BeerBin.com Blog

BeerBin Brews: DC Brau

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:29:00 +0000

Hello fellow Beer Drinkers. Here is the next installment of our BeerBin Brews Video Series, courtesy of our friends over at Cantaloupe Video: DC Brau! Enjoy.

Drinking in Bali

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 02:41:00 +0000

Traveling to Bali, Indonesia, offers you various opportunities to brace your beer palate for the onslaught of Lagers and Pilsners that saturate the landscape. One such way to prepare is by choosing the East Coast route versus the West Coast route when flying out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. A layover at London's Heathrow Airport gives you a perfect opportunity to enjoy cask conditioned ales at their Bridge Bar. Give your self plenty of time to savor and take in every drop of any ale before you begin the next leg of your flight. My ale of choice was the cask conditioned Fuller's London Pride. A fine choice due to the complex caramel & toffee notes you will not doubt miss when drinking beer in Bali. In addition to tracking down a fine pint at LHR, you can also hear some English accents (d'uh). While in Bali, you can expect to hear plenty of Australian accents. Indonesia after all is a popular vacation destination for the Aussies.

Now it is very important to understand that the beers found in Bali are good. They are just what you would need in a tropical setting: refreshing lagers. After a while though, you want some variety. Bintang and Anker brands are the norm. Storm Beers are the variety. Since 2005 Storm Brewing Company in Bali has been providing fine ales to the island visitors. Storm Red Dawn, their Bronze Ale, is a great full bodied ale that is very drinkable in the tropical weather. Their Tropical Ale was probably my favorite. This golden ale had a light fruity aroma and is perfectly suited to be called a Tropical Ale. A wonderful ale to enjoy while relaxing on the white sandy beaches or in the middle of a town square.

The impression a country like Indonesia leaves you with is profound. Life is drastically different from any where in the states. Okay, maybe not drastically: people do work and do use wi-fi; but Bali, Indonesia, will no doubt make you forget the complications we add to our daily lives. Life really is simple in Bali. If you choose to complicate your Bali Life, that is your doing. Now in the matter of complicating my beer styles in Bali: yes, please complicate and add many more ales and lagers through out this tropical paradise!

BeerBin Brews: Saison Farmhouse Ale!

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:24:00 +0000

Here is our next featured beer in our new series "BeerBin Brews". Through cooperation with Cantaloupe.tv, we proudly present Saison Farmhouse Ale!

BeerBin Brews: Sun King's Popcorn Pilsner

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:35:00 +0000

Here is our next featured beer in our new series "BeerBin Brews". Through cooperation with Cantaloupe.tv, we proudly present Sun King's Popcorn Pilsner!

Owen & Engine

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:35:00 +0000

Bar Review: Owen & Engine in the Logan Square area of Chicago, Illinois

Settling in nicely into the corner of Western Avenue and Schubert Avenue, Owen & Engine has found a way to elevate your eating and drinking experience. The quaint and homely British inspired pub offers quality all around. Quality food, quality atmosphere, quality servers and most importantly to us: Quality Beer.

Beer Director and Certified Cicerone Elliot Beier knows his beer. Prior to becoming the Beer Director of Owen & Engine, Elliot worked for Small Bar...so he has been around fine ales & lagers before. The majority of the 20 beer taps at Owen & Engine pour local Midwest beers. The real treats though, are the 4 Cask Conditioned Ales. Cask Conditioned Ales are poured via Beer Engines. "Real Ales on the Engine" as stated on their website, are considered to be the real ales. There is no nitrogen, no carbon dioxide pressure and more critically, the ales are unpasteurized and unfiltered. Not to get too technical, but this allows the presence of yeast to continue fermenting the ale. If you ask me, cask ales have a higher quality flavor & texture. Plus, they just go down smoother. Drinking ales from beer engines is an experience that not many Chicago bars offer (let alone offer 4 engines that pour cask ales)!

