The Beer Thread

[🏀]

I've started trying to drink local beer only.  Wherever I'm at I try to find a good beer that is relatively close.

I'm no beer expert, but I had what I thought was a great "Alt" beer from Metropolitan Brewery at a restaurant a few weeks ago.  They don't list this particular beer on their website. It is a beer that I'd never buy if I saw the bottle first,but since I was at a restaurant, it didn't come into play.  The bottle had some video game type of robot on it.  Very Strange.

Anyway, has anyone tried any of the other beers from this company:  http://metrobrewing.com/

 

Metropolitan is great. Right up there with Pipeworks as a great up and comer.

Metro only produces traditional lagers, an art not practiced much in the IPA craft typhoon lately. The beer you drank is actually Iron Works, a great offering. The 'alt' part is short for Altbier, German for Old Beer. Alt's use top fermenting yeast and are aged at a cooler temperature which give them a crisp, fruitier taste. I actually happen to have Iron Works along with some Generator (really good dopple) in my basement.

If you're in Chicago, grab Metro for lagers, Pipeworks for Ales and Goose Island to keep Chili happy.

[Golden Avalanche]

It's always been a hot mess but I didn't realize as much until I started drinking much better Imperial Stouts like Alesmith Speedway, Founders Breakfast Stout, etc. Then there are the barrel aged stouts which kick the crap out of DL like Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (yes I work for them but ours is the original and still best), Alesmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout, some years of Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout, Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout, ect. I just think Dark Lord is all hype and not a good beer. Also, they are prone to infection problems at times.

It truly is amazing what is available at a fairly regular clip within this category but, as we know, hype can drive a beer for so long it seems some places go for that rather than quality.

I'm partial to Belgians so anything Struise does whether in barrel or not with Black Albert, Delphine, their Damnation series is in my cellar. Cigar City's Zhukov is tasty. Thornbridge and Thirsty Dog both have an underrated RIS. One of the best I've ever had is by TAPS out of SoCal called Remy. Blew me out of my chair as if I was at a late night bordello.

[JoeSmith1721]

Metropolitan is great. Right up there with Pipeworks as a great up and comer.

Metro only produces traditional lagers, an art not practiced much in the IPA craft typhoon lately. The beer you drank is actually Iron Works, a great offering. The 'alt' part is short for Altbier, German for Old Beer. Alt's use top fermenting yeast and are aged at a cooler temperature which give them a crisp, fruitier taste. I actually happen to have Iron Works along with some Generator (really good dopple) in my basement.

If you're in Chicago, grab Metro for lagers, Pipeworks for Ales and Goose Island to keep Chili happy.

Don't forget about Half Acre either.

[🏀]

Don't forget about Half Acre either.

I didn't. I love Half Acre too, Daisy Cutter is better than Zombie Dust and you can buy it anyday of the week.

Pipeworks just dominated the Ales and Metro for lagers. Half Acre for everything.

[GOO]

I assume that Metropolitan is only available in Chicago?  I really liked that AltBier.  I'm not big on IPA's.  More of an Pale Al or Czech-Pilsner, Guiness, or Kolsch drinker. 

I've noticed that Goose Island is not brewed in Chicago anymore.  Disappointing.  Or is the product sold in Chicago still brewed there? 

[JoeSmith1721]

I assume that Metropolitan is only available in Chicago?  I really liked that AltBier.  I'm not big on IPA's.  More of an Pale Al or Czech-Pilsner, Guiness, or Kolsch drinker. 

I've noticed that Goose Island is not brewed in Chicago anymore.  Disappointing.  Or is the product sold in Chicago still brewed there? 

Most of their stuff is still brewed in Chicago. I believe only 312 and Honker's Ale are brewed out of state in New York and Colorado since Anheuser-Busch InBev bought Goose Island in 2011. Don't worry though all the good stuff (ie. the Bourbon County line and the Vintage Ale line) is still brewed in Chicago.

[🏀]

I assume that Metropolitan is only available in Chicago?  I really liked that AltBier.  I'm not big on IPA's.  More of an Pale Al or Czech-Pilsner, Guiness, or Kolsch drinker. 

I've noticed that Goose Island is not brewed in Chicago anymore.  Disappointing.  Or is the product sold in Chicago still brewed there? 

Correct, metro-Chicagoland only.

As JoeSmith said, GI does their own brewing still, but not 312 & Honk's.

