Chicago Beer Pass

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago. On this episode of Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski and Nik White open cans of Eiderdown, a pillowy-soft Hazy IPA from Alarmist Brewing. As the guys knock back this soft hazy boi they talk about trips to Energy City Brewing, Study Shelter, Metropolitan and Nik’s adventure to Navy Pier for CiderCon. The guys also talk about the possibility that the Chicago Guinness location is finally opening just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! Having issues listening to the audio? Try the MP3 (59.4 MB) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago. On this episode of Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski and Nik White are drinking a crushable Hazy Pale Ale from Old Irving Brewing. Seeing Old Irving pump out killer hazy beers makes us excited for the new production brewery opening later this year. The guys also talk about Pipeworks and CiderCon that has been happening the past week in Chicago. Be sure to hit up Brad or Nik with some recommendations as the guys seems to be traveling all over the state this year. Having issues listening to the audio? Try the MP3 (45.3 MB) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago. On this episode of Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski and Nik White say goodbye to the first month of 2023. The guys are looking forward to all the folks that did #DryJanuary to start hitting up their favorite brewpubs again. For this weeks episode Brad picked up some cans from Two Hound Red Brewing Co. in Glen Ellyn. Both Brad and Nik have had a few of their beers at different events over the last years but finally getting to visit the brewpub and have some fresh beer was a nice treat. As the two of them crush a few cans they also talk about stops at Dovetail and Revolution for V.S.O.J. Having issues listening to the audio? Try the MP3 (48.7 MB) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago. On this episode of Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski and Nik White are joined by Afro.Beer.Chick, who is their first guest of 2023. The three talk about their recent experience at the Half Acre party, where they got to try the newest beer to hit cans Way Bird. This new beer from Half Acre Beer Co. is a super tasty IPA, and seems like it could be a huge hit. The three of them did learn some bad news that Fader is going way to make some room for a few other offerings. As a result of this sad news, Brad picked up some cans of Fader for this episode. If you see Fader on the shelves and it is a favorite, you might want to grab it before it is gone. Having issues listening to the audio? Try the MP3 (72.9 MB) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago. On this not so #dryjanuary episode of Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski and Nik White are cracking open some cans from Off Color Brewing. It’s been a while since the guys opened anything from this crew, but that “Beer For Lounging” name seemed so fitting. The guys knock back these brews and talk about trips to Light The Lamp, Broken Tee Brewing, and Midwest Coast. Brad and Nik also talk about Rock Bottom Chicago closing, which they both have fond memories of drinking at different locations over the years. Having issues listening to the audio? Try the MP3 (61.6 MB) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago. On this first 2023 episode of Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski and Nik White are pumped to kick off a new year of the podcast. To start things off they open a hazy IPA from Hopewell Brewing, which might be the best beer they have both had in 2023 so far… As the guys crush a couple cans they share some stops they made over the holiday, including Mikerphone Brewing & Phrase Three. They also talk about the closing of Smylie Brothers in Evanston and Goose Island Clybourn.  Grab a beer and kick off 2023 with Brad & Nik!! Having issues listening to the audio? Try the MP3 (56 MB) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago. On this episode of Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski and Nik White are closing out 2022 with some cans from Buckledown Brewing. Unfortunately Buckledown is one of those breweries the guys never made it to during 2022, but they are a brewery they almost always enjoy. As the guys crush a few cans they talk about their 10 favorite beers from 2022. Putting together your favorite from an entire year is always tough but these were the ones that stood out for them. If you have any that you think should be on the list, let them know.  Having issues listening to the audio? Try the MP3 (55.1MB) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago. On this episode of Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski and Nik White get ready for Christmas as they drink their Certified Lager Boy from Solemn Oath Brewing. If you are wondering what to get a couple beer nerds for Christmas, it’s definitely a quality lager, and we saw some great ones this year. As the guys crush a few cans they talk about their winter shopping at Half Acre and Revolution Brewing. Unsure if last year had as many brewery winter markets but it was a nice treat this year to do a little shopping as I sipped on a Big Hugs.   Keep an eye out for the next and final episode of 2022 as Brad and Nik breakdown their 10 favorite beers from 2022. Cheers! Having issues listening to the audio? Try the MP3 (65MB) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago. On this episode of Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski and Nik White are dressed in red and green for the holidays. With that holiday spirit in mind the guys dive into a gift from their friends at Black Lung Brewing. They open up two beers from Black Lung Brewing including a collaboration with Sew Hop’d. As the guys knock back a couple beers they talk about Black Lung Brewing’s expansion and the closure of a few other breweries in Illinois.  Having issues listening to the audio? Try the MP3 (63.9MB) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago. On this episode of Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski and Nik White are doubling down with two different IPAs in December. Both of the IPAs the guys are drinking come from Penrose Brewing Company in Geneva. Brad got these cans a few months ago when he was out in the suburbs on his Oktoberfest crawl, so they have been hanging out in the fridge for a couple months. At a time of the year when stouts and big winter beers have taken over the shelves, it’s nice to have a great IPA. As the guys crush these cans, they talk about Nik’s trip to Bixi Beer in Logan Square. For years both Nik and Brad haven’t been the biggest fans of Bixi, but that may have changed. Not only was Nik’s recent trip there delicious, he also learned that Pipeworks will be taking over as guest brewer there. The idea that Pipeworks is taking over the space is very, very interesting. However, this news raises many questions about what that means for Bixi and Pipeworks going forward. Having issues listening to the audio? Try the MP3 (55.2MB) or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!