I must mention that Owen & Engine prides itself in offering well grown & freshly made food. Even the mayonnaise is made in house! When you combine the fantastic seasonal food menus and revolving beer taps and beer engines, your experience at Owen & Engine is sure to always be a unique one.

Owen & Engine is Highly Recommend by Gonzalo

Owen & Engine is located at 2700 N. Western Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
Phone: 773-235-2930.
(If you have not figured it out yet, Owen & Engine is located across the street from the Regal City North Cinema. Conveniently, this corner of Chicago will make your Date Nights easy.)

Introducing: "BeerBin Brews"

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:40:00 +0000

Loyal readers, it's time to introduce you to the newest feature of our BeerBin site: "BeerBin Brews". We have established a partnership with Cantaloupe.tv to bring you an ongoing beer video series. Every month, we will be featuring a new video highlighting a particular craft beer story. We will do our best to have it ready for your consumption by the 15th of the month.

So sit back and crack open another beer while you watch the first video in our new series: Sun King's new Grapefruit Jungle, while we here at BeerBin continue to do our best at guiding you to your beer, at your bars, showing your favorite teams on the big screens. Cheers!

Chicago Craft Beer Week 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Mon, 16 May 2011 03:36:00 +0000

Hold on to your pint glasses: Chicago Craft Beer Week 2011 is here! Starting on Thursday, May 19th, various bars, breweries, restaurants, and museums around Chicago will be hosting special events in order to celebrate great beer. The Chicago Craft Beer Week is part of the American Craft Beer Week Celebration. This is actually the 1st time that all 50 states will be putting aside all their differences and embracing delicious beer together!

To fully enjoy Chicago Craft Beer Week, it is recommended that you pick up the $10 Passport offered via the ChiBeerWeek website store. Although most events are open to the public, the majority of them will only give you access with the Passport. If you ask me, paying $10 for a cool keepsake that grants you freedom to enjoy a variety of beer drinking events is well worth the price.

Here is a cheat sheet to the must attend events:

Beer Under Glass at the Garfield Conservatory: The official opening day event! ($40)
Beer Week Kick-Off with Two Brothers at Owen & Engine: A nice alternative if you do not want to drop $40. (Free with Passport)
Paddy Long's May Fest at Paddy Long's: $9 full liter of Hofbrau Maibocks! (Free with Passport)
Goose Island Beer Company Presents Beer & Food Pairing Seminar at Whole Foods in Lincoln Park: sample food & unique beers! (Free with Passport)
History Pub Crawl - Chicago's Greatest Dives at Chicago History Museum: tour of historic Chicago bars. ($30)
Free Brewery Tour at Revolution Brewing: a tour of Revolution Brewing in Logan Square. (Free with Passport)
Voyage of the IPA - Chicago Style at Chicago History Museum: learn more about IPA's and their connection with Chicago! ($65)
Michigan Beer Day at Haymarket Pub & Brewery: Brewers from Michigan will be taking over the Guest Tap at Haymarket. (Free with Passport)
Beer Trivia at Timothy O'Toole's Pub: beer themed trivia. (Free with Passport)
Pig-Out Under the Stars at Rock Bottom Brewery: the other white meat is paired with Rock Bottom Beers. ($50)
Pre-Cubs/Mets game party at Sheffield's: enjoy Brooklyn Brewery beers. (Free with Passport)
Meet & Sip with Bridgeports's Brewmaster Jeff Edgerton at Jaks Tap: join brewmaster Jeff as you enjoy some of the award winning beers of Bridgeport Brewing...not the Southside Bridgeport, the Portland Bridgeport. (Free with Passport)
Windy City Tap Takeover at Owen & Engine: 6 amazing breweries at one amazing bar. (Free with Passport)
5 Rabbit & Metropolitan Meet & Greet at The Publican: drink their beer as you meet the brewers from 5 Rabbit and Metropolitan Brewing and sample some fine food. (Free with Passport)
History Pub Crawls - Booze, Bars, and Bootlegging! Prohibition Era Chicago at Chicago History Museum. Visit the past hangouts of famous Chicago area Gangsters! ($30)
2nd Annual Brewers Bowling Night at Timber Lanes: bowling & craft beer, together! ($10)
Origin of the 5 Rabbit - An Evening of Art, Food and Beer at National Museum of Mexican Art: sample beers from the first Latin Microbrewery in the USA and experience fine Mexican culture. ($35)
History Pub Crawls - Prost! German Bars of Chicago at Chicago History Museum: learn about the German History in Chicago by visiting Chicago's best bierstubes. ($30)

