On tap at Plank Pizza, robust porter aged on coffee beans imparts nutty java bittering to contrast molasses-spiced vanilla and chocolate sweetness. Nut-charred coffee roast gains modest cumin-paprika seasoning over time for creamily rich, yet crystalline watered, hybrid of Revolution’s Eugene Porter.
On tap at Plank Pizza, creamily rich bourbon whiskey-saddled black chocolate syruping brings serious alcohol warmth (14.8%) to molasses-sapped oats sugaring and caramel-candied sweetness. Tertiary vanilla bean, cocoa nibs, fudged brownie and red pepper illusions enhance bold mocha whiskeyed bourbon theme beneath the crowded surface. In the can ’24, syrupy chocolate fudging soaked by bourbon vanilla sweetness as bold sherry-burgundy-brandy wining and mild toffee, anise, cola, hazelnut and date illusions further enhance nightcap.
On tap at Plank Pizza, tarry coffee overtones contrast brown chocolate, bourbon vanilla and dark rum sweetness for decadent 14.8% ABV mocha dessert. Cookie dough-sugared molasses oats create sturdy backdrop and mild black pepper burn caresses subtle earth-seared hop char. Caffeinated coffee finish seals the deal.
Sessionable kettle-soured peach moderation with plain Greek yogurt adjunct maintains lightly vinous green grape acidity and oaken vanilla resonance, staying sharp on the tongue. Delicate sweet-tart peach spritz nearly overwhelmed by lemon-limed souring at the citric-wined finish.
On tap at Morris Tap & Grill, serene bourbon molasses syruping saddles brown-sugared black cherry, raisin, date and fig opulence that seeps into vanilla-spiced toasted coconut adjunct. A fine English-styled Chicago barleywine nearing perfection.
On tap at Ambulance, silken Jameson Irish whiskey barrel aging glazes creamily bourbon-sweetened vanilla bean prominence and serene brown chocolate spicing of excellent nitrogenated stout. Smoked black malts provide modest bittering to contrast honey-smoked Jameson whiskey warmth.
On tap at Ambulance, warm bourbon licks seep into treacly dark chocolate syruping and sweetly soured cherry tartness. Frequent cherry cordial reminders embellished by raspy raspberry illusions as well as tertiary vanilla, coconut, cola and sugarplum subsidies.
On tap at The Oath, lively Belgian Pale Ale uses subtle wit yeast and honey-spiced pilsner malts to soften its juicy orange rind-embittered grapefruit tang. Mildly pungent resinous hop bittering gains floral fruited vibrancy from Magnum-Cascade-Citra combo. Zesty lemon, peach, tangerine and mandarin orange subtleties fit right in.
On tap at Biggie’s, brusque Christmastime red ale loads hop-forward ginger rooted orange peel bittering atop brown-sugared cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cardamom holiday seasoning, wintry Chinook hop-inspired evergreen stint and dewy pine nut snip.
Milky black chocolate creaming meets sour-milked dry cocoa swerve and caramelized “Belgian specialty malting” for off-dry Baltic-like porter. Moderate oily hop acidity, dubious vanilla-toffee conflux and murky cocoa nibs snip lean on the sour side. Nutty chicory coffee presence fades fast.
Wondrous Chicagoland flagship boasts briskly bright floral fruited rampage, gathering tangy grapefruit, pineapple, nectarine, peach and mango juiciness atop well-oiled piney hop bittering. Its tart orange-candied center gains strength as sugar-spiced crystal malting and lemon-peeled herbal notions resonate at crisply clean citrus finish. On tap at Biggie’s, sweet orange-peeled mango, pineapple and peach tropicalia contrasts lemon-embittered grapefruit rind juicing and grassy pine resin over mildly creamed crystal-malted biscuit base.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Situated in the increasingly popular Logan Square area (known as Hipster Highway) on Milwaukee Avenue just a few blocks away from Piece Brewery, ultimately rewarding gold-bricked beer haven, REVOLUTION BREWING COMPANY, practically created the whole 21st century Chi-town craft beer renaissance. An amazing modern Mecca for brews and food, Revolution opened in 2010 to rave reviews, expanding into production brewing at a nearby Kedzie Avenue location thereafter.
A nifty German beer hall-styled central island bar serves 40-plus patrons plus the left-side dining tables and right side balcony. Beautiful pine furnishings, hanging globe lights and silver ceiling tiles provide exquisite elegance. A rear open kitchen, full service second story bar, exposed ducts and windowed brew tanks fill out this ultimate north-side restaurant and brewpub.
Filled to the brim on a sunny Sunday afternoon in mid-July ’14, I grab the only seat left at the bustling bar to sample 13 well-rounded selections. Besides the excellent hand-crafted fare emanating from the colorful fist-clenched tap handles are 100-plus bottled choices – many of which were rare finds or one-offs.
The lightest fare was quaffed first. Soft-toned Bottom Up Wit unleashed orange-dried lemon zest upon floral-perfumed hops and white-peppered coriander spicing, leaving banana-breaded vanilla sweetness to contrast puckering limestone acridity and delicate mandarin orange tartness by the crystalline watered finish.
Traditional German pilsner, Mother Of Exiles, retained a light-bodied citric-soured spicing as grassy hops, musky grains and flaked corn reached its doughy bottom.
Tame lagered moderation, Use The Schwarz, brought mild dark-roasted mocha malting to the fore, as dry cocoa bean, Baker’s chocolate and burnt toast reminders usurped its earthen hop bittering.
One of Revolution’s most interesting elixirs, Rosa, a tart summer ale, brought red grape, red cherry, lemon and lime souring to raw-honeyed coriander salting, rose-watered lavender florality and a latent white wine spritz that contrasted sweet vanilla-spiced banana licks.
A worthy collaboration with Wicker Park cocktail joint, Big Star, Fist City Extra Pale Ale, fortified its light hop-roasted grain malting with frisky orange-peeled pineapple bittering.
Ultra-dry Iron Fist Pale Ale placed wood-dried Chinook hop bittering beside lemony orange-rotted souring and dewy earthiness (picking up a diacetyl hint if warmed).
A better alternative was approachable Double Fist Imperial Pale Ale, where tangy orange, grapefruit, pineapple, tangerine and papaya tropicalia overloaded crystal caramel malting.
Sessionable flagship beer, Anti-Hero IPA (also available in can), layered orange-candied grapefruit and pineapple tartness and lemon-peeled herbal notions atop oily pine hop resin.
Its friendly stylistic competitor, citra-hopped medium body, Citra Hero IPA, gathered orange-peeled apple-peach-pear fruiting for its spicy crystal malt sugaring, leaving cantaloupe-melon-nectarine traces in its wake.
Peppery Belgian yeast inundated lemon-spiced Coup D’Etat, a dry mineral-grained saison with leafy-hopped sour grape esters and mild herbal nuances contrasting pleasant sugared spices.
French-styled Biere De Garde, Bastille, retained a stingy dry hop persistence alleviated by earthen green grape esters, sour-pressed Granny Smith apple tartness, sharp oak-chipped cherry acidity and latent apricot-fig snips.
Musty robust porter, Eugene, contrasted its cocoa-powdered coffee, molasses and chocolate stead with dried cherry, grape and date fruiting.
Best bet: Spectral Imperial Wheat Ale, Filibuster, a luxuriously smooth 11.5% ABV remedy aged in Old Forester and Woodford Reserve barrels, splashed bourbon hints upon rum-sugared vanilla creaming, almondine-candied butterscotch sweetness and bruised orange-cherry-nectarine chewiness.
www.revbrew.com
