In episode 240 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder head out to Evanston, Illinois to visit Brewmaster Claudia Jendron at Temperance Beer Company. Claudia shares several of her great beers that she’s brewing including Gatecrasher, Smittytown & Restless Years. Right now you can find Gatecrasher in cans around Chicago but be on the look […]

Forget beer, it’s cider time! In episode 239 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder crack open two bottles from the Michigan Cidery, Virtue Cider. First up is the 6.8% ABV Virtue Estate Series: Nichols. Virtue’s Estate Series ciders are a salute to partnering farmers. Each cider represents a true expression of a single grower’s finest fresh […]

Hop Cast episode 238 was filmed in front of a live audience, yes that’s right it’s a live Hop Cast! During Chicago Craft Beer Week Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder sat down for a little Q & A with Tom Korder, Head Brewer and Co-Founder Of Penrose Brewing and Phil Wymore Brewmaster and Co-Founder of Perennial Artisan Ales. The Hopleaf is […]

In episode 237 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder crack open two Midwestern IPAs from two breweries with great track records. First up is the 6.1% ABV Kidnapped By Vikings from Solemn Oath Brewery. Kidnapped By Vikings is bursting with killer fresh hop aroma and a light malty sweetness to balance that dominant hop presence. It’s […]

For episode 236 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder head out to Geneva, Illinois to visit Tom Korder and Eric Hobbs at Penrose Brewing Company. Tom and Eric give the low down of what they’ve been up to since the last time we all got together at Hopleaf. Penrose is doing great for only being open […]

We’re going small and local in episode 235 of the Hop Cast. For this episode Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder open two IPAs from two of Chicagoland’s nano breweries. First up is Flesk Brewing’s Front Toward Enemy. This 7.00 % ABV IPA from Lombard is a solid beer and a nice offering if you’re just getting to know […]

For episode 234 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder make a trip up to Panic Brewing’s new space to chat with Gary Gulley. Panic just recently secured their space on the north side of the city. Gary tells Brad and Ken all about the journey so far and about some of his plans for the space. Panic doesn’t have any of their own beer yet […]

For episode 223 of the Hop Cast, Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder make a trip up to Ravenswood to check out Begyle Brewing Co. Brad and Ken chat with Kevin Cary and Matt Ritchey to find out what they’ve been up to and how they are making such great beer. Kevin and Matt give a little taste […]

It’s been awhile since Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder have stopped in at a local brewery on the show. For this episode they check out one of the newest Chicago breweries, Une Année to chat with Jerry Nelson and Dustin Zimmerman. Brad and Ken have had a couple Une Année beers on previous episodes but it’s always great to taste them […]

It’s time to head down to the south for episode 231 of the Hop Cast. In this episode Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder open up two beers from the Kentucky brewery, Against The Grain. First up is the 8.6 % ABV Kentucky Ryed Chiquen. This is an Amber ale brewed with rye malt and aged in rye whiskey […]