It's easy to think of beer as a man's drink; after all, we do live in a patriarchal society. But with more variety in selection these days, women are increasingly drawn to the allure of malted beverages. Sure, we still find too many women (and men) watching their waistlines with bottles of diet beer in their hands. We just find it sinful. Beer is meant to be enjoyed. Diet beer doesn't taste great, nor is it less filling.
Members of the "gentler" sex were fast and direct with their opinions about their favorite beers when we placed the call for suggestions. Hyde Park resident "lybaby" can't get enough of Goose Island Demolition, which she swears is the best beer she's ever tasted. Reader Bridget Hansen made a strong case for the Romanian-brewed Drax, even insisting that although she hasn't had it in Chicago, that doesn't mean it isn't available. And we tried hard to find it, but if a brewery can't even half-ass a working website, we question if it has local distribution.
Which brings us to one Ann Flaharty, who volunteered that she was a friend of our own Amanda Dickman in an effort to facilitate her being chosen, when her beer recommendations were enough. Not content with just one recommendation, Ann suggested two beers from the same brewery. Ann said, "I've made quite an effort to find (her beers) in stores around Illinois and Indiana in recent years, to no avail." Then fate shined upon her like a crazy diamond on a recent trip to Whole Foods for the microwave set Trader Joe's. Lucky for us, we could avoid Trader Joe's and buy her beers at Sam's. We wrote Ann last week and asked her which of her recommendations would she opt for if a gun were placed to her head.
Ann recommended we buy Pyramid Breweries' Apricot Weizen. And so we did.
We don't know what it is about hot and muggy weather that draws us to wheat ales, hefe weizens and lambics. They just seem to go well together; additionally, apricots just scream "summer fruit." Pop the top off a bottle of Pyramid Apricot Weizen and the smell of apricots is almost too strong, like it's artificial. Then the beer opens up and that aroma mellows quickly.
We love the deep orange hues of this beer and the yellowish foam, which takes its sweet time to dissipate. Beneath the apricot flavor is more than a hint of wheat, to remind us that we are, indeed, drinking a hefe weizen. The finish of this beer was dry, with hints of caramel that complemented the other flavors well. Should you decide to pick up a six-pack ($7.79 at Sam's), we would advise that you not even add lemon to this beer. It'll just get in the way of all that apricot flavor.
We can't believe that June is almost over, just as we were getting on a roll with the readers' choice selections. We thank those of you who took the time to write in to us with your favorites, and promise to do this again very soon. For us, it's a great way to shake up how we write this, get some inspiration, and get to know you all a little better. And we do keep telling you that if you have suggestions for us, to write us. Who knows? Maybe one day you'll find your suggestion the subject of a story here, like Ann Flaharty's recommendation of Pyramid Apricot Weizen, Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week."
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Man, this is actually a good beer which my boyfriend talks shit about me liking. But it tastes sort of tart like an apricot - very authentic.
The next time your boyfriend talks shit about you drinking this, cut him off.
From the beer, that is.
You're kidding, right? Bud owns a majority stake in Pyramid. They're nothing but a portfolio brewery. You guys really do suck.
Let's see, two weeks ago we were told that we hate everything owned by a big brewery. This week, we love them all.
Can't win for losing, huh?
ugh! whatever... i don't care who owns the majority of the damn beer. when i discovered pyramid, they were just one of the many excellent microbrews of seattle... to me, they still are. budweiser was smart in purchasing them... and it probably helped get the beer to me here in chicago. so thank goodness!
and thanks chuck! i'm flattered!
guest, you're an idiot.
Yes, Pyramid is owned by Bud but it has been brewing for 20 years. It only signed with Bud for the distribution.
Pull your head out.
I guess there's always the fact that this is a really gross beer that's ubiquitous throughout the area. Pretty poor selection for a "Beer of the Week"..
anyone think chicago could support another craft brewery?
"anyone think chicago could support another craft brewery?"
Watch for Half Acre Brewing Company coming in August.
By the way, Chuck, I think this continues to be a great weekly for people to try or learn about (potentially) new beer. Thanks, Kevin