For a complete list of Events, please visit the Events section of ChiBeerWeek.com
No matter which events you attend, be ready to drink a lot of marvelous beer and meet a lot of fun people!

C2E2: Year 2

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 01:42:00 +0000

There is an extra buzz in the air this week as the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) opens it doors at McCormick Place this Friday, March 18th. C2E2 promises to be an exciting event for all attendees. If the list of diverse guests scheduled to appear (e.g. Chris Hemsworth, Jeph Loeb, Eliza Dushku, Rick Bayless, Kevin Pang, Mark Waid, Spike Spencer, Adam Warrock, Patton Oswalt, Jerry Lawler, and Svengoolie, to name a few) is any indication of the variety of events, fun will be had by all! This article will focus on the amusement you can have if you are 21 years old and over, the kind of entertainment that includes delectable beverages from local breweries and beyond.

Prior to the big day, the official Kickoff Party to C2E2 will be at 3 Floyds Brewing Company on Wednesday, March 16th. From 6:30pm to 9:00pm, guests will be able to try Zombiedust, a C2E2 inspired beer. As if flavorful beer was not enough reason to make the 35 minute trek to Munster, Indiana, the site of 3 Floyds Brewing Company, an evening of comic goodness is sure to entice you a bit more. Nothing is confirmed, but if last years Kickoff Party is an indication, you can expect to spot some famous faces in the crowd.

On the big day, Nerd City is hosting the C2E2 Kickoff Rocktacular at Reggie's Rock Club on Friday, March 18th. This event does have an extra cost and that cost is $10 per ticket (oh, and the Service Fee per Ticket is $4.03 if you purchase online). Not to worry though, you will be getting plenty of value since the lineup includes: Major Taylor, DJ Genghis Won, Mighty Regis, Valora, Mega Ran, and more.

During the weekend that C2E2 is at McCormick Place, the M/X Bar in the Hyatt McCormick will transform into the CBR Bar after 7:00pm each night. Like Clark Kent becomes Superman, so will the mild-mannered M/X Bar become the super powered CBR Bar: full of specialty drinks that will surely stop any dastardly villain.

No matter your age or taste, there is bound to be an event at C2E2 that will strike your fancy. For a complete list of activities and to find out what's happening, visit the What's Happening section of C2E2.com

Pork Soda

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:34:00 +0000

BEER REVIEW: Pork Soda by Goose Island Brewing Co.

Nothing says beer like the name "Pork Soda." Okay, not really, but, after you savor this special Belgian Double IPA (India Pale Ale) from the Goose Island Brewing Company you will say other wise. This wonderfully aromatic and flavorful ale is a collaboration beer between Chef Jared Wentworth of the Logan Square restaurant, Longman & Eagle, and the brewing geniuses at Goose Island. Brewed with three different hops, Chef Jared and Goose Island found a way to take a Double IPA and make it incredibly drinkable.

It was not enough that they used three different hops, but they used a massive amount of Cascade, Simcoe, and Citra hops, during the single phase; and then double dry hopped by adding additional Citra and Simcoe hops. Thanks to the additional Citra and Simcoe hops, you get a heavy fruit aroma. This Belgian Double IPA smells divine and thankfully tastes just as majestic.

Do not judge this delicious beverage by its name, Pork Soda is a beer you have to try! Since it is only available at Goose Island Clybourn or Longman & Eagle, plan accordingly so you may enjoy it before it is tapped out! Update as of 2/23/11: Longman & Eagle is out of Pork Soda, so your only option is Goose Island Brewpub in Lincoln Park.

