As we plan our 11th year of covering the Great American Beer Festival out in Denver, we take this episode to preview some of the Illinois beers pouring at the fest while sharing a comprehensive list of which breweries we're most amped to check out. We review the Illinois pour lists, find many exciting "new-to-us" breweries, revisit some "familiar face" breweries, and put our total faith in those "steady hands" that still crank out essential beers. Also, we discuss t-shirts that aren't exactly getting the joke across, point out one style that Illinois has dominated as of late, embody both "High" and "Stinky," and get punished by one beer in particular.

Beers Reviewed

Sketchbook Brewing Co. - Grodziskie

DESTIHL Brewery - Deadhead IPA

More Brewing - Mango Double Marbles (Milkshake IPA w/ mango, lactose, and vanilla)

Hubbard's Cave/Une Année Brewery - El Zacatón (Imperial stout w/ almond flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon sticks, vanilla, ancho chilies, guajillo chilies, and habanero chilies)