[Chili]

I assume that Metropolitan is only available in Chicago?  I really liked that AltBier.  I'm not big on IPA's.  More of an Pale Al or Czech-Pilsner, Guiness, or Kolsch drinker. 

I've noticed that Goose Island is not brewed in Chicago anymore.  Disappointing.  Or is the product sold in Chicago still brewed there? 

Nope, I am sitting in our marketing office right now with our brewers in a meeting. We still brew 75% of different beers at our Fulton Street Brewery.

To add to Chicago Breweries my favorites are Off Color, Penrose(well they're in Geneva), Revolution, Two Brothers Sidekick Pale Ale (also in the burbs) & Half Acre. 

[NYWarrior]

speaking of beer in Chicago

http://chicagoist.com/2014/07/13/check_out_the_beermiscuous_map_of_c.php

[NYWarrior]

bookmark

http://beermiscuous.com/tagged/drinklocal

[JuniorCardigan]

I think Revolution usually needs to be thrown into the Chicago brewery conversation as well. I've really liked everything I've tried (mainly Anti-Hero, Double Fist), the only one of their beers I've had that I don't really care for is the Rosa.

[Coleman]

I think Revolution usually needs to be thrown into the Chicago brewery conversation as well. I've really liked everything I've tried (mainly Anti-Hero, Double Fist), the only one of their beers I've had that I don't really care for is the Rosa.

Agree. Revolution is the best in Chicago.

[GOO]

Most of their stuff is still brewed in Chicago. I believe only 312 and Honker's Ale are brewed out of state in New York and Colorado since Anheuser-Busch InBev bought Goose Island in 2011. Don't worry though all the good stuff (ie. the Bourbon County line and the Vintage Ale line) is still brewed in Chicago.

Good to know.  My grocery store only has the stuff not brewed in Chicago (brewed in Colorado).  I guess it is time to shop somewhere else 

[Hards Alumni]

Anyone know of any good breweries or brew pubs in Philly?   

[JoeSmith1721]

Anyone know of any good breweries or brew pubs in Philly?   

When in doubt, check on BeerAdvocate.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/place/city/13/

[GooooMarquette]

I'm partial to Belgians so anything Struise does whether in barrel or not with Black Albert, Delphine, their Damnation series is in my cellar.

I share your taste for Belgian beers, and have found that Boulevard Brewery in KC does some fantastic ones.  The Sixth Glass strong Belgian ale, Long Strange Tripel and Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale are all excellent.  IMHO the Boulevard offerings are worlds better than the "standard" US-made Belgian offerings from Ommegang.

[Spotcheck Billy]

NM

[Wally Schroeder]

I think Revolution usually needs to be thrown into the Chicago brewery conversation as well. I've really liked everything I've tried (mainly Anti-Hero, Double Fist), the only one of their beers I've had that I don't really care for is the Rosa.

Agree 100%. Their Bottom Up Wit is probably my favorite beer right now, and I'm a big fan of their Cross of Gold, Anti-Hero, and Double Fist on the IPA side. The Rosa is interesting. And by interesting, I mean it doesn't taste like beer.

[Chili]

For inquiring minds:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/food/chi-goose-island-bourbon-county-stout-lineup-20140801-story.html

[Hards Alumni]

Great Taste is tomorrow, I know I've got my tickets...  Anyone that is interested here is the lineup for the local bars that pair with breweries!

http://greattaste.org/great_taste_eve/

See you there!

[Spotcheck Billy]

I've had a few bottles of Central Waters La Petit Mort - a collaboration with Local Option. I really like this one.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Ballantine is back after years of disappearance....the original IPA in the U.S.

http://gizmodo.com/how-pabst-brought-a-136-year-old-beer-back-from-the-dea-1628690352

[reinko]

Enjoyed a few Founders All Day IPAs over the weekend.  Good hop, not over powering, but really solid and smooth going down.  A bonus, the 15 pack of cans, is only $18.

[River rat]

Swung by 3 floyds over the weekend.  Picked up their Man - o - Awe, which I absolutely love.  Big APA fan here.  Like the IPAs and DIPAS but am a little more particular in those categories.

[tower912]

Enjoyed a few Founders All Day IPAs over the weekend.  Good hop, not over powering, but really solid and smooth going down.  A bonus, the 15 pack of cans, is only $18.

Founder's decided to make a mainstream, easy drinking, lighter summer beer, realizing they had nothing for the casual beer drinker.    I agree with your assessment.