some food is homework and shares his story of the worst example of that; Craig withholds important beer storage information; and we are having it made in the shade.
Beers Reviewed
Grodziskie
Gold (German-style Pilsner)
Hefeweizen
Kalt IPA (Cold IPA)
Fumigator (Smoked Doppelbock)