Pork Soda is Highly Recommended by Gonzalo

P.S. In a 2/9/11 article over Pork Soda, The Huffington Post includes a video produced by Jim Colombo that takes you behind-the-scenes to get a glimpse of how Pork Soda is created. Check it out here: "Goose Island And Longman & Eagle Unveil Their Pork Soda (And It's A Hit)"

A Global Look at Alcohol Consumption

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:51:00 +0000

I'll just leave these here:

Sapporo to take over soft drink maker

noreply@blogger.com (BeerBin.com) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 07:11:00 +0000

Japanese brewer Sapporo Holdings will turn soft drink maker Pokka into a subsidiary to boost its beverage business amid a shrinking domestic market, the two companies said Thursday.

- Japan Times

BeerBin bringing you the latest international beer industry related news:

We've been seeing this happen for some time in the Japanese beer arena; the big guys trying to both diversify and take over smaller, related companies to protect themselves from the dwindling market and shrinking overall domestic population. Sapporo's (Japan's 4th largest brewer) recent move: an increase from 21.4% to a huge 85.5% in beverage company Pokka, is the latest. This isn't the first time the company's made such a move (and not nearly the most head-scratch inducing), and it seems their cost cutting measures haven't been in vain. Sapporo reported profits that nearly doubled since its previous year. Compared to rival company Kirin's report, which fell a whopping 77%, we may be able to start to make sense of Sapporo's consolidation strategy.

BeerBinTube on YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:36:00 +0000

Here at BeerBin, we are always looking for ways to get you the best beer information via various platforms: beerbin.com, blog.beerbin.com, twitter.com/beerbin and now youtube.com/beerbintube. Our YouTube page will give you beer reviews, bar reviews, bartender interviews, and us, the BeerBin Crew.

Check out BeerBinTube by visiting www.youtube.com/beerbintube
We will strive to keep the videos short and to the point. As usual, we welcome your feedback.

Cheers!

Bears vs Packers: 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:33:00 +0000

All of you Chicagoans, brace yourselves. This Sunday, the 23rd of January, will bring about another thrilling chapter in the rivaled Bears versus Packers rivalry. Both the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) repeatedly compete in the National Football Conference (NFC) Division through out the regular season. The last time they battled in the post-season was in 1941! So draw the battle lines, a trip to the Super Bowl is on the line. How does this tie in with beer? My inner jock and meathead is urging you to abstain from any Wisconsin products for the week. That includes beer.

Specifically, you will want to avoid the following Wisconsin beers for this week (if you have the willpower):

Miller Lite. Brewed by the Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this beer will be tough to avoid since it is everywhere. Especially since they have their own "Party Deck" at Soldier Field. Instead of drinking a Miller Lite this week, drink Chicago's own Goose Island 312. It is a more flavorful "light" beer.
Leinenkugel Beers. The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, produces some of the finer beers in the Midwest. They offer an assortment of beer styles and their Brewery Tour is a popular Wisconsin Attraction. So popular in fact, that the Packers did a Tailgate Tour through their brewery (Photos from the Packers Website). Instead of reaching for a Leinenkugel beer this week, grab any beer from the local Half Acre Beer Company in Chicago. Also, Half Acre offers Brewery Tours too!

Now, there is a neutral ground beer for any fan who can not choose sides: Pabst Blue Ribbon. Yes, PBR. You see, Pabst Blue Ribbon was originally established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but now they reside in Woodridge, Illinois. So like an undecided fan, PBR is claimed by both states as their own.

No matter who you root for in Sunday's NFC Championship Game, please make sure you drink responsibly and of course, support the local Chicago Breweries.

Go Bears!
(pic of Bears mascot, Staley The Bear)

Hello 2011, adios 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:52:00 +0000

Happy Holidays! The month of December has been a busy month and with the new year right around the corner, let us discuss where BeerBin is heading in 2011. My suggestion for a beer to drink while you read this short-but-sweet blog post: KrankShaft Kolsch by Metropolitan Brewing.

