Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week:" Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager

Few things are as satisfying as an ice cold beer after a pounding bike ride. Whether it's an extremely hopped IPA after a day of riding Kettle Moraine's Emma Carlin Trail or turning a scenic tour of Chicago's boulevards into a sprint, the two go hand-in-hand.

So it was that we were at Dixie Kitchen after the Boulevard Lakefront Tour for some lunch and the aforementioned beer. Can't remember the last time a Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager passed these lips, but we were not choosy and the two Goose Island Harvest Ales we had immediately after the ride didn't slake the thirst. This dark Munich-style lager is an old standby. It's got a great flavor of roasted barley malt and spice, pours a rich mahogany in color, and has a crisp carbonation that adds to the mouthfeel. After two sips we were finally able to unwind and slow the buildup of lactic acid.

That Dixie is still in business, three years after Katrina, is a miracle in itself. Like the rest of New Orleans, the century-old brewery suffered severe damage. While they rebuild, Dixie's brands are contract brewed by the Joseph Huber Brewing Company. Now known as the Minhas Craft Brewery in Monroe, Wisconsin, they also brew Berghoff and Rhinelander. The helping hand is much appreciated from Dixie fans around the country. Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager is Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week."