Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week": Readers' Choice #3
By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jun 20, 2007 4:00PM
We have to admit that we've had fun with this whole "readers' choice" month thing here at "BotW." And it's all because you readers who sent your suggestions were passionate about your selections. However, there were some that we wanted to include that couldn't make the cut because they're unavailable in Illinois. Some are newer brews that haven't made their way to us, like Capital Brewery's Island Wheat Ale. Brewed with wheat grown on Door County's Washington Island, this was one of two beers to receive more than one recommendation, and the only one to receive multiple nods from our readers. However, a couple phone calls to sales reps at Louis Glunz Beer Company, which distributes Capital Brewery product in the Chicago area, were in vain. Currently, Island Wheat is only available in Wisconsin. But our mother lives ten miles away from New Glarus and sixty miles from Middleton. Now we have a perfect excuse to plan a road trip while being a good son.
Other recommended beers aren't even distributed here, like Furious Ale from Minnesota-based Surly Brewing Company. We're trying to get up to the Lutsen Mountains for some mountain biking and when we do, we'll pick up some Surly. We're fairly certain we can't get Blue Point Pilsner here, either, although it's one of the first beers we're drinking when we find ourselves in New York. It primes us for Harpoon's UFO Hefeweizen. This brings us to this week's readers' choice.
In suggesting this beer to us, reader Shawn McKown was modest, claiming this beer to be the "best beer made by the best brewery in the Midwest." That's a bold statement, Shawn, but your recommendation makes a good opening argument for Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales.
Shawn's selection? Jolly Pumpkin's Bam Biere Farmhouse Ale.
Like many Belgian ales, farmhouse ales are brewed more for sustenance. They're heavy, almost meals in bottles. From the moment the smell of bread and esters hit our nose after cracking open a bottle of Bam Biere, we knew we were in for a serious drink. It poured with a thick head of foam that became rocky due to the bottle conditioning the brewers put this beer through. Bam Biere retained its foam long after first pour, which was also a deep, cloudy golden in color.
Spice was the dominant flavor on the palate with Bam Biere, along with a strong hint of cardamom. We also picked up a stringent flavor in the back of the mouth as the chill wore off that reminded us of anise. The malt on Bam Biere was slightly sour, which complemented the spice. Finish on Bam Biere was dry, with a rich overall mouthfeel. This is a beer that would pair wonderfully with herb-braised fish, dried fruits, or spicy desserts such as bread pudding.
We picked up a six-pack of Bam Biere for $11.50 at Binny's. West Lakeview Liquors also carries Bam Biere, and we think it's cheaper there. This satisfies Shawn's request that we cover a Jolly Pumpkin selection, although we'll still need some convincing that Michigan is the craft brewing capital of the Midwest. For this week, however, give it up for Shawn McKown and Jolly Pumpkin's Bam Biere Farmhouse Ale, his choice for Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week."