This is where BeerBin will be in 2011:

Twitter. We have been slowly gathering followers via our Twitter account. We post local Chicago Bar & Beer News, Sports Headlines and retweet from some of the best Twitter Users on the web. If you have yet to follow the tweets by BeerBin, follow us! Our Twitter handle is @BeerBin
YouTube. A new venture for BeerBin is to post amateur videos of the staff reviewing beers, visiting bars and interviewing Brewers and Bar Owners & Staff. Although not intended to be humorous, the nature of the videos may resort to humor due to the effects of fine beer. Our YouTube handle is /BeerBinTube
At your bar. We got away from it this year, but in 2011 we will get back to action mode and visit more local Chicago Bars as we strive to become the number one source for beer data at bars. If you have a suggestion on which bar to visit, please contact Beerbin at admin[at]beerbin[dot]com.
App Store. The much anticipated BeerBin App will be available for the iPhone this year. After the roll out of the BeerBin App, you can expect the Android App. If you have a suggestion on what you would like to see be part of the BeerBin App, please contact Beerbin at admin[at]beerbin[dot]com.

Basically, sit back and buckle up, 2011 is the year of BeerBin!

Thanksgiving Beer

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:29:00 +0000

Dear Online Family,

As you embark to visit your Families during this Thanksgiving Holiday, please do not forget the Beer. A bountiful feast such as a Thanksgiving Meal becomes much more enjoyable if the right beverages are served. With that said, I present to you my 3 Beers of Thanksgiving:

Flywheel Bright Lager by Metropolitan Brewing. This Pilsner style beer is produced locally in Chicago and since it is a Pilsner, it is very drinkable and light and would make a fine beer to drink before the big meal ahead. For more information on Metropolitan Brewing, visit their website: metrobrewing.com
Maudite by Unibroue. A fine Dark Ale made in the style of Belgian Ales, Maudite is a complex ale with an 8% ABV (Alcohol by Volume). The combination of bold hops and malt mixed in with a higher ABV makes this beer an excellent full bodied companion to the turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn, stuffing, and bread typically found at a Thanksgiving Dinner. To give you a range of ABV, Miller Lite is around 4%, Guinness is 4.20% and Stella Artois is 5% ABV.
Gossamer by Half Acre Beer Company. This is my wild card, my ace-in-the-hole. I would have this refreshing Blonde Ale handy in case a guest wanted something in between the light Flywheel and the dark Maudite. Gossamer is fine ale from another local Chicago Beer Company: Half Acre. This blonde ale is light, but has an intricate taste. It has flavor, but it will not fill you up like a stronger Hop beer would. Half Acre Gossamer would be a welcomed addition to the appetizer, dinner or dessert portion of your Thanksgiving Celebration. For more information on Half Acre Beer Company website: halfacrebeer.com

So there you have it, 3 beers that would please your guests and would enhance your lavish Thanksgiving Dinner.

Sapporo to tie up with Kyodo Milk

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:10:00 +0000

Today, Japan times reported that Sapporo is tying up with Kyodo Milk and taking a 5% ownership stake in the beverage and dessert maker to jointly develop milk and other products (http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20101119a7.html).

This is a great example of the ongoing trend a lot of Japanese beer companies are following after seeing unfavorable performance of their beer beverages. In the recent past, we have seen several Japanese brewing companies partner with other brewing giants throughout Asia. In this case, Sapporo is taking its partnering to a further level by diversifying with a non-beer brewing company. It will be interesting to see just how far these companies will diversify themselves if the industry continues to produce bleak results.

