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We like a cold bottle of Point now and then, but sadly admit to not being up to speed on the other brews coming out of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Then the other day, someone tossed us a bone and we caught up mighty quick.
Point is currently placing a big marketing push behind their new light beer, and as far as light beers are concerned, it is a great alternative from the Miller/Bud/Coors light trinity. But Point Honey Light surprised the hell out of us. As much as we liked Point Light, we were shocked by how much we loved Point Honey Light.
First, it isn't as watery as other light beers. It pours a nice golden color, with solid carbonation, a thick ring of foam, and minimal lacing. Second, it actually has a slight honey flavor, unlike many other honey beers taking up space on shelves. The honey underscores some citrus notes on the palate. It's a light beer with character. This beer also finishes clean and dry, making it a good option for picnics and barbecues. Third, it only contains 122 calories. This means you folks afraid of having some curves don't have to replace your french fries with celery sticks when you order that half-pound black angus burger with blue cheese at Jack Sullivan's.
You'll probably find Point Honey Light for six bucks a six-pack at your local liquor store; if you find yourself in Le Passage's VIP room one night, it could cost you forty bucks a bottle. But you aren't buying the beer there; you're buying real estate. So buy a six-pack at the grocery store, fire up the grill, pair it with a good sirloin and slum at home. Point Honey Light is Chicagoist's "beer of the week."
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Research, Chicagoist!
Jack Sullivan's has been closed for around a year and replaced with Barleycorn Sports.
And I hate that I know that.
I live on the south side, jap. Jack Sullivan's, Barleycorn sports. What's in a name?
My spouse and I are entertaining moving to Chicago (from San Francisco) next year, and I am going to fess up my near fear of the beer situation in Chicago. I am spending the next year learning to home brew so I can make beer that I like. Not that I wasn't able to find decent bottled beer at Sam's and other great stores in Chicago, but microbrew in the city seems to be... paltry. Not that I don't love Goose Island's great brews, but I've been researching online and not finding a whole hell of a lot in the way of small breweries in and around Chicago.
Enlighten me. Tell me my research is terrible. Let me know that great American ales and saisons and porters and stouts and bitters are hiding in Chicagoo and that I'm definitely going to find them. :)
I can't say I'm delighted to see a light beer picked as a beer of the week, but I am happy to see that at least there's an appreciation for how beer should be.
Smallerdemon-
A) Little surprised to see a light beer picked as beer of the week myself, and I'm a Chicagoan. Moreover, I always thought of Point as a piss beer worthy of fishing trips and not much elses.
B) Although not Chicagoan, the Bells Brewery out of Kalamazoo, MI, makes some of the best beer I've had anywhere in the country. Especially their Two-Hearted Ale, a puckeringly hoppy IPA.
Fair enough, Chuck. For Trixie and Chad, probably not a lot.
Change in ownership meant change in staff, which makes a big difference to me, as I can no longer drink for free or afterhours there. Didn't love the bar, but that made it tolerable.
Never fear, smallerdemon. Chicago is home to two of the best beer bars in the midwest, if not the country:
http://www.maproom.com
http://www.hopleaf.com
If those two don't do it for you, there are also a whole slew of still-excellent second-tier beer bars like The Long Room, Quenchers, Sheffield's, and Small Bar. And the beer culture's good enough that even the shitty corner liquor store's probably going to carry something decent.
Although we don't have distribution for any Stone or Alesmith beers, we have got New Holland, Bell's, Great Lakes and Founders. And if you really need to spend time at a brewery, Three Floyds is just over the border in Indiana.
It's also worth the road trip to head to Wisconsin and go to New Glarus. It's about two hours away, but the beer is amazing.
:) Many thanks for the info. (See, this kind of thing... that's why we're thinking about moving there in the first place. Chicagoans rock.)
I had Two Hearted back in July during our visit to Chicago. Amazing stuff. I am sad I can't find it here. (Although, I did get to try some other Bells at the Oregon Brewers Festival a few weeks ago.)
I will certainly take note of tsmo's aforementioned bars (how can you go wrong with a name like Hopleaf?) as well as the regional breweries.
Thank you all!
smallerdemon: Keep posted on these pages, I'll have a nice Bell's option for you in a couple weeks.
smallerdemon, There are several other great bars and brewpubs in the surrounding area. Best in the World (IMO) is just a few miles away, THREE FLOYDS BREWPUB... PIECE PIZZA has the best of both Worlds, their own fine ales and great pizza. Maproom is probably the closest thing we have to the Toronado, and I'll buy the first round when you arrive. Cheers
Joe m500
You should check out Flossmoor Station in Flosmoor, IL. You can to to it from metra electric. Great brewpub. I highly recommend the Cherry Wheat.
Flossmoor Station's Website
I am still following the thread everyone. :) I am in debt of graditude to you all for your great local knowledge and your fine suggestions for obtaining our world's finest beverage. :)