The Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers came in late November this year, and we have another episode to add to our wall-to-wall coverage of Chicago’s best beer fest. As has become a delicious tradition, we have gathered medal winning beers from this year - but with a totally sessionable twist. Three gold medal winners, one bronze, and one Best in Show gives us a lineup of 4 that’ll go down as one of the best we’ve done. Also, we break down FoBAB winners by the numbers, recap our festival highlights, and replace the Elf on the Shelf with Craig on the Keg. 

Beers Reviewed

Milieu Fermentation - smol. (Barrel-aged mixed culture table beer)

Off Color Brewing - Funky Beer for Tacos (Gose fermented with wild yeast aged in lime gin barrels)

Cruz Blanca Brewpub - Tepache Cowboy (Mexican lager aged in añejo mezcal barrels with pineapple and spices)

Half Acre Beer Co. - Orin (Bourbon and brandy barrel aged strong ale)

It’s always wine o’ clock somewhere, especially when you’re opening up the finest barleywines and ryewines Revolution has to offer. This episode features three different ‘wines and a special release stout as part two (or three?) of their barrel-aged Deep Wood series for this year, and at least one of us deems this the best set of four Rev has ever done. Also, we don’t think we really want to smell our TVs; someone is in need of a little Halloween costume inspiration; and we get to know Captain Check (and his alter ego, Captain Czech). 

2024 Deep Wood Beers Reviewed

Straight Jacket (Bourbon barrel-aged barleywine)

Ryeway to Heaven (Bourbon and rye barrel-aged ryewine)

Double Barrel V.S.O.R. (Bourbon and rye barrel-age ryewine)

D.B.X.O.D. Le Troncais (Bourbon barrel-aged imperial oatmeal stout with French oak)

Even though Black Friday doesn’t mean what it once did, Bourbon County is still an event - and we have Ryan Tracy with us at Beer on the Wall to help us taste through this year’s lineup of six from Goose Island. Sure we were banned from the official media tasting, but we assess the whole group fairly - and find some surprises that are real standouts in the history of BCBS. Also, shenanigans may be afoot at FoBAB in regards to our Fantasy League; Ryan T. and Craig have a proposed wardrobe swap; we discuss BCBS variants that “don’t exist”; Tracy shares a Rare Day story that can only lead to bias; we can’t help but fondle the box; and we are finally sponsored by Jazz, the style of music. And don’t miss out on our annual trip through Bourbon Country.

Beers Reviewed

Bourbon County Stout 2024 (Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels)

Bourbon County Brand Bardstown Cask Finish Stout (Imperial Stout aged in Bardstown Rye and Cherry Wood Oak Barrels)

Bourbon County Brand Rare Stout 2024 (Imperial Rye Stout aged in King of Kentucky Bourbon Barrels)

Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Rye Stout 2024 (Imperial Rye Stout aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels w/ Madagascar vanilla beans)

Bourbon County Brand Macaroon Stout (Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels w/ cocoa nibs, sweet candied ginger, and toasted coconut)

Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Barleywine (Barleywine aged in Bourbon Barrels w/ tamarind, lime, whole Guajillo chiles, and piloncillo)

It’s been 8 years since we last did a whole lineup of ciders, and this was just the re-evaluation we needed to fall back in love with these well-crafted non-beer drinks. But it’s not just apples this time: each cider brings something else to the mix - to consistently surprising results. Also, Craig has created a glitter problem he can’t solve, Ryan learns of a surprising cidery connection to the beer world, and we’re both forced to put on the oversized blazer before being let inside. 

Ciders Reviewed

The Northman - Hopped Cider

Stem Ciders - Apricot Haze

Eris Brewery & Cider House - Strawbarbarella

Wölffer Estate Vineyard - No. 139 Peach Cider

Obscurity Brewing and Craft Mead - Pumpkin Hard Cider

Not content with waiting for one single day to stuff ourselves with our favorite traditional foods, we just had to drink our way through a feast of Thanksgiving-adjacent beers to get us hyped for what might be our favorite holiday. We see how many of this lineup of five Illinois beers would make a nice addition to the table while also playing a full game of Personal Preference: Thanksgiving Foods. Plus, Ryan tries to make sense of a possibly inappropriate teacher costume, Craig takes a hardline stance against mixing foods, and we both have a few sides we like better than turkey. Loosen that belt and bring on the post-show couch nap.

Beers Reviewed

Werk Force Brewing Company - Soup Season (Hazy IPA w/ Simcoe, Superdelic, and Citra)

Bent River Brewing Company - Sweet Potato Ale (Wheat ale w/ sweet potato & spices)

Midwest Coast Brewing Co. - Friendsgiving (Strong ale w/ cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and orange peel)

Energy City Brewing - Bistro: Apple & Cranberry Crumble (Berliner Weisse w/ apples, cranberry, brown sugar, and cinnamon)

Maplewood Brewing Company - Lil’ Pumpkin Cakes (Blonde ale w/ pumpkin spices)

As this year’s Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers approaches, we dive deep into FoBAB topics while drinking through four barrel-aged beers from breweries featured at this year’s fest. Our jumbled attempts to look back at previous year’s memories notwithstanding, we look ahead to new and returning breweries we can’t wait to try, old favorites and dependable options to seek out for a first pour, our general tips for navigating FoBAB, and a little mock Fantasy FoBAB draft to round things out. Plus, Craig encounters a real life Air Bud, our time machine is broken, and we wonder why we only hit like five breweries every year.

