Two things are absolutely certain when it comes to Revolution's yearly Deep Wood releases: one is that all the beers are going to be slightly varying levels of excellent, and the second is that we will find any excuse to drink them for the podcast. For this round of releases, a few old favorites return alongside the steadiest barleywine currently released, plus a new variant enters the fold as one of the best we've had yet. But also, we explore some surprising examples of the younger generation's borrowed nostalgia; we enter the fantasy factory for future Deep Wood releases; and our spirits ignorance is showing. My hat is like a shark's fin.

Beers Reviewed

Gravedigger Billy (Scotch Ale aged in bourbon barrels)

Apple Brandy Barrel Ryeway (Rye Ale aged in apple brandy barrels)

Straight Jacket (Barleywine aged in bourbon barrels)

Rum V.S.O.J. (Barleywine aged in rum barrels)

Just in time for another Black Friday, we sat down with our good friend Ryan Tracy at his Beer on the Wall shop out in Elmhurst to sample through this year's somewhat uninspiring (but very well made) Goose Island Bourbon County Stout lineup. We ponder what's missing this year while also recognizing where the barrels are doing the heavy lifting, the impressive use of nuts (now that we're fully in the NutZone), and a surprising lean towards more subtlety than expected. Also, Craig is almost literally exuding Red Vines, we finally are pandering to the 10 year olds, Ryan is a surprising defender of a much-maligned Prop, and we take a little time to address the bear in the room. This is premium boxed content - and it all leads to our inevitable trip to Bourbon Country.

2025 Beers Reviewed

Bourbon County Brand Original Stout

Bourbon County Brand Reserve Stout

Bourbon County Brand Double Barrel Stout

Bourbon County Brand Cherries Jubilee Stout

Bourbon County Brand Chocolate Praline Stout

Bourbon County Brand Proprietor's Stout

This episode is a tribute to the great 1840 Brewing out of Milwaukee and a celebration of the beers and memories they made during their years of operation.

If you can help the Vetter family during this period of unimaginable grief, please consider donating to the GoFundMe that has been established in Stephanie's memory:

https://gofund.me/b54fb2f25

Beers Tasted

Saaziwaka (Table Beer w/ Saaz and Riwaka hops)

TBD (Dry-hopped Saison)

Muumuu (Milk Stout)

Sea Foam [2020] (Sour Ale w/ pineapple, passion fruit, blue spirulina, and lactose)

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)