The latest installment in our journey to discover America's best IPA, we're going coast-to-coast for a pretty special lineup that'll help us further define what makes an IPA both an "all star" and, uh, "very good." We're getting pretty good at this guessing thing, and we might have the first IPA in this series that loses points in the appearance category. Also, we are pushing hard for an all Pure Moods stage at Riot Fest, we are haunted by that ridiculous thumb, and we want to know if a slice from Sbarro will fit in a Jnco jean pocket.

Beers Reviewed Blindly

Russian River Brewing - Blind Pig

Goose Island Beer Co. - IPA

The Alchemist - Focal Banger

Lawson's Finest Liquids - Sip of Sunshine

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Celebration

At the tail end of summer, we recorded this little gem when we knew we'd need it most to help keep us thinking warm thoughts as the temperature falls faster than the leaves. When our friend Aaron Keefner was in town, he dropped a heavy case of Pittsburgh goodies on us, and we use this episode to sip through an exciting lineup of lagers and hops. Also, Craig has found the perfect exclusive club for a first date (and bulk goods), Ryan wants to see a brewery who is dedicated to kicking ass, and we'll take that time machine straight back to a Wendy's SuperBar.

Beers Reviewed

Coven Brewing - River Knight (Lager)

Coven Brewing - Honed Blade (Pale Ale)

Dancing Gnome - West Coast Lustra (IPA)

Grist House Craft Brewery - Technicolor Treetops (New England IPA)

Lolev Beer - Prismatic (IPA)

The barrel storm that is Revolution's Deep Wood series rages on throughout the Fall and Winter months, so we're catching up on the last release of their Deth's Tar stout and its variants - and this year's batch is better than they've ever been. We try to place these in the context of past years' releases and try not to overanalyze the calculated magic that comes out of Rev's barrels. But also, we are living for Dumpkin Spice season, we try to name a Skele-Boy, and we're sorry for all the talk about…well, you'll figure it out.

Beers Reviewed

Deth's Tar (Imperial Oatmeal Stout aged in bourbon barrels)

Café Deth (Imperial Oatmeal Stout aged in bourbon barrels and steeped with fresh coffee beans)

Vanilla Deth (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ vanilla)

Cocoa Vanilla Deth (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ cocoa and vanilla)

Unnecessarily crammed with junk, this year's spooky six-pack is an adjunct party that no one ever wanted to be invited to, as we're on to our ninth iteration of the infamous Torture Test. We both try to outdo one another by attacking our flavor weaknesses - or just finding straight-up old catastrophes of beers that were probably never good in the first place. The goal is to avoid the Cuvée of Doom, but we can't avoid descriptors like "rancid piña colada," "wet basement cardboard," dirty old pennies," "liquified grandma's candy," and "diet medicine." But also, you can find out what keeps Ryan awake at night, and Craig realizes he can't coast on last year's domination anymore. (Thanks to Joe for helping wreck our night by providing one of the beers!)

Beers Endured

450 North Brewing Company - Jellied Pumpkin Swirl (Sour DIPA w/ pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pralines, vanilla & vanilla soft serve)

Stone Brewing/Bear Republic/Fat Head's - TBA [2012] (Extra hoppy brown ale w/ molasses and brown sugar)

Energy City Brewing - Mango'Rine Sorbet IPA (Sour NEIPA w/ mango & tangerine puree)

DESTIHL Brewery - Spicy Pickle Sour Beer (Gose with spicy pickle brine)

O'Fallon Brewery - Salted Caramel Pumpkin Beer (Pumpkin beer w/ lactose, Himalayan sea salt, and pumpkin puree)

Rogue Ales - Voodoo Doughnut Grape Guerilla [2016] (Fruit beer w/ grape flavors)

In our annual leadup to Chicago's best beer fest, we're talking all about the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers as it is set to return early in November this year. Along with drinking and reviewing four barrel-aged beers from a few FoBAB regulars (and one new to the fest), we look over the new and returning breweries, share our picks for brewers not to miss, rattle off a few general festival tips, and conduct a mock draft of our Fantasy FoBAB teams. Also, Craig devises a plan for packing future festivals, Ryan keeps pushing that coffee bean, a girthsome and titan beer write-up is read, and we might actually have a reason to walk the awards stage this year - listen to find out why!

Beers Reviewed

Werk Force Brewing - Waylon (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Black Barleywine)

River North Brewery - Barrel-Aged Nightmare Fuel (Imperial Stout w/ coffee and vanilla aged in whiskey barrels)

Half Acre Beer Co. - Ancho, Ancho Catch Hell (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout w/ vanilla, cinnamon, and ancho peppers)

The Lost Abbey - Peach Afternoon [2021 Vintage] - (Wood-aged Sour Ale w/ peaches and white tea)

Denver is the closest to Heaven that we'll ever be, and we don't want to go home right now. Broadcasting amongst the Rocky Mountains (from our very cushy hotel room), we file our annual report on America's largest beer festival and competition: the Great American Beer Festival. We open three Colorado beers over two nights and relive our extended weekend celebrating beer and the people who make it by running through our Denver-area highlights, recapping the festival and awards results, and sharing from our long lists of favorite beers. Plus, we snagged some interviews with brewers from all over the country that share stories of crazy adjuncts, surprising medal wins, and faux-coctions. We also get into how to properly stress out hops and share a story of how we crashed a black tie concert featuring a 90s hitmaker band - but I won't tell you their name.

