The Beers of Cooler Weather

As it has gotten cooler, I have been enjoying the onslaught of the maltier beers of fall. Here are a couple that I have been drinking with some consistency as of late:

Victory Moonglow Weizenbock - A big, complex wheat beer. If you get sad that summer means no more drinking hefe weizens, then find this beer

Victory Festbier - this is their oktoberfest beer. a tasty malty lager.

Capital Autumnal Fire - a big, complex dopplebock. if you are lucky enough tyo find this on tap, be sure to get a pint.


What have other folks been stocking their fridge/filling their pint glass with as the leaves begin to fall?

Can you point us to bars that have these on tap, or stores where we can buy them?

I bought Victory Festbier at Binny's in the South Loop a week ago.

Darren72 wrote:Can you point us to bars that have these on tap, or stores where we can buy them?

The Map Room on the corner of Armitage & Hoyne has Victory Festbier on tap (at least they did when I was there Wednesday and their website still lists it).

Binny's, Sam's Wine & Spirits, or West Lakeview Liquors should carry them as well.

Here's what I've been drinking lately.

Founders Breakfast Stout - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/11757
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1146/10672
Bell's Two Hearted Ale - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/1093

schenked wrote:Capital Autumnal Fire - a big, complex dopplebock. if you are lucky enough tyo find this on tap, be sure to get a pint.

This was on tap at Quencher's last night. It was very nice but I made the mistake of taking a sip of my friend's Laphroaig after my first drink of the Autumnal Fire and it was the end of the glass before I could taste anything but smoke again.

I have seen all of these at West Lakeview Liquors. I also bought Autumnal Fire at Binny's on North & Harlem on Friday (it was on sale for $10.00 a six pack). I am not sure where Moonglow or Autumnal Fire are on tap right now.

I've really been enjoying this year's batch of Harvest Ale from Goose Island. At Hopleaf last night, I started with a pint of Bell's Best Brown Ale but found it a little too sweet and malty for my taste.

the wimperoo wrote:Goose Island Bourbon County Stout - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1146/10672

This is a very good beer. I did a double take when I first saw that is 13% abv.

A guy at Sam's told me that "not everyone will like this beer, but everyone will respect it."

Before our recent meal at Yum Thai, I stopped at the nearby Famous Liquor for an accompanying refreshment. I wanted beer but I did not really want a whole six pack as my wife and I would not finish such, and we would not have room in our fridge for the left over beer. So, I hunted around for something in a big bottle. I almost had to give up my locavore leanings until, on last perusual, I saw bottles of 3 Floyds Munsterfest, their seasonal Octoberfest beer. Great stuff (and pretty good with Thai food too).

Ah Guinness, how I love thee.

Darren72 wrote:

the wimperoo wrote:Goose Island Bourbon County Stout - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1146/10672

This is a very good beer. I did a double take when I first saw that is 13% abv.

A guy at Sam's told me that "not everyone will like this beer, but everyone will respect it."

I could not agree more -- currently on tap at Hopleaf, too, as well as at the Clybourn brewpub, FYI. I don't know if it's just the bourbon barrels at work, but I prefer it to some of the more coffee-flavoured Imp. stouts (I'm looking at you, Founders). Also, the fact that I can buy it without the pleasure of waiting 5 hours in line and in 12 oz. bottles (cough*Three Floyd's*cough), makes BCS my preferred Imp. stout. You know, for when Guiness just won't cut it.

Two Brothers have also updated their website with their next release -- a dark wheat ale called Bonfire Dunkle Weiss. While I feel some of their stuff is pretty hit or miss, they're always worth trying at least once.

Two Brothers have also updated their website with their next release -- a dark wheat ale called Bonfire Dunkle Weiss. While I feel some of their stuff is pretty hit or miss, they're always worth trying at least once.

I love beers like this. I agree, Two Brothers is pretty hit or miss. I really hope this is one of their hits.

Very pleased with this case of Goose Island Harvest Ale. that I picked up at Costco.

