First up, some breaking news this afternoon: Short Fuse has announced that they were the ones who purchased the brand rights to Metropolitan Brewing, and will begin brewing Metro’s beers for sale from their Schiller Park taproom to start. Distro will begin in late July. Block Club already has a story posted here.
Metro co-founder Doug Hurst has already posted a statement to his Instagram saying that he is “in no way affiliated with, nor endorse[s] the Metropolitan Brewing brand” but “wish[es] them well on their new venture.”
For me, Doug and Tracy were the heart of Metropolitan. Someone else making their beers without them being involved isn’t Metro to me. I’m also concerned about a brewery mostly known for making “extreme beers” being able to also produce clean, crisp, flawless lagers.
Of the 272 beers Short Fuse has listed on Untappd I count fewer than two dozen lagers on there (quick scan, rough estimate), so those styles clearly haven’t been where they (as a brewery) were interested in being, historically. Is this an indication of a pivot away from hazy IPAs and pastry stouts? Or is it just a matter of, they bought the IP at auction, so they’re gonna do something with it?
I’m planning to reach out and ask, but historically, I’ve never been able to get in touch with anyone over there. We’ll see what happens.
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming…
The Reader beat me to it.
For a while now, I’ve been meaning to write about what’s going on at a small brewery that I haven’t seen anyone ever mention. Like, anywhere.
That brewery is Pho No. 1 Brewing Co. on the city’s far northwest side. I only learned of its existence while scanning ILCC brewery license documentation (because that’s how I party) but I was never able to get to it on any of my trips to the city.
This week, however, the Chicago Reader thankfully went in to find out what was going on at a brewery that’s mostly a Vietnamese restaurant, but one run by a neuroscientist that works for the VA. How’s that for a story?
Have you been here? Have you ever even heard of this place? It’s actually been on our map for a while now - did you ever spot it on there? I’d love to know more, so if you have, please share. Their new barrel-aged imperial Vietnamese coffee stout sounds like it could be pretty delicious, especially alongside a crispy banh xeo and bowl of pho.
That’s not the only cool feature about a Chicago brewery this week — the deep dive into Monochrome Brewing via Block Club (linked below) is definitely worth your time as well. It was a good week for beer news, is what I’m saying.
Most-clicked link in last week’s email: Unsurprisingly, it was the GBH deep dive into WTF happened with 5 Rabbit.
First they got a nice Chicago Tribune feature, and now Monochrome Brewing gets a full Block Club writeup. Lots of cool info in here; worth your time.
IBW founder Brian Buckman went on WGN-TV to talk about “creating beers for interesting times.”
Bleacher Nation decided their official beer was Old Style, of course, but the more interesting news is seeing how much more available Old Style is at Wrigley in recent years.
Job notice: Noon Whistle needs a cellarperson; credit awarded for including the salary in the listing.
Western Springs doesn’t have a brewery yet, but the town is getting some liquor licenses ready for whenever someone wants to open one.
On Wednesday, the Block Club Book Club is taking a hike, grabbing a beer at Alarmist Brewing and reading “Beer Hiking Chicago.”
Schaumburg’s Beerhead Bar & Eatery announced that they are closing on June 29th.
Patch has an update on the lawsuit regarding the Ravinia Brewing Company’s trademark and their attempts to dismiss the suit.
WAND covered the partnership between Destihl and the Hanson brothers as they roll out a few new beers together.
Center Square reported on some breweries (and the brewer’s guild’s) concerns over future regulation and legislation on hemp beverages.
NewsRadio 780 reported on the closing of Windmill Brewing.
As we mentioned on Wednesday, Peace Tree Brewing has ceased brewing operations. Originally they said they’d keep the taprooms open, but then on Saturday, they shuttered the Des Moines location.
Field Day Brewing and Climbing Kites both sued the state “over its interpretation of a new law that restricts THC levels in adult beverages.”
If you want to have a beer or three while your dog runs around offleash, K&A Hop Dogs, a new dog park/pub in Traverse City is here for you. (I feel like a hot dog restaurant is a perfect next step here.)
PorchDrinking briefly recapped the recent HOMES Brewing NUCLEATE Festival.
Racket looked at (and ranked) five local (ish) American adjunct lagers, and I demand justice for Grain Belt.
Apparently Hulkamania was born in the Twin Cities, so of course Hulk Hogan went back to launch his new beer there, which naturally leads to doing an interview at the Hooters at the Mall of America. (Apparently he bailed on a bunch of other scheduled promotional events though.) FUN FACT: Hogan opened his “Pastamania” Restaurant at the MoA in 1995 and you really need to watch the absolute time capsule of a video in that link.
For some reason, it’s Side Project beer/wine hybrid coverage season - last week we saw a story on Forbes, and this week Paste is looking at three of their offerings.
Not much news out of Ohio this week, save for an Axios Cleveland quick “review” of Garage Beer Classic Lime.
Following Company Brewing’s sudden shutter at the end of may, they filed for bankruptcy protection a few days later, revealing that they were nearly $2 Million in debt.
More coverage on MobCraft’s (Not So) Horrible City IPA came from OnMilwaukee and the Journal-Sentinel, among others.
Meanwhile, the Historic Third Ward is hosting a “beerpartisan” gathering at an area beer garden on July 17th.
OnMilwaukee praised the new amber-y pilsner from 3 Sheeps.
Once again, Minocqua Brewing Company is in a fight with the county, as they’ve banned owner Kirk Bangstad from allowing outdoor seating for 90 days. More info, including comment from Bangstad, is here.
“Weird ancient homebrew” isn’t the type of storytelling that usually shows up in the New York Times, but here we are. (Gift link, should work for y’all.)
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