Chicagoist: A Beverage Worth the Price of Shipping

ninferno21

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:13:08 -0600

ohh man eamon could not be more right, i just found their root beer at woodmans off of I90 and randall rd and was making jamo and root beer cocktails all night!!!

BlueFairlane

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:24:25 -0600

Locals refer to Ale-8 as Winchester Swamp Water (it's bottled in Winchester, a Lexington satellite state). You have to have been born sucking it from a bottle given to like it. We know it's bad, even if we can't stop drinking the stuff.

Tannerman

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:33:05 -0600

I recently picked up some Ale-8-One while hitting Kentucky for a wedding. Frankly, wasn't too impressed. Posted a review over, for those interested: http://www.bevreview.com/2008/12/31/ale-8-one/ It would seem the appeal of this drink is largely regional, but when compared with other offerings, it just doesn't stand up.

incndnz

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:37:03 -0600

Omg! I had totally forgotten about Ale-8-One. In college we used to go camping in Kentucky and that was almost the best part of the trips. I love that stuff!!!

prattfall

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:15:04 -0600

Even if you don't like ginger ale, theirs is fraking amazing. Completely different from what you get in 2-liter bottles, its quite spicy. They had it at Twisted Spoke last I went (which was about 4 years ago now), and I know Sam's Wine and Binny's sometimes have 4-packs.

RoyE

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:24:25 -0600

Scooter's Custard does their RB floats with Sprecher. As for their beers. Their German styles are usually pretty spot on. The Black Bavarian is awesome, their hefe is pretty good as well as their Bocks. Their English styles (IPA, Russian Imperial Stout) leave a little something lacking. A trip to the brewery is worth it. It is inexpensive and they are generous with samples (unlimited soda). Then wander down to Solly's Diner for a butter burger.

TimmyMac

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:13:21 -0600

If you ever in need in a pinch, my local Menard's (on Clybourn Ave) sells 4-packs of the stuff regularly.

DuncanHusky

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:13:15 -0600

Sprecher's introduced a cherry cola last year that is absolutely divine...and to the best of my knowledge is not being distributed in Illinois at all! Fortunately, all you have to do is go a few miles over the state line to Woodman's in Kenosha to get the full Sprecher's selection. And yes, maeveywavey, I too adore Cheerwine and wish I could get it up here! Ale 8-One not so much; that stuff always tasted like flat ginger ale to me.

maeveywavey

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:55:58 -0600

Delish, indeed. Has anyone else experienced the sugar-filled joy that is Cheerwine? Or Ale-8-One? I love southern sody pop.

Rob Christopher

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:40:58 -0600

Their cream soda is heavenly!

Eamon

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:38:55 -0600

Sprecher Root Beer is the greatest chaser for Jameson whiskey ever. You can get both in the pool room bar at The Gingerman with a mug straight out of the freezer if you ask nicely.