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Picking three favorite beers from the past year is almost like choosing your favorite child. Come to think of it, I’ve met a lot of kids who are complete assholes so that’s probably not as tough as one would think. However, selecting them from the booming craft beer hotbed that is Chicagoland is no enviable task. From Chicago’s far west suburbs down to Indianapolis and up to the chilly regions of Michigan, the market has grown by leaps and bounds in 2013 and shows no signs of slowing down. Oh well, it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it. Without further ado…
Malevolence Russian Imperial Stout – Spiteful Brewing Company
It’s not just rare but a downright oddity for a newcomer brewery to not only bottle a Russian Imperial Stout right out of the gate, but also absolutely nail it. I sampled the rich, chocolaty, boozy, and decadent Malevolence Russian Imperial Stoutin the spring and immediately hopped in my car and headed to the liquor store to grab as many bottles as I could find. This well-balanced, 10.5% ABV stout has proven to be consistent with the complexity and boldness of Spiteful’s other offerings this year. Brewers Jason and Brad have released a wide variety of styles in just a short time – it seems that with every visit to the store, a new bottle or can of theirs is waving me over to charm me with its off-the-wall artwork. A few bottles from the original Malevolence batch can still be found on some Chicagoland shelves, and look for the barrel-aged version in late winter and a new batch in the spring.
Bean Flicker Coffee Blonde Ale – Odd Side Ales
On my way back from a road trip out to Grand Rapids (aka Beer City, USA) over the 4th of July weekend, I made an impromptu stop at Odd Side in Grand Haven. Somewhat hidden in a quaint beach town, this brewery and its vast, diverse, and imaginative tap list absolutely blew me away. The beer that sealed the deal for me was Bean Flicker Coffee Blonde Ale. I normally steer clear of blonde ales, but I’m a coffee lover so I decided to give it a shot. While the idea of a bold coffee flavor being used in such a light, sessionable beer style would sound like a tough marriage to most, Odd Side somehow found a way to strike the perfect balance. This rings just as true for beers such as their Pineapple IPA, Watermelon Wheat, Java Chip Mint Stout, Peanut Butter Cup Stout, and Bloody Orange Wheat. The creativity that goes into their brews is equally matched by their tongue-in-cheek beer names and gallery-worthy labels, which make it even more exciting to see their new releases come out. Bean Flicker is a seasonal brew that is distributed only in Michigan, so keep your eye out for the next time it comes around.
Space IPA – Half Acre Beer Company
No one enjoys getting punched in the face…except, of course, if it’s by a fistful of hops. As a bona fide hophead, I am on a continuous, sometimes foggy, journey to discover the next beer that completely assaults my senses with hops. Over the summer, my travels took me to Half Acre’s taproom, where the Space IPA threw me into a hop-filled rocket and set my course for an intergalactic voyage through tropical utopias from which I never wanted to return. Its juicy hop aromas and flavors left me wanting more and more, threatening my ability to think or act rationally. Over the past five years, Half Acre has established itself as one of Chicagoland’s best breweries, with beers such as Space, Daisy Cutter, and countless others that always leave your belly happy and anxious to come back for more. Sadly, Space is currently available only on draft at the taproom, but I plan to start a petition to get it in cans in 2014 so that the rest of the universe can experience it.
