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Cool Brews

Cool Brews

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Sometimes we just like to talk about beer (a statement that is purposely understated for emphasis). There is no shortage of cool beers to talk about but there are some that are on our radar as especially cool and timely choices, at least at the time of this blog given that the craft beer market is oozing with innovation. So here are a few that we have showcased at our venues (Beerhead Bar & The Beer Market) that we find particularly interesting and worth a trip to anywhere that may have the good fortune of scoring these not-so-common brews.

A really cool beer to be tapped at The Beer Market Schaumburg is Zut Alors by Two Brothers located in Warrenville, Illinois. It’s Domaine Dupage aged in Cabernet barrels. Domaine Dupage is a Biere de Garde, which is also known as a French farmhouse ale. While France as a whole hasn’t given much to the beer world, northern France gave us the Biere de Garde. “Zut Alors” is a French phrase that is used like we would use “Darn!” (also purposely understated to be sensitive to sensitivities). Anyway, a Biere de Garde is a malt-forward beer with sweet malt flavors with earthy undertones that are achieved through aging. Domain Dupage won a gold medal at GABF for French Farmhouse Ales, so it’s one of the best in the country already. Those earthy flavors will pair perfectly with the oaky flavors from the Cabernet barrel. We are really looking forward to tapping this one this December.

We get our “undies in a twist” waiting for February to come for our Big, Bad Beer Night to arrive at The Beer Market Schaumburg. On the list for this annual tapping are Goose Island’s (Chicago, IL) Proprietors Bourbon County Stout, Prairie Artisan Ales’s (Tulsa, OK) Prairie Bomb!, Founders Brewery (Grand Rapids, MI) Lizard of Koz, Hoppin’ Frogs (Akron, OH) Rum Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S., Revolution Brewery’s (Chicago, IL) Hellalund, Tighthead Brewery’s (Mundelein, IL) Chocolate Malty Balls, and Crystal Lake Brewery’s (Crystal Lake, IL) Barrel Aged Barleywine … to name a few.

Here are some “deets” on these tasty, rare, wonderful brews:

Proprietors Bourbon County Stout is the rarest of this year’s variants – Imperial Stout aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels with ancho chilies;

Prairie Bomb! is an Imperial Stout with coffee, chocolate, vanilla and ancho chilies. It’s not barrel aged, but it’s one of the best stouts in the country;

Lizard of Koz is an Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrels with blueberries, chocolate and vanilla;

Rum Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S is one of the most highly respected Imperial Oatmeal Stouts, aged in rum barrels – definitely a cool alternative to bourbon-aged barrels;

Hellalund is Revolution’s Batch 1000 beer, an Imperial Brown Ale at 13.5%, aged in bourbon barrels with orange zest. We tried this one in the taproom, it tastes just like an Old Fashioned cocktail and it’s absolutely incredible; and

Chocolate Malty Balls is an Imperial Stout with chocolate, aged in Buffalo Trace barrels.

Barrel Aged Barleywine is made with barleywine brewed when Crystal Lake Brewery first opened about a year ago. We are ready to try this Imperial stout resting in bourbon barrels for the past year ready for release!

If all this (and more) doesn’t make you think “yum,” check your pulse! And check back here for more about the wonderful world of delicious craft beer!

Cheers,

Charlie Barley,

Beer Pro

Beerhead Bar & Eatery / The Beer Market

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