Lao You Ju

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:03:00 +0000

Bar Review: Lao You Ju in the Chinatown area of Chicago, Illinois

Chef extraordinaire Tony Hu brings his latest restaurant idea to life with the opening of Lao You Ju. Bringing the best of his other three Chinatown restaurants into this contemporary bar/lounge/restaurant concept, Tony is armed with his finest for this trendy creation. Located on Wentworth Avenue in the new construction side of Chinatown, Lao You Ju offers a rare concept to Chinese restaurants: a bar. As Tony explained to Chicago Magazine in their October 2010 issue, "You never see Bars in Chinese restaurants." If there is one person that can change that mindset, it is Tony Hu.

Offering a small traditional beer menu to go with the small tapa-esque offerings of his dishes, Lao You Ju has all the ingredients to become a successful neighborhood gathering spot. In addition to offering Asian favorites like Asahi and Tsing Tao, local favorite Goose Island 312 is also available. So you have quality beer, superior Chinese food and a top-notch bar, what else do you need? How about some karaoke!?! That is right, Lao You Ju becomes a hip lounge/karaoke bar after hours.

Lao You Ju is having its Grand Opening this Thursday, November 18th, and everyone is welcomed to check out Tony Hu's newest restaurant & lounge concept. So make your way to Chinatown and be the first to experience the new gathering spot for friends.

Lao You Ju is located at 2002 S. Wentworth Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
Phone: 312-225-7818

The Elbo Room

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:50:00 +0000

Bar Review: The Elbo Room in the Lakeview area of Chicago, Illinois

Have you been to The Elbo Room recently? This Lakeview bar/music venue still provides solid live bands for your viewing & listening pleasure, but now it also produces an impressive beer menu. For example, you can now find Rogue Dead Guy, Abita Purple Haze, Three Floyds Gumballhead, Metropolitan Krankshaft Kolsch, North Coast Rasputin, Little Kings Cream Ale, and many more fine quality ales & lagers. For a complete list of their beers, click here.

If you are unfamiliar with The Elbo Room, the venue produces live music acts 7 nights a week in the North Side Neighborhood of Lakeview in Chicago. Bands such as Local H, Scott Weiland, Filter, and many more have performed in the intimate space. On my recent visit, I saw a local acoustic act named The Inside Project, which I recommend catching live! Before my recent social call, the last time I enjoyed a pint & act at The Elbo Room was back in '07! I definitely do not recall such an extensive beer list at that time. It goes to show you that Chicago has really been growing as a Beer Town. Pubs and Bars have notice a trend that microbrews sell!

Overall, you will experience a good time at The Elbo Room. In addition to the live music, you can also challenge your friends to a game of Pac-Man or choose from a selection of board games. But of course, you come to The Elbo Room to rock out and enjoy some of the finest music the Planet has to offer (and now you can also enjoy some of the finest beer too)!

For a list of upcoming shows at The Elbo Room, check out this link.

The Elbo Room is located at 2871 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
Phone: 773-549-5549

Revolution Brewing

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 17:52:00 +0000

Bar Review: Revolution Brewing Company in the Logan Square area of Chicago, Illinois

In the last couple of years, Chicago has really emerged as a Beer Town. This is evident by the beer bars and microbreweries that have opened recently in the Second City. Since the doors of Revolution Brewing Company opened back in February, this restaurant and brewery has been attracting locals, out-of-towners, food lovers and beer enthusiasts. Even after all the opening buzz and long lines, crowds still gather to sample fresh beer and food prepared from locally grown ingredients. After enjoying a pint of beer, it is not hard to see why people keep coming back.

Located in the Beer Haven known as Logan Square in Chicago, Revolution Brewing Company was eagerly anticipated by beer devotees who knew of Josh Deth, current Managing Partner of Revolution Brewing, from his days at Goose Island Brewing Company. Rightly so, the word-of-mouth is still strong. On my recent trip to Revolution Brewing, all the attributes that contributed to a strong welcoming were on display: friendly & knowledgeable staff, delicious food, comforting ambiance and above all, special beer.

