This Week's Beer News: Random Oude Gueze Findings

Powered by the luck of the draw

Y’all ever heard of Boerenerf?

I randomly clicked add-to-cart on this Oude Gueuze of theirs in my first Etre Gourmet order. I was not at all sure of who they were but figured I’d take a chance on a random lambic I’d never heard of and see what happened.

I pulled it out of the fridge on a whim on Friday night - Valentine’s Day is a lambic holiday in our house, apparently - and guess what? It was delicious. Rich, rustic, more acidic than funky, easy drinking but still assertive. Figured I’d let y’all in on my little beer lottery win. Here’s their website if you want to familiarize yourself with them.

What was the last beer you grabbed knowing nothing about it which turned out to be amazing? It’s always a nice surprise when that happens.

Okay, here’s some news:

• ABC-7 shared a story about Funkytown’s efforts to open their own space near the United Center; they also mentioned that they’re three months into a fundraising campaign but it doesn’t appear to be online. If anyone has a link to that I’d happily share it.

• Block Club followed up on the Pilot Project Wrigleyville news by giving us an actual address in their story. Not quite the same space as the old Goose Wrigleyville … but about 400 feet south.

• The Herald News chatted with Werk Force and Nik & Ivy on the impact of the aluminum and steel tariffs as well.

• The Chicago Tribune’s editorial board also piped up to say “hey! These tariffs might be bad for beermakers!”

• You may have heard of Bero, the NA beer brand backed by actor Tom Holland, but did you know that the first batches of it were brewed in Chicago at Siebel? Food And Drink Technology has the story.

• Cheers to the staff of Prairie Rock Brewing Co. who jumped in to help save a delivery driver whose car slid into the Rock River.

• Want to sell Destihl and Wrexham Lager beer in the Western US? They’re looking for you.

• Speaking of Destihl, Illinois State University News tells the story behind the school’s partnership with the brewery to produce two beers: Redbird Ale and Battle Bird Lager.

• NUVO chatted with a bunch of brewers who were pouring at the 16th annual Winterfest beer festival.

•  Beers from Peace Tree Brewing are now back on draft at Backpocket Brewing, the brewery that acquired the brand and recipes last year.

• Batch Brewing is celebrating their tenth anniversary over ten days, but owner Stephen Roginson also wants people to understand the challenges facing small businesses and breweries right now.

• Back Shed Brewery is throwing a “Minnesota goodbye” party for their closing, which will last 13 hours.

• KC Bier Co. talked to Fox 4 about the effects the steel tariffs will likely have on their packaged beer costs.

• After filing for bankruptcy last year, a judge approved the plan for a company called Keg Holdings to purchase Urban Chestnut Brewing for 2.5 million.

• An Akron woman is suing Hulk Hogan after getting hit in the head with a can of his Real American Beer at a promotional event last year.

• Great Lakes confirmed that they would be moving forward with a “riverfront entertainment venue” and brewery.

• Cleveland Magazine has a story about the opening of Two Friends Brewing on March 7.

• After voting in favor in December, UrbanMilwaukee asks: Will Lakefront Brewery actually unionize?

• Isthmus looks at the state’s only co-op brewery: New Barons Brewing Co-Operative.

• Broken Bat is giving away free beer. One catch - it’s almost out of code.

• Milwaukee Magazine asks: What’s MolsonCoors going to do with their Tenth Street Brewery?

• The Journal Sentinel also reported on the effects an aluminum tariff could have on beermakers, with comment from Indeed Brewing, Gathering Place, Eagle Park and Third Space.

• The American Craft Beer Hall Of Fame inducted a dozen people into their inaugural class over the weekend:

  • Fred Eckhardt

  • Charles and Rose Ann Finkel

  • Bert Grant

  • Ken Grossman

  • Michael Jackson

  • Jim Koch

  • Fritz Maytag

  • Jack McAuliffe, Jane Zimmerman, and Suzy Stern

  • Charlie Papazian

• If you want to watch the livestream, it’s available for viewing here.

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Last week’s most-clicked link: The news that Pilot Project was opening a second space in Wrigleyville.

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