Goose Island has caught a lot of flack from big-beer-phobics over being acquired by AB InBev in early 2011. Many feared the quality of the beer would suffer or that InBev would get rid of popular beers and turn Goose Island into the next Budweiser. So far, none of the above has happened and Goose… Continue reading Goose Island Fulton & Wood Series “En Passant” Release
American Pale Ale
The last time I decided to be not-lazy and write up a post, I babbled about my burgeoning home brewing brass balls that have propelled me from terrified brewing novice into moderately confident brewing novice. I’m still pretty new to this game, but I’m learning and taking the right steps to finally ditch the extract… Continue reading American Pale Ale
Home Brewing Headway
One of the best things about getting into home brewing has been the progression from absolute uncertainty and lack of confidence in the brewing process to craving the ability to completely dictate the outcome of your beer. After brewing a few extract kits strictly by the book, I began to seek ways to add to… Continue reading Home Brewing Headway
Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Stout Ice Cream
Chocolate Stout Ice Cream Most of the time, when I decide to bring a beer recipe to fruition, it’s because the flavor combinations brought to mind a certain beer. This time, however, a beer inspired the perfect recipe. I received Ipswich Oatmeal Stout through the Craft Beer club. After the first sip, I knew I… Continue reading Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Stout Ice Cream
Two Brothers Roundhouse in a Nutshell
It’s been a long time since 1856 when the Roundhouse opened to facilitate the railways in Aurora, Illinois. After more than 100 years of locomotive repair, maintenance, and pioneering the Westward expansion of the freight system, the shop closed down in 1974 only to go abandoned until 1995 when Walter Payton purchased the building, turning… Continue reading Two Brothers Roundhouse in a Nutshell
An Opportunist’s Weekend in Beer
As another weather system dumped roughly six inches of snow on the Chicagoland area during the evening rush hour Friday night, I contemplated what my weekend might entail as I sat in long lines of traffic. I received my first shipment from the Craft Beer Club during the week and hoped to sample each kind,… Continue reading An Opportunist’s Weekend in Beer