Beers Reviewed

Off Color Brewing - Whiskey Barrel-Aged Beer for Pizza [2022] (Malt beverage w/ dark candi syrup, kola nut, lime juice, vanilla, lemon zest, orange zest, cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, and citric acid aged in Tennessee whiskey barrels)

More Brewing - Barrel-Aged Doppelbock (Doppelbock aged in Elijah Craig bourbon and Old Elk barrels)

Mikerphone Brewing - I Believe In A Thing Called Lager (Imperial dark lager aged 21 months in Peerless Straight Rye Whiskey barrels)

WeldWerks Brewing & Toppling Goliath Brewing - Asesino De Medianoche (Imperial stout aged in Templeton Rye and Blanton’s barrels w/ Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans)

The warmest thing about the colder months is that we have three different Deep Wood releases to look forward to, and we start the season with four stouts - three as variants of their annual Deth’s Tar line. We talk about what makes this year’s lineup unique while Revolution supports its case as one of the most dependable barrel-aged programs anywhere. Also, Craig waited in a line only to learn about bad dog names; Ryan has basically forgotten the last two years of beer releases; and we get a little carried away with the tactile experience.

Beers Reviewed

Deth’s Tar (Imperial oatmeal stout aged in bourbon barrels)

Café Deth (Imperial oatmeal stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ coffee)

Deth by Bramble (Imperial oatmeal stout aged in bourbon barrels w/ blackberry, boysenberry, and marionberry)

V.S.O. On & On Pt. 3 (Blended stout aged in bourbon barrels)

The horrible tradition continues for an eighth year as we try to outdo one another in a test of our ability to withstand liquid torture - and this year might be the most spiteful, mean-spirited collection of all. Seizing upon our known flavor aversions, each of us hosts finds something to attack our insecurities and threaten our actual livelihood through a half-blind tasting - all leading to an unimaginable Cuvée of Doom in the end. Also, we live out some mundane horror situations, we raise a few torture legends’ jerseys to the rafters, and I’m pretty sure someone is getting sued by the end of this one. 

Beverages Endured

Untitled Art & Speciation Artisan Ales - Michelada (Berliner Weisse-style w/ lime juice, Tabasco sauce, and sea salt)

Unpossible Mead Inc. - Pickle-Ӧrt (Bread & butter pickle-inspired mead aged in a Malört barrel)

Energy City Brewing - Bistro Strawberry Pineapple Habanero (Flavored Berliner-style Weisse)

450 North Brewing - Bananafinger (Smoothie-style sour w/ banana, candy bars, peanut butter & milk chocolate)

Beak & Skiff Orchards - Double Double Toil & Trouble (Candy Corn Hard Cider)

Rar Brewing - Out Of Order: Mmm-hmm (American sour w/ cheesecake, butter pecan, pastry cream, and lactose)

Twelve5 Beverage Co. - Rebel Berry Crisp Latte (Hard coffee w/ mixed berries)

Twisted Pine Brewing Co. - Ghost Face Killah (Chili beer w/ ghost pepper, serrano, jalapeno, habanero, fresno, and anaheim peppers)

After a long, arduous Brat Summer, we be-sweater ourselves for a little Farmhouse Fall by opening five autumnal saisons from some of the best in the rusticity business. Whether it’s due to ingredients, barrels, or aesthetic, each saison here is the liquid equivalent of jumping into a pile of crunchy leaves, and we have some wildly divergent rankings by the end. Also, Craig immediately destroys our attempts at having a classy show for once; we define what we mean when we say “rustic”; and we consider what we expect fall to taste like. (Thanks to Don Kasak and the folks at Hold Out for providing two of these beers.)

Beers Reviewed

Scratch Brewing Company - Wild Carrot and Nettle (Farmhouse ale w/ wild carrot leaves & stinging nettle)

is/was brewing - Saison Effrayant (Autumnal Rye Saison w/ sage)

Side Project Brewing - Loam: Vidal Blanc Orange Wine Process 2023 (Wheat saison aged w/ Vidal Blanc grapes)

Waypost Brewing - Saison Du Bois (Oak-lagered Saison)

Hold Out Brewing & Keeping Together - No Moon Tonight (Dark Saison w/ cinnamon, cocoa nibs, dried chiles & honey aged in Sotol barrels)

This year’s Great American Beer Festival brought some new energy (with a small pour of confusion) to the four decade-old fest and competition, and we were out in Denver to cover it all. Though the theme areas were a bit disorienting at times, this year’s GABF felt like more of a party than ever. We report back on the amazing beers we drank while sharing some top-notch festival floor interviews with new friends and industry-influencing vets alike. We also open three stellar Denver lagers in the hotel while recapping four days of beer-fueled fun. Plus, we weigh in on the local radio station’s attempt to rank 1,055 songs from the 21st century, and find out that a brewing legend is a listener to this very podcast.

Interviews

Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing Company (00:20:32 - 00:35:07)

Andrew Bergeron of Milieu Fermentation (00:45:45 - 00:52:04)

Hayden Winkler & Pete Knight of Hold Out Brewing (01:09:43 - 01:21:05)

Eric Salazar of Strangebird Brewing (01:29:23 - 01:36:16)

Wayne Burns and Laura Worley of Burns Family Artisan Ales (01:49:39 - 01:58:37)

Craig Neuzil of PIVO Brewery (02:00:18 - 02:07:23)

Beers Reviewed

Burns Family Artisan Ales - Midnight Czech-In (Czech Dark Lager)

Bruz Beers - Belgian Country Lager

Cohesion Brewing Company - Polotmavý (Czech Amber Lager)