Bell's Two Hearted Ale. I remember when this was strictly a September to March offering; its appearance on the shelves and on the taps marked the true shift from summer to fall for me. Sadly, I don't believe there is any Two Hearted in Chicago at present, but it's available in our neighboring states. I just picked up a case while visiting the in-laws in St. Louis, so I'm at least set for the next few weeks.

Bring on the doppelbocks!

Kloster Asam Bock
Ayinger Celebrator
Autumnal Fire
Optimater - now available in 12-packs.

Victory Moonglow Weizenbock - A big, complex wheat beer. If you get sad that summer means no more drinking hefe weizens, then find this beer

I just noticed on the Maproom website that Victory Moonglow Weizenbock is now on tap.

Or if you want the king of winter wheats, search no further;

Aventinus

Incredibely complex, potent and flavorful. Also available on tap at the Maproom as we speak.

Last Friday, I stopped in at Small Bar on Division and found they had Surly's Darkness (and a limit of 2/person, served in a snifter). From their website:

Darkness
Limited Release
This Russian Imperial Stout is a sipper. Problem is that you want to sip it all night. Look for this one to be released when the leaves change color and Halloween is approaching. Brewed with a blend of 8 different malts, oats and candi sugar. This huge stout reflects Surly’s commitment to brewing intensely flavored beers in small batches. Only 25 barrels of this beer were brewed.
10.3% abv 80 IBU

It was all right. Served much too cold, imho, and pretty thin for such a big beer. There was also a cherry or raspberry flavour which I did not care for. It wasn't a strong flavour, by any means, but at least strong enough to be noticeable. It also didn't taste nearly as strong as its ABV would suggest (consider that a good/bad thing your peril). That being said, if this article is any indication, I was luck enough to try it at all.

On the other hand, Goose Island recently had their Special Ed on tap. It's no longer listed online, but it's possibly still available:

Special ED 10+% ABV
Our Imperial Smoked Brown Goose is a flavorful high-gravity beer based on the Imperial Brown Goose recipe, but with 80% beechwood smoked malt and less finishing hops. Aged for an additional nine months in a bourbon barrel. Served in a Snifter.

This was a little strong with the smoke and wound up tasting a little too much like bacon for me (I problem I often have with any smoked beer). Still, as it warmed up, or its ABV affected me, I didn't care as much and really enjoyed this beer. A sipper moreso than their Bourbon County Stout, I think. I really like their normal Brown Goose (and the Naughty Goose -- a variant with a bit more bite/hops) and kicked up as it is with this expression, it's still pretty damn tasty. Another great example of what GI can do.

Rounding out my recent seasonals is Two Brothers' Bonfire Dunkle Weiss. I thought this was a winner. A little sweet, edging towards the world of wheatwine, but with a good body still and nice toasted flavour (one that didn't remind me of bacon). I think it was priced reasonably at $6 for a 22oz. bottle. Worth a shot, and one I would buy again.

Speaking of Two Brothers, apparently, they will be bottling their Northwind Stout in 6-packs. This is great! I like this stout a lot (in general, I find their one-offs and seasonals much more impressive than their year-round line-up) and look forward to buying it in a form other than 22oz. bombers.

I have only recently started to enjoy beer, so I'm not great at describing flavors, tastes, etc.

So I'll just call this one really tastey:



Berghoff "Red Rock Winter Ale"

danimalarkey wrote:Last Friday, I stopped in at Small Bar on Division and found they had Surly's Darkness (and a limit of 2/person, served in a snifter). From their website:

On the other hand, Goose Island recently had their Special Ed on tap. It's no longer listed online, but it's possibly still available:
Special ED 10+% ABV

As of Saturday Special ED was no longer available.

Alos, Bourbon County Stout is doen for the season.

This is at Clybourn.

Not seasonal, but one that I recently tried for the first time, and enjoyed immensely; makes me want to not drink Guiness ever again:

(link below)

I really enjoy most/all of New Holland's beers and the Poet is certainly a stand-out.

