This Week's New Beer Labels: Powered by Pub Ales

Cask bitter, specifically, but hopefully more soon

Hello, friends - a quick addendum to Monday’s email! I caught most of the Craft Beer & Brewing “Best Of” lists … but apparently not all of them.

Turns out there was also a “Favorite Beer Cities” list which ranks Denver, San Diego and Asheville at the top … Chicago fell somewhat but I’m pleased to see that no matter how many times Grand Rapids calls itself “Beer City” drinkers still have decided that the beer scenes in a number of other cities are actually better. (Because they are.)

I also received a friendly email from Eric at Orange & Brew Bottle Shop cluing me in to the existence of a Best Beer Bars list which I’m not immediately seeing online, so I guess it’s time for all of us to pony up for a subscription (as we should! Support beer media!). I can tell you that Eric’s establishment - and two other Chicago stalwarts - are in the top ten of that list. I bet you can guess which ones. ¹

The New Illinois Beer Label of the Week:

This is fortuitous timing: My very first trip to Art History Brewing came a couple of years ago over a holiday weekend as I was visiting my folks in the ‘burbs. It was a hop, skip and a jump over to Geneva from their place and I immediately fell in love with the English-style bitter they had on cask. Imagine my surprise and delight when I see a handful of labels for a full Pub Ale Series from them? Be still my heart. Super excited to try one of these sometime soon.

Up next for our Premium Subscribers:

• One more Art History Pub Ale Series label, just for good measure

• Our first Espresso martini beer

• Two more black, black beers

• A guitar-playin’ tiramisu

• A beer made by a Michigan taco shop

• A badger on a leash

And more! If you want to see what we’re talking about, join us as a Premium Subscriber for about a buck per week: