ABV Chicago Craft Beer Podcast ABV Chicago

In somewhat sporadic drops over the last few months, Half Acre has released some highly-desired cans of barrel-aged beer that push the ABV further than ever before. We sample four of these special beers while turning half of this into a tribute to the writer of Half Acre’s Instagram beer release posts. It’s not often we have chowder of this sort, so we get a bit shaky aboard the raft of final gravity while trying to avoid the Reinheitsgebot funnel cloud. Also, Ryan’s auditioning to be a pitchman for a new product, we throw back a handful of gravy beans, and Craig is taken aback by all the Suits love. It’s kind of a cosmic gumbo. 
Beers Reviewed
Twin Chariot (Imperial stout aged in bourbon & peach brandy barrels w/ vanilla)
Wilderness of History (Double barrel barleywine)
On & On Pt. 4 [Collaboration with Revolution Brewing] (Double barrel-aged imperial stout)
Triple Barrel Catch Hell (Triple barrel-aged imperial stout w/ vanilla & cinnamon)
 

For over ten years we’ve wanted to do a full lineup of Jester King’s beers, and thanks to Craig’s recent Austin trip, we get to open five unique styles from the farm. We’re happy as a bunch of grazing goats (except for Gary) as we sample through this lineup and Craig revisits his experience visiting the brewery site. Also, Craig has brought Cronch to a whole new level, Ryan’s strongly considering a tattoo straight from one of these labels, and there’s some light Sega talk. 
Beers Reviewed
Staked Plains Pilsner
Hazy IPA
Meowsonry! (Best Bitter Farmhouse Ale)
Nocturn Chrysalis (Barrel-aged sour refermented w/ blackberries)
All Y’all N’ Co. (Blended barrel-aged farmhouse ale w/ Aglianico grapes)
 

As the third in our recent unplanned trilogy of Carolina shows, this one proves that sometimes the B-sides are better than the album. We have five beers from various Carolina locations, thanks to listeners Benji & Suzanne, and each drink finds a way to impress us in unexpected ways. What else could inspire talk of cask alerts, EKG love, Double Table Beers, and foam beards? Also, Ryan needs advice on training his RoboVac, Craig is a beer grandpa, and there are some awkward t-shirt interactions. 
Beers Reviewed
Whaley Farm Brewery [Old Fort, NC] - Best Bitter Ale
Hobcaw Brewing Co. [Mt. Pleasant, SC] - Same Old Sidewalks (Wheat saison)
Baker & Brewer [Charleston, SC] - You’re Kiwing Me Smalls (Kiwi sour ale w/ blue spirulina)
Munkle Brewing Co. (w/ ThaCommunity) [Charleston, SC] - ThaCOMMUNITY (Belgian blonde aged in Uncle Nearest whiskey barrels)
Zebulon Artisan Ales [Weaverville, NC] - Belgian Patersbier (Trappist-style Blonde)
 

Believe it or not, there was a time when breweries would release barleywines that were not aged in any sort of barrel, and the biggest choice you had to make was American-style or English-style. For this episode, we have four local takes on the barleywine, two of each style, none with any barrel or adjunct - and the sips are sending us back in time. Also, we test the impact of age on one barleywine, we wonder if any of these would actually be improved with barrels, and we dare Revolution to bring back the old Institutionalized. Plus, Ryan gets an early glimpse of summer, Craig reveals the amazing choice for the first mp3 he ever downloaded, and one beer actually gets docked for being “too drinkable.
Beers Reviewed
More Brewing Company - Liquid Legacy (American Barleywine)
Miskatonic Brewing Company/Flipside Brewing/Seldom Beer Co. - Pigloo (Barleywine)
Off Color Brewing - Aqua Regia (English Barleywine)
Werk Force Brewing Company - Mabel (English Barleywine)
 

Because we heard that things tend to be bigger down in Texas, our 35th State Show features six beers from Craig’s recent travels. We try our best to span the Lone Star state (despite being a little Austin-heavy), and the focus on perfect execution and maximum drinkability is clear. Also, Craig tests out how to become a series regular on The Bear, Ryan wants the full recap of the Texas Trader Joe’s, and we both plead with Illinois to follow the lead of the Texas Craft Brewers Cup.
Beers Reviewed
Family Business Brewing Company [Dripping Springs, TX] - Golden Age (German-style Pilsner)
Good Line Beer Co. [Lubbock, TX] - Range Life (German-style Pilsner)
Acopon Brewing Company [Dripping Springs, TX] - Karnstein (Amber Lager)
True Anomaly Brewing [Houston, TX] - Cryonaut (Cold IPA)
Hold Out Brewing [Austin, TX] w/ Keeping Together [Santa Fe, NM] - All Over the Map (Saison w/ orange peel, toasted cumin seed, sage, sea salt, and honey)
Martin House Brewing Company [Fort Worth, TX] - The Penguin (Barrel-aged Imperial Stout w/ peanut butter, chocolate, vanilla, and lactose)
 

Just as the season can’t decide if it’s going to get warm or stay cold, we choose to get nice and toasty with four barrel-aged stouts we’ve gathered over the past few months from local sources. The four beers on this show ascend in adjuncts, and Craig and Ryan don’t see eye-to-eye on the rankings at all. Also, we explore different foodstuff cafe possibilities; we try not to promote *clown horn*; and we practice the ancient art of the Soul Burp. 
Beers Reviewed
Central Waters Brewing Company (w/ Binny’s) - 12 Seasons of Slumber (Stout aged 3 years in Binny’s hand-picked Weller Wheated Bourbon Barrels)
Hop Butcher for the World - Overwhip (Bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout conditioned on Ugandan vanilla beans)
Saint Errant Brewing - Barrel-Aged Tepoztecatl (Imperial Stout w/ Guatemalan coffee, cassia bark, and Mexican vanilla beans aged 30 months in Weller and Sazerac Rye barrels)
Old Irving Brewing Co. - Barrel-Aged Krampus Kandy 2023 (Blend of Willett, 1792, & Basil Hayden Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Milk Stout w/ vanilla, cocoa nibs, toasted almond, and toasted coconut)