Interviews

Joe Short of Short's Brewing [Bellaire, MI] - (00:25:25 - 00:36:31)

Rachael Hudson of Pilot Brewing [Charlotte, NC] - (00:46:02 - 00:54:21)

Amos Lowe of The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. [Austin, TX] - (01:02:02 - 01:09:58)

Jacob Sembrano of Cruz Blanca Brewery [Chicago, IL] - (01:22:20 - 01:25:22)

Jaron Anderson of Helper Beer [Helper, UT] - (01:31:27 - 01:39:48)

Matt Malloy of River North Brewery [Denver, CO] - (01:50:44 - 01:55:35)

Beers Reviewed

WeldWerks Brewing - Gyro Gose (Sour Ale w/ Pita Bread, Yogurt, Cucumber, Lemon, Dill, Mint, Garlic & Sea Salt)

Westbound & Down - Infinity Pils (West Coast Pilsner)

River North Brewery - White (Witbier)

One of Illinois' best breweries rarely makes it up to Chicagoland shelves, so when Craig had a chance to go down to Savoy for a visit to Triptych Brewing, he loaded up for our fourth featured show in our history. We have five beers that represent what Triptych does best: from immaculate lagers to hop-driven ales to a roasty delight, this show does not disappoint. But also, we may have stumbled upon a secret bus of jugglers; Ryan explains how not all scented candles are created equal; and Craig revisits some dark days when he was addicted to the Dew.

Beers Reviewed

Herp Slurp (Pale Lager)

Tiny Magic (Session IPA)

Citra Pilsner

And I Think My Spaceship Knows Which Way To Go (Hazy DIPA)

Camp Coffee Break (Imperial Stout w/ coffee)

In our seemingly endless quest to find the best long-made IPA that America has to offer, we are a little all over the map on this one with a mix of Wisconsin and Western U.S. offerings to run through the blind scoresheet wringer. It's a study in contrasts, as each clear IPA brings a little something different to the table - and then one just blatantly steals the show. Also, we imagine if GABF allowed us to curate their experience areas, we recall the days of IBU bombs, Craig is born anew yet again for this episode, and we invent cheese jibbets (and SlimJim-bets) for when you need a snack from those Crocs.

Beers Reviewed Blindly

Stone Brewing - IPA

Karben4 Brewing - Fantasy Factory

Central Waters Brewing - Rift

New Belgium Brewing - Voodoo Ranger IPA

La Cumbre Brewing Company - Elevated IPA

Our favorite time of year approaches again, but we can't set off for Denver without doing a ridiculous amount of prep work and research. So to celebrate the oncoming Great American Beer Festival for 2025, we drink four GABF-adjacent beers while sharing our picks for what to drink from local breweries, our most dependable steady hands, the ever-exciting new-to-us names, and the familiar faces that are always worth a pour. Grab a pen and paper, because this episode is chocked full of almost a hundred damn solid recommendations (if we must say so ourselves.) Plus, Craig has an extremely surprising new role at his job, we find one experience area we'll be camping out in a while, and we get a little lost in Taco Bell memories.

Beers Reviewed

Pollyanna Brewing Company - Lexical Gap (American IPA)

Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. - Besos (Fruited Gose w/ raspberry, dragonfruit, orange zest, and vanilla)

Boxing Bear Brewing Co. - Chocolate Milk Stout

La Cumbre Brewing Company - Malpais Stout (Foreign Extra Stout)

Just like most good things in life, the beers we so love can be quite taxing on the planet before even getting to our glasses. But some breweries are taking the lead on exploring more sustainable practices, whether it's using regenerative grains, organic ingredients, or even solar-powered farms. The five beers on this show represent different ways breweries can make a difference for the sake of the planet - and we're glad to report that none of that comes at the cost of delicious tasting beers. Also, we call in the experts to help get us out of a regatta, we have our reservations about The L*nd Institute, Craig has to explain why he was buying rare Tickle-Me-Elmos, and we no-scope a Best By date like we never have before.

Beers Reviewed

Deschutes Brewery/Patagonia Provisions - Kernza Lager

Off Color Brewing - Beer For The Future (Belgian Blonde w/ Kernza grain)

Brooklyn Brewery - Fonio Rising Pale Ale

Riggs Beer Company - Pilsner

Giant Jones Brewing Company - Barrel-Aged Adambier