Binny's -- and I'm sure others but that's where I saw it -- has Two Bros.' Northwind Imperial Stout. This year, it's available in a 6-pack of 12 oz. bottles. This is one of their beers that I look forward to every year and I'm excited to see it in the 12 oz. size this year.

Here are a couple that I am into now that we have gone from cooler weather to *bleepin* cold weather:

Three Floyd's Alpha Klaus - A fantastic, toasty porter with a strong hop profile.

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter - Not as aggressive as Alpha Klaus. A classic, exceptionally well crafted porter.

Founders Breakfast Stout - Another excellent, toasty, complex imperial stout with incredible body. Use it in place of other liquids the next time you make pot roast.

I am still all about Goose Mild Winter for this cold weather. Though the recent cold has shifted me more towards this. It still doesn't help get this cold out of my bones

Brasserie d'Achouffe's N'ice Chouffe is on tap at Prairie Moon in Evanston.
This spicy, boozy 10% Belgian is the definition of a winter warmer .

If you're having more than one, try a Rogue Yellow Snow 2 doors south, on tap and sometimes on a $3 special at Tommy Nevins, Evanston. A drinkable, hoppy, citrusy IPA.

Prairie Moon
1502 Sherman Ave
Evanston

Tommy Nevin's
1454 Sherman Ave
Evanston

schenked wrote:Or if you want the king of winter wheats, search no further;

Aventinus

Incredibely complex, potent and flavorful. Also available on tap at the Maproom as we speak

Definitely. Schneider's crossover Brookliner doppelweis with the Brooklyn Brewery was my summer jam, and in the fall I discovered their weizenbock, the Aventius. Four bucks for a big bottle at Sam's is a steal, and a great start to any night. Very restrained sweetness compared to a lot of the bock competition.

As far as stouts go, Three Floyds Moloko milk stout has been good to me since it started getting cold. I've had a few bombers from Lush (2232 W. Roscoe), but getting it on tap at The Local Option (1102 W. Webster) and Quenches (2401 N. Western) converted me. The Moloko is like a chocolate milk shake, perhaps the easiest drinking beer you can get, and since its nitrogenated, its light as air. Try that to replace your Guinness. If unavailable, the Left Hand milk stout will also do.

I really enjoyed Surly's coffee bender, a twist on their usual brown ale. Slight toasty malt and hop and the a huge wash of freshly ground coffee bean. I drink the bender at the Paramount room on draft, had the coffee bender at the Happy Gnome bar in St. Paul, MN and am not sure if Paramount has the coffee, or just the regular. Either way I'm happy.

A bit off topic, the Happy Gnome is a must when in the Twin Cities, top notch beer, scotch and food menu's and very reasonable.

The Happy Gnome
498 Selby Ave
St. Paul, MN 55102
651.287.2018
http://thehappygnome.com/

As far as stouts go, Three Floyds Moloko milk stout has been good to me since it started getting cold. I've had a few bombers from Lush (2232 W. Roscoe), but getting it on tap at The Local Option (1102 W. Webster) and Quenches (2401 N. Western) converted me. The Moloko is like a chocolate milk shake, perhaps the easiest drinking beer you can get, and since its nitrogenated, its light as air. Try that to replace your Guinness. If unavailable, the Left Hand milk stout will also do.

The Three Floyds Moloko is great and I'm also a fan of the Left Hand. If you can't find either, Two Brothers North Wind Imperial Stout is a good replacement - a delicious 'milk shake' type stout, although its not technical a milk stout (added milk sugars that sweeten and don't ferment). It's on tap here and there, I've seen it at my 2 regular places - Prairie Moon in Evanston and Paramount Room

I am not a huge porter or stout drinker. I'm not opposed to a good one from time to time, but they're usually not what I go for.

My cool-weather beers are brown ales and my current ale of the season is New Holland's Cabin Fever Brown Ale. While most brown ales have a smooth nuttiness to them, this one has another flavor that's almost caramel-like. It has a slightly sweet finish that works really well and always makes me want one more sip.

I also enjoy using it as a liquid to cook cheap cuts of pork and potatoes in the pressure cooker.

Best,
Michael