I recommend trying their craft beers inspired by the Soundtrack to "Repo Man." These brews are appropriately referred to as "Repo Man soundtrack series" beers. Currently, they have a strong Brown Ale called "When the Sh*t Hits the Fan." On my visit, I enjoyed the Anti-Hero IPA. I was on the prowl for a very hoppy India Pale Ale (IPA), and this was not it, but I still enjoyed the very drinkable brew. Deviating from the topic at hand for a moment, my issue is that I compare every IPA with a Goose Island IPA and that is not fair. To me, the Goose Island IPA is as perfect as an India Pale Ale can get. Apparently I am not the only one since the Goose Island IPA won a Gold Medal at the 2010 World Beer Cup. You can read more about that here: http://blog.beerbin.com/2010/04/world-beer-cup-2010.html.

Now that I got that off my chest, back to discussing the beers from Revolution Brewing. I also sampled the Imperial Stouts brewed with Three Floyds Brewing Company, Gomorrah and Sodom. There is actually a nice blog article written by Josh at Revolution Brewing describing the idea behind this recent collaboration with Three Floyds: http://revbrew.com/blog/2010/07/16/129. Both are excellent thick Stout beers, but if you had to only drink one, the Sodom is the one to taste.

Overall, whether you are new to beer or an experienced connoisseur, Revolution Brewing Company caters to you. The staff can recommend a beer based on your likes. Of course, you do not have to go order a beer produced by Revolution Brewing, they also have guest beers from other breweries. In my opinion though, when in Rome do as the Romans do...in this case drinking Revolution Brewing Beer from Revolution Brewing Company.

Revolution Brewing Company is located at 2323 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Phone: 773-227-2739.

Revolution Brewing Company is Recommended by Gonzalo

Otom

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:42:00 +0000

Bar Review: Otom in the Fulton Market area of Chicago, Illinois

Otom is the "culinary mirror image" of Moto, the sibling restaurant. Both destinations offer succulent dishes, flavorful drinks and magnificent service. The biggest difference, next to the food presentation, is Otom has a bar. More of a Lounge than a Restaurant, Otom offers a stylish & modern drinking experience. You can sit on a sleek bar stool and speak to the friendly bartender. On the night I went, I had the pleasure of being attended to by Mario.

In addition to a fine selection of upscale cocktails and mixed drinks, Otom has a modest but satisfactory Beer Menu. You can expect to drink local microbrews such as Two Brothers Cane & Ebel and Goose Island 312; Midwest brews such as Bell's Two Hearted Ale and the Hipster favorite, PBR. All the beers at Otom are produced in the USA and I was surprised to not find an Amstel Light or Heineken (that is not a complaint but an observation).

Overall, you will not go wrong ordering a cocktail or a beer at Otom. Everything about the drink menu is top notch. Before or after you go to Moto, find yourself at Otom.

Otom is Very Recommended by Gonzalo

Drinking at Lollapalooza 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:15:00 +0000

Chicago was once again host to the 3-Day Music Festival known as Lollapalooza. From August 6 to August 8, 2010, attendees from around the world gathered across the 115 Acres of Grant Park and rocked out to around 145 bands/artists/DJs/performers. In addition to the unique variety of musical acts on display across the 8 stages, the selection of food & drinks was just as noteworthy. The food: amazing. The beer: less than amazing. Budweiser was one of the Partners for Lollapalooza so your typical Anheuser-Busch beer products were available. Given the limited selection of fine brews, I settled on Bud Light Lime as my beer of choice during Lollapalooza. The light tasting beer with a hint of lime remarkably hit the spot during the hot weekend. The best part: only $5 per beer. Five-Dollars! A great bargain for the weekend drinkers.

Since Lollapalooza offers food from Chicago-based restaurants, why should beer be any different? I want to see local Chicago beer for sale at the 2011 Lollapalooza! Give me local brews from Goose Island, Half Acre, Metropolitan, Revolution, Moonshine and Rockbottom. Bud Light Lime hit the spot this summer, but do not expect it to suffice every summer. Since Anheuser-Busch has a stake in Goose Island Brewing Company I would expect no less than some Goose Island Beers at next years Lollapalooza.

