Some New "Spirits", Plus A Few Beer Events & Social Updates
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Since my contributor’s copy finally arrived in the mail, I believe I can officially inform you of something that I am pretty proud to have contributed to this year.
A new Fodor’s Travel guidebook called American Spirits is out now, and you’ll never guess who got asked to write a bunch of content about Midwestern breweries and distilleries? Yep! It was me. And that’s even a Traverse-area winery right on the cover:
Big, big, big shout out to my wonderful colleague, Amy Cavanaugh, for connecting me with the team over there. Please subscribe to her excellent
if you haven’t already.I have a few obligatory holiday gift guide ideas rattling around in my brain for probably next week, but if you want to go ahead and grab a copy now, just click here.1
And now, onto this weekend’s upcoming…
This Weekend:
Mixing edged weapons with alcohol? What could go wrong! If you’re in Indy, Sun King is hosting a knife sharpening event at their brewery right now.
Flossmoor Brewing Co. kicks off their 12 Beers of Christmas series today and goes through Xmas Eve with a wild list of beers. Maple bacon Pullman Brown ale calls to me, but maybe the PB&J Kratos Imperial Stout is speaking more to you…
Also this afternoon, you can head to Dovetail’s Holiday Market for 20 artists and makers starting at 4pm … but we’d hold off until 6pm to enjoy the sounds of Tuba Force.
Wanna just drink in an evil-holiday kind of way today? Bubblehouse Brewing is hosting their Krampus Christmas with spooky movies and grilled cheeses.
Wanna just drink … really good beer? Half Acre hosts their friends from Side Project this afternoon, and they’re tapping some of SP’s beers along with their stout collab.
Twisted Hippo is joining this weekend’s Harebrained Open House where they’ll be pouring beers, introducing their new line of Shine On seltzers and selling some merch. Go support.
Say farewell to Ravinia Brewing’s Chicago taproom at their Goodbye Party tomorrow.
Next Week & Beyond
It makes sense that a brewer named St. Nicholas Brew Co. would do something Santa-themed around now, and they are - a Polar Express style train trip from DuQuoin to Carbondale and back on the 22nd.
Get ready to celebrate Tighthead’s 13th birthday on December 23rd with live music, food, a visit from Santa and (of course) beer.
Schlafly celebrates their 33rd year in business on the 26th, for those of us who are in STL on that date.
White Rooster’s Stout Fest returns on January 11, putting ten of their stouts on tap at 8am (five imperials! five milk stouts! with pastries! and donuts!).
If that’s a bit too far of a drive, Haymarket’s Beerthday Party (14 years in Chicago / 8 in Michigan!) takes place the weekend of the 11th-12th.
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Art History is looking to double their capacity next year, which is good news for all of us, and here are some of the tanks that’ll help them get that done. Here’s another look.
Hopleaf celebrated St. Bernardus ABT 12 Day yesterday, and if you hurry, maybe they’ve still got some ABT 12 on Nitro pouring.
Former Hoplore brewer Corey Milliser is currently battling colon cancer, which prompted Hoplore to make this F*CK CANCER smoothie sour with a portion of sales going to Corey’s medical and travel expenses.
Analytical Brewing in Lexington (outside Bloomington-Normal) now has a canning line!
We don’t talk much about BBGB Brewery & Hop Farm in North Aurora, but this current tap list including a British pub ale, a cream ale and a saison is probably worth checking out.
Congrats to the beer-loving teams at Union and Longman & Eagle for retaining their Michelin Bib Gourmands.
Apparently Guinness Chicago has “big-ass bow to hang on the taproom harp at the holidays” kind of money.
I would very much like one of these Carol’s Pub shirts for Xmas. Putting this here to see if my wife still reads these emails at all. I’ll find out in a couple of weeks.
Noon Whistle can’t stop infusing shit into Malort. New this week: Gravy Malort.
Happy 14th birthday, Funkwerks.
Happy 8th birthday to both Barrel + Beam and also the owners son Max.
Happy sixth birthday to Orange & Brew Bottle Shop.
Supermoon Beer Co. shared some heartfelt thoughts and stories following the news that their friends at Enlightened Beer would be closing.
Now available at Old Bakery Beer Company: New seat cushions! (And check out that cool interior.) (We really do cover everything here.)
Igloo dining is back at Obed & Isaac’s.
One of Mikerphone’s most infamous beers (IMO) was the fried chicken and waffle stout they made with Hailstorm. And guess what? It’s coming back. When? The 24th. It’s an Xmas miracle.
Suncatcher has a fresh NZ Pale Ale on draft as of today, but they really got me by quoting Gillian Welch lyrics. I feel like we’d be friends. Can we be friends?
In late July, President Russ Klisch and Brand Manager Michael Stodola from Lakefront Brewing sat down for an interview with the Crafted Conversations podcast. A couple of months later, Michael passed away. With the family’s blessing, the interview was just posted this week, and you can find it via this Facebook post from Lakefront.
Thank you all for being here! Have a great weekend. See y’all on Monday.
~Karl, a Guy Drinking … IDK, probably whiskey tonight.
Yep! That’s an affiliate link. Always Be Hustlin’.
Nice!! Can’t wait to grab a copy.
The Art History thing, where all those tanks are is the Geneva Lager Works or whatever it's called. So I'm guessing they're expanding there to expand the Art History output?