The 12 Best Cities For Beer Lovers To Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:48:00 +0000

Happy Labor day folks. Hope you are all enjoying a cold one to compliment your day off.

Huffington Post did a story on the 12 best cities in the world for beer lovers. Check it out for yourself, but here's the list (click on the links to check out where you can find other beers within Chicago brewed from these countries):

1. Amsterdam
2. Bruges, Belgium
3. Burlington, Vermont
4. Mexico City
5. Portland, Oregon
6. Berlin
7. Dublin
8. Montreal
9. Sapporo, Japan
10. Prague
11. Asehville, NC
12. Milwaukee, WI

Aside from a few, the BeerBin crew has had the opportunity to pay each of these cities a visit (check out the previous article I did on the Sapporo brewery / museum a couple years back). While the order may be questionable with a few, they are indeed all worthy of making the list.

Any drinking experiences in these cities? Let us know!

Asia = Largest beer producer in the world.

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0000

When you think of large beer producers around the world, the European nations are probably some of the first to come to mind. From the Oktoberfest in Germany, the infamous Belgium ales, and popular pub scene in England, it is clear just how much beer is a part of European cultures. Interestingly enough, though, earlier this month Asia overtook Europe as being the #1 beer producer in the world.

The Telegraph reports:

Asian beer manufacturers produced 103 billion pints of beer in 2009, marking an increase of 5.5 per cent compared to the previous year. Defying cultural stereotypes of beer-swilling Europeans, it is the first time that Asia has assumed the top spot in the world's beer producing since annual records began in 1974 by the Kirin Institute of Food and Lifestyle.

Also interesting, is the Japanese beer market does not seem to be a contributing factor to this as it experienced a 2% drop in the same period of time. While Japan is experiencing a slump, the rest of Asia is expected to grow considerably as per capita consumption remains relatively low, which clearly explains the recent trend of Japan investing in foreign markets (read the previous posts for more).

Beerbin.com = BeerBin

noreply@blogger.com (BeerBin.com) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:51:00 +0000

Hey folks,

Just a quick update. BeerBin.com has been around for over four years now, and we thought it was about time to simplify our name. We're getting rid of the '.com' and are now simply 'BeerBin'. Our new logos went in to effect recently, and over time we will be editing all references. Feel free to help us out if you spot a beerbin.com reference by dropping us an email.

In addition, with the slight re-branding comes slightly updated images, including the skyline, which, as far as we know, is the first Chicago skyline graphic to include the newly constructed Trump Tower!

Stay tuned to BeerBin, your #1 source to find your favorite beer, at your favorite Chicago bar, playing your favorite team on the big screen.

Zywiec

noreply@blogger.com (Gonzalo) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:42:00 +0000

BEER REVIEW: Zywiec by Zywiec Breweries PLC

It may not be the best, but it works. Zywiec Beer, from the Zywiec Breweries PLC, is one of beers found on tap at LOKaL. LOKaL is a cool Euro Bar on North Avenue, east of Damen, in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. Inside this chic and contemporary Restaurant & Lounge, a small bar area houses some fine European Lagers. My eye drifted towards the tap handle with an image of a dancing couple wearing traditional Krakow dancing clothes. It is this logo that has made Zywiec Beer one of the most recognizable Polish Beers! Not only did the tap handle catch my eye, but the glassware for your pint of Zywiec is also appealing.

But what of the taste? Zywiec is a simple lager with a high-end light beer taste. Perhaps it is due to the fact that one of the main ingredients of Zywiec Beer is, according to ZywiecUSA.com, "crystal clear mountain water." The beer is flavorful, but it definitely has a "watery" taste. Please do not take that as a negative, in fact, it is a positive: you can drink more without feeling full! Zywiec Beer falls in between a Miller Lite and a Heineken. Side note, the Heineken company actually purchased Zywiec Breweries PLC in the 1990's.

Overall, I would drink this beer again, especially if it is served in the cool Zywiec glass stein!

Zywiec Beer is Recommended by Gonzalo.